Energy pellet

Abstract

A high-energy water-resistant pellet of at least 75% biomass material such as torrefied wood, whole-tree (white) wood, agricultural waste, flax and the like. and the remainder a binder comprising from about 2% to about 20% by total weight of the pellet. The binder is a two-component system—a plasticizer, such as tall oil pitch, rosin, fatty acid, vegetable oils, animal oils, corn protein and glycerin—preferably from 3% to about 20% of the binder, and lignin from about 80-97% of the binder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A high-energy, water-resistant pellet comprising:
 (a) at least 75% biomass material; and   (b) the remainder of said pellet being a two-component binder comprising from about 2% to about 20% by total weight of the pellet wherein said binder is a two-component system comprising a plasticizer, and the other component is lignin isolated from its source.   
     
     
         2 . The high-energy water resistant pellet according to  claim 1  wherein said high-energy water-resistant pellet comprises at least 85% biomass material and less than 10% by weight water. 
     
     
         3 . The high-energy water resistant pellet according to  claim 1  wherein said biomass material is selected from the group consisting of torrefied wood, whole-tree (white) wood, agricultural waste and flax. 
     
     
         4 . The high-energy water resistant pellet according to  claim 1  wherein said plastizer is selected from the group consisting of tall oil pitch, fatty acids, rosin, vegetable oil, animal oils, corn protein and glycerin. 
     
     
         5 . The high-energy water resistant pellet according to  claim 1  wherein said biomass material is flax. 
     
     
         6 . The high-energy water resistant pellet according to  claim 1  wherein said plastizer is glycerin. 
     
     
         7 . The high-energy water resistant pellet according to  claim 1  wherein said plasticizer is from about 3% to about 20% of said binder. 
     
     
         8 . The high-energy water resistant pellet according to  claim 1  wherein said lignin is from about 80% to about 97% of said binder. 
     
     
         9 . The high-energy water resistant pellet according to  claim 1  wherein high-energy water resistant pellets have a bulk density 40-45 lbs/ft 3 . 
     
     
         10 . A high-energy, water-resistant pellet comprising:
 (a) at least 85% flax wood; and   (b) the remainder of said pellet being a two-component binder comprising from about 2% to about 20% by total weight of the pellet, wherein one component of said binder is a plasticizer selected from the group consisting of tall oil pitch, fatty acids and rosin, vegetable oil, animal oils, corn protein and glycerin and the other component is lignin in an amount from about 80% to about 97% of said binder.   
     
     
         11 . The high-energy, water-resistant pellet according to  claim 10  wherein said plasticizer is glycerin. 
     
     
         12 . A process for making an energy pellet from biomass material comprising:
 (a) preparing a binder by mixing from about 2% to about 20% total weight of said binder of lignin and the remainder of said binder being a plasticizer;   (b) adding said binder to a biomass material to form a mixture of at least 75% of said biomass material; and the remainder of said mixture being said binder; and   (c) compressing said mixture by extruding said mixture at a temperature at which said binder is in a molten state to form a pellet.   
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 12  wherein said plastizer is selected from the group consisting of tall oil pitch, fatty acids, rosin, vegetable oil, animal oils, corn protein and glycerin.