Moisture resistant biomass fuel compact and method of manufacturing

Abstract

A method of processing a biomass fuel compact is provided that includes combining a composition of combustible biomass materials, comminuting the composition of biomass materials, adding an adhesive to the biomass materials to form a composite biomass, the adhesive having a starch and a hydroxide, forming the composite biomass into a shapeform, and heat treating the composite biomass shapeform at a base temperature sufficient to break O—H bonds, the base temperature being below a mean torrefication temperature of the composite biomass such that torrefaction of a substantial portion of the biomass materials does not occur.

1 . A method of processing a biomass fuel compact comprising:
 combining a composition of combustible biomass materials;   comminuting the composition of biomass materials;   adding an adhesive to the biomass materials to form a composite biomass, the adhesive comprising a starch and a hydroxide;   forming the composite biomass into a shapeform; and   heat treating the composite biomass shapeform at a base temperature sufficient to break O—H bonds, the base temperature being below a torrefication temperature of the composite biomass such that torrefaction of the biomass materials does not occur.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising applying an oil coating to at least a portion of the composite biomass shapeform after heat treating. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat treating is performed in an inert environment. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat treating is performed in a microwave apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the composite biomass shapeform is heat treated by the microwave apparatus in a continuous process. 
     
     
         6 . A biomass fuel compact manufactured according to the method of  claim 4 , wherein the combustible biomass materials include at least a portion of microwave receptors. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat treating is performed in a temperature range of about 120° F. to about 455° F. 
     
     
         8 . A biomass fuel compact manufactured according to the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . The biomass fuel compact according to  claim 8 , wherein the shapeform defines a cylindrical sector. 
     
     
         10 . The biomass fuel compact according to  claim 9 , wherein the cylindrical sector is a quadrant. 
     
     
         11 . A method of processing a biomass fuel compact comprising heat treating biomass materials of the biomass fuel compact at a base temperature sufficient to break O—H bonds, the base temperature being below a torrefication temperature of the biomass fuel compact such that torrefaction of the biomass materials does not occur. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the heat treating is performed after the biomass fuel compact is formed into a shapeform. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the heat treating is performed on the biomass materials before the biomass fuel compact is formed into a shapeform. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11  further comprising adding an adhesive to the biomass materials to form a composite biomass, the adhesive comprising a starch and a hydroxide, wherein the composite biomass is further processed into a shapeform. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11  further comprising applying an oil coating to at least a portion of the biomass fuel compact after heat treating. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the heat treating is performed in an inert environment. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the heat treating is performed in a microwave apparatus. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the biomass fuel compact is heat treated by the microwave apparatus in a continuous process. 
     
     
         19 . A biomass fuel compact manufactured according to the method of  claim 17 , wherein the biomass materials include at least a portion of microwave receptors. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the heat treating is performed in a temperature range of about 120° F. to about 455° F. 
     
     
         21 . A biomass fuel compact manufactured according to the method of  claim 11 . 
     
     
         22 . The biomass fuel compact according to  claim 21  having a shapeform defining a cylindrical sector. 
     
     
         23 . The biomass fuel compact according to  claim 22 , wherein the cylindrical sector is a quadrant. 
     
     
         24 . A method of processing a biomass fuel compact comprising heat treating biomass materials of the biomass fuel compact at a base temperature sufficient to break O—H bonds, the base temperature being below a mean torrefication temperature of the biomass fuel compact such that torrefaction of a substantial portion of the biomass materials does not occur.