A method for providing a treated cellulose-comprising mixed starting material (110), in particular a mixed starting material (110) for forming a, in particular regenerated, cellulosic molded body (102) is described. The method comprises: i) providing (10) a first starting material (101a) which comprises a lignocellulosic raw material, ii) providing (1) a second starting material (101b) which comprises a cellulose-containing lignin-free product, iii) mixing (15) the first starting material (101a) and the second starting material (101b) to a mixed starting material (101), and iv) at least partially commonly treating (20) the first starting material (101a) and the second starting material (101b) for obtaining the treated mixed starting material (101), in particular a mixed pulp.

An aqueous composition comprising: sulfuric acid; a modifying agent comprising an arylsulfonic acid; and a peroxide. Said composition being capable of delignifying biomass under milder conditions than conditions under which kraft pulping takes place.

An aqueous composition comprising: sulfuric acid; a modifying agent comprising an arylsulfonic acid; and a peroxide. Said composition being capable of delignifying biomass under milder conditions than conditions under which kraft pulping takes place.

The present invention relates to a method for increasing the rate of enzymatic hydrolysis of a polysaccharide substrate, said method comprising at least one step of: enzymatic hydrolysis of said substrate with a mixture of enzymes, said mixture comprising at least one enzyme selected from lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases; in the presence of chemically modified lignin, wherein during at least part of the time of said step of enzymatic hydrolysis, H.sub.2O.sub.2 is supplied to the reaction mixture comprising said substrate, said mixture of enzymes and said chemically modified lignin, either from an external source or by generation in situ.

The present invention relates to a method for increasing the rate of enzymatic hydrolysis of a polysaccharide substrate, said method comprising at least one step of: enzymatic hydrolysis of said substrate with a mixture of enzymes, said mixture comprising at least one enzyme selected from lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases; in the presence of chemically modified lignin, wherein during at least part of the time of said step of enzymatic hydrolysis, H.sub.2O.sub.2 is supplied to the reaction mixture comprising said substrate, said mixture of enzymes and said chemically modified lignin, either from an external source or by generation in situ.

A process for converting lignocellulosic biomass to glucose or ethanol includes subjecting the lignocellulosic biomass to a SO.sub.2 pretreatment within the temperature range 110° C.-150° C. Good glucose yields have been achieved when the SO.sub.2 pretreatment is conducted for more than 90 minutes and when the total amount of SO.sub.2 available is greater than 20 wt % based on dry weight of lignocellulosic biomass.

A process for the production of cellulose, lignocellulosic sugars, lignosulfonate, and ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass. The process comprises steaming, pretreatment, chemical recovery, saccharification, and optionally fermentation. The pretreatment conditions use only sulfur dioxide and water, simultaneously resulting in high glucan conversion to glucose at low enzyme charges, high recovery of hemicellulose-derived monomeric sugars, high lignosulfonate yield, and the absence of lignin precipitates. High-yield production of ethanol through fermentation can be obtained using this process.

A process for the production of cellulose, lignocellulosic sugars, lignosulfonate, and ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass. The process comprises steaming, pretreatment, chemical recovery, saccharification, and optionally fermentation. The pretreatment conditions use only sulfur dioxide and water, simultaneously resulting in high glucan conversion to glucose at low enzyme charges, high recovery of hemicellulose-derived monomeric sugars, high lignosulfonate yield, and the absence of lignin precipitates. High-yield production of ethanol through fermentation can be obtained using this process.

Some variations provide a new nanolignocellulose composition comprising, on a bone-dry, ash-free, and acetyl-free basis, from 35 wt % to 80 wt % cellulose nanofibrils, cellulose microfibrils, or a combination thereof, from 15 wt % to 45 wt % lignin, and from 5 wt % to 20 wt % hemicelluloses. The hemicelluloses may contain xylan or mannan as the major component. Novel properties arise from the hemicellulose content that is intermediate between high hemicellulose content of raw biomass and low hemicellulose content of conventional nanocellulose. The nanolignocellulose composition is hydrophobic due to the presence of lignin. Processes for making and using the nanolignocellulose compositions are also described.

Some variations provide a new nanolignocellulose composition comprising, on a bone-dry, ash-free, and acetyl-free basis, from 35 wt % to 80 wt % cellulose nanofibrils, cellulose microfibrils, or a combination thereof, from 15 wt % to 45 wt % lignin, and from 5 wt % to 20 wt % hemicelluloses. The hemicelluloses may contain xylan or mannan as the major component. Novel properties arise from the hemicellulose content that is intermediate between high hemicellulose content of raw biomass and low hemicellulose content of conventional nanocellulose. The nanolignocellulose composition is hydrophobic due to the presence of lignin. Processes for making and using the nanolignocellulose compositions are also described.