LIGNIN PELLETS AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING SAME

• US 20200131318A1
• Filed: 08/23/2017
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2016
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: National Research Council Of Canada (Government of Canada), Domtar Paper Company, LLC (PT Sinar Mas Group)
• Original Assignee: National Research Council Of Canada (Government of Canada), Domtar Paper Company, LLC (PT Sinar Mas Group)
• Inventors: TON-THAT, Minh Tan, LI, Hongbo, PATENAUDE, Eric, MARCOCCIA, Bruno, SANAEI, Shabnam
• Application Number:
  US16/327,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20200131318A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2397/00 Characterised by the use of lignin-containing materials of polysaccharides C08J2301/00 - C08J2305/00
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/12 Powdering or granulating
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/20 Compounding polymers with additives, e.g. colouring
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 97/005 Lignin

Abstract

Lignin pellets comprising fused lignin are described herein. The lignin pellets may further comprise a processing aid, and/or a surfactant, and/or a chemical modifying agent, and/or a compatibilizer and/or a thermoplastic polymer. An extrusion process for producing the lignin pellets and their use in the manufacture of lignin thermoplastic blend products, polyols, polyphenols, polyaromatics and polyurethanes is also disclosed herein. The extruded lignin pellet may be dry-blended with additional thermoplastic and/or additive and then directly processed using processes such as injection molding, compression molding, extrusion, extrusion coating, blowing, thermoforming, stamping, foaming, fiber drawing, calendering or rolling.

Claims

1. A lignin pellet comprising a fused lignin.

2. The lignin pellet of claim 1, wherein the pellet comprises a moisture content of less than about 5%.

3. The lignin pellet of claim 1 or 2, wherein the lignin pellet comprises a moisture content of less than about 2%.

4. The lignin pellet of any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an additive.

5. The lignin pellet of claim 4, wherein the additive is at least one of a processing aid, a surfactant, a chemical modifying agent, a compatibilizer or a thermoplastic polymer.

6. The lignin pellet of claim 5, wherein the additive is a thermoplastic polymer.

7. The lignin pellet of claim 5, wherein the additive is a processing aid.

8. The lignin pellet of claim 5, wherein the additive is a processing aid and a compatibilizer.

9. The lignin pellet of claim 5, wherein the additive is a processing aid, a compatibilizer and a thermoplastic polymer.

10. The lignin pellet of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the pellet is an extruded lignin pellet.

11. The lignin pellet of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the pellet is a non-porous pellet.

12. The lignin pellet of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the pellet is a porous pellet.

13. The lignin pellet of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the pellet comprises a VOC content of less than about 0.1 wt. %.

14. The lignin pellet of any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising at least one of starch, algae, mineral fillers, cellulosic materials or reinforcements.

15. Use of the lignin pellet of any one of claims 1 to 14 for the manufacture of lignin thermoplastic blends.

16. Use of the lignin pellet of any one of claims 1 to 14 for dry-blending with at least one of a processing aid, a compatibilizer and a thermoplastic polymer.

17. The use of claim 16, wherein the dry-blends are directly used in injection molding, compression molding, extrusion, extrusion coating, blowing, thermoforming, stamping, foaming, fiber drawing, calendering or rolling.

18. Use of the pellet of any one of claims 1 to 14 for the manufacture of polyols, polyphenols, polyaromatics and polyurethanes.

19. A process for producing a lignin pellet, the process comprising:

feeding a lignin feed material into an extruder;

adding a processing aid to the lignin feed material at one or more downstream sections of the extruder to produce a mixture; and

devolatizing moisture and volatile organic content from the lignin feed material in the mixture.

20. The process of claim 19, further comprising adding one or more additives to the mixture during the devolatization

21. The process of claim 19 or 20, wherein the lignin pellet comprises a fused lignin.

22. The process of any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the lignin pellet comprises a VOC that has been reduced by at least about 40% relative to the VOC in the lignin feed material.

23. A lignin pellet comprising a lignin powder having a VOC content of less than about 0.1 wt. %.

24. The lignin pellet of claim 23, wherein the pellet comprises a moisture content of less than about 5%.

25. The lignin pellet of claim 23 or 24, further comprising an additive.