Novel approach to biomass delignification

Abstract

Method of delignification of plant material, said method comprising: providing said plant material comprising cellulose fibres and lignin; exposing said plant material requiring to a composition comprising: an acid; a modifiying agent selected from the group consisting of: sulfamic acid; imidazole; N-alkylimidazole; taurine; a taurine derivative; a taurine-related compound; alkylsulfonic acid; arylsulfonic acid; triethanolamine; and combinations thereof; a metal oxide; and a peroxide; for a period of time sufficient to remove substantially all (at least 80%) of the lignin present on said plant material.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.