An oil scrub column having a petroleum spirit section and an oil section where each section has mass transfer trays having a plurality of runoff elements that extend parallel to and at a distance from one another, to form angular profiles. The runoff elements have first and second runoff surfaces that converge to form an edge. Scrubbing media introduced onto the edges of the runoff elements flows off via the runoff surfaces at both sides of the edge. The oil section has a greater number of mass transfer trays than the petroleum spirit section. The petroleum spirit section is shorter than the oil section. The mass transfer trays of the petroleum spirit section may be sieve trays, bubble trays or valve trays.

Systems and methods for processing waste plastics are provided. One method includes mixing, heating and compacting a supply of the waste plastic based feedstock having an appreciable amount of halide compounds or heteroatoms from one or more sources of contamination; providing an amendment comprising alkaline earth oxides and/or hydroxides, oxides of iron, and/or oxides of aluminum to be mixed, heated and compacted with the waste plastic based feedstock to form a densified melt of plastic material including the amendment; and pyrolyzing the densified melt of plastic material including the amendment within a pyrolysis reactor. Another method includes pyrolyzing a supply of the waste plastic feedstock within a pyrolysis reactor to generate a hydrocarbon gas stream and a solids residue stream; condensing out a tars product from the hydrocarbon gas stream output from the pyrolysis reactor with a quenching apparatus; and pyrolyzing the tars product within a supplemental pyrolysis reactor.

A drag chain carbonizer is provided with a system and methods for anaerobic thermal conversion processing to convert waste into various solid carbonized products and varied further co-products. The drag-chain carbonizer includes an adjustable bed depth mechanism, a heating mechanism, a pressure management mechanism, an atmospheric management mechanism, and a chain tensioning mechanism containing at least one position sensor for communication of an actuator position to at least one programmable logic controller (PLC). Carbonaceous waste is transformed into useful co-products that can be re-introduced into the stream of commerce at various economically advantageous points. Depending upon the input materials and the parameters selected to process the waste, including real time economic and other market parameters, the system adjusts co-products output to reflect changing market conditions.

A drag chain carbonizer is provided with a system and methods for anaerobic thermal conversion processing to convert waste into various solid carbonized products and varied further co-products. The drag-chain carbonizer includes an adjustable bed depth mechanism, a heating mechanism, a pressure management mechanism, an atmospheric management mechanism, and a chain tensioning mechanism containing at least one position sensor for communication of an actuator position to at least one programmable logic controller (PLC). Carbonaceous waste is transformed into useful co-products that can be re-introduced into the stream of commerce at various economically advantageous points. Depending upon the input materials and the parameters selected to process the waste, including real time economic and other market parameters, the system adjusts co-products output to reflect changing market conditions.

A reactor apparatus for a continuous depolymerization of polymers, in particular polyolefins from polymer wastes, includes a primary reactor, further includes a heating unit for a heating and a melting and for an at least partial depolymerization of the polymers within the primary reactor, and includes at least one primary circulation unit for a circulation of molten polymers in the primary reactor, wherein the reactor apparatus comprises a secondary reactor, which is connected downstream of the primary reactor and forms a reactor cascade with the primary reactor.

A reactor apparatus for a continuous depolymerization of polymers, in particular polyolefins from polymer wastes, includes a primary reactor, further includes a heating unit for a heating and a melting and for an at least partial depolymerization of the polymers within the primary reactor, and includes at least one primary circulation unit for a circulation of molten polymers in the primary reactor, wherein the reactor apparatus comprises a secondary reactor, which is connected downstream of the primary reactor and forms a reactor cascade with the primary reactor.

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.

A system and method for the pyrolysis of a pyrolysis feedstock utilizes a pyrolysis reactor having a pyrolysis conduit and a solids return conduit segment. Each segment is configured with an outlet and an inlet to receive and discharge solid materials that are circulated through the reactor through the different segments. A solids conveyor is disposed within the pyrolysis conduit segment to facilitate conveying solid materials from the solids inlet upward through the pyrolysis conduit segment toward the solids discharge outlet. A pyrolysis feedstock is introduced into the pyrolysis reactor and at least a portion of the feedstock is converted to pyrolysis gases within the pyrolysis conduit segment, which are discharged through a gas outlet. An eductor condenser unit with an eductor assembly having a venturi-restricted flow path for receives a pressurized coolant fluid. A second flow path for receiving the discharged pyrolysis gases intersects the venturi-restricted flow path so that the received pyrolysis gases are combined with the coolant fluid and are discharged together to a mixing chamber that is used to condense pyrolysis gases.

A system and method for the pyrolysis of a pyrolysis feedstock utilizes a pyrolysis reactor having a pyrolysis conduit and a solids return conduit segment. Each segment is configured with an outlet and an inlet to receive and discharge solid materials that are circulated through the reactor through the different segments. A solids conveyor is disposed within the pyrolysis conduit segment to facilitate conveying solid materials from the solids inlet upward through the pyrolysis conduit segment toward the solids discharge outlet. A pyrolysis feedstock is introduced into the pyrolysis reactor and at least a portion of the feedstock is converted to pyrolysis gases within the pyrolysis conduit segment, which are discharged through a gas outlet. An eductor condenser unit with an eductor assembly having a venturi-restricted flow path for receives a pressurized coolant fluid. A second flow path for receiving the discharged pyrolysis gases intersects the venturi-restricted flow path so that the received pyrolysis gases are combined with the coolant fluid and are discharged together to a mixing chamber that is used to condense pyrolysis gases.

The present invention relates to a method for purifying a tar containing gas stream. The method comprises the steps of: a) contacting a tar containing gas stream with a washing liquid in a washing unit to obtain a tar containing washing liquid and a purified gas stream; b) adding an extractant to the tar containing washing liquid to obtain an extraction liquid comprising a tar containing extractant and a regenerated washing liquid; c) cooling the extraction liquid; d) after cooling, separating the tar containing extractant from the regenerated washing liquid, and e) recirculating the regenerated washing liquid to the washing unit.