Modified sulfuric acid and uses thereof
A one-pot process to separate lignin from a lignocellulosic feedstock, where the process involves the steps of: providing a vessel; providing the lignocellulosic feedstock; providing a composition that includes: an acid; a modifying agent including a compound containing an amine group; 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, separating and removing a liquid phase that includes dissolved lignin fragments from a solid phase containing cellulose fibres.
1. A one-pot process to separate lignin from a lignocellulosic feedstock, the one-pot process comprising the steps of:
providing a vessel;
providing the lignocellulosic feedstock;
providing a composition comprising:
an acid;
a modifying agent comprising a compound containing an amine group; and
a peroxide;
exposing the lignocellulosic feedstock to the composition in the vessel for a period of time sufficient to remove at least 80% by mass of the lignin present in the lignocellulosic feedstock; and
optionally, separating and removing a liquid phase comprising dissolved lignin fragments from a solid phase comprising cellulose fibres.
2. The one-pot process according to claim 1 , wherein the acid is sulfuric acid.
3. The one-pot process according to claim 1 , wherein the peroxide is hydrogen peroxide.
4. The one-pot process according to claim 1 , wherein the period of time is sufficient to remove at least 90% by mass of the lignin present in the lignocellulosic feedstock.
5. The one-pot process according to claim 1 , wherein the period of time is sufficient to remove at least 95% by mass of the lignin present in the lignocellulosic feedstock.
6. The one-pot process according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the composition prior to the step of exposing it to the lignocellulosic feedstock is below 50° C.
7. The one-pot process according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the composition prior to the step of exposing it to the lignocellulosic feedstock is below 40° C.
8. The one-pot process according to claim 1 , wherein the process is carried out at ambient temperature.
9. The one-pot process according to claim 1 , wherein the process is carried out at ambient pressure.
10. The one-pot process according to claim 1 , the process comprising separating and removing the liquid phase comprising dissolved lignin fragments from the solid phase comprising cellulose fibres.
11. The one-pot process according to claim 1 , the amine group of the modifying agent is a tertiary amine.
12. The one-pot process according to claim 1 , the modifying agent is monoethanolamine, diethanolamine or triethanolamine.
13. The one-pot process according to claim 1 , the modifying agent is pyrrolidone, morpholine, piperidine, MEA-triazine or 1,8-diazabicyclo(5,4,0)undec-7-ene (DBU).