Thermally Insulative Concrete Made From Biorefinery Byproducts
The utilization of the byproducts from the deacetylation of lignocellulosic biomass from the production of ethanol to create cement additives and/or alternatives to ordinary portland cement (OPC) is described. These byproducts may be used to create black liquor bioash (BLA), activated lignin carbon (ALC), and/or lignin aerogel admixtures. In some embodiments, the byproduct may be combined with at least one binder to form alkali-activated materials (AAMs).
1 . A method comprising:
treating a lignin deacetylation byproduct to form a lignin product; and
using the lignin product to form a concrete.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the lignin deacetylation byproduct comprises a first black liquor, and
the treating comprises heating the first black liquor.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein:
the heating comprises heating the first black liquor to a temperature of less than approximately 600° C., and
the lignin product comprises a black liquor bioash (BLBA).
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein:
the heating is performed in a furnace, and
the furnace is configured to heat the first black liquor to a temperature of approximately 575° C.
5 . the method of claim 3 , wherein:
the using comprises:
combining the BLBA with an aggregate, a silicate, and a binder to form a dry mixture;
adding a water and the first black liquor to the dry mixture to form a wet concrete;
casting the wet concrete; and
curing the wet concrete to form a dry concrete.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein:
the aggregate comprises at least one of sand, gravel, or crushed rock.
7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein:
the binder comprises at least one of fly ash, slag, mine tailings, or clay.
8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein:
the silicate comprises at least one of sodium silicate or calcium silicate.
9 . The method of claim 5 , wherein:
the silicate comprises at least one of glass, ceramic, waterglass, granite, gravel, or garnet.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the lignin deacetylation byproduct comprises a first black liquor,
the treating comprises pyrolyzing the first black liquor in a substantially inert environment at a temperature of less than approximately 600° C., and
the lignin product comprises an activated lignin carbon (ALC).
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein:
the using comprises combing the ALC with an aggregate, an activator, and a water.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the aggregate comprises at least one of sand, gravel, or crushed rock.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the activator comprises a cement.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the cement comprises at least one of ordinary portland cement or portland limestone cement.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the activator comprises a black liquor bioash (BLBA) and a silicate.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the silicate comprises at least one of sodium silicate or calcium silicate.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the silicate comprises at least one of glass, ceramic, waterglass, granite, gravel, or garnet.
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the lignin deacetylation byproduct comprises an enzyme hydrolysis (EH) solid,
the treating comprises heating the EH solid to a temperature of less than approximately 600° C.; wherein:
the heating results in an ash.
19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the using comprises combining the lignin product with a cement.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein:
the cement comprises at least one of ordinary portland cement or portland limestone cement.