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, thereby generating 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
=
F
e
2
O
3
+
C
a
O
+
M
g
O
+
K
2
O
+
N
a
2
O
S
i
O
2
+
Al
2
O
3
+
T
i
O
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 corresponds to weight percentages pursuant to ASTM D4326;
(c) washing or treating the intermediate biocarbon stream with acidic water, thereby adjusting the base-acid ratio, wherein the acidic water is obtained from condensation of the pyrolysis vapor, thereby generating a condensed liquid comprising a pH from at least about 1 to at most about 7; and
(d) recovering a biocarbon composition, wherein the biocarbon composition comprises from at least about 50 wt % to at most 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 at least about 0.1 to at most about 10.
2 . The process of claim 1 , wherein step (c) selectively removes basic components, thereby reducing the Fe 2 O 3 , the CaO, the MgO, the K 2 O, or the Na 2 O content of the intermediate biocarbon stream.
3 . The process of claim 1 , wherein step (c) selectively removes acidic components, thereby reducing the SiO 2 , the Al 2 O 3 , or the TiO 2 content of the intermediate biocarbon stream.
4 . The process of claim 1 , wherein step (c) utilizes steam cleaning of the intermediate biocarbon stream.
5 . The process of claim 1 , wherein step (d) utilizes steam cleaning of the biocarbon composition.
6 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the process further comprises introducing an additive during step (a) or step (b), thereby further adjusting the base-acid ratio, 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 a derivative thereof.
7 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the base-acid ratio is at least about 1.5 to at most about 5.
8 . The process 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 of the biocarbon composition is selected from at least about 0.05 to at most about 5.
9 . The process 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 of the biocarbon composition is selected from at least 5 wt % to at most about 50 wt %.
10 . The process 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 of the biocarbon composition is selected from at least about 0.001 to at most about 1.
11 . The process 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 of the biocarbon composition is selected from at least about 0.1 to at most about 10.
12 . The process 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 at least about 0.1 to at most about 10.
13 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the biocarbon composition comprises from at least about 50 wt % to at most about 99 wt % fixed carbon on a dry basis, and 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.
14 . 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, thereby generating 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 corresponds to weight percentages pursuant to ASTM D4326;
(c) washing or treating the intermediate biocarbon stream with acidic water, thereby adjusting the expanded base-acid ratio, wherein the acidic water is obtained from condensation of the pyrolysis vapor, thereby generating a condensed liquid comprising a pH from at least about 1 to at most about 7; and
(d) recovering a biocarbon composition comprising from at least about 50 wt % to at most 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 at least about 0.05 to at most about 8.
15 . The process of claim 14 , wherein step (c) selectively removes basic components, thereby reducing the Fe 2 O 3 , the CaO, the MgO, the K 2 O, or the Na 2 O content of the intermediate biocarbon stream.
16 . The process of claim 14 , wherein step (c) selectively removes acidic components, thereby reducing the SiO 2 , the Al 2 O 3 , or the TiO 2 content of the intermediate biocarbon stream.
17 . The process of claim 14 , wherein step (c) utilizes steam cleaning of the intermediate biocarbon stream.
18 . The process of claim 14 , wherein step (d) utilizes steam cleaning of the biocarbon composition.
19 . The process of claim 14 , wherein the process further comprises introducing an additive during step (a) or step (b), thereby further adjusting the base-acid ratio, 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 a derivative thereof.
20 . The process of claim 14 , wherein the biocarbon composition is pelletized, thereby producing biocarbon pellets, and wherein a binder is optionally utilized to assist in pelletizing, 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.
21 . The process of claim 14 , wherein the expanded base-acid ratio is at least about 0.5 to at most about 5.
22 . The process of claim 14 , 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 of the biocarbon composition is selected from at least about 0.05 to at most about 5.
23 . The process of claim 14 , 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 of the biocarbon composition is selected from at least 5 wt % to at most about 50 wt %.
24 . The process of claim 14 , wherein the biocarbon composition is characterized by a slagging factor defined as a base-acid ratio multiplied by weight percentage of sulfur present in the biocarbon composition on a dry basis, wherein the base-acid ratio is 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 in the biocarbon composition pursuant to ASTM D4326, and wherein the slagging factor of the biocarbon composition is selected from at least about 0.001 to at most about 1.
25 . The process of claim 14 , wherein the biocarbon composition is characterized by a fouling factor defined as a base-acid ratio multiplied by the Na 2 O as weight percentage in the biocarbon composition pursuant to ASTM D4326, wherein the base-acid ratio is 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 in the biocarbon composition pursuant to ASTM D4326, and wherein the fouling factor of the biocarbon composition is selected from at least about 0.1 to at most about 10.
26 . The process of claim 14 , wherein the biocarbon composition is characterized by a modified fouling factor defined as a 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 base-acid ratio is 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 in the biocarbon composition pursuant to ASTM D4326, and wherein the modified fouling factor is selected from at least about 0.1 to at most about 10.
27 . The process of claim 14 , wherein the biocarbon composition comprises from at least about 50 wt % to at most about 99 wt % fixed carbon on a dry basis, and 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.
28 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the starting feedstock does not include coal.
29 . The process of claim 14 , wherein the starting feedstock does not include coal.