Alternative fuel comprising combustible solids and by-products or waste material from industrial processes

Abstract

An alternative fuel composition and methods of preparing and using the composition is provided. The alternative fuel can comprise coal, or another combustible solid, and one or more components selected from a group consisting of sugar solutions, tall oil, black liquor, vegetable oils, animal fats, triglycerides, methyl esters, ethyl esters, glycerin and fatty acids.

1 . A alternative fuel comprising one or more combustible solids and one or more liquid hydrocarbon components selected from a group consisting of sugar solutions, tall oil, black liquor, vegetable oils, animal fats, triglycerides, methyl esters, ethyl esters, glycerin and fatty acids, provided that when the liquid hydrocarbon component is vegetable oil, the combustible solid is other than a cellulosic powder and further provided that when the combustible solid is coal, the liquid hydrocarbon component is other than sugar solutions. 
     
     
         2 . The alternative fuel of  claim 1  comprising about 0.1 to about 49 weight percent of said liquid hydrocarbon components. 
     
     
         3 . The alternative fuel of  claim 2  wherein the combustible solid is selected from coal, wood chips, coke and garbage. 
     
     
         4 . The alternative fuel of  claim 3  comprising about 0.1 to about 25 weight percent of said liquid hydrocarbon components. 
     
     
         5 . The alternative fuel of  claim 3  wherein the methyl esters, ethyl esters, glycerin and fatty acids are derived from transesterification reactions involving triglycerides. 
     
     
         6 . The alternative fuel of  claim 3  wherein the methyl esters, ethyl esters, glycerin and fatty acids are derived from a biodiesel manufacturing process. 
     
     
         7 . The alternative fuel of  claim 3  wherein the combustible solid is coal. 
     
     
         8 . The alternative fuel of  claim 3  wherein the liquid hydrocarbon is a glycerin-containing by-product of the biodiesel process comprising greater than about 5 to about 30 weight percent methanol. 
     
     
         9 . The alternative fuel of  claim 8  wherein the glycerin-containing by-product comprises about 30 to about 95 weight percent of glycerin. 
     
     
         10 . A method of preparing a alternative fuel comprising applying one or more liquid hydrocarbon components selected from a group consisting of sugar solutions, tall oil, black liquor, vegetable oils, animal fats, triglycerides, methyl esters, ethyl esters, glycerin and fatty acids to one or more combustible solids, provided that when the liquid hydrocarbon component is vegetable oil, the combustible solid is other than a cellulosic powder and further provided that when the combustible solid is coal, the liquid hydrocarbon component is other than sugar solutions. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein about 0.1 to about 49 weight percent of said liquid hydrocarbon components is applied to said combustible solids. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the combustible solids are selected from coal, wood chips, coke and garbage. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein about 0.1 to about 25 weight percent of said liquid hydrocarbon components are applied to said combustible solids. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the methyl esters, ethyl esters, glycerin and fatty acids are derived from transesterification reactions involving triglycerides. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the methyl esters, ethyl esters, glycerin and fatty acids are derived from a biodiesel manufacturing process. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the combustible solid is coal. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the liquid hydrocarbon is a glycerin-containing by-product of the biodiesel process comprising greater than about 5 to about 30 weight percent methanol. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the glycerin-containing by-product comprises about 30 to about 95 weight percent of glycerin.