A SINGLE STEP PROCESS FOR SEPARATING BIOMASS COMPONENTS

摘要

Disclosed is a process for obtaining cellulose from biomass in a form amenable to complete enzymatic hydrolysis, said process comprising contacting the biomass with a mixture of an organic solvent immiscible in water selected from a group comprising butanol and iso-amyl alcohol, a mineral acid (such as sulphuric acid) and a metal salt catalyst selected from copper sulphate, ferrous sulphate, ferrous ammonium sulphate, nickel sulphate, sodium sulphate, ferric chloride dissolved in an aqueous solution under a temperature in the range of 120° - 220°C and pressure in the range of 1.5 - 20 bar and filtering the reaction mixture under pressure to separate the dissolved lignin, hemicellulose in the solvent and aqueous phase respectively and leaving behind pure cellulose.