Solid fuel compositions containing lignocellulosic syrup and coal fines

Abstract

A pelletized fuel composition is made from a mixture of coal fines, and cellulosic by-product from ethanol production. The coal fines range from about 50%-90% by weight and the cellulosic by-product ranges from about 10%-50% by weight of the composition. The cellulosic by-product is a syrup or a cake. The syrup binds the coal fines. The coal fine and syrup mixture is pelletized to produce a solid fuel product that is easily handled and transported.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for making a fuel composition, the process comprising:
 mixing a cellulosic by-product with coal fines to produce a mixture; and   solidifying the mixture into a fuel composition.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the cellulosic by-product comprises ranging from about 10% to about 50% of the fuel composition. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the coal fines comprise ranging from about 50% to about 90% of the fuel composition. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprises drying the mixture. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 4  wherein prior to the drying, the process extrudes the mixture. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprises sending the mixture through a pelletizer to form a pelletized fuel product. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprises shearing the cellulosic by-product to generate a product temperature of about 200° F.-400° F. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprises adding an additive to the mixture. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein the additive comprises at least one of land waste, recycle paper or plastics, agricultural residue, sugar residue and bagasse. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprises heating the mixture to a temperature ranging from about 250° F. to about 300° F. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the solidification step includes pelletizing the mixture. 
     
     
         12 . A pelletized fuel product, comprising:
 coal fines ranging from about 50% to about 90% by weight;   cellulosic by-product ranging from about 10-50% by weight;   a mixture comprising the coal fines and the lignocellulosic byproduct mixed together; and   pellets formed from the mixture.   
     
     
         13 . The pelletized fuel product of  claim 12  wherein the pellets have moisture content ranging from about 10% to about 40%. 
     
     
         14 . A fuel composition comprising:
 a cellulosic by-product; and   coal fines.   
     
     
         15 . The fuel composition of  claim 14  wherein the coal fines comprise ranging from about 50% to about 90% by weight of the fuel composition. 
     
     
         16 . The fuel composition of  claim 14  wherein the cellulosic by-product comprises from about 10% to 50% by weight of the fuel composition. 
     
     
         17 . The fuel composition of  claim 14  wherein the cellulosic by-product comprises from about 20% to about 40% by weight of the fuel composition. 
     
     
         18 . The solid fuel composition of  claim 14  wherein the composition has about 10% to about 40% moisture. 
     
     
         19 . The fuel composition of  claim 14 , wherein the composition is in a form of pellets.