A method for producing bio-oil from
lignin, comprising the following steps: (a) extracting
lignin into oligomers for 30 to 90 minutes, preferably 40 to 70 minutes, in the presence of at least one
alcohol having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 2 carbon atoms, at the
boiling point temperature of said
alcohol, or, in the case of a mixture of alcohols, at the temperature of a higher
boiling point alcohol, thereby obtaining a
liquid phase comprising oligomers and at least one alcohol, and a
solid phase comprising
lignin substantially free of said oligomers; (b) operating under supercritical conditions in the presence of at least one alcohol having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 2 carbon atoms, at a temperature of 200°C to 300°C, preferably 220°C to 295°C, and at 40 bar to 170 bar, preferably 50 bar to 150 bar. Under bar pressure, the
solid phase containing lignin substantially free of said oligomers obtained in step (a) is depolymerized for 5 to 150 minutes, preferably 10 to 130 minutes, to obtain: - (i) a
gas phase; - (ii) a mixture comprising: an
oil phase consisting of bio-oil, a
liquid phase containing at least one alcohol, and a
solid phase containing carbon residues (“
char”), the
oil phase consisting of bio-oil, and optionally unconverted lignin; (c) the
oil phase consisting of bio-oil is recovered from the mixture (ii) obtained in step (b). The bio-oil obtained by the foregoing method can be advantageously used, for example, as an
antioxidant or UV stabilizer, particularly as an
antioxidant or UV stabilizer in biofuels, which can be used as is or blended with other fuels in automotive or
aviation diesel engines. Furthermore, the bio-25 oil obtained by the foregoing method can be advantageously used as an
antioxidant in, for example, vegetable oils and animal or
plant fats, as bio-feedback materials to slow their rancidity during transport and storage.