IP Library › Patent Application 14459977
Patent Application
App. No. 14/459,977

COMPOSITION OF LIGNIN PELLETS AND SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING THE SAME

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Patent No.
US None
App. No.
14/459,977
Abstract

A system for treating biomass for the production of a composition of lignin pellets is disclosed. Pellets comprising at least 50 percent lignin by dry weight is disclosed. Also disclosed are pellets produced from a lignin composition by a process comprising: pre-treating lignocellulosic biomass into pre-treated biomass; separating the pre-treated biomass into a first liquid component comprising sugars and a first solids component comprising cellulose and the lignin composition; hydrolysing the first solids component of the pre-treated biomass into a hydrolysed biomass comprising sugars and the lignin composition; separating the hydrolysed biomass into a second liquid component comprising sugars and a second solids component comprising the lignin composition; supplying the second solids component comprising the lignin composition to a pelleting apparatus to produce the pellets; wherein the lignocellulosic biomass comprises cellulose, hemi-cellulose and lignin. According to an aspect, at least a portion of the lignin is not sulfonated.

Claims (30)

1 - 12 . (canceled)

13 . A process for producing pellets produced from a lignin composition, the process comprising:

pre-treating lignocellulosic biomass into pre-treated biomass;

separating the pre-treated biomass into a first liquid component comprising sugars and a first solids component comprising cellulose and the lignin composition;

hydrolysing the first solids component of the pre-treated biomass into a hydrolysed biomass comprising sugars and the lignin composition;

separating the hydrolysed biomass into a second liquid component comprising sugars and a second solids component comprising the lignin composition;

supplying the second solids component comprising the lignin composition to a pelleting apparatus to produce the pellets;

wherein the lignocellulosic biomass comprises cellulose, hemi-cellulose and lignin.

14 . The process of claim 13 , wherein the supplying comprises supplying the second solids component to a pelleting apparatus comprising a disk pelletizer.

15 . The process of claim 13 , comprising:

supplying the second solids component to a fermentation system to produce fermentation product;

separating the fermentation product to a third liquid component and a third solids component comprising the lignin composition; and

supplying the third solids component to the pelleting apparatus to produce the pellets.

16 . The process of claim 13 , wherein the pellets comprise at least 50 percent lignin by dry weight.

17 . The process of claim 13 , wherein the pellets comprise at least 65 percent lignin by dry weight.

18 . The process of claim 13 , wherein the process further comprises supplying the second solids component to a treatment system to increase the concentration of lignin in the lignin composition.

19 . The process of claim 18 , wherein the pellets comprise at least 80 percent lignin by dry weight.

20 . The process of claim 18 , wherein the pellets comprise at least 90 percent lignin by dry weight.

21 . The process of claim 18 , wherein the pellets comprise at least 95 percent lignin by dry weight.

22 . The process of claim 13 , wherein the process further comprises drying the pellets.

23 . The process of claim 13 , wherein the lignocellulosic biomass comprises at least one of corn cobs, corn plant husks, corn plant leaves, corn plant stalks, or combinations thereof.

24 . The process of claim 13 , wherein the lignocellulosic biomass consists essentially of corn cobs, corn plant husks, corn plant leaves, corn stalks, or combinations thereof.

25 . The process of claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the lignin is not sulfonated.

26 . The process of claim 13 , wherein the pellets comprise at least 50 percent lignin by dry weight and from 40 to 75 weight percent moisture.

27 . The process of claim 26 , wherein the pellets comprise at least 80 percent lignin by dry weight.

28 . The process of claim 26 , wherein the pellets comprise at least 90 percent lignin by dry weight.

29 . The process of claim 13 , wherein the pellets comprise from about 57-67 percent lignin and from about 2 to 22 weight percent ash based on total solids.

30 . The process of claim 13 , wherein the pellets comprise from about 57-67 percent lignin, from about 5.5 to 7.5 percent cellulose, and from about 1.8 to 3.9 percent hemicellulose based on total solids.

31 . The process of claim 31 , wherein the pellets comprise from 40 to 65 percent moisture.

32 . The process of claim 31 , wherein the pellets comprise from 45 to 55 percent moisture.

Assignments (1)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded May 6, 2015
From: POET, LLC; POET RESEARCH, INC.; POET PLANT MANAGEMENT, LLC; POET INVESTMENTS, INC.; POET BIOMASS, LLC; POET DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, INC.; RISK MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.; POET NUTRITION, INC.; POET RESEARCH CENTER, INC.; POET LEASING, LLC; POET NUTRITION INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
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