A distillation apparatus for use in microwave-assisted pyrolysis includes a microwave, a pyrolysis reactor, a microwave-absorbent bed, and a condenser. The pyrolysis reactor is located within the microwave and configured to receive a liquid input stream and to output a vapor. The microwave-absorbent bed is located within the pyrolysis reactor that converts microwave energy provided by the microwave to thermal energy to initiate pyrolysis within the pyrolysis reactor, wherein the pyrolysis reactor provides a vapor output. The condenser is configured to receive the vapor output of the pyrolysis reactor and to cool and condense the vapor into a recoverable product.

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.

A plastic recycling system and method thereof is provided, wherein one or more plastic products are contained in a reaction unit and heated by an electric heating unit which converts electrical energy into thermal energy. The one or more plastic products in the reaction unit are decomposed to produce one or more decomposed product in gas phase through a decomposition reaction, such as pyrolysis reaction, to form one or more gaseous fuel products which are condensed into one or more liquid phase fuel products by a condensation unit.

A plastic recycling system and method thereof is provided, wherein one or more plastic products are contained in a reaction unit and heated by an electric heating unit which converts electrical energy into thermal energy. The one or more plastic products in the reaction unit are decomposed to produce one or more decomposed product in gas phase through a decomposition reaction, such as pyrolysis reaction, to form one or more gaseous fuel products which are condensed into one or more liquid phase fuel products by a condensation unit.

A method for forming mesophase pitch can include applying a stimulus to a first amount of coal tar to form a first amount of mesophase pitch. The stimulus can include one or more of an electromagnetic field (“EMF”) or a magnetic field. The method can further include evaluating a characteristic of the first amount of mesophase pitch, changing a parameter of the stimulus in response to evaluating the characteristic of the first amount of mesophase pitch, and applying the stimulus exhibiting the changed parameters to a second amount of coal tar to form mesophase pitch.

A thermochemical energy conversion unit includes a heat expansion assembly including a reactor configured to receive a biomass and convert the biomass into a burnable gas having undesirable materials therein and a biochar. The heat expansion assembly also includes a heat expansion discharge pipe configured to discharge the burnable gas from the heat expansion assembly. The thermochemical energy conversion unit also includes a gas scrubber assembly operatively connected to the heat expansion assembly and configured to receive the burnable gas therefrom and to remove the undesirable materials from the burnable gas. The gas scrubber assembly includes a scrubber discharge pipe configured to discharge the burnable gas from the gas scrubber assembly. The heat expansion assembly and the gas scrubber assembly are configured to be continuously fluidly connected from the heat expansion discharge pipe to the scrubber discharge pipe for generating a continuous flow of the burnable gas therealong.

Existing approaches to refuse handling are all based on historical approaches which rely on a network of refuse collection vehicles collecting waste from individual households and delivering this to a centralised landfill or MBI location. This is highly undesirable and wasteful. An alternative process is disclosed, relying on the thermal treatment of waste and like products produced or brought in to the residential property and processed within the domestic curtilage to produce fuel or other forms of energy. Thus, domestic waste will be thermally treated at the home instead of being collected by local authorities and disposed of. The waste input put material will be loaded into a domestically engineered thermal conversion unit either directly or after a pre-process such as shredding. The feedstock will be converted into fuels by a thermal treatment, such as pyrolysis. The resultant output of oil and gas can either be stored or fed into a boiler unit to be used as a fuel to produce hot water, or used to run an electricity generating unit to power the dwelling in question or for supply to a feed-in tariff. Thus, a domestic dwelling includes a thermal treatment unit for processing waste produced in the dwelling, an output of the thermal treatment unit being combusted for producing an energy output for the dwelling. A suitable pyrolysis chamber is disclosed.

Existing approaches to refuse handling are all based on historical approaches which rely on a network of refuse collection vehicles collecting waste from individual households and delivering this to a centralised landfill or MBI location. This is highly undesirable and wasteful. An alternative process is disclosed, relying on the thermal treatment of waste and like products produced or brought in to the residential property and processed within the domestic curtilage to produce fuel or other forms of energy. Thus, domestic waste will be thermally treated at the home instead of being collected by local authorities and disposed of. The waste input put material will be loaded into a domestically engineered thermal conversion unit either directly or after a pre-process such as shredding. The feedstock will be converted into fuels by a thermal treatment, such as pyrolysis. The resultant output of oil and gas can either be stored or fed into a boiler unit to be used as a fuel to produce hot water, or used to run an electricity generating unit to power the dwelling in question or for supply to a feed-in tariff. Thus, a domestic dwelling includes a thermal treatment unit for processing waste produced in the dwelling, an output of the thermal treatment unit being combusted for producing an energy output for the dwelling. A suitable pyrolysis chamber is disclosed.

Systems and methods of processing biomass include a conveyor unit associated with an inlet and/or outlet, a microwave generator, a microwave guide connecting the microwave generator to the conveyor unit that includes a microwave opening configured to receive microwave energy via the microwave guide, and a microwave suppression system including a tunnel associated with the material inlet and/or outlet, and including at least one flexible and/or movable microwave reflecting component within the tunnel, the microwave reflecting component configured to be deflected as biomass material passes through the tunnel and then returning to a resting, closed position when the biomass material is no longer passing through the tunnel. The conveyor unit is configured to receive and process the biomass material, including heating the biomass material to at least a first temperature by applying microwave energy to the biomass material.

Methods and apparatus for compact and easily maintainable waste reformation. Some embodiments include a rotary oven reformer adapted and configured to provide synthesis gas from organic waste. Some embodiments include a rotary oven with simplified operation both as to reformation of the waste, usage of the synthesized gas and other products, and easy removal of the finished waste products, preferably in a unit of compact size for use in austere settings. Yet other embodiments include Fischer-Tropsch reactors of synthesized gas. Some of these reactors include heat exchanging assemblies that provide self-cleaning effects, efficient utilization of waste heat, and ease of cleaning.