Biochars and biochar treatment processes

• US 10,106,471 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2017
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• 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:
  US15/474,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20170204017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 572 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 a plurality of pores, the method comprising the steps of:

placing the porous carbonaceous material in a vessel capable of sustaining pressure change, where the vessel has an original pressure;

adding a treating liquid to the vessel;

varying the pressure in the vessel using a vacuum to force at least part of the treating liquid into the pores of the porous carbonaceous material and then returning the pressure in the vessel to its original pressure or to atmospheric pressure;

moisture adjusting the porous carbonaceous material in the vessel by at least partially drying the porous carbonaceous material;

placing an additive in the vessel; and

again varying the pressure in the vessel using a vacuum to force at least part of the additive into the pores of the porous carbonaceous material and then returning the pressure in the vessel to its original pressure or to atmospheric pressure.

2. The method of claim 1 where during each pressure variation in the vessel the pressure reaches an absolute pressure of 10 Torr or greater.

3. The method of claim 1 where during each pressure variation in the vessel the pressure in the vessel is varied for a predetermined period before ceasing such pressure variation and returning the pressure in the vessel to its original pressure or to atmospheric pressure.

4. The method of claim 1 where the treating liquid is added to the vessel before the pressure in the vessel is varied.

5. The method of claim 1 where the treating liquid is added to the vessel while the pressure in the vessel is varied.

6. The method of claim 1 where the additive is added to the vessel before the pressure in the vessel is varied.

7. The method of claim 1 where the additive is added to the vessel while the pressure in the vessel is changed.

8. The method of claim 1 where the treating liquid contains water.

9. The method of claim 1 where the treating liquid adjusts the pH of the surface of the pores of the porous carbonaceous material.

10. The method of claim 1 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.

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

placing the porous carbonaceous material in a vessel capable of sustaining pressure change, where the vessel has an original pressure;

adding a treating liquid to the vessel;

varying the pressure in the vessel to infuse at least part of the treating liquid into the pores of the porous carbonaceous material and then returning the pressure in the vessel to its original pressure or to atmospheric pressure;

placing an additive in the vessel; and

again varying the pressure in the vessel to infuse at least part of the additive into the pores of the porous carbonaceous material and then returning the pressure in the vessel to its original pressure or to atmospheric pressure.

12. The method of claim 11 where a surfactant to added to the vessel to assist with the infusion of the treating liquid into the pores of the porous carbonaceous material.

13. The method claim 11 where the moisture in the porous carbonaceous material is adjusted by at least partially drying the porous carbonaceous material after infused with a treating liquid but before infused with an additive.

14. The method of claim 11 where the pressure is varied using a vacuum and where during each pressure variation in the vessel the pressure reaches an absolute pressure of 10 Torr or greater.

15. The method of claim 11 where during each pressure variation in the vessel the pressure in the vessel is varied for a predetermined period before ceasing such pressure variation and returning the pressure in the vessel to its original pressure or to atmospheric pressure.

16. The method of claim 11 where the treating liquid is added to the vessel before the pressure in the vessel is varied.

17. The method of claim 11 where the treating liquid is added to the vessel while the pressure in the vessel is varied.

18. The method of claim 11 where the additive is added to the vessel before the pressure in the vessel is varied.

19. The method of claim 11 where the additive is added to the vessel while the pressure in the vessel is changed.

20. The method of claim 11 where the treating liquid contains water.

21. The method of claim 11 where the treating liquid adjusts the pH of the surface of the pores of the porous carbonaceous material.

22. The method of claim 11 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.

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

placing the porous carbonaceous material in a vessel capable of sustaining pressure change, where the vessel has an original pressure;

adding a treating liquid to the vessel;

varying the pressure in the vessel to force at least part of the treating liquid into the pores of the porous carbonaceous material and then returning the pressure in the vessel to its original pressure or to atmospheric pressure; and

agitating the porous carbonaceous material while varying the pressure in the vessel.

24. The method of claim 23 where the treating liquid is added to the vessel before the pressure in the vessel is varied.

25. The method of claim 23 where the treating liquid is added to the vessel while the pressure in the vessel is varied.

26. The method of claim 23 where a surfactant to added to the vessel to assist with the infusion of the treating liquid into the pores of the porous carbonaceous material.

27. The method claim 23 further comprising the step of moisture adjusting the porous carbonaceous material by at least partially drying the porous carbonaceous material after infused with a treating liquid.

28. The method of claim 23 where the pressure is varied using a vacuum and where during each pressure variation in the vessel the pressure reaches an absolute pressure of 10 Torr or greater.

29. The method of claim 23 where during each pressure variation in the vessel the pressure in the vessel is varied for a predetermined period before ceasing such pressure variation and returning the pressure in the vessel to its original pressure or to atmospheric pressure.