IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,541,556
Granted Patent B1
US 8,541,556 · App. 13/738,424 · Granted Sep 24, 2013

Lignin derivatives and uses thereof

Inventor: Yansong Gu (Bellevue, WA)
Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,541,556
App. No.
13/738,424
Filed
Jan 10, 2013
Granted
Sep 24, 2013
Kind
B1
Art Unit
OPLA
USPC
530/500
Abstract

An article including a lignin derivative, where the lignin derivative includes a moiety derived from an antimicrobial compound. Also provided are methods of inhibiting microbial growth with an article including a lignin derivative.

Claims (34)

1. An article comprising a lignin derivative, wherein the lignin derivative comprises a moiety derived from an antimicrobial compound, and the article is a moldable thermoplastic material, and the lignin derivative is represented by Formula IV:

wherein:

R 1 , R 2 , R 4 , and R 5 are each independently H, halo, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl or heteroaryl;

R 3 is OH or SH; and

O-Lignin is a lignin residue derived from a hydroxyl group of lignin.

2. The article of claim 1 , wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 4 , and R 5 are each H and R 3 is OH.

3. An article comprising a lignin derivative, wherein the lignin derivative comprises a moiety derived from an antimicrobial compound, and the article is a moldable thermoplastic material, and the lignin derivative is represented by Formula IIA:

wherein:

R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11 , R 12 , R 13 , and R 14 are each independently H, halo, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl or heteroaryl;

L is an alkylene moiety or polyalkyleneoxy moiety; and

O-Lignin is a lignin residue derived from a hydroxyl group of lignin.

4. The article of claim 3 , wherein L is —CH 2 CH(OH)CH 2 —.

5. The article of claim 3 , wherein L is —CH 2 CH(OH)CH 2 OCH 2 CH(OH)CH 2 —.

6. The article of claim 3 , wherein R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11 , R 12 , R 13 , and R 14 are each independently H or chloro.

7. The article of claim 3 , wherein the moiety derived from the antimicrobial compound comprises:

8. The article of claim 3 , wherein the moiety derived from the antimicrobial compound comprises:

9. A method of inhibiting microbial growth, the method comprising: contacting one or more microbes with an article according to claim 1 .

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the one or more microbes comprise bacteria.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the one or more microbes comprise fungi.

12. A method of inhibiting microbial growth, the method comprising: contacting one or more microbes with an article according to claim 3 .

13. A method of forming a lignin derivative, the method comprising:

contacting a lignin-containing material with a compound of Formula VI to form the lignin derivative, wherein the lignin derivative comprises a moiety of Formula IIA:

R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11 , R 12 , R 13 , and R 14 are each independently H, halo, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl or heteroaryl;

L is an alkylene moiety or polyalkyleneoxy moiety; and

O-Lignin is a lignin residue derived from a hydroxyl group of lignin.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising at least partially depolymerizing the lignin.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the depolymerizing comprises a hydrogenolysis reaction.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the hydrogenolysis reaction is conducted in the presence of a transition metal catalyst.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the transition metal catalyst comprises nickel.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the transition metal catalyst further comprises a carbene ligand.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the contacting is conducted in the presence of a base.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the base comprises an alkali metal hydroxide, a carbonate, a secondary amine, an aromatic amine, or a tertiary amine.

21. The method of claim 13 , wherein contacting is conducted in the presence of an acid.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the acid comprises hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, acetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, or phosphoric acid.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS, RECORDED ON JANUARY 29, 2019, AT REEL/FRAME 048373/0217 Recorded Jun 22, 2026
From: CRESTLINE DIRECT FINANCE, L.P., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
Reel/Frame 075799/0053 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS, RECORDED ON JANUARY 29, 2019 AT REEL 048373 FRAME 0217 Recorded Sep 22, 2025
From: CRESTLINE DIRECT FINANCE, L.P., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
Reel/Frame 072936/0464 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2019
From: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
To: CRESTLINE DIRECT FINANCE, L.P.
Reel/Frame 048373/0217 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2013
From: GU, YANSONG
To: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
Reel/Frame 029605/0935 →