Patent ID: 7585387

Claim:
A method to separate cellulose from lignin in a lignocellulosic material, said method comprising the steps of the following: (a) mixing the lignocellulosic material with an oxidizing solution, wherein said lignocellulosic material is not chemically treated to remove lignin prior to mixing with the oxidizing solution forming a mixture; wherein said oxidizing solution comprises a peroxide and a hypochlorite, wherein the oxidizing solution is formed by adding a peroxide ingredient to a hypochlorite ingredient so that the weight ratio of the hypochlorite to the peroxide is no less than about 5:1 to a maximum of about 100:1; and incubating said mixture for a time period no less than about 10 min, wherein at the end of the incubation period said mixture contains a solid fraction containing cellulose and a liquid fraction containing lignin; and (b) separating said liquid fraction from said solid fraction.