US 11,987,759 B2
Solvolysis process
Andrea Gutierrez, Helsinki (FI); Roel Westerhof, Enschede (NL); Sascha Kersten, Enschede (NL); Bert Heesink, Enschede (NL); and Pekka Jokela, Helsinki (FI)
Assigned to UPM-KYMMENE CORPORATION, Helsinki (FI)
Filed by UPM-KYMMENE CORPORATION, Helsinki (FI)
Filed on Dec. 19, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/083,698.
Claims priority of application No. 20216331 (FI), filed on Dec. 23, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0203383 A1, Jun. 29, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C10G 3/00 (2006.01); C10G 49/26 (2006.01)
CPC C10G 3/52 (2013.01) [C10G 3/60 (2013.01); C10G 49/26 (2013.01); C10G 2300/1014 (2013.01); C10G 2300/4006 (2013.01); C10G 2300/4012 (2013.01); C10G 2300/4081 (2013.01); C10G 2300/44 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A process for converting lignin to renewable liquid product(s), characterized in that the process comprises the following steps,
(a) treating a feed mixture (30) of lignin feedstock (10) and solvent (20) in a thermal liquefaction step by heating (110) the feed mixture (30) at a temperature between 360 and 420° C., under a pressure from 40 to 155 bar and maintaining said temperature and pressure for 2-60 minutes to obtain a product mix (40), wherein the lignin feedstock has an average molecular weight below 6500 g/mol and comprises less than 10 wt % of impurities; and
(b) separating (120) a liquid product mix (50) from said product mix (40); and
(c) recirculating at least part of said liquid product mix (50) as an oil fraction of said solvent (20).