# US 12,600,629 B2 · Particulate carbon materials and method for the separation thereof

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,600,629 B2
- Document ID: US12600629B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/299,564
- Filed: 2019-12-04
- Published: 2022-06-23
- Granted: 2026-04-14
- Earliest claimed: 2018-12-04
- Assignees: Suncoal Industries GmbH
- Applicants: Suncoal Industries GmbH
- Inventors: Tobias Wittmann; Jacob Podschun
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12600629B2

## CPC

- C01B 32/05: Preparation or purification of carbon not covered by groups C01B32/15, C01B32/20, C01B32/25, C01B32/30
- B60C 1/0016: {Compositions of the tread}
- B60C 1/0025: {Compositions of the sidewalls}
- C08K 3/04: Carbon
- C08L 21/00: Compositions of unspecified rubbers
- C01P 2004/61: Micrometer sized, i.e. from 1-100 micrometer
- C01P 2004/62: Submicrometer sized, i.e. from 0.1-1 micrometer
- C01P 2006/12: Surface area
- C01P 2006/80: Compositional purity
- C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C}
- B60C: VEHICLE TYRES; TYRE INFLATION; TYRE CHANGING; CONNECTING VALVES TO INFLATABLE ELASTIC BODIES IN GENERAL; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO TYRES
- C08K: Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients (paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishes, adhesives C09)
- C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06)
- C01P: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO STRUCTURAL AND PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF SOLID INORGANIC COMPOUNDS

## Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for separating particulate carbon materials and to the materials obtained thereby as well as to their use.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for separating a starting particulate carbon material, the carbon material having been obtained by hydrothermal carbonization or precipitation of an organic feedstock the process comprising:
conducting gravity separation of the starting particulate carbon material to form at least two fractions including: a first fraction and a second fraction, wherein
the starting particulate carbon material has a starting statistical thickness surface area (STSA) of at least 5 m2/g,
the first fraction has a first statistical thickness surface area (STSA) that is greater than the starting STSA of the starting particulate carbon material, and
the second fraction has second statistical thickness surface area (STSA) that is smaller than the starting STSA of the starting particulate carbon material.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the gravity separation takes place in liquid phase or in gas phase.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the gravity separation is used to adjust the first STSA of the first fraction or the second STSA of the second fraction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the first STSA of the first fraction is at least 5% greater than the starting STSA of the starting particulate carbon material.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein a weight ratio of the first fraction to the second fraction is in a range of 1:10 to 10:1.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the gravity separation is carried out in an air classifier or cyclone.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the starting particulate carbon material has a carbon content of from 55 Ma % to less than 80 Ma %.

### Claim 8

A particulate carbon material having a homogeneous distribution of primary particles wherein a ratio of a measured statistical thickness surface area (STSA) to a calculated statistical thickness surface area (STSA) is between 0.7 and 1.3.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The particulate carbon material having a homogeneous distribution of claim 8, wherein the measured STSA is at least 5% greater than a starting statistical thickness surface area (STSA) of a starting particulate carbon material, and/or wherein a first fraction of a gravity-separated starting particulate carbon material has a first statistical thickness surface area (STSA) at least 50% greater than a second statistical thickness surface area (STSA) of a second fraction of the gravity-separated starting particulate carbon material.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The particulate carbon material having a homogeneous distribution according to claim 8, wherein the measured STSA is at least 15 m2/g.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The particulate carbon material having a homogeneous distribution of claim 10, wherein the measured STSA is at least 20 m2/g.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The particulate carbon material having a homogeneous distribution of claim 11, wherein the measured STSA is at least 30 m2/g.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

A rubber product comprising the particulate carbon material having a homogeneous distribution according to claim 8 and a rubber ingredient.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

A method of utilizing the particulate carbon material having a homogeneous distribution according to claim 8, the method comprising mixing the particulate carbon material with an ingredient, wherein the particulate carbon material is effective as a filler in elastomers, thermoplastics, paints, and/or lacquers.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the particulate carbon material has a statistical thickness surface area (STSA) of at least 15 m2/g.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the particulate carbon material is mixed with a rubber ingredient to form a tread or sidewall of a pneumatic tire.

### Claim 17

A particulate carbon material of a first fraction having a homogeneous distribution of primary particles being obtainable by a process for separating a starting particulate carbon material, the starting particulate carbon material having been obtained by hydrothermal carbonization or precipitation of an organic feedstock, the process comprising conducting gravity separation of the starting particulate carbon material to form at least two fractions including the first fraction and a second fraction,
wherein the starting particulate carbon material has a starting statistical thickness surface area (STSA) of at least 5 m2/g, the particulate carbon material of the first fraction has a first statistical thickness surface area (STSA) that is at least 5% greater than the starting STSA of the starting particulate carbon material, and the second fraction has a second statistical thickness surface area (STSA) that is smaller than the starting STSA of the starting particulate carbon material.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The particulate carbon material of the first fraction according to claim 17, wherein the first statistical thickness surface area (STSA) of the particulate carbon material of the first fraction is at least 50% greater than the second statistical thickness surface area (STSA) of the second fraction.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The particulate carbon material of the first fraction according to claim 17, wherein the first statistical thickness surface area (STSA) is at least 15 m2/g.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The particulate carbon material of the first fraction of claim 19, wherein the first statistical thickness surface area (STSA) is at least 20 m2/g.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The particulate carbon material of the first fraction of claim 20, wherein the first statistical thickness surface area (STSA) is at least 30 m2/g.

### Claim 22 (depends on 17)

A rubber product comprising the particulate carbon material of the first fraction according to claim 17 and a rubber ingredient.

### Claim 23 (depends on 17)

A method of utilizing the particulate carbon material of the first fraction according to claim 17, the method comprising mixing the particulate carbon material of the first fraction with an ingredient, wherein the particulate carbon material of the first fraction is effective as a filler in elastomers, thermoplastics, paints, and/or lacquers.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, wherein the first statistical thickness surface area (STSA) is at least 15 m2/g.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, wherein the particulate carbon material of the first fraction is mixed with a rubber ingredient to form a tread or sidewall of a pneumatic tire.