Compositions and methods useful for ionic liquid treatment of biomass
The present invention provides for novel compositions and methods for recycling or recovering ionic liquid used in IL pretreated cellulose and/or lignocellulosic biomass (LBM).
1. A composition comprising (a) a first liquid phase comprising a water-miscible ionic liquid (IL), a ketone, and a biomass, lignin, cellulose, or lignocellulosic biomass (LBM); and (b) a solid or second liquid phase comprising an alcohol; wherein the composition has a molar ratio X:Y:Z:: ketone: the alcohol: the IL, wherein the molar ratio X:Y:Z is defined by the area labeled “Porous Solid+Liquid” in FIG. 3 .
2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the IL is 1-alkyl-3-alkylimidazolium alkanate, 1-alkyl-3-alkylimidazolium alkylsulfate, 1-alkyl-3-alkylimidazolium methylsulfonate, 1-alkyl-3-alkylimidazolium hydrogensulfate, 1-alkyl-3-alkylimidazolium thiocyanate, and 1-alkyl-3-alkylimidazolium halide, wherein “alkyl” is an alkyl group comprising from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and “alkanate” is an alkanate comprising from 1 to 10 carbon atoms.
3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the IL is 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate (EMIN Acetate), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (EMIN Cl), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogensulfate (EMIM HOSO3), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium methylsulfate (EMIM MeOSO3), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylsulfate (EMIM EtOSO3), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium methanesulfonate (EMIM MeSO3), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrachloroaluminate (EMIM AlCl4), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium thiocyanate (EMIM SCN), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate (BMIM Acetate), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMIM Cl), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogensulfate (BMIM HOSO3), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methanesulfonate (BMIM MeSO3), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methylsulfate (BMIM MeOSO3), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrachloroaluminate (BMIM AlCl4), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium thiocyanate (BMIM SCN), 1-ethyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium ethylsulfate (EDIM EtOSO3), Tris(2-hydroxyethyl)methylammonium methylsulfate (MTEOA MeOSO3), 1-methylimidazolium chloride (MIM Cl), 1-methylimidazolium hydrogensulfate (MIM HOSO3), 1,2,4-trimethylpyrazolium methylsulfate, tributylmethylammonium methylsulfate, choline acetate, or choline salicylate.
4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the ketone is acetone, dimethyl ketone, methyl-ethyl ketone, diethyl ketone, or a mixture thereof.
5. The composition of claim 4 , wherein the ketone is acetone.
6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the alcohol is methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, or a mixture thereof.
7. The composition of claim 6 , wherein the alcohol is ethanol.
8. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the molar ratio X:Y:Z is about X>3, 0.8<Y<1.2, and Z=1.
9. The composition of claim 8 , wherein the molar ratio X:Y:Z is about 3.3≦X≦8, Y≈1, and Z=1.
10. The composition of claim 9 , wherein the molar ratio X:Y:Z is about 4≦X≦6, Y=1, and Z=1.