Method for isolating lignin from a biomass and products provided therefrom

a technology of biomass and lignin, which is applied in the direction of electrical equipment, coupling device connections, textiles and paper, etc., can solve the problem of difficult measurement of the degree of polymerization in nature, and achieve the effect of high molecular weigh

Inactive Publication Date: 2015-09-03
MITCHELL MELVIN
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a way to make lignin that is soluble in water and has a high molecular weight. This lignin has not been exposed to harsh conditions and is not denatured or degraded. The process involves isolating the lignin at a specific pH and temperature. This new technique allows for the creation of a more pure and usable form of lignin.

Problems solved by technology

The degree of polymerization in nature is difficult to measure, since it is often fragmented during typical extraction under harsh conditions and the molecule consists of various types of substructures that appear to repeat in a haphazard manner.

Method used

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  • Method for isolating lignin from a biomass and products provided therefrom
  • Method for isolating lignin from a biomass and products provided therefrom
  • Method for isolating lignin from a biomass and products provided therefrom

Examples

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example 1

Wheat Grass

[0076]10 kg of dried wheat grass (straw) is chopped to a stalk length of ¾ to 2 inches. The straw was briefly rinsed with cold clean water to remove sand and dirt. The wheat straw is then subjected to water or steam injection into a disk mill for a few seconds to mechanically disassemble the cellulosic structure. The fluidized wheat grass is then subjected to high shear forces for 1.5 to 3 seconds with pulses of 1824 to 912 times without denaturing the components of the wheat straw. The combined mixture is subjected to compressive forces to separate the stream into liquid and a 20-60% cellulosic solids fractions. The liquid fraction containing hemicellulose is retained.

[0077]The solid fraction is pretreated with NaOH sufficient to raise the pH of the cellulosic water slurry from about 4-7 to 10-12. This basic mixture is allowed to age from a few seconds to 1 hour and again processed through the system starting at the disk mill which is subjected to water or steam injectio...

example 2

[0079]423 grams of dry switch grass is steam activated to rehydrate at about 25 to 50 percent water in a single disk refiner to provide the switch grass in a fluidized or flowable condition. Naturally occurring carboxylic acids (acetic acid and formic acid) within the switch grass lower the pH to below 3. The hydrated / activated switch grass is subjected to compressive force to separate a liquid high in hemicelluloses and a biomass high in cellulose and lignin. The hemicellulose / liquid is then subjected to a 1 to 10 kD ultrafiltration membrane to remove the acetic acid and formic acid as a permeate for reuse in the process.

[0080]The biomass is then subjected to high frequency pulses and shear forces without denaturing and / or degrading the lignin using the Green Extraction Technology fractionation apparatus described in U.S. application Ser. No. 14 / 454,833 filed on Aug. 8, 2014. The biomass is fractionated for about 15 to about 30 seconds with pulses of 912 to 1824 times to provide a ...

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Abstract

The process includes pretreating the biomass to provide a fluidized biomass. The fluidized biomass is then subjected to high frequency pulses and shear forces without denaturing / degrading the individual components of the biomass. The biomass is then subjected to compressive force to separate a first liquid fraction from a first fractionated biomass. The first fractionated biomass may again then be subjected to the same high frequency pulses and shear forces as previously, particularly if there are hemicellulose and / or sugars still present in the first fractionated biomass. Compressive forces are used to separate a second liquid fraction from a second fractionated biomass. The second fractionated biomass is subjected to oxidation such as with hydrogen peroxide and base at a pH above 7. The second fractioned biomass is then subjected to compressive forces to provide water soluble lignin which may be precipitated by reducing the pH.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 14 / 454,972, filed Aug. 8, 2014, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 864,853, filed Aug. 12, 2013, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 909,418, filed Nov. 27, 2013, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 919,194, filed Dec. 20, 2013, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a process for isolating components of a biomass, and particularly lignin from a biomass.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Natural cellulosic feedstocks are typically referred to as “biomass.” Many types of biomass, including wood, paper, agricultural residues, herbaceous crops, and lignocellulosic municipal and industrial solid wastes have been considered as feedstocks for the production and preparation of a wide range of goods. Plant biomas...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & AuthorityApplications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): C08H7/00C08G63/91C08G63/06
CPCC08H6/00C08G63/912C08G63/06C08H8/00D21C3/02D21C3/224C08B15/08C08B37/0057D21C1/02D21H11/00H01R13/6272H01R13/6273H01R13/6594H01R24/60H05K5/0069
InventorMITCHELL, MELVIN
OwnerMITCHELL MELVIN