BIOLOGICAL INKS AND COATINGS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS
The disclosed method and related systems and devices relate to producing a pigment from microbial biomass. The pigment may be an engineered black pigment. The method may include a thermal processing step where the microbial biomass is charred. The biomass in the charred and pre-charred state can be washed chemically and/or mechanically. In another step the biomass is ground via a grinding of milling process. The grinding/milling may occur at any various points in the process. In some embodiments the biomass has a particle size between 0.01 and 100 microns.
1 - 37 . (canceled)
38 . A method of producing an engineered carbon black pigment from a microbial biomass, the method comprising: performing thermal processing of the microbial biomass to form a charred biomass; washing the charred biomass; and grinding the washed charred biomass to form a milled microbechar.
39 . The method of claim 38 , wherein the microbial biomass comprises a plurality of prokaryotic cells.
40 . The method of claim 39 , wherein the plurality of prokaryotic cells comprises decolorized cells.
41 . The method of claim 40 , wherein the decolorized cells comprise Arthrospira.
42 . The method of claim 38 , wherein the thermal processing is continued until the ultimate oxygen-to-carbon ratio of the charred biomass is below about 0.30 oxygen to carbon.
43 . The method of claim 38 , wherein the thermal processing is continued until the charred biomass comprises fixed carbon of from about 20% to about 75% and proximate volatiles below about 25%.
44 . The method of claim 38 , wherein the grinding is performed to a particle size between about 0.01 microns and about 100 microns.
45 . A method of producing an engineered carbon black pigment from a microbial biomass, the method comprising: washing the microbial biomass; thermally processing the washed microbial biomass to form a charred biomass; and grinding the charred biomass.
46 . The method of claim 45 , wherein the thermal processing comprises pyrolysis, gasification, combustion, thermal-oxidative decomposition, torrefaction, or hydrothermal carbonization.
47 . The method of claim 45 , wherein the washing of the charred biomass comprises an acid wash followed by a water wash.
48 . The method of claim 45 , wherein the microbial biomass is dried prior to the thermal processing at a temperature between about ambient temperature and about 300° C.
49 . The method of claim 48 , wherein the microbial biomass is dried until the moisture content is reduced to below about 10%.
50 . The method of claim 45 , wherein the thermal processing is continued until the ash concentration is below about 20% and the proximate volatiles are below about 20%.
51 . The method of claim 45 , wherein the grinding is performed by an apparatus selected from the group consisting of a ball or media mill, a long gap mill, air classification, a jet mill, a three roll mill, a basket mill, a cryo mill, and a cyclone mill.
52 . A method of producing an engineered carbon black pigment from a microbial biomass, the method comprising: thermally processing the microbial biomass to form a charred biomass; and grinding the charred biomass.
53 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the chemical grinding additive is selected from dispersants, surfactants, wetting agents, burnishing compounds, soap detergents, hyperdispersants, nonionic high-HLB polyalkoxylated surfactants, non-ionic polymers, defoamers, water, resins, surface tension modifiers, hydrophobic anionic polymers, acetylenic diol, and acetylenediol.
54 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the mechanical grinding additive comprises media selected from steel, chrome, stainless steel, ceramic, rubber, stoneware, aluminum, magnesium, zirconia, porcelain, silica, and glass having a particle size from about 1/32 inch to about 5 inches in diameter.
55 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the grinding comprises a method selected from ammonia freeze explosion, steam hydrolysis, wet-oxidation, and ultrasonication.
56 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the chemical treatment of the milled microbechar comprises treatment with hydrogen peroxide at about 30% (w/w) under reflux at about 60° C. for about 24 hours followed by removal of excess hydrogen peroxide.
57 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the thermal processing is performed at a temperature between about 250° C. and about 750° C. until the ultimate oxygen-to-carbon ratio is below about 0.30 oxygen to carbon and the ash concentration is below about 20%.