Process for manufacturing of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC)

A process to manufacture nanocrystalline cellulose from cellulose having a low lignin and low hemicellulose content, said process comprising the steps of:

• exposing said cellulose to a microemulsion composition for a first pre-determined period of time, thereby creating a soaked cellulose;
• optionally, exposing the soaked cellulose to a sonication step for a second predetermined period of time;
• exposing the resulting mixture to a source of peroxide with a metal salt selected from the group consisting of:
• FeSO4 or CuSO4 under acidic conditions, for a third pre-determined period causing hydrolysis of the cellulose;
• and
• recovering the resulting nanocrystalline cellulose.

A method for the preparation of nanocrystalline cellulose from a biomass, where said method comprises the following steps:

• providing a biomass feedstock comprising:
• cellulose;
• hemicellulose;
• and lignin;
• exposing the biomass to a modified Caro's acid selected from the group consisting of:
• composition A;
• composition B and composition C;
• wherein said composition A comprises:
• sulfuric acid in an amount ranging from 20 to 70 wt % of the total weight of the composition;
• a compound comprising an amine moiety and a sulfonic acid moiety selected from the group consisting of:
• taurine;
• taurine derivatives;
• and taurine-related compounds;
• and
• a peroxide;
• wherein said composition B comprises:
• an alkylsulfonic acid;
• and
• a peroxide;
• wherein the acid is present in an amount ranging from 40 to 80 wt % of the total weight of the composition and where the peroxide is present in an amount ranging from 10 to 40 wt % of the total weight of the composition;
• wherein said composition C comprises:
• sulfuric acid;
• a compound comprising an amine moiety;
• a compound comprising a sulfonic acid moiety;
• and
• a peroxide;
• to create a biomass/acid mixture;
• allow exposure for a period of time sufficient to dissolve enough of the lignin present in said biomass mixture to obtain a kappa number for the cellulose of less than 10;
• separating the liquid from the solid portion of delignification mixture;
• optionally, exposing the solid portion to a caustic composition to dissolve the hemicellulose present therein;
• extracting the remaining cellulose;
• optionally, adjusting the pH of the cellulose;
• exposing said cellulose to a microemulsion composition for a first pre-determined period of time, thereby creating a soaked cellulose;
• optionally, exposing the soaked cellulose to a sonication step for a second predetermined period of time;
• exposing the resulting mixture to a source of peroxide with a metal salt selected from the group consisting of:
• FeSO4 or CuSO4, for a third pre-determined period causing hydrolysis of the cellulose;
• and
• recovering the resulting nanocrystalline cellulose.

A method for increasing the yield of nanocrystalline cellulose from a cellulose having a low hemicellulose content, said process comprising the steps of:

• exposing said cellulose to a solution comprising a microemulsion for a first pre-determined period of time, thereby creating a soaked cellulose;
• optionally, exposing the soaked cellulose to a sonication step for a second predetermined period of time;
• and
• exposing the resulting mixture to a source of peroxide with a metal salt selected from the group consisting of:
• FeSO4 or CuSO4, under acidic conditions for a third pre-determined period causing hydrolysis of the cellulose;
• and
• recovering the resulting nanocrystalline cellulose;
• wherein the starting cellulose has a particle size ranging from 100 to 1000 μm.