then recover the lignin precipitate by filtration these fractions can then be re extracted with combinations of a paraffinic solvent dichloromethane and alcohol to produce the 34 a 34 34 c 34 34 d 34 34 e 34 and 34 f 34 fractions the thermoplastic 34 d 34 fraction can be converted to a thermosetting 34 e 34 fraction by the use of heat in the presence of acid because treatment of the thermoplastic fraction 34 d 34 lignin with acid converts it from thermoplastic to thermosetting lignin the percentage yields given above are process dependent it was also observed that venting the gun prior to explosion as described in canadian patent 1 141 376 dramatically reduced the 34 a 34 fraction by over 90 this result demonstrates that the effect of the explosion rather than hydrolysis clearly dominates the depolymerization of the lignin during the explosion process when practiced according to canadian patent 1 217 765 venting results in increased yields of the higher molecular weight thermoplastic and thermosetting fractions of the lignin as well as a higher dp cellulose fraction temperature of the lignocellulosic material and time are very important to the effectiveness of the explosion process to achieve total lignin dissociation the entire subunit eg chips or straw of the lignocellulosic material must achieve 234 degrees celcius temperature before the lignocellulosic material is explosively discharged to atmosphere or vented followed by.