Lignin solvation using aqueous biologically compatible buffers
AssigneeUniversity of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorsAdam B. Grossman, Kelly C. Rice, Willem Evert Vermerris
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Abstract
Provided are aqueous lignin solutions containing lignin solvated in Good's Buffers. The aqueous lignin solutions can be used in a variety of applications including biomedical research and in manufacturing a variety of lignin containing products including food grade and biomedical products. The aqueous lignin solutions can also be used in the treatment of microbial infection, as an adjuvant in antimicrobial therapeutics or therapy, and in forming antimicrobial products. Methods of making and using aqueous lignin solutions are also described.
Claims20
An aqueous lignin solution comprising lignin solvated in a Good's buffer solution at about pH 6.5 to about pH 7.5, wherein the Good's buffer contains a zwitterionic N-substituted aminosulfonic acid moiety, and wherein the lignin is from an alkaline extraction process and is not chemically derivatized with any anionic moieties.
A method for preparing an aqueous lignin solution, comprising:
- (a) obtaining lignin from an alkaline extraction process wherein the lignin is not chemically derivatized with any anionic moieties, and
- (b) combining the lignin with a Good's buffer in an aqueous solution, wherein the Good's buffer contains a zwitterionic N-substituted aminosulfonic moiety and has a pH of 6.5-7.5, thereby solvating the lignin.
A process of delignifying lignocellulose comprising:
- adding a Good's buffer containing a zwitterionic N-substituted aminosulfonic moiety at pH 5.5-11.5 to the lignocellulose to form a mixture, incubating the mixture for at least 5 minutes to solvate lignin in the mixture, filtering the mixture to remove solvated lignin from insoluble material, precipitating lignin with an anti-solvent, collecting precipitated lignin, and removing the anti-solvent to regenerate the GB, wherein the regenerated GB is available to repeat one or more additional delignification procedures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.