Description:
Cellulosic biomass is not dense enough to be transported economically
over long distances. The treated biomass must be compressed to increase its
density. However, when compressed, the biomass tends not to bind sufficiently.
Additionally, current additives used to increase binding characteristics of the
biomass are expensive.
Michigan
State University’s invention allows for the inexpensive binding of cellulosic
biomass. This invention adds value to the Gaseous Ammonia
Pretreatment (GAP) process (090068) developed by the inventor. It allows
GAP treated biomass to be conveniently made into pellets for transport, storage,
and animal feed operations. The binding properties of the ammonia-treated
biomass provide improved cohesion without the addition of external binding
agents.
When the
pressure is released in the GAP process, dissolved components such as lignin
migrate to the surface of the biomass where they are deposited as the ammonia
evaporates. Thus, a natural adhesive layer is produced that can bind with other
biomass to form dense pellets useful for animal feed, biofuel production, or to
bind other solids such as particles of coal for use as boiler fuels for the
electric power industry.
Benefits
* Less
costly approach: The binding of treated biomass due to naturally
occurring compounds such as lignin and hemicellulose saves the cost of adding
external binding agents, which are required by other approaches and increase the
cost of forming the biomass into pellets for various uses.
* Improved storage and distribution of treated
biomass: Biomass briquettes produced using this invention are stable, if
kept dry, and should exhibit roughly the same storage and handling properties as
corn grain. Therefore, much, if not all, of the existing infrastructure for corn
grain storage and distribution should be useable for these
briquettes.
* Variety of potential applications:
GAP treated biomass is likely to be a good ruminant animal feed, a good biofuel,
and possibly could provide cheaper building materials.
Applications
GAP can
impact a number of applications, including:
* Animal
feed production, particularly dairy feed
* Raw
biomass pretreatment for the biofuels industry
*
Building materials industry
*
Bio-based chemicals industry
IP Protection
Status
Patent
pending
