HIGH-CARBON BIOGENIC REAGENTS AND USES THEREOF

• US 20120285080A1
• Filed: 04/13/2012
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carbon Technology Holding LLC
• Original Assignee: Biogenic Reagents LLC
• Inventors: Mennell, James A., Despen, Daniel J., Filips, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 8,920,525 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 44/500
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 21/18 Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/312 Preparation
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/318 characterised by the starting materials
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 39/00 Cooling or quenching coke
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 39/02 Dry cooling outside the oven
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 41/00 Safety devices, e.g. signalling or controlling devices for use in the discharge of coke
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 43/02 Removing incrustations
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 45/00 Other details
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 47/30 in rotary ovens or retorts
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 49/02 with hot gases or vapours, e.g. hot gases obtained by partial combustion of the charge
• 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: C10B 57/06 containing additives
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 57/10 Drying
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2200/0204 Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2200/025 Halogen containing compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2200/0469 Renewables or materials of biological origin
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/02 Combustion or pyrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/06 Heat exchange, direct or indirect
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/08 Drying or removing water
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/145 : of air
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/28 : Cutting, disintegrating, shredding or grinding
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/30 : Pressing, compressing or compacting
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/50 : Screws or pistons for moving along solids
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/52 : Hoppers
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/58 : Control or regulation of the fuel preparation of upgrading process
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/60 : Measuring or analysing fractions, components or impurities or process conditions during preparation or upgrading of a fuel
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/04 : Raw material of mineral origin to be used; Pretreatment thereof pretreatment of fuels of non-mineral origin C10L5/40
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/36 : Shape
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/363 : Pellets or granulates
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/365 : Logs
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/366 : Powders
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/442 : Wood or forestry waste
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/447 : Carbonized vegetable substances, e.g. charcoal, or produced by hydrothermal carbonization of biomass
• CPC Class Codes: C21B 13/0066 : Preliminary conditioning of the solid carbonaceous reductant
• CPC Class Codes: C21B 5/007 : Conditions of the cokes or characterised by the cokes used
• CPC Class Codes: C21C 5/52 : Manufacture of steel in electric furnaces C21C5/005 takes precedence; electric heating per se H05B
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 4/02 : Light metals C22B4/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/04 : mainly consisting of carbon-silicon compounds, carbon or silicon
• 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: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/143 : of methane [CH4]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/129 : Energy recovery, e.g. by cogeneration, H2recovery or pressure recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/133 : Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/145 : the feedstock being materials of biological origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/30 : Wastewater or sewage treatment systems using renewable energies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 : using solar energy

Abstract

This invention provides processes and systems for converting biomass into high-carbon biogenic reagents that are suitable for a variety of commercial applications. High carbon biogenic reagents are also provided.

Claims

1. A high-carbon biogenic reagent produced by a process comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a carbon-containing feedstock comprising biomass;

(b) optionally drying said feedstock to remove at least a portion of moisture contained within said feedstock, to generated dried feedstock;

(c) optionally deaerating said feedstock or said dried feedstock to remove at least a portion of interstitial oxygen, if any, contained with said feedstock or said dried feedstock;

(d) in a pyrolysis zone, pyrolyzing said dried feedstock in the presence of a substantially inert gas for at least 10 minutes and with a pyrolysis temperature selected from about 250°

C. to about 700°

C., to generate hot pyrolyzed solids, condensable vapors, and non-condensable gases;

(e) separating at least a portion of said condensable vapors and at least a portion of said non-condensable gases from said hot pyrolyzed solids;

(f) in a cooling zone, cooling said hot pyrolyzed solids, in the presence of said substantially inert gas for at least 5 minutes and with a cooling zone temperature less than said pyrolysis temperature, to generate warm pyrolyzed solids;

(g) in a cooling unit that is separate from said cooling zone, cooling said warm pyrolyzed solids to generate cool pyrolyzed solids; and

(h) recovering a high-carbon biogenic reagent comprising at least a portion of said cool pyrolyzed solids.

2. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 1, said reagent comprising at least 55 wt % total carbon on a dry basis.

3. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 2, said reagent comprising at least 80 wt % total carbon on a dry basis.

4. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 3, said reagent comprising at least 90 wt % total carbon on a dry basis.

5. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 4, said reagent comprising at least 95 wt % total carbon on a dry basis.

6. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 1, said reagent comprising fixed carbon and carbon from volatile matter.

7. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 6, wherein said carbon from volatile matter is at least 5% of said total carbon.

8. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 7, wherein said carbon from volatile matter is at least 20% of said total carbon.

9. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 8, wherein said carbon from volatile matter is at least 40% of said total carbon.

10. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 1, said reagent comprising about 10 wt % or less hydrogen on a dry basis.

11. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 10, said reagent comprising about 5 wt % or less hydrogen on a dry basis.

12. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 1, said reagent comprising about 20 wt % or less oxygen on a dry basis.

13. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 12, said reagent comprising between about 1 wt % and about 10 wt % oxygen on a dry basis.

14. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 1, said reagent comprising about 1 wt % or less nitrogen on a dry basis.

15. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 14, said reagent comprising about 0.5 wt % or less nitrogen on a dry basis.

16. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 1, said reagent comprising about 0.5 wt % or less phosphorus on a dry basis.

17. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 16, said reagent comprising about 0.2 wt % or less phosphorus on a dry basis.

18. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 1, said reagent comprising about 0.2 wt % or less sulfur on a dry basis.

19. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 18, said reagent comprising about 0.1 wt % or less sulfur on a dry basis.

20. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 1, said reagent comprising about 10 wt % or less non-combustible matter on a dry basis.

21. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 20, said reagent comprising about 5 wt % or less non-combustible matter on a dry basis.

22. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 21, said reagent comprising about 1 wt % or less non-combustible matter on a dry basis.

23. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of any one of claim 1 to 22, said reagent further comprising moisture.

24. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of any one of claim 1 to 23, wherein said reagent has an energy content of at least 11,000 Btu/lb on a dry basis.

25. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 24, wherein said reagent has an energy content of at least 12,000 Btu/lb on a dry basis.

26. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 25, wherein said reagent has an energy content of at least 13,000 Btu/lb on a dry basis.

27. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 26, wherein said reagent has an energy content of at least 14,000 Btu/lb on a dry basis.

28. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 27, wherein said reagent has an energy content of at least 14,500 Btu/lb on a dry basis.

29. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 28, wherein said reagent has an energy content of at least 14,700 Btu/lb on a dry basis.

30. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of any one of claim 1 to 29, said reagent further comprising at least one process additive incorporated during said process.

31. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of any one of claim 1 to 30, said reagent further comprising at least one product additive introduced to said reagent following said process.

32. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of either one of claim 30 or 31, wherein said process additive and/or said product additive is selected to maintain the structural integrity or mechanical strength of said high-carbon biogenic reagent relative to said feedstock.

33. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of either one of claim 30 or 31, wherein said process additive and/or said product additive is selected to increase the carbon content of said high-carbon biogenic reagent.

34. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of either one of claim 30 or 31, wherein said process additive and/or said product additive is selected to increase the energy content of said high-carbon biogenic reagent.

58. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of any one of claim 1 to 57, wherein said reagent is a fine powder.

59. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of any one of claim 1 to 57, wherein said reagent is in the form of structural objects.

60. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 59, wherein said structural objects are derived from pressing, binding, pelletizing, or agglomerating particles.

61. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 59, wherein said structural objects have a structure and/or strength that substantially derive from the feedstock source of said carbon.

62. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 61, wherein said structural objects have substantially the same structural form as said feedstock source of said carbon.

63. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 62, wherein said high-carbon biogenic reagent comprises at least one additive selected to help maintain said structural form prior to use.

64. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of any one of claim 1 to 63, wherein the majority of said carbon is classified as renewable carbon.

65. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 64, wherein substantially all of said carbon is classified as renewable carbon.

66. A carbonaceous product comprising said high-carbon biogenic reagent according to any one of claim 1 to 65.

67. A blast furnace addition product comprising said high-carbon biogenic reagent according to any one of the claim 1 to 65.

68. A taconite pellet process addition product comprising said high-carbon biogenic reagent according to any one of claim 1 to 65.

69. The taconite pellet process addition product of claim 68, wherein the addition product comprises, on a dry basis:

55 wt % or more total carbon;

0.4 wt % or less sulfur;

0.1 wt % or less phosphorous;

10 wt % or less dolomite;

10 wt % or less calcium oxide; and

a heat value of at least about 11,000 BTU/lb,

wherein said addition product has a maximum dimension of about ⅛

inches and is substantially free of fossil fuel.

70. A taconite pellet comprising said high-carbon biogenic reagent according to any one of claim 1 to 65.

71. A coal replacement product comprising said high-carbon biogenic reagent according to any one of claim 1 to 65.

72. The coal replacement product of claim 71, wherein the coal replacement product comprises, on a dry basis:

at least about 70 wt % total carbon; and

0.5 wt % or less sulfur,

wherein said coal replacement product has a heating value of at least about 12,000 BTU/lb on a dry basis and is substantially free of fossil fuel.

73. A coking carbon product comprising said high-carbon biogenic reagent according to any one of claim 1 to 65.

74. The coking carbon product of claim 73, wherein the coking carbon product comprises, on a dry basis:

55 wt % or more total carbon;

0.4 wt % or less sulfur;

0.035 wt % or less phosphorous; and

a heat value of at least about 11,000 BTU/lb,

wherein said coking carbon product has a minimum dimension of about ¾

inches and is substantially free of fossil fuel.

75. A carbon breeze product comprising said high-carbon biogenic reagent according to any one of claim 1 to 65.

76. The carbon breeze product of claim 75, wherein the carbon breeze product comprises, on a dry basis:

55 wt % or more total carbon;

0.4 wt % or less sulfur;

0.035 wt % or less phosphorous; and

a heat value of at least about 11,000 BTU/lb,

wherein said carbon breeze product has a maximum dimension of about ⅛

inches and is substantially free of fossil fuel.

77. A fluidized-bed product comprising said high-carbon biogenic reagent according to any one of claim 1 to 65.

78. The fluidized bed product of claim 77, wherein the fluidized bed product comprises, on a dry basis:

55 wt % or more total carbon;

0.4 wt % or less sulfur;

0.035 wt % or less phosphorous; and

a heat value of at least about 11,000 BTU/lb,

wherein said fluidized bed product has a minimum dimension of about ¼

inches, a maximum dimension of about 2 inches, and is substantially free of fossil fuel.

79. A furnace addition product comprising said high-carbon biogenic reagent according to any one of claim 1 to 65.

80. The furnace addition product of claim 79, wherein the furnace addition product comprises, on a dry basis:

80 wt % or more total carbon;

0.4 wt % or less sulfur;

0.035 wt % or less phosphorous;

a heat value of at least about 11,000 BTU/lb;

optionally about 5 wt % to about 10 wt % of dolomite;

optionally about 5 wt % to about 10 wt % of dolomitic lime;

up to about 5 wt % of manganese;

up to about 5 wt % of fluorospar; and

optionally about 5 wt % to about 10 wt % of calcium oxide,

wherein said furnace addition product has a minimum dimension of about ¾

inches, a maximum dimension of about 2 inches, and is substantially free of fossil fuel.

81. An injectable carbon product comprising said high-carbon biogenic reagent according to any one of claim 1 to 65.

82. The injectable carbon product of claim 81, wherein the injectable carbon product comprises, on a dry basis:

55 wt % or more total carbon;

0.4 wt % or less sulfur;

0.035 wt % or less phosphorous;

a heat value of at least about 11,000 BTU/lb;

up to about 10 wt % of dolomitic lime; and

up to about 10 wt % of calcium oxide,

wherein said injectable carbon product has a maximum dimension of about ⅛

inches and is substantially free of fossil fuel.

83. A ladle addition carbon product comprising said high-carbon biogenic reagent according to any one of claim 1 to 65.

84. The ladle addition carbon product of claim 83, wherein the ladle addition carbon product comprises, on a dry basis:

55 wt % or more total carbon;

0.4 wt % or less sulfur;

0.035 wt % or less phosphorous;

a heat value of at least about 11,000 BTU/lb,

wherein said ladle addition carbon product has a minimum dimension of about ¼

inches, a maximum dimension of about ½

inches, and is substantially free of fossil fuel.

85. The ladle addition carbon product of claim 83 or 84 further comprising:

up to about 10 wt % of dolomitic lime;

up to about 5 wt % of manganese; and

up to about 5 wt % of calcium oxide.

86. A met coke product comprising said high-carbon biogenic reagent according to any one of claim 1 to 65.

87. The met coke product of claim 86, wherein the met coke product comprises, on a dry basis:

55 wt % or more total carbon;

0.4 wt % or less sulfur;

0.035 wt % or less phosphorous;

a heat value of at least about 11,000 BTU/lb;

optionally about 2 wt % to about 15 wt % of dolomite;

optionally about 2 wt % to about 15 wt % of bentonite;

optionally about 2 wt % to about 15 wt % of calcium oxide; and

optionally about 2 wt % to about 15 wt % of dolomitic lime,

wherein said met coke product has a minimum dimension of about ¾

inches, a maximum dimension of about 4 inches, and is substantially free of fossil fuel.

88. A pulverized carbon product comprising said high-carbon biogenic reagent according to any one of claim 1 to 65.

89. The pulverized carbon product of claim 88, wherein the pulverized carbon product comprises, on a dry basis:

55 wt % or more total carbon;

0.4 wt % or less sulfur; and

a heat value of at least about 12,000 BTU/lb,

wherein said pulverized carbon product has a maximum dimension of about ⅛

inches and is substantially free of fossil fuel.

90. A stoker carbon product comprising said high-carbon biogenic reagent according to any one of claim 1 to 65.

91. The stoker carbon product of claim 90, wherein said stoker carbon product comprises, on a dry basis:

55 wt % or more total carbon;

0.4 wt % or less sulfur;

0.035 wt % or less phosphorous; and

a heat value of at least about 11,000 BTU/lb,

wherein said stoker carbon product has a minimum dimension of about 1 inch, a maximum dimension of about 3 inches, and is substantially free of fossil fuel.

92. A carbon electrode comprising said high-carbon biogenic reagent according to any one of claim 1 to 65.

93. The carbon electrode of claim 92, wherein the carbon electrode comprises, on a dry basis:

55 wt % or more total carbon; and

0.5 wt % or less sulfur,

wherein said carbon electrode is substantially free of fossil fuel.

94. A method of manufacturing a metal using a carbon electrode of claim 92 or 93, wherein the carbon electrode is consumed during said manufacturing.

95. The method of claim 94 wherein the metal is aluminum or steel.

96. An activated carbon product comprising said high-carbon biogenic reagent according to any one of claim 1 to 65.

97. An up-ranked coal composition comprising a high-carbon biogenic reagent according to any one of claim 1 to 65.

98. The up-ranked coal composition of claim 97, wherein the up-ranked coal composition further comprises a coal product having a first rank, and wherein said up-ranked coal composition has a second rank greater than said first rank.

99. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 1, wherein the biomass is prepared by milling wood to form a plurality of biomass pieces of substantially uniform size and shape.

100. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 99, wherein the biomass further comprises an additive.

101. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 99 or claim 100, wherein the biogenic reagent comprises a first fixed carbon content, wherein said first fixed carbon content is greater than a second fixed carbon content associated with a second biogenic reagent prepared by pyrolyzing a second biomass according to the process of claim 1, wherein the second biomass is essentially free of said additive.

102. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 101, wherein the additive is selected from the group consisting of magnesium, manganese, aluminum, nickel, chromium, silicon, boron, cerium, molybdenum, phosphorus, tungsten, vanadium, iron halide, iron chloride, iron bromide, magnesium oxide, dolomite, dolomitic lime, fluorite, fluorospar, bentonite, calcium oxide, lime, and combinations thereof.

103. The biogenic reagent of claim 1, wherein the biomass further comprises an additive, and wherein a first mass yield of biogenic reagent is greater than a second mass yield corresponding to a second biogenic reagent prepared by pyrolyzing a second biomass according to the process of claim 1, wherein the second biomass is essentially free of said additive.

104. The biogenic reagent of claim 1, wherein the biomass further comprises an additive, and wherein a first fixed carbon level associated with the biogenic reagent is greater than a second fixed carbon level associated with a second biogenic reagent prepared by pyrolyzing a second biomass according to the process of claim 1, wherein the second biomass is essentially free of said additive.

105. The biogenic reagent of claim 103 or claim 104, wherein the additive is selected from the group consisting of magnesium, manganese, aluminum, nickel, chromium, silicon, boron, cerium, molybdenum, phosphorus, tungsten, vanadium, iron halide, iron chloride, iron bromide, magnesium oxide, dolomite, dolomitic lime, fluorite, fluorospar, bentonite, calcium oxide, lime, and combinations thereof.

106. The biogenic reagent of claim 99, wherein a first mass yield of the biogenic reagent is greater than a second mass yield of a second biogenic reagent prepared from a second biomass according to the process of claim 1, wherein the second biomass comprises biomass pieces of substantially non-uniform size and/or shape.

107. The biogenic reagent of claim 1, wherein prior to step (b) the biomass is sized using a saw.

108. The biogenic reagent of claim 107, wherein a CSR value associated with the biogenic reagent is greater than a second CSR value associated with a second biogenic reagent prepared from a second biomass according to the process of claim 1, wherein the second biomass is sized by chipping or shearing.

109. The biogenic reagent of claim 1, wherein the feedstock is dried over a first period of time of no less than 1 hour in step (b).

110. The biogenic reagent of claim 109, wherein a CSR value associated with the biogenic reagent is greater than a second CSR value associated with a second biogenic reagent prepared from a second biomass according to the process of claim 1, wherein the second biomass is dried over a second period of time that is less than or substantially less than the first period of time.

111. The biogenic reagent of claim 1, wherein a first temperature increase during step (d) occurs at a first rate of about 5°

C. per minute to about 20°

C. per minute.

112. The biogenic reagent prepared by the process of claim 1, wherein the process further comprises the step of preheating said feedstock prior to step (d) to produce a preheated feedstock.

113. The biogenic reagent of claim 112, wherein a first temperature increase during said preheating step occurs at a first rate of about 5°

C. per minute to about 20°

C. per minute.

114. The biogenic reagent of claim 112 further comprising increasing the temperature of the preheated feedstock prior to step (d) in a pre-pyrolysis step, wherein a first temperature increase during said pre-pyrolysis step occurs at a first rate of about 5°

C. per minute to about 20°

C. per minute.

115. The biogenic reagent of any one of claim 111 to 114, wherein a CSR value associated with the biogenic reagent is greater than a second CSR value associated with a second biogenic reagent prepared from a second biomass according to the process of claim 1, wherein a second temperature increase of the second biomass occurs at a second rate that is greater than or substantially greater than the first rate.

35. A high-carbon biogenic reagent comprising, on a dry basis:

55 wt % or more total carbon;

5 wt % or less hydrogen;

1 wt % or less nitrogen;

0.5 wt % or less phosphorus;

0.2 wt % or less sulfur; and

an additive selected from a metal, a metal oxide, a metal hydroxide, a metal halide, or a combination thereof.

36. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 35, wherein said additive is selected from the group consisting of magnesium, manganese, aluminum, nickel, chromium, silicon, boron, cerium, molybdenum, phosphorus, tungsten, vanadium, iron halide, iron chloride, iron bromide, magnesium oxide, dolomite, dolomitic lime, fluorite, fluorospar, bentonite, calcium oxide, lime, and combinations thereof.

41. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of any one of claim 35 to 40, said reagent comprising at least 70 wt % total carbon on a dry basis.

42. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 41, said reagent comprising at least 80 wt % total carbon on a dry basis.

43. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 42, said reagent comprising at least 90 wt % total carbon on a dry basis.

44. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 43, said reagent comprising at least 95 wt % total carbon on a dry basis.

45. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of any one of claim 35 to 44, said reagent comprising fixed carbon and carbon associated with volatile matter.

46. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of any one of claim 35 to 45, wherein said reagent comprises between 1 wt % and 10 wt % oxygen.

47. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of any one of claim 35 to 46, said reagent comprising about 8 wt % or less non-combustible matter on a dry basis.

48. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 47, said reagent comprising about 4 wt % or less non-combustible matter on a dry basis.

51. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of any one of claim 35 to 50, said reagent further comprising moisture.

52. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of any one of claim 35 to 51, wherein said reagent has an energy content of at least 11,000 Btu/lb on a dry basis.

53. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 52, wherein said reagent has an energy content of at least 12,000 Btu/lb on a dry basis.

54. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 53, wherein said reagent has an energy content of at least 13,000 Btu/lb on a dry basis.

55. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 54, wherein said reagent has an energy content of at least 14,000 Btu/lb on a dry basis.

56. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 55, wherein said reagent has an energy content of at least 14,500 Btu/lb on a dry basis.

57. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 56, wherein said reagent has an energy content of at least 14,700 Btu/lb on a dry basis.

37. A high-carbon biogenic reagent comprising, on a dry basis:

55 wt % or more total carbon;

5 wt % or less hydrogen;

1 wt % or less nitrogen;

0.5 wt % or less phosphorus;

0.2 wt % or less sulfur; and

an additive selected from an acid or a salt thereof, or a base or a salt thereof.

38. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 37, wherein said additive is selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, magnesium oxide, hydrogen bromide, hydrogen chloride, sodium silicate, potassium permanganate, and combinations thereof.

39. A high-carbon biogenic reagent comprising, on a dry basis:

55 wt % or more total carbon;

5 wt % or less hydrogen;

1 wt % or less nitrogen;

0.5 wt % or less phosphorus;

0.2 wt % or less sulfur;

a first additive selected from a metal, a metal oxide, a metal hydroxide, a metal halide, or a combination thereof; and

a second additive selected from an acid or a salt thereof, or a base or a salt thereof,

wherein said first additive is different from said second additive.

40. The high-carbon biogenic reagent of claim 39, wherein said first additive is selected from the group consisting of magnesium, manganese, aluminum, nickel, chromium, silicon, boron, cerium, molybdenum, phosphorus, tungsten, vanadium, an iron halide, iron chloride, iron bromide, magnesium oxide, dolomite, dolomitic lime, fluorite, fluorospar, bentonite, calcium oxide, lime, and combinations thereof, and wherein said second additive is independently selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, magnesium oxide, hydrogen bromide, hydrogen chloride, sodium silicate, potassium permanganate, and combinations thereof.

49. A high-carbon biogenic reagent consisting essentially of, on a dry basis, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, non-combustible matter, and an additive selected from the group consisting of magnesium, manganese, aluminum, nickel, chromium, silicon, boron, cerium, molybdenum, phosphorus, tungsten, vanadium, iron halide, iron chloride, iron bromide, magnesium oxide, dolomite, dolomitic lime, fluorite, fluorospar, bentonite, calcium oxide, lime, and combinations thereof.

50. A high-carbon biogenic reagent consisting essentially of, on a dry basis, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, non-combustible matter, and an additive selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, magnesium oxide, hydrogen bromide, hydrogen chloride, sodium silicate, potassium permanganate, and combinations thereof.