Michigan State University

Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

Montana State University

Eric Linke Hegg

David B Hodge

James E Jackson

Shannon S Stahl

Bryan Bals

Judith N Burstyn

Aditya Bhalla

Namita Bansal

Grace Elizabeth Klinger

Kim A Deal

Zhenglun Li

Zhaoyang Yuan

Vaidyanathan Mathrubootham

An improved alkaline pretreatment of biomass is provided that is a single-stage, two oxidant alkaline oxidative pretreatment process. The process uses a homogenous catalyst with at least two oxidants (Hydrogen peroxide and enhanced levels of oxygen) in an alkaline environment to catalytically pretreat lignocellulosic biomass in a single-stage oxidation reaction. The provided single-stage alkaline-oxidative pretreatment improves biomass pretreatment and increase enzymatic digestibility to improve the economic feasibility of production of lignocellulose derived sugars.

Economical methods for performing oxidative catalytic pretreatment of plant biomass using a single-stage two oxidant process

A homogeneous catalyst is provided comprising one or more metals; and at least two metal coordinating ligands wherein the homogeneous catalyst is a multi-ligand metal complex adapted for use with an oxidant in an oxidation reaction to catalytically pretreat lignocellulosic biomass. In one embodiment, the homogenous catalyst is copper (II) 2, 2' bipyridine ethylenediamine (Cu(bpy)en). Related methods are also disclosed.

Methods of using multi-ligand metal complexes to perform oxidative catalytic pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass

The disclosure relates to a method for depolymerizing lignin. The method includes reacting a lignin compound with a thiol compound to depolymerize the lignin compound and to form a depolymerized lignin product having a reduced molecular weight relative to the lignin compound prior to reacting. The method can further include forming an oxidized thiol reaction product between two thiol groups from one or more thiol compounds, and then reducing the oxidized thiol reaction product to re-form or regenerate the thiol compound for further lignin depolymerization.

Methods for lignin depolymerization using thiols

A method is provided for nonoxidatively cleaving the phosphorus-oxygen linkage of nucleic acids and certain anticholinesterases such as insecticides using a macrocyclic copper(II) complex. A composition suited for such cleavage is also provided.

Copper(II) nuclease compounds, compositions, and kits

Growing community of inventors

East Lansing, MI, United States of America

Eric Linke Hegg