NOVELTY - Producing terephthalic acid from lignocellulosic biomass comprises: (a) pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass in the presence of a catalyst obtaining biochar, crude bio-oil and gases; (b) collecting an aromatic fraction from the crude bio-oil and/or from the gases; (c) extracting toluene from the aromatic fraction by distillation; (d) converting the toluene to a p-tolualdehyde by catalyzed carbonylation; and (e) oxidation of the p-tolualdehyde in a liquid phase oxidation to terephthalic acid.    USE - The method is useful for producing: terephthalic acid from lignocellulosic biomass, where the lignocellulosic biomass is food waste including waste occurring during agricultural production, waste occurring during postharvest handling and storage, waste occurring during processing, waste occurring during distribution and/or waste occurring during consumption, wood residues or municipal paper waste, one specific kind of food waste coconut shells, pecan shells, almond shells, rice straw, wheat straw, rice hulls, corn stover, corn straw, coffee draff, cocoa shells, potato peels and corn crops; activated carbon; ethylene glycol; and polyethylene terephthalate (all claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The method provides polyethylene terephthalate with low carbon footprint and lower sulfur emissions.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are also included for:    (1) producing terephthalic acid from lignocellulosic biomass comprising (a), (b) as above per se, extracting xylene from the aromatic fraction by distillation, converting the xylene to a mixture of o-xylene, m-xylene, p-xylene and p-tolualdehyde by catalyzed carbonylation, purifying the p-toluadehyde from o-, and m-xylene by freezing at -5 degrees C, oxidation of the p-tolualdehyde and the p-xylene in a liquid phase oxidation to terephthalic acid;    (2) producing activated carbon by physical or chemical activation of the biochar, or physical or chemical activation of the lignocellulosic biomass before carrying out the pyrolysis;    (3) producing ethylene glycol by extraction of the carbon monoxide and hydrogen from the gases during the pyrolysis and converting the carbon monoxide and hydrogen to ethylene glycol;    (4) producing polyethylene terephthalate by reacting terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol;    (5) use of lignocellulosic biomass for the production of terephthalic acid, for the production of ethylene glycol, for the production of polyethylene terephthalate, for the production of polyaramides, for the production of activated hydrocarbon, and/or for the production of carbon dioxide, preferably for carbonated beverages;    (6) use of biochar, methane, hydrogen and/or residues of crude bio-oil as energy source for the process;    (7) use of a modular production unit in the process comprising at least one pyrolysis unit for the pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass; and    (8) use of a modular production unit comprising a cyclone for the collection of biochar and a kiln to obtain activated carbon.