Process for the conversion of plastics to olefins comprising the following steps: A) gasification of the plastics to synthesis gas by reaction of the plastics with pure oxygen; B) catalytic conversion of the synthesis gas produced in stage A) to methane in at least three successive stages, in each of which hydrogen is added; C) catalytic conversion of the methane produced in stage B) into olefins by the oxidative coupling reaction of methane; and D) separation of the olefins produced in stage C) from other compounds present in the reaction mixture of said stage C).

Fuel and fuel additives can be produced by processes that provide Fischer-Tropsch liquids having high biogenic carbon concentrations of up to about 100% biogenic carbon. The fuels and fuel additive have essentially the same high biogenic concentration as the Fischer-Tropsch liquids which, in turn, contain the same concentration of biogenic carbon as the feedstock.

Processes for producing high biogenic concentration Fischer-Tropsch liquids derived from the organic fraction of municipal solid wastes (MSW) feedstock that contains a relatively high concentration of biogenic carbon (derived from plants) and a relatively low concentration of non-biogenic carbon (derived from fossil sources) wherein the biogenic content of the Fischer-Tropsch liquids is the same as the biogenic content of the feedstock.

The disclosure relates to a rotary kiln catalytically enhanced oxy-fuel gasification and oxy-fuel combustion system—power plant including an air separation unit arranged to separate oxygen from air and produce a stream of substantially pure liquid oxygen; rotary kiln gasifiers to convert municipal solid waste, biomass, alternate wastes, coal, or hydrocarbon fuels into a synthesis gas in the presence of oxygen, carbon dioxide, high temperature steam and lime catalysts; an oxy-fuel fired boiler arranged to combust synthesis gas, in the presence of substantially pure oxygen gas, to produce an exhaust gas comprised of water and carbon dioxide; and a carbon dioxide removal unit arranged to recover carbon dioxide gas from the exhaust gas, recycle a portion of the recovered carbon dioxide gas for use in the rotary kiln gasifier, and liquefy the remainder of the recovered carbon dioxide gas for removal from the plant. In this new plant, the carbon dioxide removal unit is thermally integrated with the air separation unit or alternately the liquid oxygen storage and supply system by directing a stream of liquid oxygen to the carbon dioxide removal unit to liquefy the recovered carbon dioxide gas, the liquid oxygen thereby evaporating and forming cold oxygen gas which is heated prior to consumption in the rotary kiln and oxy-fuel fired boiler.

A two-stage syngas production method to produce a final product gas from a carbonaceous material includes producing a first product gas in a first reactor, separating char from the first product gas to produce separated char and char-depleted product gas, and separately reacting the separated char and the char-depleted product gas with an oxygen-containing gas in a second reactor to produce a final product gas. The separated char is introduced into the second reactor above the char-depleted product gas. The solids separation device may include serially connected cyclones, and the separated char may be entrained in a motive fluid in an eductor to produce a char and motive fluid mixture prior to being transferred to the second reactor. A biorefinery method produces a purified product from the final product gas.

Process for the conversion of plastics to olefins comprising the following steps: A) gasification of the plastics to synthesis gas by reaction of the plastics with pure oxygen; B) catalytic conversion of the synthesis gas produced in stage A) to methane in at least three successive stages, in each of which hydrogen is added; C) catalytic conversion of the methane produced in stage B) into olefins by the oxidative coupling reaction of methane; and D) separation of the olefins produced in stage C) from other compounds present in the reaction mixture of said stage C).

The present invention provides a process and apparatus for converting feedstock comprising biomass and/or carbon-containing solid waste material to synthesis gas. The process comprises supplying the feedstock to a gasifier comprising a fluidized bed zone and a post-gasification zone and contacting the feedstock with a gasification agent at a plurality of different operating temperatures based on the ash softening temperature of the feedstock and finally recovering the synthesis gas. The apparatus is configured to perform the process and comprises a plurality of nozzles arranged at an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane of the gasifier.

A universal feeder system that combines with a fluidized bed gasification reactor for the treatment of multiple diverse feedstocks including sewage sludge, municipal solid waste, wood waste, refuse derived fuels, automotive shredder residue and non-recyclable plastics. The invention thereby also illustrates a method of gasification for multiple and diverse feedstocks using a universal feeder system. The feeder system comprises one or more feed vessels and at least one live bottom dual screw feeder. The feed vessel is rectangular shaped having three vertical sides and an angled side of no less than 60 degrees from the horizontal to facilitate proper flow of feedstock material that have different and/or variable flow properties. The feedstocks are transferred through an open bottom chute to a live bottom dual screw feeder and through another open bottom chute to a transfer screw feeder that conveys feedstock to the fuel feed inlets of a gasifier.

A method for processing feedstock is described, characterized in that incoming feedstock is processed to selectively recover biogenic carbon material from the incoming feedstock. In some embodiments the incoming feedstock is comprised of mixed solid waste, such as municipal solid waste (MSW). In other embodiments the incoming feedstock is comprised of woody biomass. In some instances, the incoming feedstock is processed to selectively recover biogenic carbon material from the incoming feedstock to produce a processed feedstock having biogenic carbon content of 50% and greater suitable for conversion into biogenic carbon Fischer Tropsch liquids. The high biogenic carbon Fischer Tropsch liquids may be upgraded to biogenic carbon liquid fuels. Alternatively, the incoming feedstock is processed to selectively recover plastic material from the incoming feedstock to produce a processed feedstock having biogenic carbon content of 50% or less.

Methods and apparatuses for producing fuel and power from the reformation of organic waste include the use of steam to produce syngas in a Fischer-Tropsch reaction, followed by conversion of that syngas product to hydrogen. Some embodiments include the use of a heated auger both to heat the organic waste and further to cool the syngas.