Modified sulfuric acid and uses thereof
An aqueous composition comprising: sulfuric acid; an alkanesulfonic acid; and a peroxide. Said composition being capable of delignifying biomass under milder conditions than conditions under which kraft pulping takes place.
1. An aqueous acidic composition consisting of:
sulfuric acid;
an alkanesulfonic acid; and
a peroxide,
wherein said sulfuric acid and said alkanesulfonic acid are present in a molar ratio ranging from 28:1 to 2:1.
2. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein said sulfuric acid and said alkanesulfonic acid are present in a molar ratio ranging from 24:1 to 3:1.
3. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein said sulfuric acid and said alkanesulfonic acid are present in a molar ratio ranging from 20:1 to 4:1.
4. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein said sulfuric acid and said alkanesulfonic acid are present in a molar ratio ranging from 16:1 to 5:1.
5. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein said sulfuric acid and said alkanesulfonic acid are present in a molar ratio ranging from 12:1 to 6:1.
6. The composition according to claim 1 , where wherein said alkanesulfonic acid is selected from the group consisting of: alkanesulfonic acids where the alkyl groups range from C 1 -C 6 and are linear or branched and combinations thereof.
7. The composition according to claim 1 , where said, wherein said alkanesulfonic acid is selected from the group consisting of:
methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, propanesulfonic acid, 2-propanesulfonic acid, isobutylsulfonic acid, t-butylsulfonic acid, butanesulfonic acid, iso-pentylsulfonic acid, t-pentylsulfonic acid, pentanesulfonic acid, t-butylhexanesulfonic acid and combinations thereof.
8. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein said alkanesulfonic acid is methanesulfonic acid.