# US 9,435,076 B2 · Processing materials

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- Number: US 9,435,076 B2
- Document ID: US9435076B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/435,026
- Filed: 2013-10-10
- Published: 2015-10-08
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2012-10-10
- Assignees: Xyleco, Inc.
- Applicants: Xyleco, Inc.
- Inventors: Marshall Medoff; Thomas Craig Masterman; Robert Paradis
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435076B2

## CPC

- B01J 19/085: {Electron beams only}
- A61L 2/087: Particle radiation, e.g. electron-beam, alpha or beta radiation
- B01J 19/082: {Gamma-radiation only}
- B01J 19/12: employing electromagnetic waves
- B01J 19/123: {Ultraviolet light}
- B01J 19/125: {X-rays}
- B01J 19/22: in the form of endless belts
- B65G 27/04: Load carriers other than helical or spiral channels or conduits
- C08H 8/00: Macromolecular compounds derived from lignocellulosic materials {(pretreatment thereof B27N)}
- C10B 19/00: Heating of coke ovens by electrical means
- C10B 53/02: of cellulose-containing material (production of pyroligneous acid C10C5/00)
- C10G 1/02: by distillation
- C10G 32/04: by particle radiation
- C10L 5/403: {on paper and paper waste}
- C10L 5/442: {Wood or forestry waste}
- C10L 5/445: {Agricultural waste, e.g. corn crops, grass clippings, nut shells or oil pressing residues}
- C10L 5/46: on sewage, house, or town refuse {(C10L5/403, C10L5/406 take precedence)}
- C12P 7/10: substrate containing cellulosic material
- C13K 1/02: obtained by saccharification of cellulosic materials (manufacture of fodder A23K10/32)
- C13K 13/002: {Xylose}
- D21B 1/02: Pretreatment of the raw materials by chemical or physical means (removal of bark B27L)
- G21F 3/00: Shielding characterised by its physical form, e.g. granules, or shape of the material
- G21K 5/04: with beam-forming means
- G21K 5/10: with provision for relative movement of beam source and object to be irradiated
- H01J 5/18: Windows permeable to X-rays, gamma-rays, or particles
- H01J 33/04: Windows
- H01J 37/20: Means for supporting or positioning the object or the material; Means for adjusting diaphragms or lenses associated with the support
- H01J 37/317: for changing properties of the objects or for applying thin layers thereon, e.g. for ion implantation (H01J37/36 takes precedence)
- B01J 2219/0869: Feeding or evacuating the reactor
- B01J 2219/0871: Heating or cooling of the reactor
- B01J 2219/0879: Solid
- B01J 2219/12: Processes employing electromagnetic waves
- B01J 2219/1203: Incoherent waves
- C10L 2200/0469: Renewables or materials of biological origin
- C10L 2290/24: Mixing, stirring of fuel components
- C10L 2290/28: Cutting, disintegrating, shredding or grinding
- C10L 2290/36: Applying radiation such as microwave, IR, UV
- C10L 2290/52: Hoppers
- C12P 2201/00: Pretreatment of cellulosic or lignocellulosic material for subsequent enzymatic treatment or hydrolysis
- H01J 2237/2002: Controlling environment of sample
- H01J 2237/202: Movement
- Y02E 50/10: Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
- Y02E 50/30: Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
- Y02P 20/145: the feedstock being materials of biological origin
- Y02P 60/87: Re-use of by-products of food processing for fodder production
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)
- B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D)
- C08H: DERIVATIVES OF NATURAL MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (polysaccharides C08B; natural rubber C08C; natural resins or their derivatives C09F; bituminous materials C10)
- C10B: DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS FOR PRODUCTION OF GAS, COKE, TAR, OR SIMILAR MATERIALS (cracking oils C10G; underground gasification of minerals E21B43/295)
- C10G: CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION (cracking to hydrogen or synthesis gas C01B; cracking or pyrolysis of hydrocarbon gases to individual hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof of definite or specified constitution C07C; cracking to cokes C10B); RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
- C10L: FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G OR C10K; LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS; USE OF ADDITIVES TO FUELS OR FIRES; FIRE-LIGHTERS
- C12P: FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE {(brewing of beer C12C; producing vinegar C12J; producing specific peptides or proteins C07K; producing enzymes C12N9/00; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification C12N15/00; measuring or testing processes involving enzymes or microorganisms C12Q; measuring or testing processes involving nucleic acid amplification reactions C12Q1/6844; fermentation processes to form a food composition, A21 or A23; compounds in general, see the relevant compound class, e.g. C01, C07)}
- C13K: SACCHARIDES OBTAINED FROM NATURAL SOURCES OR BY HYDROLYSIS OF NATURALLY OCCURRING DISACCHARIDES, OLIGOSACCHARIDES OR POLYSACCHARIDES (chemically synthesised sugars or sugar derivatives C07H; polysaccharides, e.g. starch, derivatives thereof C08B; malt C12C; fermentation or enzyme-using processes for preparing compounds containing saccharide radicals C12P19/00; production of sucrose C13B)
- D21B: FIBROUS RAW MATERIALS OR THEIR MECHANICAL TREATMENT
- G21F: PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR (radiation protection by pharmaceutical means A61K8/00, A61Q17/04; in cosmonautic vehicles B64G1/54; combined with a reactor G21C11/00; combined with X-ray tubes H01J35/16; combined with X-ray apparatus H05G1/02)
- G21K: HANDLING OF PARTICLES OR IONISING RADIATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; IRRADIATION DEVICES; GAMMA RAY OR X-RAY MICROSCOPES
- H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as energy, fuels, foods or materials. For example, systems and methods are described that can be used to treat feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, while cooling equipment and the biomass to prevent overheating and possible distortion and/or degradation. The biomass is conveyed by a conveyor, which conveys the biomass under an electron beam from an electron beam accelerator. The conveyor can be cooled with cooling fluid. The conveyor can also vibrate to facilitate exposure to the electron beam. The conveyor can be configured as a trough that can be optionally cooled.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of conveying a material under an electron beam, the method comprising:
exposing a biomass material to an electron beam while conveying the biomass material on a vibratory conveyor, wherein the vibratory conveyor comprises a vibratory conveyor trough having a first surface conveying the biomass, and
cooling a second surface of the vibratory conveyor trough,
wherein the first and second surfaces of the vibratory conveyor trough are in thermal communication.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the total electron beam power has at least 50 kW of power.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the vibratory conveyor is oscillated in a direction parallel to the direction of conveying and perpendicular to the scan horn of the electron beam.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the vibratory conveyor comprises a metal, alloys of metals or coated metals and alloys of metals.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the distance between the first and second surface of the vibratory conveyor trough is between about 1/64 and 2 inches.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising cooling the second surface by contacting the second surface with a cooling enclosure containing a cooling fluid.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the second surface of the vibratory conveyor trough forms a part of the cooling enclosure.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, further comprising flowing fluid through the cooling enclosure by flowing the cooling fluid into the cooling enclosure through an inlet to the enclosure and flowing the fluid out of the cooling enclosure through an outlet from the cooling enclosure.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the cooling enclosure comprises channels configured to allow the flow of the cooling agent from the inlet to the outlet.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising maintaining a difference in the temperature of the cooling agent at the inlet of the cooling enclosure to the temperature at the outlet of the enclosure of between about 2 to 120° C.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further comprising maintaining a flow rate of cooling fluid through the cooling enclosure of between 0.5 and 150 gallons/minute.

### Claim 12

An apparatus for irradiating a material, the apparatus comprising:
an electron beam irradiation device and a vibratory conveying system;
wherein the vibratory conveying system comprises a cooled vibratory conveyor trough configured to convey a biomass material under the electron beam irradiation device, and
wherein the vibratory conveyor trough comprises a first surface configured to support and convey a biomass material, and a second surface that is in thermal communication with the first surface and is configured to contact a cooling system.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the cooling system comprises a cooling enclosure configured to contain a cooling fluid and positioned in thermal communication with the second surface, the cooling enclosure comprising an inlet for the cooling fluid and an outlet for the cooling fluid.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the cooling enclosure further comprises channels configured to allow flow of the cooling fluid through the enclosure from the inlet to the outlet.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the electron irradiation device can supply a power of at least 50 kW.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the vibratory conveyor trough comprises metal, alloys of metals or coated metals and alloys of metals.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the distance between the first and second surface of the vibratory conveyor trough is between about 1/64 and 2 inches.

### Claim 18

A method of conveying a material, the method comprising:
conveying a material through a field of accelerated electrons, the electrons impinging upon a treatment zone of a vibratory conveyor, wherein the treatment zone includes a beam dump in thermal communication with the treatment zone.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the beam dump is positioned on a side of the vibratory conveyor opposite impinging electrons.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the beam dump is integral with the treatment zone.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, further comprising removing heat from the beam dump at a rate of between about 10 kW to 700 kW.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, further comprising removing the heat from the beam dump by flowing a cooling fluid through channels disposed within the beam dump.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, wherein fluid enters the channels disposed in the beam dump through an inlet and exits the channels through an outlet at a temperature less than about 140° C.

### Claim 24

A method of conveying a material, the method comprising:
conveying a material through a field of accelerated electrons, the electrons impinging upon the treatment zone of a vibratory conveyor, wherein the treatment zone includes both a beam dump in thermal communication with the treatment zone and a cooling enclosure in thermal communication with the treatment zone.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The method of claim 24, wherein the conveyor comprises a conveyor trough conveying the biomass.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, wherein the conveyor trough comprises a first surface of the conveyor trough conveying the biomass, and the method further comprises cooling a second surface of the conveyor trough, wherein the first and second surfaces of the conveyor trough are in thermal communication.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, wherein the conveyor trough comprises a metal, alloys of metals or coated metals and alloys of metals.

### Claim 28 (depends on 26)

The method of claim 26, wherein the distance between the first and second surface of the conveyor trough is between about 1/64 and 2 inches.

### Claim 29 (depends on 26)

The method of claim 26, further comprising cooling the second surface by contacting the second surface with a cooling enclosure containing a cooling fluid.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The method of claim 29, wherein the second surface of the conveyor trough forms a part of the cooling enclosure.

### Claim 31 (depends on 29)

The method of claim 29, further comprising flowing fluid through the cooling enclosure by flowing the cooling fluid into the cooling enclosure through an inlet to the enclosure and flowing the fluid out of the cooling enclosure through an outlet from the cooling enclosure.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, wherein the cooling enclosure comprises channels configured to allow the flow of the cooling agent from the inlet to the outlet.

### Claim 33 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, further comprising maintaining a difference in the temperature of the cooling agent at the inlet of the cooling enclosure to the temperature at the outlet of the enclosure of between about 2 to 120° C.

### Claim 34 (depends on 32)

The method of claim 32, further comprising maintaining a flow rate of cooling fluid through the cooling enclosure of between 0.5 and 150 gallons/minute.

### Claim 35

An apparatus for irradiating a material, the apparatus comprising:
an electron beam irradiation device and a conveying system;
wherein the conveying system comprises a cooled conveyor trough configured to convey a biomass material under the electron beam irradiation device and
wherein the conveyor trough comprises a first surface configured to support and convey a biomass material, and a second surface that is in thermal communication with the first surface and is configured to contact a cooling system.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the cooling system comprises a cooling enclosure configured to contain a cooling fluid and positioned in thermal communication with the second surface, the cooling enclosure comprising an inlet for the cooling fluid and an outlet for the cooling fluid.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the cooling enclosure further comprises channels configured to allow flow of the cooling fluid through the enclosure from the inlet to the outlet.

### Claim 38 (depends on 35)

The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the electron irradiation device can supply a power of at least 50 kW.

### Claim 39 (depends on 35)

The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the conveyor trough comprises metal, alloys of metals or coated metals and alloys of metals.

### Claim 40 (depends on 35)

The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the distance between the first surface and the second surface of the conveyor trough is between about 1/64 and 2 inches.

### Claim 41

A method of conveying a material under an electron beam, the method comprising:
exposing a biomass material to an electron beam having a scan horn, while conveying the biomass material on a vibratory conveyor that is oscillated in a direction parallel to the direction of conveying and perpendicular to the scan horn of the electron beam.

### Claim 42 (depends on 41)

The method of claim 41, wherein the electron beam can supply a power of at least 50 kW.

### Claim 43 (depends on 41)

The method of claim 41, wherein the conveyor comprises a conveyor trough conveying the biomass.

### Claim 44 (depends on 43)

The method of claim 43, wherein the conveyor trough comprises a first surface of the conveyor trough conveying the biomass, and the method further comprises cooling a second surface of the conveyor trough, wherein the first and second surfaces of the conveyor trough are in thermal communication.

### Claim 45 (depends on 43)

The method of claim 43, wherein the conveyor trough comprises a metal, alloys of metals or coated metals and alloys of metals.

### Claim 46 (depends on 44)

The method of claim 44, wherein the distance between the first and second surface of the conveyor trough is between about 1/64 and 2 inches.

### Claim 47 (depends on 44)

The method of claim 44, further comprising cooling the second surface by contacting the second surface with a cooling enclosure containing a cooling fluid.

### Claim 48 (depends on 47)

The method of claim 47, wherein the second surface of the conveyor trough forms a part of the cooling enclosure.