The present invention refers to a method of producing furfural and optionally further basic chemicals from biomass material comprising treatment of the biomass material at elevated pressures and temperatures, to the condensates and solid product obtained by the method of the invention, as well as to their use.

A modular system and method for producing urea from bio-mass includes means and steps for “homogenizing” a biomass feedstock stream having components with different bulk density BTU content into a stream having a consistent bulk density BTU content. The steps include cleaning the incoming bio-mass feedstock stream to remove non-organic matter, blending the cleaned bio-mass feedstock stream to obtain a homogeneous blend having a consistent bulk density BTU content, and milling the homogeneous blend bio-mass feedstock stream to a predetermined size no greater than 12 mm.

A biomass upgrading process comprises a steam-cracking step for producing a granulated combustible product, and, prior to the granulation step, a step of mixing an intermediate pulverulent product resulting from the steam-cracking of the biomass and a pulverulent material having a high lignin content.

A biofuel product having constituents selected from the group including fat, oil and/or grease components. A container is formed of a biodegradable material having a multiplicity of openings of a size and shape adapted for allowing the fat, oil and/or grease components to pass through the openings to an interior area of the container. An absorbent capture material is positioned in the container and holds a quantity of the fat, oil and/or grease. The container, capture material and fat, oil and/or grease collectively include the biofuel product.

A biomass solid fuel is provided which, when exposed to rain water, has a reduced COD in discharged water and has low disintegration-property, while suppressing an increase in cost. The present invention relates to a biomass solid fuel obtained by molding pulverized biomass, having a fuel ratio (fixed carbon/volatile matter) of 0.2 to 0.8, dry-basis higher heating value of 4800 to 7000 (kcal/kg), a molar ratio of oxygen O to carbon C (O/C) of 0.1 to 0.7, and a molar ratio of hydrogen H to carbon C (H/C) is 0.8 to 1.3.

Systems and methods of producing a solid fuel composition are disclosed. In particular, systems and methods for producing a solid fuel composition by heating and mixing a solid waste mixture to a maximum temperature sufficient to melt the mixed plastics within the solid waste mixture is disclosed.

An organic fuel additive for improving the combustion of a bioenergy solid fuel product, the organic fuel additive comprising a mixture of combustible organic fines and a polymer material, wherein the polymer material encapsulates the combustible organic fines in solid form, and methods of making and using the same.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for agglomerating hydrophobic particles from a feed slurry. The method comprises adding a binder to a feed stream and conveying the feed stream and binder to an agglomerating device. The binder comprises 50% or more by volume of a non-hydrophobic substance. A high shear is applied to the feed stream and the binder in the agglomerating device to cause the hydrophobic particles to collide and bind to the binder, thereby agglomerating the hydrophobic particles. The agglomerated hydrophobic particles and the binder are removed from the feed stream. A method and apparatus for dewatering an agglomerated product is also provided, the agglomerated product comprising agglomerated hydrophobic particles held together by a binder comprising 50% or more by volume of a non-hydrophobic substance.

This alternative fuel is a reclaimed waste product which has a solid, particulate consistency at ambient temperature. The fuel comprises a composite of petroleum pitch and a powder coating. The powder coating penetrates into the surface of the pitch. The powder coating is recycled ash, pulverized coal, or pulverized petroleum coke.

In some variations, the invention provides a biocarbon pellet comprising: 35 wt % to 99 wt % of a biogenic reagent, wherein the biogenic reagent comprises, on a dry basis, at least 60 wt % carbon; 0 wt % to 35 wt % water moisture; and 1 wt % to 30 wt % of a binder, wherein the biocarbon pellet is characterized by an adjustable Hardgrove Grindability Index (HGI) from about 30 to about 120, as shown in the Examples. The pellet HGI is adjustable by controlling process conditions and the pellet binder. The binder can be an organic binder or an inorganic binder. The carbon is renewable as determined from a measurement of the .sup.14C/.sup.12C isotopic ratio. Many processes of making and using the biocarbon pellets are described. Applications of the biocarbon pellets include pulverized coal boilers, furnaces for making metals such as iron or silicon, and gasifiers for producing reducing gas.