PRETREATED DENSIFIED BIOMASS PRODUCTS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING SAME

• US 20110300269A1
• Filed: 08/24/2010
• Published: 12/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Board of Trustees of Michigan State University (Michigan State University)
• Original Assignee: The Board of Trustees of Michigan State University (Michigan State University)
• Inventors: Dale, Bruce, Ritchie, Bryan, Marshall, Derek
• Granted Patent: US 8,673,031 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/96
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 10/37 from waste material from hydrolysates of wood or straw A23K10/32; from molasses A23K10/33
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/363 Pellets or granulates
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/44 on vegetable substances
• CPC Class Codes: D21B 1/021 by chemical means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/87 Re-use of by-products of food processing for fodder production
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2938 Coating on discrete and individual rods, strands or filaments

Abstract

A product comprising at least one densified biomass particulate of a given mass having no added binder and comprised of a plurality of lignin-coated plant biomass fibers is provided, wherein the at least one densified biomass particulate has an intrinsic density substantially equivalent to a binder-containing densified biomass particulate of the same given mass and h a substantially smooth, non-flakey outer surface. Methods for using and making the product are also described.

Claims

1. A product comprising:

at least one densified biomass particulate of a given mass having no added binder and comprised of a plurality of lignin-coated plant biomass fibers, wherein the at least one densified biomass particulate has an intrinsic density substantially equivalent to a binder-containing densified biomass particulate of the same given mass and has a substantially smooth, non-flakey outer surface.

2. The product of claim 1 wherein the at least one densified biomass particulate having no added binder has an increased resistance to deformation, an increased hardness, an increased resistance to degradation, an improved shelf life, or a combination thereof, as compared with the binder-containing densified biomass particulate.

3. The product of claim 2 wherein the at least one densified biomass particulate of a given mass having no added binder is at least 21% harder with at least 20% less variability in hardness than the binder-containing densified biomass particulate of the same given mass.

4. The product of claim 3 wherein the at least one densified biomass particulate having no added binder has a substantially rectangular shape or a substantially cylindrical shape.

5. The product of claim 3 wherein the plurality of lignin-coated biomass fibers are each coated completely with lignin and at least some of the plurality of lignin-coated biomass fibers are also coated with hemicellulose.

6. The product of claim 5 wherein at least some of the plurality of lignin-coated biomass fibers contains trace amounts of ammonia.

7. The product of claim 3 wherein the plurality of lignin-coated biomass fibers are corn stover fibers, switchgrass fibers, prairie cord grass fibers, or combinations thereof.

8. The product of claim 3 wherein the at least one densified biomass particulate having no added binder is a plurality of densified biomass particulates of a given number, each having no added binder, wherein the plurality of densified biomass particulates has an increased flowability, a greater bulk density, or a combination thereof, as compared with a plurality of binder-containing densified biomass particulates of the same given number.

9. A packaged product comprising:

a container; and

a quantity of densified biomass particulates having no added binder located within the container, wherein the quantity of densified biomass particulates has a bulk density greater than a bulk density of an identical quantity of binder-containing densified biomass particulates.

10. The packaged product of claim 9 wherein biomass in the densified biomass particulates is corn stover, switchgrass, prairie cord grass, or combinations thereof.

16. The packaged product of claim 9 wherein each of the quantity of densified biomass particulates having no added binder has a substantially rectangular shape or a substantially cylindrical shape.

11. An integrated process comprising:

subjecting a quantity of biomass fibers to an ammonia treatment wherein at least a portion of lignin contained within each fiber is moved to an outer surface of each fiber to produce a quantity of tacky biomass fibers; and

densifying the quantity of tacky biomass fibers to produce one or more densified biomass particulates, wherein the quantity of tacky biomass fibers is densified without adding binder.

12. The integrated process of claim 11 wherein the ammonia treatment is an ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX) treatment or a condensed AFEX treatment.

17. A product produced according to the process of claim 11.

13. A fuel comprising:

at least one densified biomass particulate of a given mass having no added binder and comprised of a plurality of lignin-coated plant biomass fibers, wherein the at least one densified biomass particulate has an intrinsic density substantially equivalent to a binder-containing densified biomass particulate of the same given mass and has a substantially smooth, non-flakey outer surface.

18. The fuel of claim 13 wherein the at least one densified biomass particulate of a given mass having no added binder is at least 21% harder with at least 20% less variability in hardness than the binder-containing densified biomass particulate of the same given mass.

14. An animal feed comprising:

at least one densified biomass particulate of a given mass having no added binder and comprised of a plurality of lignin-coated plant biomass fibers, wherein the at least one densified biomass particulate has an intrinsic density substantially equivalent to a binder-containing densified biomass particulate of the same given mass and has a substantially smooth, non-flakey outer surface, wherein the animal feed has improved digestibility as compared with animal feed containing binder-containing densified biomass particulates.

19. The animal feed of claim 14 wherein the at least one densified biomass particulate of a given mass having no added binder is at least 21% harder with at least 20% less variability in hardness than the binder-containing densified biomass particulate of the same given mass.

15. A solid material comprising:

at least one densified biomass particulate of a given mass having no added binder and comprised of a plurality of lignin-coated plant biomass fibers, wherein the at least one densified biomass particulate has an intrinsic density substantially equivalent to a binder-containing densified biomass particulate of the same given mass and has a substantially smooth, non-flakey outer surface, wherein the solid material is useful in construction.

20. The solid material of claim 15 wherein the at least one densified biomass particulate of a given mass having no added binder is at least 21% harder with at least 20% less variability in hardness than the binder-containing densified biomass particulate of the same given mass.