BIOCARBON COMPOSITIONS WITH OPTIMIZED COMPOSITIONAL PARAMETERS, AND PROCESSES FOR PRODUCING THE SAME
In some variations, the disclosure provides a renewable biocarbon composition comprising from 50 wt% to 99 wt% total carbon, wherein the biocarbon composition is characterized by a base-acid ratio selected from 0.1 to 10, an iron-calcium ratio selected from 0.05 to 5, iron-plus-calcium parameter selected from 5 to 50 wt%, a slagging factor selected from 0.001 to 1, and/or a fouling factor or modified fouling factor selected from 0.1 to 10. Some variations provide a process comprising: providing a biomass feedstock; pyrolyzing the biomass feedstock to generate an intermediate biocarbon stream; washing or treating the intermediate biocarbon stream with an acid, a base, a salt, a metal, H 2 , H 2 O, CO, CO 2 , or a combination thereof, and/or introducing an additive in the process, to adjust a base-acid ratio or other compositional parameter; and recovering a biocarbon composition comprising from 50 wt% to 99 wt% total carbon and optimized for a compositional parameter.
1 . A biocarbon composition comprising from about 50 wt% to about 99 wt% total carbon, wherein the total carbon is at least 50% renewable as determined from a measurement of the 14 C/ 12 C isotopic ratio of the total carbon, wherein the biocarbon composition is characterized by a base-acid ratio defined by the following formula:
wherein each of the Fe 2 O 3 , CaO, MgO, K 2 O, Na 2 O, SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , and TiO 2 correspond to weight percentages in the biocarbon composition pursuant to ASTM D4326, and wherein the base-acid ratio is at least about 0.1 to at most about 10.
2 . The biocarbon composition of claim 1 , wherein the base-acid ratio is at least about 1.5 to at most about 5.
3 . The biocarbon composition of claim 1 , wherein the biocarbon composition is characterized by an iron-calcium ratio defined by the Fe 2 O 3 divided by the CaO, each as weight percentages in the biocarbon composition pursuant to ASTM D4326, and wherein the iron-calcium ratio is at least about 0.05 to at most about 5.
4 . The biocarbon composition of claim 1 , wherein the biocarbon composition is characterized by an iron-plus-calcium parameter defined as the sum of the Fe 2 O 3 and the CaO, each as weight percentages in the biocarbon composition pursuant to ASTM D4326, and wherein the iron-plus-calcium parameter is selected from about 5 wt% to about 50 wt%.
5 . The biocarbon composition of claim 1 , wherein the biocarbon composition is characterized by a slagging factor defined as the base-acid ratio multiplied by weight percentage of sulfur present in the biocarbon composition on a dry basis, and wherein the slagging factor is selected from about 0.001 to about 1.
6 . The biocarbon composition of claim 1 , wherein the biocarbon composition is characterized by a fouling factor defined as the base-acid ratio multiplied by the Na 2 O as weight percentage in the biocarbon composition pursuant to ASTM D4326, and wherein the fouling factor is selected from about 0.1 to about 10.
7 . The biocarbon composition of claim 1 , wherein the biocarbon composition is characterized by a modified fouling factor defined as the base-acid ratio multiplied by water-soluble Na 2 O, wherein the water-soluble Na 2 O is weight percentage of Na 2 O that leaches, in the presence of water, out of ash derived from the biocarbon composition pursuant to ASTM D4326, and wherein the modified fouling factor is selected from about 0.1 to about 10.
8 . The biocarbon composition of claim 1 , wherein the biocarbon composition is characterized by an equilibrium moisture content defined according to ASTM D1412, wherein the equilibrium moisture content is selected from about 0.1 wt% to about 10 wt%.
9 . The biocarbon composition of claim 1 , wherein the biocarbon composition is characterized by a silica percentage defined as weight percentage of the SiO 2 in the biocarbon composition pursuant to ASTM D4326, wherein the silica percentage is selected from about 5 wt% to about 50 wt%.
10 . The biocarbon composition of claim 1 , wherein the biocarbon composition comprises at most 10 ppm mercury.
11 . The biocarbon composition of claim 1 , wherein the biocarbon composition comprises from about 50 wt% to about 99 wt% fixed carbon on a dry basis.
12 . The biocarbon composition of claim 1 , wherein the total carbon within the biocarbon composition is at least 90% renewable as determined from a measurement of the 14 C/ 12 C isotopic ratio of the total carbon.
13 . The biocarbon composition of claim 1 , wherein the total carbon within the biocarbon composition is fully renewable as determined from a measurement of the 14 C/ 12 C isotopic ratio of the total carbon.
14 . The biocarbon composition of claim 1 , wherein the biocarbon composition is in the form of a pellet.
15 . The biocarbon composition of claim 14 , wherein the pellet further comprises a binder, and 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, xanthan gum, polyvidones, polyacrylamides, polylactides, phenol-formaldehyde resins, vegetable resins, recycled shingles, recycled tires, or a combination or a derivative thereof.
16 . The biocarbon composition of claim 1 , wherein the biocarbon composition is in the form of a powder.
17 . The biocarbon composition of claim 1 , wherein the biocarbon composition further comprises an additive, wherein the additive comprises calcium, calcium oxide, calcium carbonate, magnesium oxide, magnesium carbonate, limestone, lime, dolomite, dolomitic lime, bentonite, gypsum, magnesium, manganese, aluminum, nickel, chromium, silicon, boron, cerium, molybdenum, phosphorus, tungsten, vanadium, iron chloride, iron bromide, iron ore concentrate, fluorite, fluorospar, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, magnesium oxide, hydrogen bromide, hydrogen chloride, sodium silicate, potassium permanganate, borax, silica, alumina, aluminosilicates, titanium, titanium dioxide, titanium carbide, titanium hydride, titanium nitride, or a combination or derivative thereof.
18 . A biocarbon composition comprising from about 50 wt% to about 99 wt% total carbon, wherein the total carbon is at least 50% renewable as determined from a measurement of the 14 C/ 12 C isotopic ratio of the total carbon, wherein the biocarbon composition is characterized by an expanded base-acid ratio defined by the following formula:
wherein each of the Fe 2 O 3 , CaO, MgO, K 2 O, Na 2 O, MnO, SrO, BaO, SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , TiO 2 , P 2 O 5 , and SO 3 correspond to weight fractions in the biocarbon composition pursuant to ASTM D4326, and wherein the expanded base-acid ratio is selected from about 0.05 to about 8.
19 . The biocarbon composition of claim 18 , wherein the expanded base-acid ratio is selected from about 0.5 to about 5.
20 . The biocarbon composition of claim 18 , wherein the biocarbon composition is characterized by an iron-calcium ratio defined by the Fe 2 O 3 divided by the CaO, each as weight percentages in the biocarbon composition pursuant to ASTM D4326, and wherein the iron-calcium ratio is selected from about 0.05 to about 5.
21 . The biocarbon composition of clam 18, wherein the biocarbon composition is characterized by an iron-plus-calcium parameter defined as the sum of the Fe 2 O 3 and the CaO, each as weight percentages in the biocarbon composition pursuant to ASTM D4326, and wherein the iron-plus-calcium parameter is selected from about 5 wt% to about 50 wt%.
22 . The biocarbon composition of claim 18 , wherein the biocarbon composition is characterized by a slagging factor defined as the base-acid ratio multiplied by weight percentage of sulfur present in the biocarbon composition on a dry basis, wherein the slagging factor is selected from about 0.001 to about 1, and wherein the base-acid ratio is defined by the following formula:
wherein each of the Fe 2 O 3 , CaO, MgO, K 2 O, Na 2 O, SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , and TiO 2 correspond to weight percentages in the biocarbon composition pursuant to ASTM D4326.
23 . The biocarbon composition of claim 18 , wherein the biocarbon composition is characterized by a fouling factor defined as the base-acid ratio multiplied by the Na 2 O as weight percentage in the biocarbon composition pursuant to ASTM D4326, wherein the fouling factor is selected from about 0.1 to about 10, and wherein the base-acid ratio is defined by the following formula:
wherein each of the Fe 2 O 3 , CaO, MgO, K 2 O, Na 2 O, SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , and TiO 2 correspond to weight percentages in the biocarbon composition pursuant to ASTM D4326.
24 . The biocarbon composition of claim 18 , wherein the biocarbon composition is characterized by a modified fouling factor defined as the base-acid ratio multiplied by water-soluble Na 2 O, wherein the water-soluble Na 2 O is weight percentage of Na 2 O that leaches, in the presence of water, out of ash derived from the biocarbon composition pursuant to ASTM D4326, wherein the modified fouling factor is selected from about 0.1 to about 10, and wherein the base-acid ratio is defined by the following formula:
wherein each of the Fe 2 O 3 , CaO, MgO, K 2 O, Na 2 O, SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , and TiO 2 correspond to weight percentages in the biocarbon composition pursuant to ASTM D4326.
25 . The biocarbon composition of claim 18 , wherein the biocarbon composition is characterized by an equilibrium moisture content defined according to ASTM D1412, wherein the equilibrium moisture content is selected from about 0.1 wt% o about 10 wt%.
26 . The biocarbon composition of claim 18 , wherein the biocarbon composition is characterized by a silica percentage defined as weight percentage of the SiO 2 in the biocarbon composition pursuant to ASTM D4326, wherein the silica percentage is selected from about 5 wt% to about 50 wt%.
27 . The biocarbon composition of clam 18, wherein the biocarbon composition comprises at most 10 ppm mercury.
28 . The biocarbon composition of claim 18 , wherein the biocarbon composition comprises from about 50 wt% to about 99 wt% fixed carbon on a dry basis.
29 . The biocarbon composition of claim 18 , wherein the total carbon within the biocarbon composition is at least 90% renewable as determined from a measurement of the 14 C/ 12 C isotopic ratio of the total carbon.
30 . The biocarbon composition of claim 18 , wherein the total carbon within the biocarbon composition is fully renewable as determined from a measurement of the 14 C/ 12 C isotopic ratio of the total carbon.
31 . The biocarbon composition of claim 18 , wherein the biocarbon composition is in the form of a pellet.
32 . The biocarbon composition of claim 31 , wherein the pellet further comprises a binder, and 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, xanthan gum, polyvidones, polyacrylamides, polylactides, phenol-formaldehyde resins, vegetable resins, recycled shingles, recycled tires, or a combination or a derivative thereof.
33 . The biocarbon composition of claim 18 , wherein the biocarbon composition is in the form of a powder.
34 . The biocarbon composition of claim 18 , wherein the biocarbon composition further comprises an additive, wherein the additive comprises calcium, calcium oxide, calcium carbonate, magnesium oxide, magnesium carbonate, limestone, lime, dolomite, dolomitic lime, bentonite, gypsum, magnesium, manganese, aluminum, nickel, chromium, silicon, boron, cerium, molybdenum, phosphorus, tungsten, vanadium, iron chloride, iron bromide, iron ore concentrate, fluorite, fluorospar, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, magnesium oxide, hydrogen bromide, hydrogen chloride, sodium silicate, potassium permanganate, borax, silica, alumina, aluminosilicates, titanium, titanium dioxide, titanium carbide, titanium hydride, titanium nitride, or a combination or derivative thereof.