Modified sulfuric acid and uses thereof
One-pot processes to separate lignin from a lignocellulosic feedstock include providing a vessel; providing a lignocellulosic feedstock; providing a composition comprising an acid, a modifying agent comprising an alkanesulfonic acid, and a peroxide; and exposing the lignocellulosic feedstock to the composition in the vessel for a period of time sufficient to remove at least 80% of the lignin present in the lignocellulosic feedstock. In some instances, such one-pot process can further include removing a liquid phase comprising dissolved lignin fragments from a solid phase comprising cellulose fibres.
1. A one-pot process to separate lignin from a lignocellulosic feedstock, said process comprising:
providing a vessel;
providing a lignocellulosic feedstock;
providing a composition comprising:
sulfuric acid;
a modifying agent comprising an alkanesulfonic acid; and
a peroxide;
exposing the lignocellulosic feedstock to the composition in the vessel for a period of time sufficient to remove at least 80% of the lignin present in the lignocellulosic feedstock; and
optionally, removing a liquid phase comprising dissolved lignin fragments from a solid phase comprising cellulose fibres.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the sulfuric acid and the alkanesulfonic acid are present in a molar ratio ranging from 28:1: to 2:1.
3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the peroxide is hydrogen peroxide.
4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the period of time is sufficient to remove at least 90% of the lignin present in the lignocellulosic feedstock.
5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the period of time is sufficient to remove at least 95% of the lignin present in the lignocellulosic feedstock.
6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the composition prior to exposing the composition to the lignocellulosic feedstock is below 50° C.
7. The process of claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the composition prior to exposing the composition to the lignocellulosic feedstock is below 40° C.
8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the composition prior to exposing the composition to the lignocellulosic feedstock is below 30° C.
9. The process of claim 1 , wherein the 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.
10. The process of claim 1 , wherein the alkanesulfonic acid is methanesulfonic acid.
11. The process of claim 9 , wherein the sulfuric acid and the alkanesulfonic acid are present in a molar ratio ranging from 28:1: to 2:1.
12. The process of claim 1 , wherein the sulfuric acid and the alkanesulfonic acid are present in a molar ratio ranging from 24:1 to 3:1.
13. The process of claim 1 , wherein the sulfuric acid and the alkanesulfonic acid are present in a molar ratio ranging from 20:1 to 4:1.
14. The process of claim 1 , wherein the sulfuric acid and the alkanesulfonic acid are present in a molar ratio ranging from 16:1 to 5:1.
15. The process of claim 1 , wherein the sulfuric acid and the alkanesulfonic acid are present in a molar ratio ranging from 12:1 to 6:1.
16. The process of claim 9 , wherein the peroxide is hydrogen peroxide.
17. The process of claim 1 , further comprising removing the liquid phase comprising dissolved lignin fragments from the solid phase comprising cellulose fibres.