MODIFIED SULFURIC ACID AND USES THEREOF
An aqueous composition comprising: sulfuric acid; a substituted aromatic compound; 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 comprising:
sulfuric acid;
a substituted aromatic compound; and
a peroxide.
2 . The composition according to claim 1 where said a substituted aromatic compound is a disubstituted aromatic compound comprising an amine group and a sulfonic acid group.
3 . The composition according to claim 1 , wherein sulfuric acid, said substituted aromatic compound are present in a molar ratio ranging from 28:1 to 2:1.
4 . The composition according to claim 1 , where said substituted aromatic compound has a molecular weight below 300 g/mol.
5 . The composition according to claim 1 , where said substituted aromatic compound is a secondary amine.
6 . The composition according to claim 1 , where said substituted aromatic compound is selected from the group consisting of: sulfanilic acid; metanilic acid; orthanilic acid; and combinations thereof.
7 . An aqueous composition for use in the processing and depolymerisation of cellulose from a plant source, wherein said composition comprises:
sulfuric acid present in an amount ranging from 20-80 wt % of the total weight of the composition;
a substituted aromatic compound; and
a peroxide;
wherein the sulfuric acid and the substituted aromatic compound are present in a mole ratio ranging from 2:1 to 28:1.
8 . The composition according to claim 7 , where the peroxide is hydrogen peroxide.
9 . The composition according to claim 7 , where said substituted aromatic compound comprises an aromatic compound having a sulfonamide substituent.
10 . The composition according to claim 7 , where said substituted aromatic compound comprises an aromatic compound having a sulfonamide substituent is selected from the group consisting of:
benzene sulfonamides; toluene sulfonamides; substituted benzene sulfonamides; and substituted toluene sulfonamides.
11 . A one-pot process to separate lignin from a lignocellulosic feedstock, said process comprising the steps of:
providing a vessel;
providing said lignocellulosic feedstock;
providing a composition comprising;
an acid;
a modifying agent comprising a substituted aromatic compound; and
a peroxide;
exposing said lignocellulosic feedstock to said composition in said vessel for a period of time sufficient to remove at least 80% of the lignin present said lignocellulosic feedstock;
optionally, separating and removing a liquid phase comprising dissolved lignin fragments from a solid phase comprising cellulose fibres.
12 . The process according to claim 11 , wherein said acid is sulfuric acid.
13 . The process according to claim 11 wherein said peroxide is hydrogen peroxide.
14 . The process according to claim 11 , wherein the period of time is sufficient to remove at least 90% of the lignin present on said plant material.
15 . The process according to claim 11 , wherein the period of time is sufficient to remove at least 95% of the lignin present on said plant material.
16 . The process according to claim 11 , wherein the temperature of the composition prior to the step of exposing it to the lignocellulosic feedstock is below 50° C.
17 . The process according to claim 11 , wherein the temperature of the composition prior to the step of exposing it to the lignocellulosic feedstock is below 40° C.
18 . The process according to claim 11 , wherein the temperature of the composition prior to the step of exposing it to the lignocellulosic feedstock is below 30° C.
19 . The process according to claim 11 , wherein the temperature of the composition prior to the step of exposing it to the lignocellulosic feedstock is below 25° C.
20 . The process according to claim 11 , wherein said method is carried out at ambient temperature.
21 . The process according to claim 11 , wherein said method is carried out at ambient pressure.