Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for separating phenolic acids, comprising a step a) of contacting a feed containing at least two different phenolic acids (PA) with an extraction solvent to extract the at least two different PAs in a first PA containing liquid. The process also comprises a step b) of contacting the first PA containing liquid with a solid molecular imprinted polymer (MIP), such that the MIP captures a target PA from the at least two different PAs, to thereby form a first PA bound MIP dispersed in a second PA containing liquid, where the second PA containing liquid comprises at least one PA and none or a substantially lesser amount of the target PA originally present in the first PA containing liquid.

Abstract: A method of converting a lignocellulosic biomass to monosaccharides, and optionally further converting the monosaccharides to one or both of furfural and HMF, includes contacting the biomass with a reactive liquid phase comprising LiBr, H2SO4, and water, wherein H2SO4 preferably constitutes at most 1.0 wt %, more preferably at most 0.5 wt %, and most preferably at most 0.1 wt % of the reactive liquid phase, and water preferably constitutes at most at most 60 wt %, more preferably at most 50 wt %, and most preferably at most 30 wt % of the reactive liquid phase.

Abstract: A method of converting a lignocellulosic biomass to monosaccharides, and optionally further converting the monosaccharides to one or both of furfural and HMF, includes contacting the biomass with a reactive liquid phase comprising LiBr, H2SO4. and water, wherein H2SO4 preferably constitutes at most 1.0 wt %, more preferably at most 0.5 wt %, and most preferably at most 0.1 wt % of the reactive liquid phase, and water preferably constitutes at most at most 60 wt %, more preferably at most 50 wt %, and most preferably at most 30 wt % of the reactive liquid phase.