Provided herein is a method for devolatizing a solid feedstock. The solid feedstock is treated to a produce a particle size laying between 1 cm.sup.3 and 100 cm.sup.3. The solid feedstock is passed into a device connected to an outlet of a compaction screw auger comprising an assembly including a solid feedstock injector, a retort, a side arm for injecting a heated gas comprising hydrogen, and a process auger. The solid feedstock is contacted with the heated gas at a temperature of 500 C. to 1000 C. for a time of 60 seconds to 120 seconds, whereby the solid feedstock is converted into a gas stream and a solid stream.

The present invention relates to reaction equipment for the treatment of organic and/or inorganic waste of refineries or petrochemical plants comprising: a drying and pyrolysis device (4) which rotates around its longitudinal, tilted rotation axis (A), a gasification device (6) which rotates around its longitudinal, horizontal rotation axis (B), a combustion device (14) comprising a burner (13) having a longitudinal horizontal axis (C), at least one settling chamber (15) for the collection of intermediate solid residues and the accumulation of intermediate gaseous reaction products, at least one outlet duct of the gaseous end-products (16), at least one outlet duct of the solid end-products (7), and at least one inlet duct of the feedstock (2) said combustion device (14), drying and pyrolysis device (4), gasification device (6) are physically separated and positioned on three different levels, the longitudinal rotation axis (A) of the drying and pyrolysis device (4) is tilted with respect to both the longitudinal rotation axis (B) of the gasification device (6) and also with respect to the longitudinal axis (C) of the combustion device (14), the longitudinal rotation axis (B) of the gasification device (6) is parallel to the longitudinal axis (C) of the combustion device (14), the combustion device (14) is in fluid communication with the drying and pyrolysis device (4), the drying and pyrolysis device (4) comprises, in its interior, a first indirect heat exchange device (3) in which the combustion fumes coming from the combustion device (14) flow, at least one settling chamber (15) in fluid communication with said drying and pyrolysis device (4) and with said gasification device (6) and with said combustion device (14), conveying means (5) are positioned in the settling chamber (15) and put the drying and pyrolysis device (4) in fluid communication with the gasification device, it comprises a second heat exchange device (12) in fluid communication with the first indirect heat exchange device (3) and the combustion device (14), it comprises means for the suction of the intermediate gaseous reaction products, said means being positioned in the settling chamber (15).

A process for separating heavy metals from phosphoric starting material comprises the following steps: (i) heating the starting material to a temperature of 600 to 1.200 C. in a first reactor (1) and withdrawing combustion gas; (ii) using the combustion gas of step (i) to preheat an alkaline source; and (iii) transferring the heated starting material of step (i) and the heated alkaline source of step (ii) to a second reactor (20), adding an elemental carbon source, heating to a temperature of 700 to 1.100 C. and withdrawing process gas and a product stream.

Provided herein is a method for devolatizing a solid feedstock. The solid feedstock is treated to a produce a particle size laying between 1 cm.sup.3 and 100 cm.sup.3. The solid feedstock is passed into a device connected to an outlet of a compaction screw auger comprising an assembly including a solid feedstock injector, a retort, a side arm for injecting a heated gas comprising hydrogen, and a process auger. The solid feedstock is contacted with the heated gas at a temperature of 500 C. to 1000 C. for a time of 60 seconds to 120 seconds, whereby the solid feedstock is converted into a gas stream and a solid stream.

The invention provides a system for pyrolysing organic waste. The system comprises a conical housing (4) configured to temporarily, substantially hermetically, enclose the waste and a mixing device provided with a drive shaft rotatably mounted relative to the housing and a conical mixing body (25) configured inside the housing to fluidise the waste, which mixing body fixedly attached substantially does not touch the housing. The system further comprises heating means (24) for heating the side wall of the housing. This system makes it possible to carry out the processing of organic waste in a batch process. The mixing body prevents a portion of the waste from sticking together by fluidising the waste and keeping it fluidised, whereby the heat generated by the heating means can gradually spread through the waste inside the housing.

Provided herein is a method, device and installation for devolatizing a solid feedstock, comprising carbon-based waste selected from the group consisting of hazardous material, biomass, animal manure, tires, municipal solid waste and refuse derived fuel. The method comprises treating the solid feedstock to a produce a particle size laying between about 1 cm.sup.3 and about 100 cm.sup.3. The solid feedstock is passed into a jacketed system which includes a solid feedstock injector, a retort, a side arm for injecting a heated gas, and a process auger. The solid feedstock is contacted with a heated gas, comprising hydrogen, inside the jacketed system at a temperature of about 500 C. to about 1000 C. for a time of about 60 seconds to about 120 seconds, whereby the solid feedstock is converted into a gas stream and a solid stream.

Improved processes and systems are disclosed for producing renewable hydrogen suitable for reducing metal ores, as well as for producing activated carbon. Some variations provide a process comprising: pyrolyzing biomass to generate a biogenic reagent comprising carbon and a pyrolysis off-gas; converting the pyrolysis off-gas to additional reducing gas and/or heat; reacting at least some of the biogenic reagent with a reactant to generate a reducing gas; and chemically reducing a metal oxide in the presence of the reducing gas. Some variations provide a process for producing renewable hydrogen by biomass pyrolysis to generate a biogenic reagent, conversion of the biogenic reagent to a reducing gas, and separation and recovery of hydrogen from the reducing gas. A reducing-gas composition for reducing a metal oxide is provided, comprising renewable hydrogen according to a hydrogen-isotope analysis. Reacted biogenic reagent may also be recovered as an activated carbon product. Many variations are disclosed.

The invention provides a method of sequential pyrolysis and carbon deposition to produce a composite carbonaceous product, the method comprising: a pyrolysis process step comprising pyrolyzing a pyrolyzable organic feed at a pyrolysis temperature in a first reaction zone in the presence of a non-oxidising gas to produce hot char and pyrolysis gas, wherein the pyrolysis gas and the non-oxidising gas combine to form a gas mixture; discharging the gas mixture from the first reaction zone to a combustion zone and combusting at least a portion of the pyrolysis gas therein, wherein heat produced by the combusting of the pyrolysis gas is transmitted from the combustion zone to the first reaction zone to provide at least a portion of the heat of pyrolysis; and a decomposition process step comprising contacting a hydrocarbon-rich organic gas with the hot char directly after its production in the pyrolysis process step, wherein the hydrocarbon-rich organic gas catalytically decomposes on the hot char at a decomposition temperature which is higher than the pyrolysis temperature, thereby producing gaseous decomposition products comprising hydrogen and a composite carbonaceous material comprising the char with carbon deposits thereon.