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 method of manufacturing steel, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a biomass feedstock;
(b) pyrolyzing the biomass feedstock to generate a biogenic reagent;
(c) adding an additive to the biogenic reagent, after step (a) and prior to step (b), during step (b), or following step (b), thereby generating a biogenic furnace addition composition, wherein the additive is selected from an acid or a salt thereof, or a base or a salt thereof, and wherein the additive is present in the biogenic furnace addition composition at a concentration from 1 wt % to 25 wt %;
(d) at an electric-arc furnace facility, introducing the biogenic furnace addition composition to scrap steel; and
(e) at the electric-arc furnace facility, producing steel from the scrap steel and the biogenic furnace addition composition,
wherein the biogenic furnace addition composition does not comprise coal; and
wherein the biogenic furnace addition composition comprises:
at least about 55 wt % total carbon;
at most about 5 wt % hydrogen;
at most about 1 wt % nitrogen;
at most about 0.5 wt % phosphorus; and
at most about 0.2 wt % sulfur.
2 . A method of manufacturing steel, comprising:
(a) providing a biomass feedstock;
(b) pyrolyzing the biomass feedstock to generate a biogenic reagent;
(c) adding an additive to the biogenic reagent, after step (a) and prior to step (b), during step (b), or following step (b), thereby generating a biogenic furnace addition composition, wherein the additive is selected from a metal, a metal oxide, a metal hydroxide, a metal halide, or a combination thereof, and wherein the additive is present in the biogenic furnace addition composition at a concentration from 1 wt % to 25 wt %;
(d) at an electric-arc furnace facility, introducing the biogenic furnace addition composition to scrap steel; and
(e) at the electric-arc furnace facility, producing steel from the scrap steel and the biogenic furnace addition composition,
wherein the biogenic furnace addition composition does not comprise coal; and
wherein the biogenic furnace addition composition comprises:
at least about 55 wt % total carbon;
at most about 5 wt % hydrogen;
at most about 1 wt % nitrogen;
at most about 0.5 wt % phosphorus; and
at most about 0.2 wt % sulfur.