Patent ID: 9718742
Date: 2017-08-01
CPC Classifications: C07B,C07C

Claim:
1. A continuous process to convert a lignin feedstream to a converted lignin product comprised of aromatic compounds, the process comprising the step of: exposing the lignin feedstream to at least one catalyst in the presence of a plurality of hydrogen donor molecules at a reaction temperature in the range of 190° C. to 350° C. for a reaction time of at least 30 minutes, wherein the lignin feedstream comprises phenol oil, the lignin feedstream comprises solid lignin slurried in a liquid solvent, and at least some of the plurality of hydrogen donor molecules are donated during the exposure of the lignin feedstream and the plurality of hydrogen donor molecules to the at least one catalyst at the reaction temperature during the reaction time, and at least one of the plurality of hydrogen donor molecules is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic polyols, compounds having the formula of: where R 1 is selected from the group consisting of —OCH 2 , or —H, or —OH and R 2 is selected from the group consisting of —CH 3 , —CH 2 —CH 3 , —CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 3 and —CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 3 , and compounds having the formula of: where R is selected from the group consisting of —CH 3 , —CH 2 —CH 3 , —CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 3 , and —CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 3 .