A system and method for plasma arc anaerobic thermal conversion processing is provided to convert waste into bio-gas; bio-oil; carbonized materials; non-organic ash, and varied further co-products. The system and process supports a variety of processes, including to make, without limitation, carbon, carbon-based inks and dyes, activated carbon, aerogels, bio-coke, and bio-char, as well as generate electricity, produce adjuncts for natural gas, and/or various aromatic oils, phenols, and other liquids, all depending upon the input materials and the parameters selected to process the waste, including real time economic and other market parameters which can result in the automatic re-configuration of the system to adjust its output co-products to reflect changing market conditions. Plasma arc carbonizer off-gases produced during carbonization are supplied to a controlled heated column for refining and recovery of the carbonizer hot gases into distillates.

A system and method for plasma arc anaerobic thermal conversion processing is provided to convert waste into bio-gas; bio-oil; carbonized materials; non-organic ash, and varied further co-products. The system and process supports a variety of processes, including to make, without limitation, carbon, carbon-based inks and dyes, activated carbon, aerogels, bio-coke, and bio-char, as well as generate electricity, produce adjuncts for natural gas, and/or various aromatic oils, phenols, and other liquids, all depending upon the input materials and the parameters selected to process the waste, including real time economic and other market parameters which can result in the automatic re-configuration of the system to adjust its output co-products to reflect changing market conditions. Plasma arc carbonizer off-gases produced during carbonization are supplied to a controlled heated column for refining and recovery of the carbonizer hot gases into distillates.

A method for converting agricultural biomass or industrial bio waste into biofuel using concentrated radiated energy is disclosed. Biomass or bio waste is stored inside a batch reactor in either solid or semisolid state. Unwanted moisture and unwanted oxygen are removed from the stored agricultural biomass or industrial bio waste. Concentrated radiated energy is directed towards the biomass or bio waste through a radiated energy concentrator that focuses the concentrated radiated energy. Biomass or bio waste is kept within the depth of focus of the concentrated radiated energy during the conversion operation. Due to substantial matching of the absorption peak of biomass or bio waste with the emission peak of the concentrated radiated energy, the biomass or bio waste that is within the depth of focus instantaneously decomposes into biofuel. The biofuel thus generated is at ambient temperature with higher energy density.

Pyrolysis apparatus (10) for processing shredded waste material, such as plastic and/or rubber waste, in which apparatus the material is processed continuously in a pyrolysis apparatus (10) that includes a feed device (30), a reactor (30) and an outlet portion (40) that have been equipped with conveyors, such as screw conveyors, and that can be used continuously. The screw (23) of the feed device (20) is at least partially placed in a liquid (22), which forms an air trap to prevent air from entering into the reactor. The outlet portion has a condensing collecting canopy (45) which is used to condense into liquid and recover the vapor formed in the reactor.

Pyrolysis apparatus (10) for processing shredded waste material, such as plastic and/or rubber waste, in which apparatus the material is processed continuously in a pyrolysis apparatus (10) that includes a feed device (30), a reactor (30) and an outlet portion (40) that have been equipped with conveyors, such as screw conveyors, and that can be used continuously. The screw (23) of the feed device (20) is at least partially placed in a liquid (22), which forms an air trap to prevent air from entering into the reactor. The outlet portion has a condensing collecting canopy (45) which is used to condense into liquid and recover the vapor formed in the reactor.

A method is provided for the pyrolysis or thermolysis of a fluid or fluidized starting material in a tube bundle reactor including a plurality of heatable reactor tubes. The method includes feeding the starting material to the tube bundle reactor at one end by at least one supply line; wherein the supply line has several pressure reduction units which enable a positive pressure before the starting material is introduced into individual reactor tubes of the tube bundle reactor and a negative pressure inside the reactor tubes. The pressure reduction units control a substantially equal inflow of the starting material into individual reactor tubes and the reactor tubes are heated to a decomposition temperature of the starting material in at least one primary section. The starting material is pyrolyzed or thermolyzed and a pyrolysis or thermolysis product is obtained.

A method is provided for the pyrolysis or thermolysis of a fluid or fluidized starting material in a tube bundle reactor including a plurality of heatable reactor tubes. The method includes feeding the starting material to the tube bundle reactor at one end by at least one supply line; wherein the supply line has several pressure reduction units which enable a positive pressure before the starting material is introduced into individual reactor tubes of the tube bundle reactor and a negative pressure inside the reactor tubes. The pressure reduction units control a substantially equal inflow of the starting material into individual reactor tubes and the reactor tubes are heated to a decomposition temperature of the starting material in at least one primary section. The starting material is pyrolyzed or thermolyzed and a pyrolysis or thermolysis product is obtained.

Catalysts useful in transforming biomass to bio-oil are disclosed, as are methods for making such catalysts, and methods of transforming biomass to bio-oil. The catalysts are especially useful for, but are not limited to, microwave- and induction-heating based pyrolysis of biomass, solid waste, and other carbon containing materials into bio-oil. The catalysts can also be used for upgrading the bio-oil to enhance fuel quality.

Catalysts useful in transforming biomass to bio-oil are disclosed, as are methods for making such catalysts, and methods of transforming biomass to bio-oil. The catalysts are especially useful for, but are not limited to, microwave- and induction-heating based pyrolysis of biomass, solid waste, and other carbon containing materials into bio-oil. The catalysts can also be used for upgrading the bio-oil to enhance fuel quality.

A method of producing a hydrocarbon fuel from a soapstock includes supplying a pyrolysis reactor that includes a microwave absorbent bed susceptible to microwave irradiation, applying microwave energy to the pyrolysis reactor, wherein the microwave absorbent bed converts the microwave energy to thermal energy, supplying the soapstock to the microwave absorbent bed, and condensing a vapor generated by pyrolysis of the soapstock sufficient to collect the hydrocarbon fuel.