ORGANIC COATED FINE PARTICLE POWDERS
Solid organic matter coated fine solid particles and the applications of such coated particles are described. These uniformly coated carbonaceous particles provide an improved material for use as an electrochemical material. In one example, methods of manufacturing uniformly coated particles from lignin and graphite are described. In another embodiment, petroleum pitch coated calcined coke powder is demonstrated.
1 . A method for preparing solid heavy hydrocarbon-coated particles, comprising:
a) dissolving a large hydrocarbon compound or large hydrocarbon compound mixture in two organic solvents to form solution B and heating solution B;
b) dispersing solid particles in the second solvent to form mixture C and heating the mixture C,
c) mixing solution B and mixture C together and cooling the mixture to cause all or a certain portion of the large hydrocarbon compound mixture to precipitate out as coating on the solid particles,
d) separating the coated solid particles from the solution; and
e) carbonizing the coated solid particles to provide carbonaceous material coated particles.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the large hydrocarbon compounds are selected from organic compounds and mixtures including lignin, phenol resins, natural resinous polymers, lignins, polymeric olefins, synthetic polymers, acrylates, polyethylenes, and combinations thereof containing two or more different long chain hydrocarbons.
3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first solvent in preparing mixture B is selected from organic compound mixtures including fractionated petroleum, fractionated decant oils, pyrolysis tars, petroleum and coal tar pitches, and coal tar pitches and heavy petroleum oils.
4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the one of the solvents in preparing mixtures B and C is selected from liquid organic compounds including xylene, toluene, benzenes, tetralin, methyl-pyrrolidinone, quinoline, petroleum distillates and combinations thereof.
5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the heavy hydrocarbon is completely or nearly completely dissolved in the first solvent.
6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first solvent is completely soluble in the second solvent or completely soluble when the ratio of the second solvent to the first one is less than 1.
7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the overall mass ratio of the second to first solvents is greater than 2
8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the solid particles are carbonaceous materials include petroleum and coal cokes and synthetic and natural graphite.
9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the carbonizing includes heating the solids above 400° C. in inert environment such as nitrogen gas.
10 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising incorporating the carbonaceous material coated particles into an electrode of an electrochemical energy cell.
11 . The method according to claim 1 , comprising heating solution B, solution C, or both solution B and C near the boiling point of one or more of the solvents.
12 . An electrochemical material for an electrode comprising:
a) a graphite particle; and
b) a large hydrocarbon compound coating;
wherein said graphite particles are dispersed in xylene, said lignin is dissolved in pitch and xylene, wherein said graphite-xylene solution and said lignin-pitch-xylene solution are mixed, and wherein said graphite is uniformly coated with lignin while boiling the mixed solution.
13 . The electrochemical material of claim 12 , wherein the large hydrocarbon compound is selected from organic compounds and mixtures including lignin, phenol resins, natural resinous polymers, polymeric olefins, synthetic polymers, acrylates, polyethylenes, and combinations thereof containing one or more large hydrocarbon compounds.
14 . The electrochemical material of claim 12 , wherein the graphite particle includes petroleum and coal cokes and synthetic and natural graphite.
15 . The electrochemical material of claim 12 , wherein said electrochemical material is incorporated into an electrode of an electrochemical energy cell.
16 . The electrochemical material of claim 12 , wherein the large hydrocarbon compound, pitch and xylene were mixed at an approximately 1:10:5 ratio (Solution B).
17 . The electrochemical material of claim 12 , wherein the graphite and xylene were mixed at an approximately 2:9 ratio (Solution C).
18 . The electrochemical material of claim 12 , wherein said particles are subsequently carbonized, chemically modified, plated with metal or a combination thereof.
19 . The method of producing an electrochemical material for an electrode comprising:
a) mixing lignin with pitch to form solution A,
b) mixing solution A with xylene to form solution B,
c) dissolving graphite particles in xylene to form solution C,
d) heating solution B and solution C to boiling point,
e) mixing the solution B and solution C at boiling point, and
f) isolating graphite particles uniformly coated with lignin.
20 . The method according to claim 19 , wherein the first solvent in preparing mixture B is selected from organic compound mixtures including fractionated petroleum, fractionated decant oils, pyrolysis tars, petroleum and coal tar pitches, and coal tar pitches and heavy petroleum oils.
21 . The method according to claim 19 , wherein the one of the solvents in preparing mixtures B and C is selected from liquid organic compounds including xylene, toluene, benzenes, tetralin, methyl-pyrrolidinone, quinoline, petroleum distillates and combinations thereof.
22 . The method according to claim 19 , wherein the lignin is completely or nearly completely dissolved in the first solvent.
23 . The method according to claim 19 , wherein the first solvent is completely soluble in the second solvent or completely soluble when the ratio of the second solvent to the first one is less than 1.
24 . The method according to claim 19 , wherein the overall mass ratio of the second to first solvents is greater than 2
25 . The method according to claim 19 , wherein the graphite particles are carbonaceous materials including petroleum cokes, coal cokes, synthetic graphite, natural graphite, and combinations thereof.
26 . The method according to claim 19 , further comprising incorporating the electrochemical material coated particles into an electrode of an electrochemical energy cell.
27 . The method according to claim 19 , comprising heating solution B, solution C, or both solution B and C near the boiling point of one or more of the solvents.
28 . The electrochemical material of claim 19 , wherein the lignin, pitch and xylene were mixed at an approximately 1:10:5 ratio (Solution B).
29 . The electrochemical material of claim 19 , wherein the graphite and xylene were mixed at an approximately 2:9 ratio (Solution C).
30 . The g electrochemical material of claim 19 , wherein solutions B and C were mixed at an approximately 1:10 ratio.
31 . The electrochemical material of claim 19 , wherein said particles are subsequently carbonized, chemically modified, plated with metal or a combination thereof.