COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR REMOVING AMMONIA FROM GAS

• US 20190321803A1
• Filed: 04/18/2019
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regents of The University of Minnesota (University of Minnesota)
• Original Assignee: Regents of The University of Minnesota (University of Minnesota)
• Inventors: Valentas, Kenneth J., Gerner, Gabriel, Plewka, Scott, Pursell, Zachary
• Granted Patent: US 10,981,145 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/58 Ammonia
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/20 comprising free carbon; comprising carbon obtained by carbonising processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/22 comprising organic material
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3078 Thermal treatment, e.g. calcining or pyrolizing
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3085 Chemical treatments not covered by groups B01J20/3007 - B01J20/3078
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2220/485 Plants or land vegetals, e.g. cereals, wheat, corn, rice, sphagnum, peat moss
• CPC Class Codes: C01C 1/12 Separation of ammonia from gases and vapours as part of the ammonia synthesis process C01C1/04

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods of controlling the amount of carboxyl groups attached to a hydrochar, the methods including subjecting a composition that includes a stover composition to hydrothermal carbonization to form a hydrochar, wherein the amount of carboxyl groups attached to the hydrochar can be controlled by the amount of lipids in the composition. Methods of removing ammonia from a gas using disclosed hydrochars and the hydrochars themselves are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of removing ammonia from a gas, the method comprising:

subjecting a composition comprising a stover composition to hydrothermal carbonization to form a hydrochar, the composition comprising an amount of lipids to provide a carboxyl group content in the hydrochar of not less than 0.3 millimoles (mmol) carboxyl groups per gram of hydrochar; and

contacting the gas with the hydrochar, whereby the ammonia is adsorbed onto the hydrochar.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the stover composition comprises plant material from:

corn, sorghum, soybean, rice, wheat, or any combination thereof.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the composition comprises corn stover, condensed distillers solubles (CDS), spent brewers grains, or any combination thereof.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the composition comprises one or more stover compositions and one or more added lipids.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the one or more added lipids comprise corn oil.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the carboxyl group content is not less than 0.4 millimoles (mmol) carboxyl groups per gram of composition.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the carboxyl group content can be determined using a Boehm titration.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising adding lipids to a stover composition to form the composition subjected to hydrothermal carbonization.

9. The method according to claim 8 further comprising desorbing the ammonia from the hydrochar.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the hydrothermal carbonization is done at a temperature from 180°

C. to 220°

C.

11. An article comprising:

a hydrochar produced from a composition comprising a stover compositions, the hydrochar having a carboxyl group content of not less than 0.3 millimoles (mmol) carboxyl groups per gram of composition.

12. The article according to claim 11, wherein the stover composition comprises plant material from:

corn, sorghum, soybean, rice, wheat, or any combination thereof.

13. The article according to claim 11, wherein the composition comprises corn stover, condensed distillers solubles (CDS), spent brewers grains, or any combination thereof.

14. The article according to claim 11, wherein the composition comprises one or more stover compositions and one or more added lipids.

15. The article according to claim 14, wherein the one or more added lipids comprise corn oil.

16. The article according to claim 11, wherein the carboxyl group content is not less than 0.4 millimoles (mmol) carboxyl groups per gram of composition.

17. The article according to claim 11, wherein the carboxyl group content can be determined using a Boehm titration.

18. A method of controlling the amount of carboxyl groups attached to a hydrochar, the method comprising:

subjecting a composition comprising a stover composition to hydrothermal carbonization to form a hydrochar, wherein the amount of carboxyl groups attached to the hydrochar can be controlled by the amount of lipids in the composition.

19. The method according to claim 18 further comprising adding lipids to a stover composition to form the composition subjected to hydrothermal carbonization.

20. The method according to claim 19 further comprising desorbing the ammonia from the hydrochar.