Patent ID: 8951778
Filing Date: 2015-02-10
Classification: C08B,C08H,C08L,C10G,C12P,D21C,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method of enhancing oxidative recalcitrance reduction in cellulosic or lignocellulosic materials, the method comprising: providing a first cellulosic or lignocellulosic material that has been exposed to an ion beam, the first cellulosic or lignocellulosic material having a first level of recalcitrance, and one or more functional groups formed by the ion beam exposure; and oxidizing the first cellulosic or lignocellulosic material in water or an aqueous medium together with one or more compounds comprising one or more naturally-occurring, non-radioactive group 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 or 11 elements, the one or more elements substantially dissociating as cations in the water or aqueous medium, and the cations participating in a Fenton-type reaction while oxidizing, to produce a second cellulosic or lignocellulosic material having a second level of recalcitrance lower than the first level of recalcitrance, wherein the functional groups enhance the effectiveness of the oxidizing reaction.