Biomass feed and fuel pellets

• US 20150030752A1
• Filed: 07/26/2013
• Published: 01/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Riverside Fuels, LLC
• Original Assignee: Riverside Fuels, LLC
• Inventors: Omernik, Andrew Joseph, Omernik, Michael Gregory, Omernik, Erik Scott
• Application Number:
  US13/952,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20150030752A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/630
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 10/30 from material of plant origin, e.g. roots, seeds or hay; from material of fungal origin, e.g. mushrooms obtained by microbiological or biochemical processes, e.g. using yeasts or enzymes, A23K10/10
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 10/37 from waste material from hydrolysates of wood or straw A23K10/32; from molasses A23K10/33
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/10 Organic substances
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/105 Aliphatic or alicyclic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 40/20 by moulding, e.g. making cakes or briquettes
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 40/25 by extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/363 Pellets or granulates
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 5/445 Agricultural waste, e.g. corn crops, grass clippings, nut shells or oil pressing residues
• 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

Abstract

Pellet compositions derived from agricultural combustible biomass and oil-retaining seed mash are described. A lubricant such as glycerol or glycerin may also be included to increase pelletability and increase the BTU/lb of the pellets. The components used for making the pellets are byproducts of biofuel production and typically have little economic value. Pellet composition advantageously include the use on material derived from Camelina plants as the combustible biomass and seed mash. Methods of making the pellets are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A composition of pellets wherein the pellets comprise a pelletizable mixture and a lubricant wherein the pellitizable mixture comprises combustible biomass and an oil-retaining seed mash, the pellitizable mixture comprising material derived from Camelina.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the lubricant is glycerol, glycerin or combination thereof.

3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the combustible biomass comprises Camelina stover.

4. The composition of claim 1 wherein the oil-retaining seed mash comprises Camelina seed mash.

5. The composition of claim 3 wherein the combustible biomass further comprises soybean stover, corn stover, canola stover and combinations thereof.

6. The composition of claim 4 wherein the oil-retaining seed mash further comprises canola seed mash.

7. The composition of claim 1 wherein the combustible biomass is between about 40% and about 90% by weight of the pellet.

8. The composition of claim 1 wherein the oil-retaining seed mash is between about 10% and about 40% by weight of the pellet.

9. The composition of claim 1 wherein the lubricant is between about 0.01% and about 30% by weight.

10. The composition of claim 1 further comprising an essential oil.

11. The composition of claim 1 wherein the pellet has a moisture content of between about 10% and about 20% by weight.

12. The composition of claim 1 wherein the pellets are fuel pellets.

13. The composition of claim 1 wherein the pellets are animal feed pellets.

14. The composition of claim 1 wherein the pellets have a BTU of at least about 10,000 BTU per pound of pellets.

15. The composition of claim 1 wherein Camelina is Camelina sativa.

16. A method for preparing a composition of pellets comprising:

forming a pelletizable mixture from combustible biomass and oil-retaining seed mash wherein the pelletizable mixture comprises material derived from Camelina;

adding lubricant to the pelletizable mixture;

drying the mixture; and

pelleting the dried mixture to form the composition of pellets.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the forming step comprises:

processing the combustible biomass;

extruding the oil-retaining seed mash;

breaking apart the extruded oil-retaining seed mash into fine particles; and

combining the processed biomass and the fine particles of the seed mash to form the pelletizable mixture.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the processing of the combustible biomass comprises milling the biomass into fine particulates.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the combustible biomass comprises Camelina stover.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the lubricant is glycerol, glycerin or a combination thereof.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the oil-retaining seed mash comprises Camelina seed mash.

22. The method of claim 16 wherein the combustible biomass further comprises soybean stover, corn stover, canola stover and combinations thereof.

23. The method of claim 16 wherein the oil-retaining seed mash further comprises canola seed mash.

24. The method of claim 16 wherein the combustible biomass is between about 40% and about 90% by weight of the pellet.

25. The method of claim 16 wherein the oil-retaining seed mash is between about 10% and about 40% by weight of the pellet.

26. The method of claim 16 wherein the lubricant is between about 0.01% and about 30% by weight.

27. The method of claim 16 wherein the adding step further comprises adding an essential oil.

28. The method of claim 16 wherein the drying step comprises drying the pelletizable mixture to a moisture content of between about 10% and about 20% by weight.

29. The method of claim 16 wherein Camelina is Camelina sativa.

30. A method for using byproducts from production of biofuels comprising:

forming a pelletizable mixture from combustible biomass and oil-retaining seed mash wherein the pelletizable mixture comprises material derived from Camelina;

adding lubricant to the pelletizable mixture;

drying the mixture; and

pelleting the dried product to form a composition of pellets.