Biochars and biochar treatment processes

• US 10,023,503 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2016
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carbon Technology Holding LLC
• Original Assignee: Cool Planet Energy Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Bontchev, Ranko Panayotov, Kim, Han Suk, Belcher, Richard Wilson, Jarand, Mark L.
• Primary Examiner(s): LANGEL, WAYNE A
• Application Number:
  US15/213,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20160326067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/05 Preparation or purification of carbon not covered by groups C01B32/15, C01B32/20, C01B32/25, C01B32/30
• CPC Class Codes: C05D 9/00 Other inorganic fertilisers
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 11/00 Other organic fertilisers
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 11/02 from peat, brown coal, and similar vegetable deposits
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 11/08 Organic fertilisers containing added bacterial cultures, mycelia or the like
• CPC Class Codes: C05G 3/00 Mixtures of one or more fertilisers with additives not having a specially fertilising activity
• CPC Class Codes: C05G 3/80 Soil conditioners
• CPC Class Codes: C05G 5/40 Fertilisers incorporated into a matrix
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 17/02 containing inorganic compounds only
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 17/04 applied in a physical form other than a solution or a grout, e.g. as granules or gases
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 53/02 of cellulose-containing material production of pyroligneous acid C10C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 57/005 After-treatment of coke, e.g. calcination desulfurization
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 57/02 Multi-step carbonising or coking processes
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/14 Fungi culture of mushrooms A01G18/00; as new plants A01H15/00; Culture media therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/20 Bacteria; Culture media therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/145 the feedstock being materials of biological origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 71/903 Soil conditioner

Abstract

Treated biochar and methods for treating biochar are provided. The method for treating the biochar includes forcing, assisting or accelerating the movement of an infiltrant into the pores of the biochar, whereby the treatment affects properties of the biochar that provide for a more reliable and predictable biochar for use in various applications, including, but not limited to, agricultural applications.

Claims

1. A method for treating a porous carbonaceous material having pores, the method comprising the steps of:

placing the porous carbonaceous material in a tank, where the porous carbonaceous material is made of particles having a diameter greater than 0.037 mm;

adding a solution to the tank, where the solution contains a surfactant; and

mixing the solution with the porous carbonaceous material.

2. The method of claim 1 where the solution is a liquid solution containing 0.1-20% surfactant.

3. The method of claim 2 where the surfactant is a yucca extract.

4. The method of claim 2 where the solution further includes an additive.

5. The method of claim 4 where the additive is selected from the group consisting of water, liquid inorganic and organic compounds of different composition and polarity, water solutions of salts, water solutions of acids, water solutions of bases, water solutions of organic compounds, water solutions of inorganic compounds, liquid organic compounds, liquid inorganic compounds, solvents, mineral oils, organic oils, turpentine, olive oil, palm oil, mineral extracts, organic extracts, extracts containing organic compounds, extracts of inorganic compounds, slurries, suspensions, slurries comprising solid phases including inorganic oxides, hydroxides, salts, organometallic complexes, nano-dispersed solids, micro-dispersed solids, carbon-based clusters, and fine particles, and supercritical liquids.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of moisture adjusting the porous carbonaceous material by at least partially drying the porous carbonaceous material.

7. The method of claim 6 where the step of moisture adjusting the porous carbonaceous material is performed by pulling a vacuum on the tank, applying positive pressure on the content of the tank, heating the content of the tank, applying centrifugal force and/or creating a pressure gradient in the tank to remove excess liquid.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of inoculating the pores of the porous carbonaceous material with an additive.

9. The method of claim 8 where the porous carbonaceous material is inoculated by placing the porous carbonaceous material in a tank;

adding inoculate solution to the tank; and

impregnating at least a portion of the pore volume of the pores of the porous carbonaceous material with an infiltrate.

10. The method of claim 9 where the step of impregnating at least a portion of the pore volume of the pores of the porous carbonaceous material with an infiltrate includes forcing the infiltrate into the pores of the porous carbonaceous material by changing the pressure in the tank, using a surfactant or both.

11. A method for treating a porous carbonaceous material having pores, the method comprising the steps of:

placing the porous carbonaceous material in a tank;

adding a solution to the tank, where the solution contains a yucca extract; and

mixing the solution with the porous carbonaceous material.

12. The method of claim 11 where the solution is a liquid solution containing 0.1-20% of the yucca extract.

13. The method of claim 11 where the solution further includes an additive.

14. The method of claim 13 where the additive is selected from the group consisting of water, liquid inorganic and organic compounds of different composition and polarity, water solutions of salts, water solutions of acids, water solutions of bases, water solutions of organic compounds, water solutions of inorganic compounds, liquid organic compounds, liquid inorganic compounds, solvents, mineral oils, organic oils, turpentine, olive oil, palm oil, mineral extracts, organic extracts, extracts containing organic compounds, extracts of inorganic compounds, slurries, suspensions, slurries comprising solid phases including inorganic oxides, hydroxides, salts, organometallic complexes, nano-dispersed solids, micro-dispersed solids, carbon-based clusters, and fine particles, and supercritical liquids.

15. The method of claim 11 where the porous carbonaceous material is made of particles having a diameter greater than 0.037 mm.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of moisture adjusting the porous carbonaceous material by at least partially drying the porous carbonaceous material.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of changing the pressure in the tank.