US 12,241,104 B2
Use of metal salts and deep eutectic solvents in a process to solubilize a biomass
Lalitendu Das, Emeryville, CA (US); Hemant Choudhary, Emeryville, CA (US); John M. Gladden, Alameda, CA (US); and Blake A. Simmons, San Francisco, CA (US)
Assigned to THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, Oakland, CA (US); and NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS OF SANDIA, LLC, Albuquerque, NM (US)
Filed by THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, Oakland, CA (US); and NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS OF SANDIA, LLC, Albuquerque, NM (US)
Filed on Apr. 1, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/220,846.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/003,791, filed on Apr. 1, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0317481 A1, Oct. 14, 2021
Int. Cl. C12P 19/14 (2006.01); C12P 7/10 (2006.01); C12P 19/02 (2006.01)
CPC C12P 19/14 (2013.01) [C12P 7/10 (2013.01); C12P 19/02 (2013.01); C12P 2201/00 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
 
1. A method to produce a biofuel or chemical compound from a biomass, the method comprising: (a) introducing a biomass and a metal-based deep eutectic solvent (mDES), or mixture thereof, into a vessel to form a composition, wherein the biomass forms 20% to 50% solid loading of the composition and the mDES, or mixture thereof, solubilizes the biomass; and, (b) introducing a cellulase to the composition to release a sugar from the solubilized biomass; wherein the introducing step (b) produces a sugar yield of about 90% or more.