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US 9,765,478 B2Granted
Treatment of biomass to dissolve lignin with ionic liquid composition
AssigneeImperial Innovations Limited
InventorsAgnieszka Brandt, Richard J. Murphy, David J. Leak, Tom Welton, Jason Hallett
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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.
Claims19
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 and 20-40% v/v water to dissolve lignin and 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]−, and hydrogen phosphate [HPO4]2−, and wherein the contacting is performed such that the majority of the cellulose in the lignocellulose biomass remains solid;
- and
- (b) separating the ionic liquid-containing composition from the cellulose pulp produced in (a).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.