Lignin compounds, namely, those extracted from plant materials during the production of fuel-grade ethanol and biochemicals, sold in bulk for use in the manufacture of adhesives, resins, thermoplastic resins, resins for plasticization and air entrainment management of concrete and bitumen coatings and emulsions, pre-cursors to carbon fiber, antioxidant and general purpose animal feed additives, animal feed supplements, probiotic supplements, prebiotic supplements, coatings, polyurethanes, polyurethane foam insulation materials, polymers, aromatics in the nature of benzene and benzanoid aromatic hydrocarbons, all purpose lubricants, machine lubricants, lubricating cutting fluids, ultraviolet light blocking chemicals, absorbent and adsorbent compositions for sorbing spills, absorbents and adsorbents for removing impurities from tailing ponds, absorbents and adsorbents for removing pollutants from industrial and agricultural process waste, and absorbents and adsorbents for recovering useful and valuable materials from process waste streams