PROCESS FOR RECOVERING AND RECYCLING ALKYL SULFONIC ACID IN THE PRODUCTION OF LIPIDS FROM BIOMASS DERIVING FROM GUAYULE PLANTS

Process for recovering and recycling alkyl sulfonic acid in the production of lipids from biomass deriving from Guayule plants comprising the following steps: (a) obtaining a hydrolysate comprising 5 -carbon sugars (C5) from the biomass deriving from Guayule plants, by treating said biomass with an aqueous solution of at least one alkyl sulfonic acid having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, more preferably methanesulfonic acid (CH3-SO3H); (b) contacting the hydrolysate obtained in step (a) with a weak anion exchange resin obtaining the adsorption of said at least one alkyl sulfonic acid in said weak anion exchange resin and an aqueous solution comprising 5 -carbon sugars (C5); (c) regenerating said weak anion exchange resin with an aqueous ammonium hydroxide solution obtaining an aqueous solution comprising the ammonium salt of said alkyl sulfonic acid and ammonium ions; (d) subjecting the aqueous solution comprising the ammonium salt of said alkyl sulfonic acid and ammonium ions obtained in step (c) to vacuum evaporation obtaining a solution comprising the ammonium salt of said alkyl sulfonic acid and ammonium ions, said ammonium ions being present in an amount lower than or equal to 50%, preferably between 10% and 20%, with respect to the total amount of ammonium ions present in the aqueous solution obtained in step (c); (e) contacting the solution containing the ammonium salt of said alkyl sulfonic acid and ammonium ions obtained in step (d) with a strong cation exchange resin obtaining a concentrated aqueous solution of said alkyl sulfonic acid; (f) recycling the concentrated solution of said alkyl sulfonic acid obtained in said step (e) at the aforesaid step (a).