Modified alkanesulfonic acid and uses thereof

Abstract

Method of delignification of plant material, said method including: providing said plant material comprising cellulose fibers and lignin; exposing said plant material requiring to a composition comprising: alkanesulfonic acid; a compound comprising an amine moiety and a sulfonic acid moiety (such as taurine); and a peroxide, wherein said alkylsulfonic acid and said peroxide are present in a molar ratio ranging from 1:1 to 15:1 and the time of exposure is sufficient to remove substantially all of the lignin present on said plant material. Compositions capable of achieving delignification are also disclosed.

1 . An aqueous acidic composition, comprising:
 an alkylsulfonic acid;   a compound comprising an amine moiety and a sulfonic acid moiety selected from the group consisting of: taurine; taurolidine; taurocholic acid; tauroselcholic acid; tauromustine; 5-taurinomethyluridine and 5-taurinomethyl-2-thiouridine; homotaurine (tramiprosate); acamprosate; taurates; aminoalkylsulfonic acids where the alkyl is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 5  linear alkyl and C 1 -C 5  branched alkyl; and   a peroxide;   
       wherein the acid is present in an amount ranging from 20 to 65 wt % of the total weight of the composition and where the peroxide is present in an amount ranging from 1 to 30 wt % of the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         2 . The aqueous acidic composition of  claim 1  wherein said linear aminoalkylsulfonic acid is selected from the group consisting of: methyl; ethyl (taurine); propyl; and butyl. 
     
     
         3 . The aqueous acidic composition of  claim 1  wherein said branched aminoalkylsulfonic acid is selected from the group consisting of: isopropyl; isobutyl; and isopentyl. 
     
     
         4 . The aqueous acidic composition according to  claim 1  wherein said alkylsulfonic acid is selected from the group consisting of: an alkylsulfonic acids with a linear C 1 -C 6  alkyl group; an alkylsulfonic acid with a branched C 1 -C 6  alkyl group; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The aqueous acidic composition according to  claim 1  wherein said alkylsulfonic acid is selected from the group consisting of: methanesulfonic acid; ethanesulfonic acid; propanesulfonic acid; 2-propanesulfonic acid; isobutylsulfonic acid; t-butylsulfonic acid; butanesulfonic acid; iso-pentylsulfonic acid; t-pentylsulfonic acid; pentanesulfonic acid; t-butylhexanesulfonic acid; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The aqueous acidic composition according to  claim 1  wherein said compound comprising a sulfonic acid moiety is methanesulfonic acid. 
     
     
         7 . An aqueous composition for use in the delignification of biomass/wood, wherein said composition comprises:
 an alkylsulfonic acid;   a compound comprising an amine moiety and a sulfonic acid moiety selected from the group consisting of: taurine; taurolidine; taurocholic acid; tauroselcholic acid; tauromustine; 5-taurinomethyluridine and 5-taurinomethyl-2-thiouridine; homotaurine (tramiprosate); acamprosate; taurates; aminoalkylsulfonic acids where the alkyl is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 5  linear alkyl and C 1 -C 5  branched alkyl; and   a peroxide;   
       wherein said alkylsulfonic acid and peroxide are present in a molar ratio ranging from 1:1 to 15:1. 
     
     
         8 . The aqueous acidic composition according to  claim 1  wherein the peroxide is hydrogen peroxide. 
     
     
         9 . The aqueous acidic composition according to  claim 1  wherein said alkylsulfonic acid and said compound comprising an amine moiety and a sulfonic acid moiety are present in a molar ratio ranging from 1:1 to 30:1. 
     
     
         10 . The aqueous acidic composition according to  claim 1  wherein said compound comprising an amine moiety and a sulfonic acid moiety is taurine. 
     
     
         11 . A method of delignification of biomass/plant material, said method comprising:
 providing said plant material comprising cellulose fibers and lignin;   exposing said plant material requiring to a composition comprising:
 an alkylsulfonic acid; 
 a compound comprising an amine moiety and a sulfonic acid moiety selected from the group consisting of: taurine; taurolidine; taurocholic acid; tauroselcholic acid; tauromustine; 5-taurinomethyluridine and 5-taurinomethyl-2-thiouridine; homotaurine (tramiprosate); acamprosate; taurates; aminoalkylsulfonic acids where the alkyl is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 5  linear alkyl and C 1 -C 5  branched alkyl; and 
 a peroxide; 
   
       wherein said alkylsulfonic acid and peroxide are present in a molar ratio ranging from 1:1 to 15:1 and the time of exposure is sufficient to remove (at least 80%) all of the lignin present on said plant material. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein the peroxide is hydrogen peroxide. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein said linear aminoalkylsulfonic acid is selected from the group consisting of: methyl; ethyl (taurine); propyl; and butyl. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein said branched aminoalkylsulfonic acid is selected from the group consisting of: isopropyl; isobutyl; and isopentyl. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein said alkylsulfonic acid is selected from the group consisting of: an alkylsulfonic acids with a linear C 1 -C 6  alkyl group; an alkylsulfonic acid with a branched C 1 -C 6  alkyl group; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein said alkylsulfonic acid is selected from the group consisting of: methanesulfonic acid; ethanesulfonic acid; propanesulfonic acid; 2-propanesulfonic acid; isobutylsulfonic acid; t-butylsulfonic acid; butanesulfonic acid; iso-pentylsulfonic acid; t-pentylsulfonic acid; pentanesulfonic acid; t-butylhexanesulfonic acid; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein said compound comprising a sulfonic acid moiety is methanesulfonic acid. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein said alkylsulfonic acid and said compound comprising an amine moiety and a sulfonic acid moiety are present in a molar ratio ranging from 1:1 to 30:1. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein said alkylsulfonic acid and said compound comprising an amine moiety and a sulfonic acid moiety are present in a molar ratio ranging from 5:1 to 10:1. 
     
     
         20 . The aqueous acidic composition according to  claim 1  wherein said compound comprising an amine moiety and a sulfonic acid moiety is taurine.