Abstract:
A method for treating a cellulosic material comprising extracting the cellulosic material with an extractant to selectively extract hemicellulose therein and separating the extracted hemicellulose to form a cellulosic product comprising less hemicellulose than the cellulose-containing material. The extractant comprises an ionic liquid and a non-solvent. The cellulosic product retains the cellulosic fiber morphology.
Abstract:
The present invention generally provides methods of improving lignin separation during lignocellulosic biorefining, comprising the steps of (i) catalyzing fractionation or hydrolysis with an acid to release sugars into an acidified solution containing lignin, (ii) neutralizing the acidified solution with a base to form a salt in a neutralized solution; (iii) in a separation unit, separating the salt and the lignin, each in free or combined form, from the neutralized solution; and then (iv) recycling a portion of the salt and optionally a portion of the lignin to step (i) to combine, physically or chemically, with the lignin, to improve lignin separation in the separation unit. In certain embodiments, the acid is a sulfur-containing acid and the base is lime, forming gypsum which is then recycled, in part, to the hydrolysis reactor.
Abstract:
The present disclosure relates generally to polysaccharide synthases. The present disclosure reveals that a subset of the CesA gene family encode XynS xylan synthases. As a result of the identification of XynS nucleic acids, and corresponding amino acid sequences that encode XynS xylan synthases, the present invention provides, inter alia, methods and compositions for modulating the level and/or activity of xylan synthase in a cell and/or modulating the level of xylan produced by a cell.
Abstract:
A method of separating hemicellulose and cellulose by dissolution of hemicellulose from a hemicellulose-rich source, such as a pulp of any origin or from holocellulose. In the method, hemicellulose is dissolved in a solvent system comprising a cellulose solvent, which is either a ionic liquid or another direct cellulose solvent, and a molecular solvent (co-solvent), wherein said co-solvent does not dissolve cellulose, and wherein the solvent basicity and acidity of said ionic liquid or other direct cellulose solvent are adequately adjusted by the co-solvent. The present invention enables quantitative separation of cellulose and hemicellulose without any depolymerization and yield losses as occurring during conventional dissolving pulp manufacturing processes.
Abstract:
Biopolymer catalysts, methods of synthesizing a biopolymer catalyst, and methods of catalyzing the hydrolysis of cellulose with a biopolymer catalyst are described. The biopolymer catalyst can comprise a microcrystalline sulfonated biopolymer comprising a plurality of pendent acid groups of formula -COOH, a plurality of pendent phenolic alcohol groups of formula -OH, and a plurality of pendent sulfonated groups of formula -SO2OH.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for isolating xylan from plant material. In the method, cellulose fibres which contain xylan are used, advantageously cellulose fibres from hardwood; and xylan is extracted (20) from said cellulose fibres by means of sodium hydroxide for forming an extract solution (17) that contains xylan; cellulose fibres are removed from said mixture that contains cellulose fibres and extract solution (17), for isolating said extract solution from said mixture; carbon dioxide (14) is added to said extract solution (17) for isolating xylan, wherein liquid brightener (18) and precipitated xylan (12) are formed; calcium hydroxide (16) is added to said isolated brightener (18), for forming precipitated calcium carbonate and liquid sodium hydroxide (15); and sodium hydroxide is removed from said mixture that contains sodium hydroxide and precipitated calcium carbonate, for isolating calcium carbonate from said mixture. Furthermore, the invention relates to a system for isolating xylan from plant material, and to xylan, calcium carbonate, cellulose fibre and use of xylan.
Abstract:
The invention relates to method for preparation of a specific product from a polysaccharide in which at least one hydroxyl of a saccharide unit is substituted with an ether or ester moiety. Said ether or ester moiety is provided with ethenyl and / or epoxy functionality for preparing an activatable polysaccharide polymer and the activatable polysaccharide polymer with ethenyl and / or epoxy functionality is optionally reacted with an additional coupling reagent, having at least two coupling functionality for preparing polysaccharide polymer with additional activatable crosslinker. Thereafter the activatable polysaccharide polymer or the polysaccharide polymer with an additional activatable crosslinker, is activated for crosslinking said polysaccharide polymer with another polysaccharide polymer by reacting said activatable polysaccharide polymer or polysaccharide polymer with an additional activatable crosslinker with a crosslinking iniator for crosslinking the polysaccharide polymer chains with each other,for preparing a product such as hydrogel, film, coating or membrane with polysaccharide backbone.
Abstract:
A process of separating one or more components of corn fiber that comprises contacting the corn fiber with an extraction fluid that comprises at least one weak acid, increasing the temperature of the resulting mixture of fiber and fluid to solubilize hemicellulose of the corn fiber into the fluid, cooling the mixture, and separating the cooled extraction mixture into a soluble fraction comprising dissolved hemicellulose and an insoluble fraction comprising cellulose.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to provide an improved process of preparation of Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium of Formula (I) comprising a step of purifying the depolymerized aqueous solution by diluting with excess of water followed by diafiltration through membrane system.