ORGANOSOLV PROCESS FOR THE EXTRACTION OF HIGHLY PURE LIGNIN AND PRODUCTS COMPRISING THE SAME

摘要

A highly pure lignin comprising a lignin content of at least 97% and characterized by a low carbohydrate content and substantially no sulfur content is disclosed herein. An organosolv process for extracting the highly pure lignin is also disclosed herein. The process comprises pretreating a lignocellulosic material in a first polar protic solvent, to remove extractive compounds and to provide a pretreated lignocellulosic material; and treating the pretreated lignocellulosic material with a Lewis acid in a second polar protic solvent.