Method to liquefy biomass
A method of liquefying biomass. The method includes the steps of contacting biomass with a solution comprising an acyl halide and an acid; and then contacting the biomass with a reductant.
1. A method of liquefying biomass, the method comprising:
(a) contacting biomass with a solution comprising an acyl halide and an acid; and then
(b) contacting the biomass with a reductant;
wherein the reductant of step (b) comprises a sulfide.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reductant of step (b) comprises an alkali metal sulfide salt.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reductant of step (b) comprises sodium sulfide and/or potassium sulfide.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reductant of step (b) comprises sodium sulfide.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein steps (a) and (b) are conducted at a temperature of about 100° C. or less.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein steps (a) and (b) are conducted at a temperature of about 75° C. or less.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein steps (a) and (b) are conducted at a temperature of about 50° C. or less.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (b) is conducted in the same reaction vessel as step (a) and the acyl halide used in step (a) is not removed from the vessel.
9. A method of liquefying biomass, the method comprising:
(a) contacting biomass with a solution comprising an acyl halide and a carboxylic acid; and then
(b) contacting the biomass with a reductant.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the reductant of step (b) comprises a sulfide.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the reductant of step (b) comprises an alkali metal sulfide salt.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the reductant of step (b) comprises sodium sulfide and/or potassium sulfide.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the reductant of step (b) comprises sodium sulfide.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein steps (a) and (b) are conducted at a temperature of about 100° C. or less.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein steps (a) and (b) are conducted at a temperature of about 75° C. or less.
16. The method of claim 9 , wherein steps (a) and (b) are conducted at a temperature of about 50° C. or less.
17. The method of claim 9 , wherein step (b) is conducted in the same reaction vessel as step (a) and the acyl halide used in step (a) is not removed from the vessel.
18. A method of liquefying biomass, the method comprising:
(a) contacting biomass with a solution comprising an acyl bromide and a carboxylic acid; and then
(b) contacting the biomass with a reductant.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the reductant of step (b) comprises a sulfide.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the reductant of step (b) comprises an alkali metal sulfide salt.
21. The method of claim 18 , wherein the reductant of step (b) comprises sodium sulfide and/or potassium sulfide.
22. The method of claim 18 , wherein the reductant of step (b) comprises sodium sulfide.
23. The method of claim 18 , wherein steps (a) and (b) are conducted at a temperature of about 100° C. or less.
24. The method of claim 18 , wherein steps (a) and (b) are conducted at a temperature of about 75° C. or less.
25. The method of claim 18 , wherein steps (a) and (b) are conducted at a temperature of about 50° C. or less.
26. The method of claim 18 , wherein step (b) is conducted in the same reaction vessel as step (a) and the acyl halide used in step (a) is not removed from the vessel.
27. A method of liquefying biomass, the method comprising:
(a) contacting biomass with a solution comprising acetyl bromide and acetic acid; and then
(b) contacting the biomass with a reductant.
28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the reductant of step (b) comprises a sulfide.
29. The method of claim 27 , wherein the reductant of step (b) comprises an alkali metal sulfide salt.
30. The method of claim 27 , wherein the reductant of step (b) comprises sodium sulfide and/or potassium sulfide.
31. The method of claim 27 , wherein the reductant of step (b) comprises sodium sulfide.
32. The method of claim 27 , wherein steps (a) and (b) are conducted at a temperature of about 100° C. or less.
33. The method of claim 27 , wherein steps (a) and (b) are conducted at a temperature of about 75° C. or less.
34. The method of claim 27 , wherein steps (a) and (b) are conducted at a temperature of about 50° C. or less.
35. The method of claim 27 , wherein step (b) is conducted in the same reaction vessel as step (a) and the acyl halide used in step (a) is not removed from the vessel.