Biomass processing methods and systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016355444-A1
Application number	US-201415109064-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 31, 2014
Priority date	Dec 31, 2013
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A process for producing desired compounds from biomass, including treating a lignocellulosic waste stream in some embodiments. The waste stream is conditioned under acidic or basic conditions, and is then treated in a catalytic reaction step using a transition metal catalyst and an oxidant. The transition metal catalyst can be an iron-based nanoparticulate catalyst. In some embodiments, useful compounds such as lignin, crystalline cellulose and various platform chemicals are produced from the waste stream. In some embodiments, the waste stream is lignocellulosic agricultural or forestry waste. In some embodiments, the waste stream is manure. In some embodiments, desirable bioproducts are obtained from lignocellulosic biomasses using an iron-based nanoparticulate-catalyzed reaction conducted at alkaline pH.

First claim

1 . A process for treating a waste stream comprising:
subjecting the waste stream to a conditioning step under acidic or basic conditions; and subjecting the conditioned waste stream to a catalytic reaction step using a transition metal catalyst, wherein the transition metal catalyst optionally comprises an iron-based nanoparticulate catalyst, and hydrogen peroxide to produce a treated waste stream, wherein the hydrogen peroxide is optionally added to the waste stream in at a concentration of about 0.35% to about 1% v/v.

2 . A process as defined in claim 1 , wherein subjecting the waste stream to a conditioning step under acidic conditions comprises reducing the pH of the waste stream below about 1.5, and wherein the pH is optionally reduced by adding hydrochloric acid (HCl), nitric acid (HNO 3 ), sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4 ), phosphoric acid (H 3 PO 4 ), or a combination thereof to the waste stream, wherein optionally the hydrochloric acid (HCl), nitric acid (HNO 3 ), sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4 ), phosphoric acid (H 3 PO 4 ), or combination thereof is added slowly to the waste stream to titrate the waste stream to a desired pH.

3 . A process as defined in claim 1 , wherein subjecting the waste stream to a conditioning step under basic conditions comprises increasing the pH of the waste stream to about 12 to 13, and wherein the pH is optionally increased by adding sodium hydroxide (NaOH), potassium hydroxide (KOH), ammonium hydroxide (NH 4 OH), or a combination thereof to the waste stream, wherein optionally the sodium hydroxide (NaOH), potassium hydroxide (KOH), ammonium hydroxide (NH 4 OH), or combination thereof is added slowly to the waste stream to titrate the waste stream to a desired pH.

4 . (canceled)

5 . A process as defined in claim 1 , wherein subjecting the waste stream to a conditioning step comprises first decreasing the pH of the waste stream to less than about 1.5 by addition of a strong acid, holding the waste stream at acidic pH for a treatment period, and subsequently increasing the pH of the waste stream to about 12 to 13 by adding a strong base; or wherein subjecting the waste stream to a conditioning step comprises first increasing the pH of the waste stream to about 12 to 13 by adding a strong base, holding the waste stream at a basic pH for a treatment period, and subsequently decreasing the pH of the waste stream to about 1.5 by adding a strong acid, wherein the treatment period optionally comprises at least 16 to 24 hours.

6 . (canceled)

7 . A process as defined in claim 1 , wherein:
the acid or base used to conduct the conditioning step is selected to provide a desired nutrient in a final fertilizer product produced from the treated waste stream; wherein the dry matter content of the waste stream to be treated is in the range of about 2% to about 20%; the conditioning step is conducted at ambient temperature; the conditioning step is conducted for at least about 16 to 24 hours; the conditioning step is conducted at ambient pressure, and/or wherein storage of the conditioned material is conducted at ambient pressure.

8 . A process as defined in claim 1 , wherein the waste stream is stored for a period of time after the conditioning step, and wherein the period of time optionally comprises up to one week, up to one month, up to two months, up to three months, up to six months, or up to one year.

9 . A process as defined in claim 8 , wherein the pH of the waste stream is periodically checked during the period of time, and wherein additional acid is added to decrease the pH of the conditioned waste stream below about 1.5 if the pH increases to about 2, wherein the pH of the waste stream is optionally checked at least once every two weeks during the period of time; and/or wherein the pH of the waste stream is optionally monitored continuously.

10 . A process as defined in claim 8 , wherein the pH of the waste stream is periodically checked during the period of time, and wherein additional base is added to increase the pH of the conditioned waste stream to about 12 to 13 if the pH decreases to about 11.5, wherein the pH of the waste stream is optionally checked at least once every two weeks during the period of time; and/or wherein the pH of the waste stream is optionally monitored continuously.

11 . (canceled)

12 . (canceled)

13 . A process as defined in claim 1 , wherein:
the conditioning step is conducted at the site of collection of the waste stream, optionally on a farm where manure is collected from a livestock operation, and optionally using manure that has not been stored for an appreciable period of time; the treated waste stream is harvested after the catalytic reaction step; the treated waste stream is sterile or nearly sterile; the treated waste stream is used as a fertilizer, optionally in agricultural, horticulture or landscape applications; the treated waste stream is applied directly to a field as a fertilizer in liquid form, optionally in agricultural, horticultural or landscape applications; the treated waste stream is dewatered and applied to a field in granular form, optionally in agricultural, horticultural or landscape applications; the treated waste stream is used as a fertilizer in organic farming; the treated waste stream has little or no perceptible odor; potash salts are generated by addition of an acid, wherein the acid optionally comprises hydrochloric acid (HCl), nitric acid (HNO 3 ), sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4 ), phosphoric acid (H 3 PO 4 ), or a combination thereof; wherein the acid is optionally added during the conditioning step; wherein potassium hydroxide (KOH) is optionally added to produce the potash salts, and wherein the potash salts optionally comprise potassium chloride (KCl), potassium sulfate (K 2 SO 4 ), potassium nitrate (KNO 3 ), potassium phosphates (K x PO 4 ), or a combination thereof; the conditioning step is carried out under alkaline conditions to preserve organic and inorganic major elements and/or micronutrient elements present in the waste stream, wherein the organic and inorganic major elements optionally comprise carbon, nitrogen, or phosphorous; and wherein the micronutrient elements optionally comprise calcium, magnesium, iron, cobalt, chromium, copper, iodine, manganese, selenium, zinc and molybdenum; and/or the treated waste stream contains no or a very low concentration of toxins, wherein the toxins optionally comprise environmental pollutants, antibiotics, hormones and/or other drugs, and wherein the environmental pollutants optionally comprise phenol, nonylphenols, phthalates, bisphenol A, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxins, PCBs, and/or products of plastic breakdown, and wherein the treated waste stream contains no or a very low concentration of intact genetic material, wherein the genetic material optionally comprises DNA or RNA.

14 . A process as defined in claim 1 , wherein the catalytic reaction step comprises adding hydrogen peroxide and an iron-based nanoparticulate catalyst obtained by oxidizing a highly reduced solution of iron, optionally wherein the iron-based nanoparticulate catalyst is provided in a stock solution having a concentration in the range of 1.0 to 1.5 mg/mL, and optionally wherein the amount of stock solution added to the waste stream is in the range of about 0.15% to 1.5% v/v.

15 . (canceled)

16 . A process as defined in claim 1 , wherein:
the catalytic reaction step is conducted at a temperature in the range of about 50° C. to about 95° C.; the catalytic reaction step is conducted for between 1 hour and 24 hours; the catalytic reaction step is conducted at ambi

Assignees

• Univ Saskatchewan

Inventors

• Olkowski Andrew A
• Laarveld Bernard

Classifications

• C02F1/66

  by neutralisation; pH adjustment (for degassing C02F1/20; using ion-exchange C02F1/42; for flocculation or precipitation of suspended impurities C02F1/52; for removing dissolved compounds C02F1/58) · CPC title

• C05D1/00

  Fertilisers containing potassium (C05D7/00 takes precedence) · CPC title

• C02F1/722

  Oxidation by peroxides · CPC title

• D21C11/0007

  Recovery of by-products, i.e. compounds other than those necessary for pulping, for multiple uses or not otherwise provided for (volatile compounds obtained by decomposition of spent liquors in order to regenerate them D21C11/125; compounds obtained by fractionating the liquors in order to regenerate them D21C11/0042) · CPC title

• C08B15/02

  Oxycellulose; Hydrocellulose; {Cellulosehydrate, e.g. microcrystalline cellulose} · CPC title