A process for increasing the energy density of a biomass, which includes establishing a temperature and pressure within a reaction chamber that includes water and is at or above a desired reaction condition wherein the desired reaction condition is sufficient to increase the energy density of a reacted biomass; introducing a biomass into the reaction chamber such that the desired reaction condition is maintained or equilibrates thereto; and subjecting the biomass to the desired reaction condition for an amount of time effective to increase the energy density of the reacted biomass relative to the biomass prior to reaction.

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 coal combustion process is described using cleaned coal and processed biomass to reduce adverse by-products in a coal combusting apparatus including the reduction of carbon dioxide by at least 50 volume %. The coal feedstock comprises an aggregate blend of cleaned coal and processed biomass. The biomass feedstock comprises processed biomass pellets. The total energy density is predetermined and can be similar to the coal component or higher than the coal component. The intracellular salt in the processed biomass is at least 60 wt % less for the processed organic-carbon-containing feedstock used to make the processed biomass pellets than that of the starting un-processed processed organic-carbon-containing feedstock. The cleaned coal has a sulfur content that is 50 wt % less than that of un-cleaned coal before it passed through the coal-cleaning sub-system.

A coal combustion process is described using coal feedstock and processed biomass feedstock to reduce adverse by-products in a coal combusting apparatus including the reduction of carbon dioxide by at least 50 volume %. The coal feedstock is selected from coal, a coal substitute processed biomass, or an aggregate blend of coal and processed biomass. The biomass feedstock comprises processed biomass pellets.

A processed biomass/coal blended compact aggregate composition made with a blending sub-system from a processed organic-carbon-containing feedstock made with a beneficiation sub-system and low energy coal is described. Renewable biomass feedstock passed through a beneficiation sub-system to produce a processed biomass with an energy density of at least 17 MMBTU/ton (19 GJ/MT), a water content of below at least 20 wt % and an intracellular water-soluble salt that is at least 60% below that of unprocessed organic-carbon-containing feedstock on a dry basis. Low energy un-cleaned coal is sized and passed through a coal cleaning sub-system to result in cleaned low energy coal having an energy density of less than 21 MMBTU/ton (24 GJ/MT) and a content of sulfur that is at least 50 wt % below that of the content of sulfur in the coal before it passed through the coal cleaning sub-system. The processed feedstock is sized and blended with the cleaned low energy coal in a blending sub-system to form a blended aggregate that comprises at least 10 wt % of the cleaned low energy coal and at least 10 wt % of the processed biomass.

A method to process cellulose fibres, preferably including wood fibres, comprises the steps: Deriving first fibres having a first property from a first raw material comprising cellulose fibres, Milling the first fibres to provide milled fibres, preferably with an average characteristic fibre dimension greater than 100 m, Drying the first fibres to provide dried fibres having a residual moisture less than 10% by weight, Adding one or more polymers, preferably including Lignin, to the dried fibres to provide a predetermined mixture including a polymer weight fraction of at least 5%, Processing the predetermined mixture to provide granules with an average characteristic granule dimension between 2 to 6 mm.

A co-firing process is described using cleaned coal and processed biomass to reduce adverse by-products in a coal combusting apparatus. The coal feedstock comprises an aggregate blend of cleaned coal and processed biomass. The biomass feedstock comprises processed biomass pellets. The total energy density is predetermined and can be similar to the coal component or higher than the coal component. The intracellular salt in the processed biomass is at least 60 wt % less for the processed organic-carbon-containing feedstock used to make the processed biomass pellets than that of the starting un-processed processed organic-carbon-containing feedstock. The cleaned coal has a sulfur content that is 50 wt % less than that of un-cleaned coal before it passed through the coal-cleaning sub-system.

A co-firing process is described using coal and processed biomass to reduce adverse by-products in a coal combusting apparatus. The coal feedstock is selected from coal, a coal substitute processed biomass, or an aggregate blend of coal and processed biomass. The biomass feedstock comprises processed biomass pellets. The total energy density is predetermined and can be similar to the coal component or higher than the coal component. The intracellular salt in the processed biomass is at least 60 wt % less for the processed organic-carbon-containing feedstock used to make the processed biomass pellets than that of the starting un-processed processed organic-carbon-containing feedstock.

Water-resistant, high-durability, and high-density biocarbon pellets are described. In some variations, a process for producing biocarbon pellets comprises: pyrolyzing a biomass-containing feedstock in a pyrolysis reactor, thereby generating a solid biocarbon-containing material and a pyrolysis vapor; introducing the pyrolysis vapor to a separation system configured to recover a pyrolysis condensate in liquid form separated from non-condensable gases; capturing pyrolysis condensate as a polyphenolic material; contacting the solid biocarbon-containing material with the polyphenolic material, thereby generating an intermediate mixture; introducing the intermediate mixture to a densification unit, thereby generating a biocarbon pellet precursor; and at least partially drying the biocarbon pellet precursor, thereby generating biocarbon pellets characterized by a 24-hour water uptake of about 20 wt % or less, measured at 25 C. and 1 bar. The biocarbon pellets can be stockpiled outside, which is logistically convenient at manufacturing sites, such as industrial metal-making plants that feed the biocarbon pellets into the process.

Water-resistant, high-durability, and high-density biocarbon pellets are described. In some variations, a process for producing biocarbon pellets comprises: pyrolyzing a biomass-containing feedstock in a pyrolysis reactor, thereby generating a solid biocarbon-containing material and a pyrolysis vapor; introducing the pyrolysis vapor to a separation system configured to recover a pyrolysis condensate in liquid form separated from non-condensable gases; capturing pyrolysis condensate as a polyphenolic material; contacting the solid biocarbon-containing material with the polyphenolic material, thereby generating an intermediate mixture; introducing the intermediate mixture to a densification unit, thereby generating a biocarbon pellet precursor; and at least partially drying the biocarbon pellet precursor, thereby generating biocarbon pellets characterized by a 24-hour water uptake of about 20 wt % or less, measured at 25 C. and 1 bar. The biocarbon pellets can be stockpiled outside, which is logistically convenient at manufacturing sites, such as industrial metal-making plants that feed the biocarbon pellets into the process.