Abstract: A process to delignify biomass, said process comprising the steps of: providing a vessel; providing biomass comprising lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose fibers into said vessel; providing a aqueous acidic composition comprising a sulfuric acid component; providing a peroxide component; exposing said biomass to said sulfuric acid component and peroxide component, creating a reaction mass; allowing said sulfuric acid component and peroxide component to come into contact with said biomass for a period of time sufficient to a delignification reaction to occur and remove over 90 wt % of said lignin and hemicellulose from said biomass; and controlling the temperature of the delignification reaction to maintain it below 55° C.

Abstract: A process to separate lignin from a lignocellulosic feedstock, said process comprising the steps of: providing said lignocellulosic feedstock; providing a composition comprising; an acid; a modifying agent selected from the group consisting of: sulfamic acid; imidazole; imidazole derivatives; taurine; a taurine derivative; a taurine-related compound; alkylsulfonic acid; arylsulfonic acid; triethanolamine; and combinations thereof; a peroxide salt; and a peroxide; exposing said lignocellulosic feedstock to said composition for a period of time sufficient to depolymerize substantially all of the lignin present in said lignocellulosic feedstock into lignin oligomers and lignin monomers; wherein said process is carried out at atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: An aqueous composition comprising: sulfuric acid; a modifying agent comprising an amine group; and a peroxide. The amine group can include triethanolamine, diethanolamine, monoethanolamine, pyrrolidine, ethylenediamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, DIPEA, cyclohexylamine, piperidine, morpholine, DBU, benzylamine, and combinations thereof. The composition is capable of delignifying biomass under milder conditions than conditions under which kraft pulping takes place. The composition can be used in processing and depolymerization of cellulose from a plant source.

Abstract: Method of delignification of plant material, said method comprising: providing said plant material comprising cellulose fibres and lignin; exposing said plant material requiring to a composition comprising: an acid; a modifiying agent selected from the group consisting of: sulfamic acid; imidazole; N-alkylimidazole; taurine; a taurine derivative; a taurine-related compound; alkylsulfonic acid; arylsulfonic acid; triethanolamine; and combinations thereof; a metal oxide; and a peroxide; for a period of time sufficient to remove substantially all (at least 80%) of the lignin present on said plant material.

Abstract: Method for controlled delignification of lignocellulosic feedstock, said method comprising the steps of: providing a reactive phase of pH less than 1, said reactive phase comprising: water; sulfuric acid; a source of peroxide; a modifying agent, said modifying agent adapted to control the reactivity of the sulfuric acid; providing a holding phase, said holding phase comprising an organic solvent which does not react with the aqueous acidic composition; combining said reactive phase and holding phase to form a reaction mixture; exposing a lignocellulosic material to said reaction mixture for a period of time sufficient to allow delignification of the lignocellulosic material.