Processes for producing biocarbon pellets with high fixed-carbon content and optimized reactivity, and biocarbon pellets obtained therefrom

A process for producing a biocarbon pellet, the process comprising:

• (a) pyrolyzing, in a first pyrolysis reactor, a biomass-containing feedstock, thereby generating a first biogenic reagent and a pyrolysis vapor;
• (b) introducing, to a separation unit, the pyrolysis vapor, thereby generating a pyrolysis precipitate, wherein the pyrolysis precipitate is in liquid, solid, or slurry form;
• (c) contacting the first biogenic reagent with the pyrolysis precipitate, thereby generating an intermediate material, wherein the intermediate material comprises the first biogenic reagent and the pyrolysis precipitate;
• (d) pelletizing the intermediate material, thereby generating an intermediate pellet;
• (e) optionally, drying the intermediate pellet;
• (f) separately from step (a), pyrolyzing, in a second pyrolysis reactor, the intermediate pellet, thereby generating a second biogenic reagent and a pyrolysis off-gas, wherein the first pyrolysis reactor and the second pyrolysis reactor are the same reactor or distinct reactors;
• and
• (g) recovering the second biogenic reagent as the biocarbon pellet,
• wherein a fixed carbon content of the second biogenic reagent is greater than a fixed carbon content of the first biogenic reagent;
• and
• wherein, according to a thermogravimetric analysis, an oxygen reactivity of the second biogenic reagent is less than an oxygen reactivity of the first biogenic reagent, wherein the thermogravimetric analysis is performed using a 40° C./min temperature ramp from 25° C. to 950° C. in the presence of pure oxygen.

A process for producing a biocarbon pellet, the process comprising:

• (a) pyrolyzing, in a first pyrolysis reactor, a biomass-containing feedstock, thereby generating a first biogenic reagent and a pyrolysis vapor;
• (b) providing a carbon-containing condensed-matter material, wherein the carbon-containing condensed-matter material is a liquid, a solid, or a slurry;
• (c) contacting the first biogenic reagent with the carbon-containing condensed-matter material, thereby generating an intermediate material, wherein the intermediate material comprises the first biogenic reagent and the carbon-containing condensed-matter material;
• (d) pelletizing the intermediate material, thereby generating an intermediate pellet;
• (e) optionally, drying the intermediate pellet;
• (f) separately from step (a), pyrolyzing, in a second pyrolysis reactor, the intermediate pellet, thereby generating a second biogenic reagent and a pyrolysis off-gas, wherein the first pyrolysis reactor and the second pyrolysis reactor are the same reactor or distinct reactors;
• and
• (g) recovering the second biogenic reagent as the biocarbon pellet,
• wherein a fixed carbon content of the second biogenic reagent is greater than a fixed carbon content of the first biogenic reagent;
• and
• wherein the second biogenic reagent has lower oxygen reactivity than the first biogenic reagent according to a thermogravimetric analysis using a 40° C./min temperature ramp from 25° C. to 950° C. in the presence of pure oxygen.