Methods for processing lignocellulosic material

A method for treating lignocellulosic material, comprising:

• 1) Providing and optionally preparing a process stream A comprising lignocellulosic material;
• 2) subjecting said process stream A comprising lignocellulosic material to a pulping step and a separation step, thereby obtaining two separate process streams:
• at least one cellulose-derived process stream A, and at least one lignin-derived process stream A;
• 3) further processing said at least one cellulose-derived process stream A, optionally by subjecting said cellulose-derived process stream A to one or more of the following sub-steps:
• washing, delignification, bleaching, chemical transformation, manufacturing of paper or paperboard, or any combination thereof;
• 4) subjecting said at least one lignin-derived process stream A to at least one isolation and/or purification step, thereby obtaining at least one process stream A comprising modified lignin-derived components;
• 5) subjecting said at least one lignin-derived process stream A comprising modified lignin-derived components to a chemical decomposition step, wherein the chemical decomposition step comprises oxidative cracking, reductive cracking or electro-oxidation of said modified lignin-derived components, thereby obtaining at least one lignin-derived process stream A comprising low molecular weight aromatic lignin-derived compounds;
• 6) subjecting said at least one lignin-derived process stream A comprising modified lignin-derived compounds to an isolation and/or purification step, thereby obtaining at least one lignin-derived process stream A of low molecular weight aromatic lignin-derived compounds;
• and
• 7) subjecting said at least one lignin-derived process stream A comprising low molecular weight aromatic lignin-derived compounds to a chemical transformation reaction, said chemical transformation reaction including at least one annulation, oxidation or substitution reaction, or any combination thereof, thereby obtaining a process stream A comprising low molecular weight aromatic lignin-derived quinone compounds, wherein the low molecular weight aromatic lignin-derived quinone compounds are optionally substituted.