Composite biomass fuel compact

Abstract

A biomass fuel compact is provided by the present disclosure that includes a body having a combustible biomass composition and an adhesive additive. The adhesive additive includes a starch and a hydroxide. Further additives may also be provided, which include a silicate additive, a viscosity additive, a preservative, and a BTU additive, wherein each of the silicate additive, the viscosity additive, the preservative, and the BTU additive are combustible materials. Various geometries and compositions for the biomass fuel compact are also provided by the present disclosure.

1 . A biomass fuel compact comprising:
 a body comprising:
 a combustible biomass composition; and 
 an adhesive additive comprising:
 a starch; and 
 a hydroxide. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The biomass fuel compact according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydroxide is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, alkaline earth hydroxides, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, and caustic soda. 
     
     
         3 . The biomass fuel compact according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one of a silicate additive, a viscosity additive, a preservative, and a BTU additive, wherein each of the viscosity additive and the BTU additive are combustible materials. 
     
     
         4 . The biomass fuel compact according to  claim 3 , wherein the BTU additive is one of an oil and an oil derivative. 
     
     
         5 . The biomass fuel compact according to  claim 3 , wherein the viscosity additive is a naturally occurring biomass selected from the group consisting of duckweed, rice hulls, and coal dust. 
     
     
         6 . The biomass fuel compact according to  claim 1 , wherein the biomass composition is selected from the group consisting of saw dust, cardboard and chipboard, grass, switchgrass, energy crops, hay, tree bark, sweetgum seed pods, pinecones, newsprint, wheat straw, duckweed, pine needles, mixed leaves, yard waste, agricultural waste, cotton waste, grape and wine offal, corn stover, crop stovers, peat, tobacco waste, tea waste, coffee waste, food processing waste, food packaging waste, nut meats and shells, chestnut hulls, pecan shells, animal waste, livestock waste, mammal waste, municipal solid waste, paper waste, pallets, and egg cartons. 
     
     
         7 . The biomass fuel compact according to  claim 1  comprising, by percent weight:
 69-98% biomass composition; 
 1-30% starch; and 
 less than 1% hydroxide. 
 
     
     
         8 . The biomass fuel compact according to  claim 1 , wherein the body has an upper portion, a lower portion, and tapered walls extending from the upper portion to the lower portion, wherein the upper portion is wider than the lower portion. 
     
     
         9 . The biomass fuel compact according to  claim 8 , wherein the body further comprises rounded edges. 
     
     
         10 . The biomass fuel compact according to  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises parallel opposed sidewalls and parallel opposed end walls, and at least one of the sidewalls defines a flat surface. 
     
     
         11 . The biomass fuel compact according to  claim 1 , wherein the body defines an aperture formed therethrough. 
     
     
         12 . The biomass fuel compact according to  claim 1 , wherein the body is selected from the group consisting of a pellet, a briquette, and a puck. 
     
     
         13 . A biomass fuel compact comprising:
 a combustible biomass composition; and   an adhesive additive comprising at least one of a starch and a hydroxide.   
     
     
         14 . The biomass fuel compact according to  claim 13 , wherein the hydroxide is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, alkaline earth hydroxides, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, and caustic soda. 
     
     
         15 . The biomass fuel compact according to  claim 13  further comprising at least one of a silicate additive, a viscosity additive, a preservative, and a BTU additive, wherein each of the viscosity additive and the BTU additive are combustible materials. 
     
     
         16 . The biomass fuel compact according to  claim 15 , wherein the BTU one of an oil and an oil derivative. 
     
     
         17 . The biomass fuel compact according to  claim 13 , wherein the biomass fuel compact comprises, by percent weight:
 90-95% biomass; and   5-10% adhesive additive.   
     
     
         18 . A biomass fuel compact comprising:
 a body comprising:
 a combustible biomass composition; 
 an adhesive additive comprising:
 a starch; and 
 a hydroxide; 
 
 a silicate additive; and 
 at least one of a viscosity additive and a preservative. 
   
     
     
         19 . The biomass fuel compact according to  claim 18 , wherein the biomass fuel compact comprises, by percent weight:
 50-95% biomass;   5-50% starch;   0.005-0.05% hydroxide;   0.1-5% silicate additive; and   0.1-2% viscosity additive or preservative.   
     
     
         20 . The biomass fuel compact according to  claim 18  further comprising a BTU additive.