High-carbon biogenic reagents and uses thereof
This invention provides processes and systems for converting biomass into high-carbon biogenic reagents that are suitable for a variety of commercial applications. Some embodiments employ pyrolysis in the presence of an inert gas to generate hot pyrolyzed solids, condensable vapors, and non-condensable gases, followed by separation of vapors and gases, and cooling of the hot pyrolyzed solids in the presence of the inert gas. Additives may be introduced during processing or combined with the reagent, or both. The biogenic reagent may include at least 70 wt %, 80 wt %, 90 wt %, 95 wt %, or more total carbon on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may have an energy content of at least 12,000 Btu/lb, 13,000 Btu/lb, 14,000 Btu/lb, or 14,500 Btu/lb on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may be formed into fine powders, or structural objects. The structural objects may have a structure and/or strength that derive from the feedstock, heat rate, and additives.
1 . A process for producing a metal from its ore comprising:
smelting; wherein the smelting comprises reducing, using a reducing agent, the ore, thereby decomposing the ore; wherein the reducing is achieved using a biogenic blast furnace addition composition; and wherein the biogenic blast furnace addition composition comprises:
at least about 85 wt % total carbon;
at most about 5 wt % hydrogen;
at most about 1 wt % nitrogen;
at most about 0.035 wt % phosphorus;
at most about 0.6 wt % sulfur;
at most about 1.5 wt % volatile matter;
at most about 13 wt % ash;
at most about 8 wt % moisture;
a CRI value of about 30 or less;
dimensions from about 5 cm to about 25 cm; and
an additive selected from a metal, a metal oxide, a metal hydroxide, a metal halide, an acid or a salt thereof, a base or a salt thereof, or a combination thereof.
2 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the additive comprises an alkaline earth metal, an oxide of the alkaline earth metal, a carbonate of the alkaline earth metal, a derivative of the alkaline earth metal, a derivative of the oxide of the alkaline earth metal, or a derivative of the carbonate of the alkaline earth metal.
3 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the additive comprises calcium, calcium oxide, calcium carbonate, magnesium oxide, or magnesium carbonate, or a derivative thereof.
4 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the biogenic blast furnace addition composition further comprises at least about 0.5 wt % to at most about 1.5 wt % volatile matter.
5 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the biogenic blast furnace addition composition further comprises at least about 2 wt % to at most about 15 wt % dolomite, at least about 2 wt % to at most about 15 wt % dolomitic lime, at least about 2 wt % to at most about 15 wt % bentonite, or at least about 2 wt % to at most about 15 wt % calcium oxide.