Fuel compositions containing lignocellulosic biomass fermentation process syrup

Abstract

A solid lignocellulosic fuel composition is produced from combining the syrup co-product of a lignocellulosic biomass fermentation process and an additional fuel component. The syrup is an excellent binder for a powdery fuel material that is not readily handled. The fuel composition is further processed to form briquettes, pellets and the like.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for the production of a solid lignocellulosic fuel composition comprising mixing a lignocellulosic syrup with at least one additional fuel component to produce a solid lignocellulosic fuel composition. 
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the lignocellulosic syrup comprises from about 10 to about 50% of the solid lignocellulosic fuel composition. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the solid lignocellulosic fuel composition is dried subsequent to the mixing of the lignocellulosic syrup and the at least one additional fuel component. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 3  wherein prior to drying the solid lignocellulosic fuel composition is extruded through an extruder. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the lignocellulosic syrup comprises:
 a) from about 40% to about 70% solids; 
 b) from about 10 g/l to about 30 g/l of acetamide; and 
 c) at least about 40 g/l of sugars; 
 wherein the lignocellulosic syrup has a density of about 1 to about 2 g/cm 3  and a viscosity of less than 500 SSU at 100° F. (38° C.). 
 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 5  wherein the lignocellulosic syrup is a co-product of a process for the production of alcohol from a lignocellulosic biomass which employs ammonia for the pretreatment of the lignocellulosic biomass, and the lignocellulosic syrup contains at least about 5 g/l of ammonia. 
     
     
         7 . A solid lignocellulosic fuel composition comprising a lignocellulosic syrup and at least one additional fuel component. 
     
     
         8 . The solid lignocellulosic fuel composition of  claim 7  wherein the additional fuel component is at least one of petcoke and size-reduced biomass. 
     
     
         9 . The solid lignocellulosic fuel composition of  claim 7  wherein the lignocellulosic syrup comprises from about 10% to 50% of the solid lignocellulosic fuel composition. 
     
     
         10 . The solid lignocellulosic fuel composition of  claim 9  wherein the lignocellulosic syrup comprises from about 20% to about 40% of the solid lignocellulosic fuel composition. 
     
     
         11 . The solid lignocellulosic fuel composition of  claim 7  having about 10% to about 20% moisture. 
     
     
         12 . A wet lignocellulosic filter cake composition comprising:
 a) from about 35% to about 65% moisture;   b) from about 20% to about 75% volatiles;   c) from about 35% to about 65% solids;   d) from about 1% to about 30% ash content; and   e) from about 5% to about 20% fixed carbon;   wherein the filter cake composition has an energy value of about 2,000 to about 9,000 BTU/lb.   
     
     
         13 . The wet lignocellulosic filter cake composition of  claim 12  wherein the wet lignocellulosic filter cake is a co-product of a process for the production of alcohol from a lignocellulosic biomass. 
     
     
         14 . The wet lignocellulosic filter cake composition of  claim 13  wherein the process for the production of alcohol from a lignocellulosic biomass employs ammonia for the pretreatment of the lignocellulosic biomass. 
     
     
         15 . The wet lignocellulosic filter cake composition of  claim 14  wherein the lignocellulosic biomass is selected from the group consisting of corn cobs, corn stover, grasses, wheat straw, barley straw, hay, rice straw, switchgrass, waste paper, sugar cane bagasse, sorghum plant material, soybean plant material, woody plants, vegetables, fruits, flowers, empty palm fruit bunch, and energy cane. 
     
     
         16 . A solid lignocellulosic fuel composition comprising a lignocellulosic syrup and lignocellulosic filter cake composition of  claim 12 . 
     
     
         17 . The solid lignocellulosic fuel composition of  claim 16  wherein the lignocellulosic syrup comprises from about 10% to about 40% of the solid lignocellulosic fuel composition. 
     
     
         18 . The solid lignocellulosic fuel composition of  claim 17  having a moisture content of about 10% to about 40%. 
     
     
         19 . The solid lignocellulosic fuel composition of  claim 16  wherein the lignocellulosic syrup comprises:
 a) from about 40% to about 70% solids; 
 b) from about 10 g/l to about 30 g/l of acetamide; and 
 c) at least about 40 g/l of sugars; 
 
       wherein the cellulosic syrup has a density of about 1 to about 2 g/cm 3  and a viscosity of less than 500 SSU at 100° F. (38° C.). 
     
     
         20 . A process for the production of ethanol from a lignocellulosic biomass comprising:
 a) providing a steam powered lignocellulosic ethanol production system comprising:
 i) a means for reducing the particle size of the biomass; 
 ii) a means for pretreating biomass for the release of polymeric sugars; 
 iii) a means for converting the polymeric sugars of ii) to monomeric sugars; 
 iv) a means for the conversion of the monomeric sugars of iii) to ethanol; and 
 v) a means for the recovery of the ethanol of iv); 
   wherein the lignocellulosic ethanol production system produces:   1) a lignocellulosic syrup composition comprising:
 a) from about 40% to about 70% solids; 
 b) from about 10 g/l to about 30 g/l of acetamide; 
 c) at least about 40 g/l of sugars; and 
 d) at least about 5 g/l of ammonia; wherein the lignocellulosic syrup has a density of about 1 to about 2 g/cm 3  and a viscosity of less than 500 SSU at 100° F. (38° C.); and 
   2) a wet lignocellulosic filter cake composition comprising:
 a) from about 35% to about 65% moisture; 
 b) from about 20% to about 75% volatiles; 
 c) from about 35% to about 65% solids; 
 d) from about 1% to about 30% ash content; and 
 e) from about 5% to about 20% fixed carbon; 
 wherein the filter cake composition has an energy value of about 2,000 to about 9,000 BTU/lb; 
 wherein the lignocellulosic syrup composition and the wet lignocellulosic filter cake are used to generate steam to power the lignocellulosic ethanol production system.