Biochar suspended solution

• US 10,472,298 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2018
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Talipot Cool Extract (IP), LLC
• Original Assignee: Cool Planet Energy Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Jarand, Mark L., Daugaard, Daren Einar, Thompson, Timothy Alan, Kim, Han Suk, Metier, Michael William
• Primary Examiner(s): Langel, Wayne A
• Application Number:
  US16/111,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20190071371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 13/0262 Mulches, i.e. covering material not-pre-formed in mats or sheets A01G13/0281 takes precedence; composition of mulches C09K17/52
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/00 Carbon; Compounds thereof C01B21/00, C01B23/00 take precedence; percarbonates C01B15/10; carbon black C09C1/48
• CPC Class Codes: C05D 9/00 Other inorganic fertilisers
• CPC Class Codes: C05D 9/02 containing trace elements
• 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 3/20 for preventing the fertilisers being reduced to powder; Anti-dusting additives
• CPC Class Codes: C05G 3/30 Anti-agglomerating additives; Anti-solidifying additives
• CPC Class Codes: C05G 3/80 Soil conditioners
• CPC Class Codes: C05G 5/27 Dispersions, e.g. suspensions or emulsions
• 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: C09K 17/40 containing mixtures of inorganic and organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 53/02 of cellulose-containing material production of pyroligneous acid C10C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 57/02 Multi-step carbonising or coking processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 71/903 Soil conditioner

Abstract

A method is provided for producing a biochar solution. The method comprises the steps of collecting biochar particles, dispersing the biochar particles in a liquid solution and adding a stabilizing agent to keep the biochar in flowable suspension. The stabilizing agent may be added to the liquid solution or to the biochar prior to placing the biochar in solution.

Claims

1. A method for producing a biochar solution, the method comprising the steps of (i) collecting biochar dust or biochar fines;

(ii) dispersing the biochar dust or fines in a liquid solution; and

(iii) adding a stabilizing agent to the liquid solution to keep the biochar dust or biochar fines in flowable suspension in the liquid solution.

2. The method of claim 1 where the step of collecting the biochar dust or fines includes collecting biochar from a centrifuge effluent and passing the biochar to equipment for de-sizing.

3. The method of claim 1 where the step of collecting the biochar dust or fines includes collecting biochar from biochar granular product and passing the biochar to equipment for de-sizing.

4. The method of claim 1 where the step of collecting the biochar dust or fines includes collecting the biochar dust or fines from both centrifuge effluent and granulated product and passing the biochar to equipment for de-sizing.

5. The method of claim 2 where the de-sizing equipment is a media mill.

6. The method of claim 3 where the de-sizing equipment is a media mill.

7. The method of claim 1 where the step of collecting the biochar dust or fines includes adding a flocculant to the biochar.

8. The method of claim 1 where the liquid solution includes water.

9. The method of claim 1 where the liquid solution includes both water and an additive.

10. The method of claim 9 where the additive is a fertilizer.

11. The method of claim 1 further including the step of removing larger biochar dust or fines from the liquid solution by filtering the solution.

12. The method of claim 1 where the stabilizing agent is xanthan gum.

13. The method of claim 1 where step of adding a stabilizing agent further includes adding a preservative.

14. The method of claim 1 where the biochar dust or fines used in solution has been treated by infusing a liquid into the pores of the biochar dust or fines.

15. The method of claim 1 where the step of adding the stabilizing agent to keep the biochar dust or fines in flowable suspension is performed before dispersing the biochar dust or fines in a liquid solution.

16. The method of claim 1 where the biochar solution has a concentration of 1-75% biochar dust or fines.

17. The method of claim 1 where the biochar solution has a concentration of 15-70% biochar dust or fines.

18. A biochar solution comprising biochar particles, biochar dust or biochar fines, a liquid solution and a stabilizing agent to keep the biochar particles, dust or fines in suspension in the liquid solution, where the biochar solution has a concentration of 1-75% biochar particles, dust or fines.

19. The biochar solution of claim 18 where the liquid solution is water.

20. The biochar solution of claim 18 where the liquid solution includes both water and an additive.

21. The biochar solution of claim 20 where the additive is a fertilizer.

22. The biochar solution of claim 18 where the stabilizing agent is xanthan gum.

23. The biochar solution of claim 18 where biochar solution further includes a preservative.

24. The biochar solution of claim 18 where the biochar particles, dust or fines used in solution has been treated by infusing a liquid into the pores of the biochar particles, dust or fines.

25. The biochar solution of claim 18 where 90% of the biochar particles, dust or fines are 0.5 mm or less in size.

26. The biochar solution of claim 20 where the additive is a biological agent beneficial to plants.

27. The biochar solution of claim 18 where the biochar solution has a concentration of 15-70% biochar particles, dust or fines.