Ionic Liquid Extraction of Metal Pollutants from Treated Biomass
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Solution Overview
Problem
The disposal of preservative-treated wood waste is costly and environmentally hazardous due to the toxicity of metals like copper, arsenic, and chromium, which inhibits the use of such wood as a feedstock for biofuel production and requires expensive specialist disposal methods.
Innovation Solution
A process using ionic liquids to extract metal pollutants from treated cellulosic or lignocellulosic biomass, allowing for the recovery of metals and the subsequent use of the biomass for biofuel production, while also recycling the ionic liquids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If preservative-treated wood is disposed of through specialist landfilling or incineration, then metal pollutants are contained or reduced, but disposal costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts metal pollutants (copper, chromium, arsenic) from preservative-treated wood using aqueous extraction methods followed by precipitation. This separates the harmful metals from the wood matrix, allowing the cleaned wood to be reused as biomass feedstock while metals are disposed of separately, thereby reducing both disposal costs and environmental harm.
Solution Approach 2:
The process recovers metals from the wood treatment preservatives through extraction and precipitation, converting what would be waste into recoverable materials. The cleaned wood is then discarded for biomass energy use, while metals are recovered for potential reuse or safer disposal, reducing overall disposal costs.
2Reliability
If metal-based preservatives are used to protect wood from microbes and insects, then wood durability is improved, but toxicity to aquatic life and multicellular organisms increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful metal-containing treated wood into a beneficial resource by extracting the metals and using the cleaned wood as biomass feedstock for energy production. This transforms a toxic waste stream into a valuable renewable energy source, eliminating the harmful effects while maintaining the original wood protection benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The process changes the chemical parameters of the treated wood by removing metal ions through aqueous extraction and precipitation. This parameter change (reduction of metal concentration) transforms the material from toxic to non-toxic, enabling safe biomass conversion while the original wood durability properties were maintained during service.
3Loss of substance
If incineration is used to dispose of arsenic-containing wood, then wood volume is reduced, but volatile arsenic compounds are emitted into the atmosphere
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary extraction action to remove metal pollutants from the wood before any thermal treatment or disposal. By extracting and precipitating the metals in advance, the subsequent incineration or biomass conversion does not generate volatile metal emissions, as the metals have already been removed from the wood matrix.
Solution Approach 2:
The process extracts metal pollutants from the wood using aqueous solutions and precipitation methods before disposal. This removal prevents the metals from being released as volatile compounds during incineration, eliminating atmospheric emissions while still achieving wood volume reduction through controlled disposal of the cleaned biomass.
4Use of energy by moving object
If treated wood is used as feedstock for biomass-to-heat conversion, then energy production is enhanced, but metal pollutants contaminate the conversion process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts metal pollutants from the treated wood using aqueous extraction and precipitation methods before the wood is used as biomass feedstock. This removal of metals prevents contamination of the biomass conversion process while allowing the wood to be utilized for energy production, thereby enabling both energy enhancement and pollution prevention.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This process effectively removes at least 85% of metal pollutants, enabling the safe conversion of treated wood into biofuels and reducing disposal costs, thereby enhancing the economic viability of lignocellulosic biomass for biofuel production and minimizing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the treated cellulosic biomass with an ionic liquid
Implementation Method 2
said ionic liquid comprising an anion and an organic cation
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a process for extracting oxidised metal pollutants from treated cellulosic or lignocellulosic biomass to recover the metal. The treatment also generates a cellulosic or lignocellulosic biomass which can to be used as a feedstock for biofuel, for making cellulose containing materials, and provides a source of other renewable chemicals.