Processes disclosed are capable of converting biomass into high-crystallinity nanocellulose with surprisingly low mechanical energy input. In some variations, the process includes fractionating biomass with an acid (such as sulfur dioxide), a solvent (such as ethanol), and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a liquid containing hemicellulose and lignin; and mechanically treating the cellulose-rich solids to form nanofibrils and/or nanocrystals. The crystallinity of the nanocellulose material may be 80% or higher, translating into good reinforcing properties for composites. The nanocellulose material may include nanofibrillated cellulose, nanocrystalline cellulose, or both. In some embodiments, the nanocellulose material is hydrophobic via deposition of some lignin onto the cellulose surface. Optionally, sugars derived from amorphous cellulose and hemicellulose may be separately fermented, such as to monomers for various polymers. These polymers may be combined with the nanocellulose to form completely renewable composites.

Processes disclosed are capable of converting biomass into high-crystallinity nanocellulose with surprisingly low mechanical energy input. In some variations, the process includes fractionating biomass with an acid (such as sulfur dioxide), a solvent (such as ethanol), and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a liquid containing hemicellulose and lignin; and mechanically treating the cellulose-rich solids to form nanofibrils and/or nanocrystals. The crystallinity of the nanocellulose material may be 80% or higher, translating into good reinforcing properties for composites. The nanocellulose material may include nanofibrillated cellulose, nanocrystalline cellulose, or both. In some embodiments, the nanocellulose material is hydrophobic via deposition of some lignin onto the cellulose surface. Optionally, sugars derived from amorphous cellulose and hemicellulose may be separately fermented, such as to monomers for various polymers. These polymers may be combined with the nanocellulose to form completely renewable composites.

The disclosure discloses a Pickering emulsion stabilized by cellulose from ginkgo seed shells and a preparation method thereof, and belongs to the fields of preparation methods of biomass materials and food chemical industry. The disclosure uses ginkgo seed shells as a raw material to obtain high-purity cellulose through hot alkali treatment and sodium chlorite bleaching. After the cellulose is dried, the cellulose is hydrolyzed with sulfuric acid to obtain a cellulose nanocrystal suspension. The suspension is mixed with an oil phase, and the Pickering emulsion is obtained through high-speed shearing and homogeneous emulsification. The disclosure can prepare cellulose nanocrystals with different aspect ratios by adjusting the parameters of high-speed shearing and homogeneous emulsification according to actual production needs. Cellulose nanocrystals with high aspect ratio can be used to prepare stable Pickering emulsions with high oil phase and high viscosity, which can be applied to the fields of food, cosmetics and the like; and cellulose nanocrystals with low aspect ratio can be used to prepare Pickering emulsions with low viscosity and high fluidity, which can to be applied to the fields of food and medicine.

A process for converting lignocellulosic biomass to glucose or ethanol includes subjecting the lignocellulosic biomass to a lignosulfonic acid pretreatment, wherein the lignosulfonic acid has a concentration of sulfonate groups in acid form that is greater than 0.02 mol/L and a total amount of sulfur dioxide is greater than 15 wt % based on dry weight of lignocellulosic biomass.

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.

The present invention relates to a method of production of a paper fibre composition, comprising the steps of: a) Providing a vessel, b) Providing Na.sub.2S0.sub.3 in the range of 12-122 kg/bdt combined with NaOH in the range of 0-97 kg/bdt, or NaHSO.sub.3 in the range of 10-100 kg/bdt combined with NaOH in the range of 10-100 kg/bdt to said vessel, c) Providing wood, preferably softwood chips to said vessel for pre-treatment, d) Providing heat and pressure to said vessel in order be able control the vessel to have a temperature T comprised in the range of 160 C.-184 C., e) Controlling the retention time t for the wood chips, in relation to the temperature T of the content of the vessel, wherein T is controlled to be within the range of step d) and t is controlled to be in the range of 2-27 min, preferably in the range of 2-25 min, more preferred in the range of 5-20 min, f) Providing a defibration device coupled to the outlet of said vessel, the defibriation device being a refiner, mill, defibrator, fiberizer, or the like, g) Providing the pre-treated wood chips to the defibration device, h) Providing an energy consumption of 75-1000 kWh/bdt in said defibration device. The invention also relates to a paper fibre composition prepared by the method and a paper or paperboard or molded pulp made from the paper fibre composition.

A nanocellulose material of plant origin comprising nanocellulose particles or fibres derived from a plant material having a hemicellulose content of 30% or higher (w/w) (calculated as a weight percentage of the lignocellulosic components of the material). The nanocellulose may have an aspect ratio of greater than 250. The nanocellulose may be derived from plant materials having C4 leaf morphology. The plant material may be obtained from arid Spinifex. The nanocellulose can be made using mild processing conditions.

A nanocellulose material of plant origin comprising nanocellulose particles or fibres derived from a plant material having a hemicellulose content of 30% or higher (w/w) (calculated as a weight percentage of the lignocellulosic components of the material). The nanocellulose may have an aspect ratio of greater than 250. The nanocellulose may be derived from plant materials having C4 leaf morphology. The plant material may be obtained from arid Spinifex. The nanocellulose can be made using mild processing conditions.

The present invention relates to a process for the production of second generation biofuels and/or sugar based chemicalsfor example ethanol, butanol etcand/or materialsfor example plastics, single cell proteins etc.together with sulfonated lignin from lignocellulosic biomass, in particular from lignocellulosic biomass comprising, among others, annual plants, agricultural waste, or wood. In particular, the present invention relates to a process for the production of sugar based chemicals, biofuels or materials together with sulfonated lignin from lignocellulosic biomass comprising the pretreatment of a lignocellulosic biomass in a sulfite cooking step.

The present invention relates to a process for the production of second generation biofuels and/or sugar based chemicalsfor example ethanol, butanol etcand/or materialsfor example plastics, single cell proteins etc.together with sulfonated lignin from lignocellulosic biomass, in particular from lignocellulosic biomass comprising, among others, annual plants, agricultural waste, or wood. In particular, the present invention relates to a process for the production of sugar based chemicals, biofuels or materials together with sulfonated lignin from lignocellulosic biomass comprising the pretreatment of a lignocellulosic biomass in a sulfite cooking step.