| CPC C07C 29/60 (2013.01) | 12 Claims |
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1. A process for the preparation of glycols from a lignocellulosic solid biomass comprising cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin in a reactor system, said process comprising:
a) contacting the lignocellulosic solid biomass with an organic solvent comprising a low boiling point alcohol, and a pre-treatment acid, at a temperature ranging from about 80 to about 220° C. and a pressure ranging from 1 to 50 bar (absolute) for a time ranging from about 5 minutes to about 2 hours to obtain a first mixture;
b) separating the first mixture obtained in step (a) into a pre-treated solid residue comprising cellulose and hemicellulose and a liquid stream comprising dissolved lignin;
c) subjecting the pre-treated solid residue to a hydrogenolysis reaction and generating a glycols stream, a lights stream and a heavies stream;
d) recycling at least a part of the lights stream to step (a), wherein the lights stream comprises a first portion of the organic solvent;
e) separating the liquid stream from step b) to produce a second portion of the organic solvent and a lignin stream; and
f) recycling at least a part of the second portion of the organic solvent to step (a),
wherein the first mixture has less than about 30 wt % water,
wherein the pre-treatment acid comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, and combinations thereof which is/are at least partially generated in-situ in step (a); and
wherein the pre-treatment acid or a component of the pre-treatment acid is recycled to step (a).
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