Electric-powered, closed-loop, continuous-feed, endothermic energy-conversion systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, the presently disclosed energy-conversion system includes a shaftless auger. In another embodiment, the presently disclosed energy-conversion system includes a drag conveyor. In yet another embodiment, the presently disclosed energy-conversion system includes a distillation and/or fractionating stage. The endothermic energy-conversion systems and methods feature mechanisms for natural resource recovery, refining, and recycling, such as secondary recovery of metals, minerals, nutrients, and/or carbon char.

Systems and methods are provided for increasing the yield of products generated during co-processing of biomass oil in a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) system. The systems and methods can allow for increased yield by reducing or minimizing formation of carbon oxides, gas phase products, and/or coke yields during the co-processing. This can be achieved by adding a hydrogen-rich co-feed to the co-processing environment. Examples of hydrogen-rich co-feeds include high hydrogen content vacuum gas oil co-feed, high hydrogen content distillate co-feed, and/or high hydrogen content naphtha co-feed. Additionally or alternately, various types of fractions that contain a sufficient amount of hydrogen donor compounds can be used to reduce or minimize carbon oxide formation

A method may include: providing bio waste stream wherein the bio waste stream comprises at least one bio waste selected from the group consisting of palm oil mill effluent, soapstock, and combinations thereof; introducing the bio waste effluent stream into a fluidized catalytic cracking unit; contacting the bio waste with a catalyst in the fluidized catalytic cacking unit; and cracking at least a portion of the bio waste stream to form cracked products that comprise a cracked product stream.

A method for combined production of renewable paraffinic products is disclosed, wherein the method includes providing a renewable paraffinic feed, and fractionating the renewable paraffinic feed into two fractions. Within the two fractions, a lighter fraction fulfils a specification for an aviation fuel component, and a heavier fraction fulfils a specification for an electrotechnical fluid component.

A process for preparing olefins, especially ethylene, butylene and propylene, includes contacting a renewable naphtha having a hexane and heptane content of from 70% to 80% with a heterogeneous cracking catalyst comprising a matrix component and a molecular sieve having a framework of silica, alumina and a metal selected from Zn, Fe, Ce, La, Y, Ga and/or Zr.

The present invention relates to a method of deoxygenating tall oil pitch, yielding aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. The invention even comprises turning the aliphates into polymerizable olefins by steam cracking, and turning the aromates into polymerizable terephthalic acid by oxygenation and, as necessary, rearrangement. The monomers can be used for the production of polymers of partially or completely biologic origin. According to the invention, tall oil pitch is first heated to turn it into liquid, which is then fed into a catalyst bed and catalytically deoxygenated with hydrogen. The deoxygenation catalyst is preferably a Ni—Mo catalyst and, in addition, a cracking catalyst can be used, such as an acidic zeolite catalyst. The deoxygenated product stream is cooled down so as to obtain a liquid, which is distilled for separation of the aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons for use in the production of the respective monomers and finally polymers.

The object of the present invention is a fuel composition comprising: (i) from 50 to 79% by mass of a mixture of hydrocarbons comprising: a) from 35 to 55% by mass of aromatic compounds; b) from 30 to 50% by mass of non-cyclic paraffins containing at least 5 carbon atoms; and c) from 5 to 15% by mass of naphthenes; (ii) from 20 to 40% by mass of one or more ethers; and (iii) from 1 to 10% by mass of butane.

This composition is useful for supplying a controlled-ignition engine, in automobile vehicles intended for general-public applications or for competition.

Processes for producing alcohols from biomass are provided. The processes utilize supercritical methanol to depolymerize biomass with subsequent conversion to a mixture of alcohols. In particular the disclosure relates to continuous processes which produce high yields of alcohols through recycling gases and further employ dual reactor configurations which improve overall alcohol yields. Processes for producing higher ethers and olefins from the so-formed alcohols, through alcohol coupling and subsequent dehydration are also provided. The resulting distillate range ethers and olefins are useful as components in liquid fuels, such as diesel and jet fuel.

Apparatus, means and methods of employing fuel cell power modules are disclosed for generating electricity by electrochemical conversion of hydrogen, which is provided by dehydrogenation of a liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC) as a renewable fuel source. Also disclosed are fuel cell units that are energy balanced with a dehydrogenation unit, such that the fuel cell units are the sole source of heat for the dehydrogenation unit. Also disclosed are means of employing the liquid organic hydrogen carrier with carbon-neutral additives within improved fuel cells employing liquid heat transfer fluids and distribution means that efficiently repurpose generated heat to provide for overall net carbon-neutral and net zero carbon-based hydrogen emissions using the disclosed apparatus, means and methods.

The present invention describes the coprocessing of a lignocellulosic liquid stream and an intermediate fossil stream in the oil refining process comprising the steps of (a) contacting said intermediate fossil stream and said lignocellulosic liquid stream with a stream of solvent of C.sub.3-C.sub.10 hydrocarbons in an extraction section, obtaining a stream of extract with solvent and a stream of raffinate with solvent; and (b) sending said stream of extract with solvent to a separation section, obtaining a deasphalted oil stream comprising solvent-free carbon of renewable origin and a stream of recovered solvent. The present invention further relates to a process for producing fuels from the deasphalted oil stream comprising carbon of renewable origin, wherein the process comprises sending the deasphalted oil stream to a conversion section of an oil refinery. The conversion section is selected from catalytic hydrocracking unit, thermal cracking, fluidized-bed catalytic cracking, visbreaking, delayed coking and catalytic reforming.