Compositions comprising c5 and c6 monosaccharides

Abstract

Compositions comprising C5 and C6 monosaccharides and low levels of undesirable impurities, such as compounds containing sulfur, nitrogen, or metals, are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition, comprising:
 at least one water-soluble C6 monosaccharide hydrolysate;   at least one water-soluble C5 oligosaccharide having a degree of polymerization of about 2 to about 15;   at least one water-soluble C5 monosaccharide hydrolysate; and   impurities; wherein said impurities comprise at least one of:   (a) a total amount by weight, based on total weight of said composition, of less than about 6750 ppm of elements Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sb, Se, Si, Sn, Sr, Ti, TI, V, and Zn when said composition is measured for all of said elements;   (b) less than about 10 ppm by weight, based on total weight of said composition, of aluminum;   (c) less than about 350 ppm by weight, based on total weight of said composition, of calcium;   (d) less than about 425 ppm by weight, based on total weight of said composition, of iron; and   (e) less than about 4500 ppm by weight, based on total weight of said composition, of sulfur.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said water-soluble C6 monosaccharide hydrolysate is extracted from lignocellulosic biomass. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 ,
 wherein said water-soluble C6 monosaccharide hydrolysate is processed from lignocellulosic biomass using supercritical, subcritical, or near critical fluid extraction, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 water.   
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said water-soluble C6 monosaccharide hydrolysate is present at a concentration of at least about 0.5 g/L.   
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said water-soluble C6 monosaccharide hydrolysate is glucose, galactose, mannose, fructose, or a mixture thereof.   
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the weight ratio of said water-soluble C6 monosaccharide hydrolysate to said elements is greater than about 25:1.   
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 ,
 wherein level of said elements are measured by inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy.   
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 less than about 1500 mg of nitrogen per kg of total weight of water-soluble C6 saccharide hydrolysate.   
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one water-soluble C6 oligosaccharide hydrolysate having a degree of polymerization of about 2 to about 15.   
     
     
         11 . A composition, comprising:
 at least one water-soluble C5 monosaccharide hydrolysate;   at least one water-soluble C5 oligosaccharide hydrolysate having a degree of polymerization of about 2 to about 15; and   impurities; wherein said impurities comprise at least one of:   (a) a total amount by weight, based on total weight of said composition, of less than about 1950 ppm of elements Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sb, Se, Si, Sn, Sr, Ti, TI, V, and Zn when said composition is measured for all of said elements;   (b) less than about 5 ppm by weight, based on total weight of said composition, of aluminum;   (c) less than about 300 ppm by weight, based on total weight of said composition, of calcium;   (d) less than about 10 ppm by weight, based on total weight of said composition, of iron;   (e) less than about 1000 ppm by weight, based on total weight of said composition, of sulfur.   
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 11 ,
 wherein said water-soluble C5 monosaccharide hydrolysate is extracted from lignocellulosic biomass.   
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12 ,
 wherein said water-soluble C5 monosaccharide hydrolysate is processed from lignocellulosic biomass using supercritical, subcritical, or near critical fluid extraction, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 water.   
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 11 ,
 wherein said water-soluble C5 monosaccharide hydrolysate is present at a concentration of at least 0.5 g/L.   
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 11 ,
 wherein said water-soluble C5 monosaccharide hydrolysate is xylose, arabinose, lyxose, ribose, or a mixture thereof.   
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the weight ratio of said water-soluble C5 monosaccharide hydrolysate to said elements is greater than about 90:1.   
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the level of said elements is measured by inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy.   
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 less than about 350 mg of nitrogen per kg of total weight of water-soluble C5 saccharide hydrolysate.   
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 at least one water-soluble C6 saccharide having a degree of polymerization of about 1 to about 15.