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Pyrolysis of extracted lignin in a continuous reactor
Category(s):
For Information, Contact:
OIC Commercialization Team
515-294-4740
licensing@iastate.edu
Web Published:
12/7/2015
ISURF #
4390
Summary:
Iowa State University researchers have developed a pretreatment for extracted lignin that allows it to be effectively pyrolyzed.

Development Stage:
Description:
Agricultural biomass is largely made up of three polymers: cellulose (made from C6 sugars), hemicellulose (predominantly C5 sugars), and lignin, consisting of substituted aromatic groups. As the second most abundant natural polymer on the planet, lignin has the potential to be a bio-renewable source for transportation fuels and specialties chemicals.  Attempts to utilize fast pyrolysis to depolymerize lignin to its monomer units have been hindered by its properties: lignin readily melts at temperatures below those used for pyrolysis, resulting in rapidly clogged reactor vessels.
Iowa State University researchers have developed a simple and cost effective pretreatment step which addresses the processability of lignin for fast pyrolysis. The treating consists of exposing the lignin to mono-and di-basic chemicals, including NaOH, LiOH, Mg(OH)2, and Ca(OH)2. This process binds the reactive groups, but does not depolymerize the lignin. Pretreatment with these chemicals allows for continuous operation of a fluidized bed pyrolyzer without clogging the reactor vessels.

Advantage:
• Treatment allows for continuous pyrolysis of lignin
• Cost effective

Application:
Biorenewable source for transportation fuels and chemicals

References:
Patent Information:
*To see the full version of the patent(s), follow the link below, then click on "Images" button.
Country Serial No. Patent No. Issued Date
United States 15/432,798 10,190,053* 1/29/2019


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