Thermochemical Conversion of Black Liquor in the Liquid Phase

Abstract

Black liquor from kraft pulping of pine wood was pressure heated (about 20 MPa) for 45 minutes at both 300 °c and 350 °c and in both the presence and absence of a reducing atmosphere. Variable amounts of organic-phase (40–64 % of the black liquor organics), water-soluble (14–70 %), and volatile (12–55 %) products were formed. The organic-phase product originates mainly from the lignin fraction of black liquor, whereas, during the treatments, the corresponding hydroxy acid fraction was primarily degraded into lower acid intermediates and volatile components. The effects of temperature and gas atmosphere (carbon monoxide, hydrogen or nitrogen) on the conversion of black liquor are discussed.