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 process for producing a biocarbon composition with an optimized base-acid ratio, the process comprising:
(a) providing a starting feedstock comprising biomass, wherein the starting feedstock is optionally dried;
(b) pyrolyzing the starting feedstock to generate an intermediate biocarbon stream and a pyrolysis vapor, wherein the intermediate biocarbon stream is characterized by a base-acid ratio defined by the following formula:
Base
-
Acid
Ratio
=
Fe
2
O
3
+
CaO
+
MgO
+
K
2
O
+
Na
2
O
SiO
2
+
Al
2
O
3
+
TiO
2
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 pursuant to ASTM D4326;
(c) 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, to adjust the base-acid ratio; and/or introducing an additive during step (a) or step (b), to adjust the base-acid ratio; and
(d) recovering 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, and wherein the base-acid ratio of the biocarbon composition is selected from about 0.1 to about 10;
wherein step (c) utilizes acidic water that is obtained from step (a), step (b), or another process step that is conducted prior to step (c).
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the acidic water is obtained from condensation of the pyrolysis vapor to generate a condensed liquid having a pH from about 1 to about 7.
3. A process for producing a biocarbon composition with an optimized base-acid ratio, the process comprising:
(a) providing a starting feedstock comprising biomass, wherein the starting feedstock is optionally dried;
(b) pyrolyzing the starting feedstock to generate an intermediate biocarbon stream and a pyrolysis vapor, wherein the intermediate biocarbon stream is characterized by a base-acid ratio defined by the following formula:
Base
-
Acid
Ratio
=
Fe
2
O
3
+
CaO
+
MgO
+
K
2
O
+
Na
2
O
SiO
2
+
Al
2
O
3
+
TiO
2
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 pursuant to ASTM D4326;
(c) 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, to adjust the base-acid ratio; and/or introducing an additive during step (a) or step (b), to adjust the base-acid ratio; and
(d) recovering 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, and wherein the base-acid ratio of the biocarbon composition is selected from about 0.1 to about 10;
wherein step (c) utilizes alkaline water that is obtained from step (a), step (b), or another process step that is conducted prior to step (c).
4. A process for producing a biocarbon composition with an optimized expanded base-acid ratio, the process comprising:
(a) providing a starting feedstock comprising biomass, wherein the starting feedstock is optionally dried;
(b) pyrolyzing the starting feedstock to generate an intermediate biocarbon stream and a pyrolysis vapor, wherein the intermediate biocarbon stream is characterized by an expanded base-acid ratio defined by the following formula:
Expanded
Base
-
Acid
Ratio
=
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
+
SO
3
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 percentages pursuant to ASTM D4326;
(c) 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, to adjust the expanded base-acid ratio; and/or introducing an additive during step (a) or step (b), to adjust the expanded base-acid ratio; and
(d) recovering 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, and wherein the expanded base-acid ratio of the biocarbon composition is selected from about 0.05 to about 8;
wherein step (c) utilizes acidic water that is obtained from step (a), step (b), or another process step that is conducted prior to step (c).
5. The process of claim 4 , wherein the acidic water is obtained from condensation of the pyrolysis vapor to generate a condensed liquid having a pH from about 1 to about 7.
6. A process for producing a biocarbon composition with an optimized expanded base-acid ratio, the process comprising:
(a) providing a starting feedstock comprising biomass, wherein the starting feedstock is optionally dried;
(b) pyrolyzing the starting feedstock to generate an intermediate biocarbon stream and a pyrolysis vapor, wherein the intermediate biocarbon stream is characterized by an expanded base-acid ratio defined by the following formula:
Expanded
Base
-
Acid
Ratio
=
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
+
SO
3
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 percentages pursuant to ASTM D4326;
(c) 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, to adjust the expanded base-acid ratio; and/or introducing an additive during step (a) or step (b), to adjust the expanded base-acid ratio; and
(d) recovering 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, and wherein the expanded base-acid ratio of the biocarbon composition is selected from about 0.05 to about 8;
wherein step (c) utilizes alkaline water that is obtained from step (a), step (b), or another process step that is conducted prior to step (c).