Patent ID: 9272468
Filing Date: 2016-03-01
CPC Classification: A01N,A23K,A61K,B01F,B01J,B07B,B29B,B29C,C22B

Claim Text:
1. An apparatus for producing biobased carriers for dispersal of biological and chemical molecules, the apparatus comprising: a premixer having a first inlet, a first outlet, a cavity configured for receiving a wet coproduct and a binder through the first inlet, and stirring means within the cavity for premixing the wet coproduct and the binder into a mixture; a shear mixer having a cylindrical housing and a shear mechanism within the housing, the housing defining an inner surface and an opening, the shear mechanism comprising a screen covering the opening, a stationary stator, and a rotatable rotor disposed within the stator, the rotor comprising a shaft and a plurality of rubbing bars mounted and radially spaced around the shaft to rotate with the shaft, wherein each of the rubbing bars has an arcuate outer surface operable to move in a circumferential direction along an inner surface of the screen when the shaft rotates and create flow and shear between the plurality of rubbing bars, the screen, and the inner surface of the housing, force the mixture along the screen in the circumferential direction thereof, and force and extrude the mixture through the screen and out of the housing in the form of particles, wherein at least a portion of each respective arcuate outer surface defines a plurality of elements extending up or down from the arcuate outer surface to enhance shear created between the plurality of rubbing bars, the screen, and the inner surface of the stator; agglomerator means having an interior chamber sized and configured to receive the particles from the shear mixer and for transforming the particles into spherical biomass pellets; and a power source for controlling an operation of the apparatus.