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Synthetic coal and methods of producing synthetic coal from fermentation residue

a technology of fermentation residues and synthetic coal, which is applied in the direction of biofuels, fuels, waste based fuels, etc., can solve the problems of difficult chemical or enzymatic attack and breakdown of plant structural materials, and achieve the effect of large energy advantages

Inactive Publication Date: 2012-11-22
SCHENDEL FREDERICK J +4
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is about using a process called hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) to treat fermentation residues to produce a char product. This process involves heating and pressure treatment of the residues in a suspension of water, which is energy-efficient compared to traditional drying methods. The invention is surprising because it was previously thought that the production of chars required high cellulose content and high temperatures and pressures for an extended period of time. However, the invention shows that HTC can be applied to fermentation residues and produce a char product with a high carbon content.

Problems solved by technology

Of course, it is this very chemical nature that makes it difficult for these plant structural materials to be chemically or enzymatically attacked and broken down.

Method used

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  • Synthetic coal and methods of producing synthetic coal from fermentation residue
  • Synthetic coal and methods of producing synthetic coal from fermentation residue
  • Synthetic coal and methods of producing synthetic coal from fermentation residue

Examples

Experimental program
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Effect test

example 1

[0047]An experiment was conducted to illustrate the efficient transformation of a fermentation residue from dry distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS), into a high quality coal product comparable to natural bituminous coal. The transformation occurs employing DDGS at about 20% solids content at a temperature of about 200° C. for a period of about 2 hours in the presence of oxalic acid (2% by weight).

[0048]A mixture was prepared by combining DDGS (obtained from Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company (Benton, Minn.) having the following elemental analysis: % C=48.1, % H=7.1, and % N=4.9) (46.5 g), distilled water (186 g) and oxalic acid (0.93 g) in a 500 mL round-bottomed flask and shaken vigorously to create a homogeneous suspension. The suspension was then transferred (98% of the mass) into a 450 mL Parr reactor and stirred at 88 rpm. The reactor was heated to a temperature of 200° C. using the rapid induction heating system, with the initial reaction pressure at about 1.72 MPa.

[0049]Afte...

example 3

[0056]This Example teaches that employment of reaction conditions comparable to reported conditions for lignocellulosic materials are not necessary and less efficient than those required for fermentation residues. The conditions were the same as Example 1 except that a 14 h reaction time was employed. The mass yield of char product obtained from DDGS was 39%. Elemental analysis gave: % C=69.2; % H=7.8; and % N=4.4. The increased reaction time gave a slightly greater level of carbonization (2.2%), but not sufficiently greater to warrant the substantially increased reaction time.

examples 4-6

[0057]These Examples examine multiple DDGS samples of varying composition. The results obtained indicate that DDGS, in general, can be converted efficiently into a high quality coal product, with accompanying aqueous solution byproducts. Samples were obtained from the University of Minnesota Swine Center (Professor Gerald Shurson) and the DDGS web site collection. Three samples were received having the following compositions given in weight percent:

ID#% Fat% Protein% Carbohydrate% AshS0228.7929.8857.593.74S03711.3431.3452.325.00S02612.2932.5639.1815.96

[0058]Each of the DDS samples was subjected to hydrothermal carbonization at 200° C., 15% solids, 2 h reaction time, and with 2% oxalic acid present. Yields and elemental analyses of freeze-dried coals were as follows:

Example% Yield% C% H% N4(S022)42.466.77.73.85(S037)37.167.48.14.06(S026)37.266.67.84.1

These examples show that despite compositional differences in DDGS samples similar synthetic coals are obtained.

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Abstract

The invention herein describe a novel process for producing a novel synthetic coal product from fermentation residues, such as, the waste materials from fermentation based ethanol production. The fermentation residue is subject to a hydrothermal carbonization process in an aqueous solution at a temperature and at a pressure sufficient to form a synthetic coal solid and a liquid component. This process does not require drying of the fermentation residue which provides for a more energy efficient method of processing thereof. The synthetic coal solid has a high heat content combustive material. The liquid component has nutrient value so that it can be recycled thereby permitting the sustainable recycling of such nutrients and the water in which those nutrients are dissolved.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]A major pollution problem concerns the effect of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, being released into the atmosphere as the result of burning fossil fuels. Currently, approximately 70 million tons of carbon dioxide gas enters the earth's atmosphere every day due to the worldwide burning of coal, oil, diesel fuel, kerosene, gasoline, natural gas and the like. This fossil fuel use causes a concentrating of an unnatural amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is able to absorb heat energy that radiates from the earth and thereby captures and retains heat energy within the earth's atmosphere. Thus, the overwhelming majority of climatologists agree that the burning of fossil fuels is the major contributor to the current warming of the earth's atmosphere. For this reason, there will be increased regulation of fossil fuel-based carbon dioxide gas emissions and a proportional increased interest in finding alternative renewable, nonpolluti...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): C10L5/00
CPCC10L5/44Y02E50/30Y02E50/10C10L9/086
Inventor SCHENDEL, FREDERICK J.KEITZ, MARC VONVALENTAS, KENNETH J.JADER, LINDSEYHEILMANN, STEVEN M.
Owner SCHENDEL FREDERICK J
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