Compositions and methods for extracting biological material from sugar-bearing plants

A process for extracting biological material from sugar-bearing plant material comprising the steps of:

• contacting the sugar-bearing plant material with an extractant solution comprising water and a functionalized amphiphilic copolymer;
• and
• extracting the biological material from the sugar-bearing plant material;
• wherein the functionalized amphiphilic copolymer comprises blocks of poly(propylene oxide) and poly(ethylene oxide) according to Formula I, Formula II and Formula III:
• wherein ethylene oxide units of Formula I, II, and III are present in an amount from about 5 wt % to about 90 wt % based on a total weight of the polymer;
• each of x and y is independently greater than zero;
• and
• R1 and R2 are independently a radical functionalizer comprising fatty esters and/or hydrogen.

A process for producing ethanol from a sugar-bearing plant material, said method comprising:

• contacting the sugar-bearing plant material with an extractant solution comprising water and a functionalized amphiphilic polymer;
• extracting sugar from the sugar-bearing plant material;
• processing and fermenting the sugar-bearing extractant solution to form an aqueous solution comprising ethanol;
• and
• isolating the ethanol from the aqueous solution,
• wherein the functionalized amphiphilic polymer chain is a copolymer based on poly(alkylene oxide) with blocks of poly(propylene oxide)-PPO and poly(ethylene oxide)-PEO;
• wherein the blocks copolymer distribution are according to Formula I, Formula II and Formula III:
• wherein the ethylene oxide units of Formula I, II, and III are from about 5 wt % to 90 wt %;
• each of x and y are independently greater than zero;
• and
• R1 and R2 are independently a radical functionalizer comprising fatty esters and/or hydrogen.