A method for producing an agglomerated solid bio-material comprises providing a particulate torrefied wood mass or a comminuted wood mass and blending with a particulate melt-flowable extract (MFE) recovered from an organosolv pulping process. The particulate torrefied biomass or the comminuted biomass is blended with the MFE to form a blended mixture wherein the particulate torrefied bio-mass or the comminuted wood mass is the primary component. The blend is agglomerated under pressure at a temperature of at least approximately 38° C. (100° F.) to form the agglomerated solid material which exhibits hydrophobic characteristics.

A flavor or aroma charcoal material, such as charcoal briquets, which is formulated to include a flavor or aroma component. The charcoal material may include a smoldering agent (e.g., limestone), wood particles (e.g., sawdust), a binder, and the flavor or aroma component (herbs and/or spices). The flavor or aroma charcoal material may not be configured as a fuel charcoal material, for example, it may be substantially void of char and/or coal. In an embodiment, the flavor or aroma charcoal material may be provided as part of a blend of different charcoal materials that includes both flavor or aroma briquets in combination with fuel briquets (e.g., which fuel briquets include char and/or coal, while the flavor briquets do not). The flavor briquets provide enhanced aroma and/or flavor to the grilling experience.

A method for processing lignocellulose materials comprising the steps of hydrothermal treatment of the material with saturated or superheated steam in a hydrothermal pressure vessel, wherein the steam is provided by means of a steam boiler. The treatment is performed at a pressure of 5-30 bars, and at a temperature of 160-240° C. for a duration of 1-20 minutes. The method further comprises discharging hydrothermally treated lignocellulose material and steam from the pressure vessel by means of rapid pressure reduction, separating the steam and vapours released from the lignocellulose material, and burning the vapours together with additional fuel and combustion air in the furnace of said steam boiler. Furthermore, a corresponding system is provided.

Described herein is a method for isolating high carbon chipped wood charcoal fuel suitable for grilling food. According to one aspect, the method involves removing pyrolyzed wood charcoal from a kiln wherein the pyrolyzed wood charcoal comprises lumps, chips, smaller pieces, and dust particles. The pyrolyzed wood charcoal is passed over a first sieve that is configured to separate the lumps from the chips, smaller pieces and dust particles. The chips, smaller pieces and dust particles are then passed over a second sieve that is configured to separate the chips from the smaller pieces and dust particles. The resulting chipped wood charcoal is consistently sized to be small enough to pass through a food supporting grill grate and supportable by an underlying grid support, thereby allowing refueling while grilling without interruption.

This development describes a system, a method, and specific products for washing biological waste, preferably animal manure, particularly cattle manure, particularly biological waste with high silica content and agro-industrial and forestry waste products to obtain a purified lignocellulosic product with a high calorific value that, when burned, releases low concentrations of harmful gases and does not generate or generates little vitrification inside.

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to torrefied biomass briquettes and methods for producing the same that make use of a mixture of lightly torrefied material (LTM) and highly torrefied material (HTM) and/or make use of torrefied materials that are subjected to a hydrolysis pretreatment prior to being torrefied.

A mixture for a natural fuel package is provided, having essentially a mass of combustible wood particles and particles of organs of a plant in the Cinnamomum genus as constituents which are bonded by compression, whereby upon ignition the said particles undergo decomposition to liberate the moisture, releasing an aromatic cinnamon fragrance and flavor which can be inhaled by persons present at the time of burning and tasted or consumed through the food cooked on such fuel resulting in medicinal and therapeutic effects.

The invention also provides a briquette comprising: (i) a particulate material; and (ii) a binder, the binder comprising (a) at least partially saponified polyvinyl alcohol and (b) an alkali metal alkyl siliconate or polyalkylsilicic acid; wherein the particulate material is selected from a carbonaceous material, metal, metal ore, mineral waste or a mixture thereof.

A method of preparing agglomerates of ultra-fine coal particles includes mixing a film forming agglomeration aid (FFAA) with a quantity of ultra-fine coal particles to form ultra-fine coal particles coated with the FFAA. The FFAA has a lower surface energy relative to a surface of the ultra-fine coal particles. The FFAA is mixed with the ultra-fine coal particles in an amount less than 3% by weight of the ultra-fine coal particles on a dry basis. Agglomerates of the ultra-fine coal particles coated with the film forming agglomeration aid are formed using vibration, pelleting, and/or briquetting. The agglomerates have a size of at least 2 mm. The ultra-fine coal particles have a particle size less than 100 μm. The agglomerate has a tumbler test friability less than 3%. The drop shatter friability is also less than 3%.

The invention relates to the use of fibres, often in briquettes, and to the production of briquettes, for instance from coal, metal or metal ores. Typically the briquettes are formed from particulate material and a fibre.