Granted Patent B2

US 12,655,362 · App. 17/579,985 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

Inventors: James A. Mennell (Brighton, UT); Daren Daugaard (Newburg, MO); Dustin Slack (Gwinn, MI); Forrest S. Graham (Gwinn, MI)

Assignee: Carbon Technology Holdings, LLC

C10L5/363C10B53/02C10B57/005C10B57/02C10B57/06C10B57/10C10L5/32C10L5/44C10L5/442C10L10/00C10L2200/0469C10L2270/08C10L2290/02C10L2290/08C10L2290/22C10L2290/28C10L2290/30

Abstract

Claims (20)

1 . A biocarbon pellet comprising:

(a) at least about 35 wt % to at most about 99 wt % of a biogenic reagent, wherein the biogenic reagent comprises, on a dry basis, at least about 75 wt % to at most about 94 wt % total carbon, at least about 75 wt % fixed carbon, at least about 3 wt % to at most about 15 wt % oxygen, and at least about 1 wt % to at most about 10 wt % hydrogen;

(b) at least about 0 wt % to at most about 35 wt % water moisture; and

(c) at least about 1 wt % to at most about 30 wt % of a binder;

wherein the biocarbon pellet is characterized by a Hardgrove Grindability Index selected from about 40 to about 100.

2 . The biocarbon pellet of claim 1 , wherein the biogenic reagent comprises, on a dry basis, at least about 85 wt % fixed carbon.

3 . The biocarbon pellet of claim 1 , wherein the carbon is at least 50% renewable as determined from a measurement of the 14 C/ 12 C isotopic ratio of the carbon.

4 . The biocarbon pellet of claim 1 , wherein the carbon is fully renewable as determined from a measurement of the 14 C/ 12 C isotopic ratio of the carbon.

5 . The biocarbon pellet of claim 1 , wherein the biocarbon pellet comprises at least about 1 wt % to at most about 30 wt % water moisture.

6 . The biocarbon pellet of claim 1 , wherein the biocarbon pellet comprises at least about 2 wt % to at most about 25 wt % of the binder.

7 . The biocarbon pellet of claim 1 , wherein the binder comprises starch, thermoplastic starch, crosslinked starch, starch polymers, cellulose, cellulose ethers, hemicellulose, methylcellulose, chitosan, lignin, lactose, sucrose, dextrose, maltodextrin, banana flour, wheat flour, wheat starch, soy flour, corn flour, wood flour, coal tars, coal fines, met coke, asphalt, coal-tar pitch, petroleum pitch, bitumen, pyrolysis tars, gilsonite, bentonite clay, borax, limestone, lime, waxes, vegetable waxes, baking soda, baking powder, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, iron ore concentrate, silica fume, gypsum, Portland cement, guar gum, polyvidones, polyacrylamides, polylactides, phenol-formaldehyde resins, vegetable resins, recycled shingles, recycled tires, or a derivative thereof, or a combination of the foregoing.

8 . The biocarbon pellet of claim 1 , wherein the binder comprises starch, thermoplastic starch, crosslinked starch, starch polymers, or a derivative thereof, or a combination of the foregoing.

9 . The biocarbon pellet of claim 1 , wherein the binder reduces the reactivity of the biocarbon pellet compared to an otherwise-equivalent biocarbon pellet without the binder.

10 . The biocarbon pellet of claim 1 , wherein the binder reduces the reactivity of the biocarbon pellet compared to an otherwise-equivalent biocarbon pellet without the binder, wherein the reactivity is thermal reactivity, and wherein the biocarbon pellet has lower self-heating compared to the otherwise-equivalent biocarbon pellet without the binder.

11 . The biocarbon pellet of claim 1 , wherein the binder reduces the reactivity of the biocarbon pellet compared to an otherwise-equivalent biocarbon pellet without the binder, and wherein the reactivity is chemical reactivity.

12 . The biocarbon pellet of claim 1 , wherein the biogenic reagent comprises pores, and wherein the binder is comprised within the pores.

13 . The biocarbon pellet of claim 1 , wherein the binder is disposed on the surface of the biocarbon pellet.

14 . The biocarbon pellet of claim 1 , wherein the Hardgrove Grindability Index is at least about 40 to at most about 70.

15 . The biocarbon pellet of claim 1 , wherein the biocarbon pellet is characterized by a Pellet Durability Index of at least 90%.

16 . The biocarbon pellet of claim 1 , wherein the biocarbon pellet is characterized by a Pellet Durability Index of at least 95%.

Assignments (4)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (400)