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US 2014/0073016 A1Published application
Treatment
AssigneeImperial Innovations Limited
InventorsAgnieszka Brandt, Richard J. Murphy, David J. Leak, Tom Welton, Jason Hallett
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a method for treating a lignocellulose biomass in order to dissolve the lignin therein, while the cellulose does not dissolve. The cellulose pulp obtained can be used to produce glucose. In addition the lignin can be isolated for subsequent use in the renewable chemical industry as a source for aromatic platform chemicals.
Claims20
A method of treating a biomass to dissolve the lignin therein, but not the cellulose comprising:
- (a) contacting the lignocellulose biomass with a composition comprising an ionic liquid to produce a cellulose pulp, wherein the ionic liquid comprises a cation and an anion selected from C1-20 alkyl sulfate [AlkylSO4]−, C1-20 alkylsulfonate [AlkylSO3]−, hydrogen sulfate [HSO4]−, hydrogen sulphite [HSO3]−, dihydrogen phosphate [H2PO4]−, hydrogen phosphate [HPO4]2− and acetate, [MeCO2], with the proviso that if the anion is acetate then the composition further comprises 10-40% v/v water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.