A combustible heat source for a smoking article is provided, including carbon and a binding agent. The binding agent includes a combination of three binder components: an organic polymeric binder material, a carboxylate burn salt, and at least one non-combustible inorganic binder material. The at least one non-combustible inorganic binder material includes a sheet silicate material. Preferably, the combustible heat source further includes an ignition aid.

An environmental-friendly fuel is provided which comprises 65 wt % to 95 wt % of a plurality of fine granules of recycled material mixed with 5 wt % to 35 wt % of a halogen-free flame retardant. The plurality of fine granules of recycled material are pulverized from waste polyurethane foamed material recovered from discarded objects.

In some variations, the invention provides a biocarbon composition comprising a low fixed carbon material with a fixed carbon concentration from 20 wt % to 55 wt %; a high fixed carbon material with a fixed carbon concentration from 50 wt % to 100 wt % (and higher than the fixed carbon concentration of the low fixed carbon material; from 0 to 30 wt % moisture; from 0 to 15 wt % ash; and from 0 to 20 wt % of one or more additives (such as a binder). Some variations provide a process for producing a biocarbon composition, the process comprising: pyrolyzing a first biomass-containing feedstock to generate a low fixed carbon material; separately pyrolyzing a second biomass-containing feedstock to generate a high fixed carbon material; blending the low fixed carbon material with the high fixed carbon material, thereby generating an intermediate material; optionally, blending one or more additives into the intermediate material; optionally, drying the intermediate material; and recovering a biocarbon composition containing the intermediate material or a thermally treated form thereof.

In some variations, the invention provides a biocarbon composition comprising a low fixed carbon material with a fixed carbon concentration from 20 wt % to 55 wt %; a high fixed carbon material with a fixed carbon concentration from 50 wt % to 100 wt % (and higher than the fixed carbon concentration of the low fixed carbon material; from 0 to 30 wt % moisture; from 0 to 15 wt % ash; and from 0 to 20 wt % of one or more additives (such as a binder). Some variations provide a process for producing a biocarbon composition, the process comprising: pyrolyzing a first biomass-containing feedstock to generate a low fixed carbon material; separately pyrolyzing a second biomass-containing feedstock to generate a high fixed carbon material; blending the low fixed carbon material with the high fixed carbon material, thereby generating an intermediate material; optionally, blending one or more additives into the intermediate material; optionally, drying the intermediate material; and recovering a biocarbon composition containing the intermediate material or a thermally treated form thereof.

A method of transporting non-volatile bituminous materials from a first location to a second location involves carrying a plurality of irregular bricks formed by the bituminous material in transport chambers carried by vehicles. Bricks are defined by a plurality of non-planar surface, which create gaps between adjacent bricks, and can further include polymer skeletons and other features that help them float. The bricks can travel by land, sea, air, or rail and need not be heated while in transit. Transport chambers have active or preferably passive environmental control systems to circulate cooling air, water, or other substances through the transport chamber and the gaps between adjacent bricks. In a preferred embodiment, ambient air circulates among the bricks during travel by land and ambient water circulates among the bricks during marine travel. The vehicles carrying the transport chambers can be low-emissions or zero-emission vehicles including fuel-cell powered trains and ships.

Pellet products, and associated systems, devices and methods are disclosed herein. A production system can include a heat processing assembly comprising an oven configured to process an input material at a processing temperature of at least 1,000? F. for a processing period to produce processed materials, and a pelletization assembly configured to pelletize at least some of the processed materials and one or more additives to generate the pellets. In some embodiments, individual pellets include two or more of coke, coke breeze, char, biochar, charcoal fines, biochar fines, or carbon-containing materials, and at least one of a binder or a cross-linker. A production method can include receiving an input material, processing the input material at a processing temperature of at least 1400? F. in an oven for a processing period to produce processed materials, and pelletizing at least some of the processed materials with one or more additives to produce the pellets.

A continuous flow treatment apparatus comprises a heating fluid management portion and a feces treatment portion. The heating fluid management portion is configured to heat heating fluid and provide the heated heating fluid to a heat exchanger. The feces treatment portion comprises the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is configured to receive feces at a first position of the heat exchanger, indirectly heat the feces via the heated heating fluid as the feces are transported from the first position to a second position of the heat exchanger, and provide the heated feces at the second position. The feces are maintained at a minimum temperature for a predetermined amount of time such that the feces exiting the feces treatment portion have been rendered sanitary for at least one of storage or further processing.

A continuous flow treatment apparatus comprises a heating fluid management portion and a feces treatment portion. The heating fluid management portion is configured to heat heating fluid and provide the heated heating fluid to a heat exchanger. The feces treatment portion comprises the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is configured to receive feces at a first position of the heat exchanger, indirectly heat the feces via the heated heating fluid as the feces are transported from the first position to a second position of the heat exchanger, and provide the heated feces at the second position. The feces are maintained at a minimum temperature for a predetermined amount of time such that the feces exiting the feces treatment portion have been rendered sanitary for at least one of storage or further processing.

A coal upgrade plant includes: a dryer 1 that dries coal; a pyrolyzer 3 that pyrolyzes the coal dried by the dryer 1; a quencher 5 that cools the coal pyrolyzed by the pyrolyzer 3; a finisher 7 that deactivates the coal cooled by the quencher 5; and cyclones 28 and 94 that collect pulverized coal generated from the coal, wherein the pulverized coal collected by the cyclones 28 and 94 is fed to an absorber fed to a scrubber 32 that treats a flue gas. Thus, the mercury generated from the coal upgrade plant can be removed.

A coal upgrade plant includes: a dryer 1 that dries coal; a pyrolyzer 3 that pyrolyzes the coal dried by the dryer 1; a quencher 5 that cools the coal pyrolyzed by the pyrolyzer 3; a finisher 7 that deactivates the coal cooled by the quencher 5; and cyclones 28 and 94 that collect pulverized coal generated from the coal, wherein the pulverized coal collected by the cyclones 28 and 94 is fed to an absorber fed to a scrubber 32 that treats a flue gas. Thus, the mercury generated from the coal upgrade plant can be removed.