Patent ID: 8486161
Filing Date: 2013-07-16
Classification: C07G,C10G,C10L,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method comprising the steps of: a) providing a quantity of biomass, said biomass comprising a lignin fraction and a holocellulosic fraction; b) processing the biomass so as to obtain a lignin-rich intermediate, wherein the lignin-rich intermediate comprises a lignin component and a holocellulosic component, wherein the holocellulosic component accounts for not more than 50 weight percent of the lignin-rich intermediate; and wherein the weight percent of the holocellulosic component in the lignin-rich intermediate is less than the weight percent of the holocellulosic fraction in the biomass; and c) subjecting at least a portion of the lignin-rich intermediate to a high-temperature hydrolysis so as to yield a reduced-oxygen lignin-derived product, wherein said high-temperature hydrolysis is carried out under acidic conditions, wherein said high-temperature hydrolysis is carried out at a temperature of from at least about 220° C. to at most about 300° C., and wherein said reduced-oxygen lignin-derived product has an oxygen content of not more than 25 weight percent on an ash-free basis.