A method and system for producing nano-active powder materials. The method can be used with a reactor system comprising stages in which input particles flow under gravity progressively through stages of the reactor. A powder injector first stage in which ground input precursor powder is injected into the reactor. An externally heated preheater stage may be in the reactor, in which the precursor powder is heated to a temperature of calcination reaction. An externally heated calciner stage in the reactor, in which primary precursor volatile constituents can be rapidly removed calcination reactions as a high purity gas stream to produce the desired nano-active product. A post-processing reactor stage in which there is a change of the gas stream composition to produce the desired hot powder product by virtue of the nano-activity of the first powder material. A powder ejector stage in which the hot powder product is ejected from the reactor.

The specification relates to a method and a system for adjusting pH of green liquor dregs. The method comprises contacting a slurry containing green liquor dregs (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) with flue gas (101, 201, 301, 401, 501). The system comprises a recovery boiler (105) configured to burn black liquor to produce smelt, a smelt dissolving tank (107) configured to dissolve the smelt to produce green liquor comprising green liquor dregs, and a green liquor clarifier/filter (103) and/or a dregs filter (104) configured to separate a slurry containing green liquor dregs (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) from the green liquor. The system further comprises a vessel (102, 202, 302, 402) configured to receive a slurry containing green liquor dregs (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) and a gas inlet (210, 310, 410, 510) configured to convey flue gas (101, 201, 301, 401, 501) to be contacted with the slurry containing green liquor dregs (100, 200, 300, 400, 500).

Provided herein are zero carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) emission processes and systems to carry out the processes, comprising a) calcining limestone in a cement plant in an electric kiln to form a mixture comprising calcium oxide and a first gaseous stream comprising clean carbon dioxide, wherein the clean carbon dioxide comprises no gaseous or non-gaseous components from combustion of fuel; b) treating the mixture comprising calcium oxide with a N-containing salt solution under one or more dissolution conditions to produce a first aqueous solution comprising calcium salt; and c) contacting the first aqueous solution with the first gaseous stream comprising clean carbon dioxide under one or more precipitation conditions to produce a precipitation material comprising vaterite, aragonite, calcite, or combinations thereof.

Process for calcining mineral rock in a regenerative parallel-flow vertical shaft furnace, containing at least two shafts (1, 2) interconnected by a gas transfer channel (3), each shaft operating alternately in firing mode and in preheating mode, the firing mode comprising a combustion of fuel in the presence of air so as to obtain a firing of the rock to give calcined rock, an emission of combustion gases, and a passage of these gases from one shaft to the other by means of said channel (3), the preheating mode comprising a heat exchange between said rock and said combustion gases from said channel (3), this process additionally comprising an injection of supplementary air into said channel (3) with oxidation of unburnt products contained in the combustion gases passing through this channel.

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of replacing with sodium make-up chemicals sodium losses caused by outflows in a pulp mill which employs a kraft process for producing cellulosic pulp, wherein the pulp mill includes a unit for conversion of sulphurous compounds, which is fed with sulphurous substances of the kraft process to convert said sulphurous substances into oxidized sulphurous compounds, said method comprising using sodium sulphate possibly together with other sodium salts as the main make-up chemical, to achieve an essentially sodium hydroxide free feed of sodium make-up chemicals, and at least a part of the sulphur contained in the sodium sulphate make-up chemical being used for producing oxidized sulphurous compounds in said unit for conversion of sulphurous compounds.

A method for producing burnt end products from an educt (starting raw materials) of carbonate-containing materials involves preheating the educt using heat recovered from the reaction. The educt and a fluidizing medium including steam are input into a first reaction zone. Heat is transferred to the first reaction zone using mechanical components so as to heat the first reaction zone to a predetermined temperature range for a predetermined time period. The educt is burned in the first reaction zone over the predetermined time period during which the first reaction zone is maintained within the predetermined temperature range. The hot gases that form in the first reaction zone include CO.sub.2 and steam. Hot end product is discharged from the first reaction zone after the predetermined time period elapses. Heat contained in the hot gases and end product that are discharged from the first reaction zone is used to preheat the educt.

Methods and systems for making calcium oxide (CaO), carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) and/or calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH).sub.2) from aragonite, for example, oolitic aragonite, are provided. The method can include applying solar energy, for example, by focusing one or more mirrors in one or more heliostats, to heat a reactant mixture in a vessel. The reactant mixture includes oolitic aragonite and can be heated to a temperature from 500° C. to 950° C. The system can include a vessel and a means for applying solar energy to heat a supply of oolitic aragonite disposed inside the vessel. Methods of converting the CO.sub.2 to ethanol, ethylene, graphene, and/or methane are also provided.

Processes disclosed are capable of converting biomass into high-crystallinity nanocellulose with surprisingly low mechanical energy input. In some variations, the process includes fractionating biomass with an acid (such as sulfur dioxide), a solvent (such as ethanol), and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a liquid containing hemicellulose and lignin; and mechanically treating the cellulose-rich solids to form nanofibrils and/or nanocrystals. The crystallinity of the nanocellulose material may be 80% or higher, translating into good reinforcing properties for composites. The nanocellulose material may include nanofibrillated cellulose, nanocrystalline cellulose, or both. In some embodiments, the nanocellulose material is hydrophobic via deposition of some lignin onto the cellulose surface. Optionally, sugars derived from amorphous cellulose and hemicellulose may be separately fermented, such as to monomers for various polymers. These polymers may be combined with the nanocellulose to form completely renewable composites.

Techniques for growing crystalline calcium carbonate solids such that the crystalline calcium carbonate solids include a volume of 0.0005 mm.sup.3 to 5 mm.sup.3, include a slaker to react quicklime (CaO) and a low carbonate content fluid to yield a slurry of primarily slaked lime (Ca(OH).sub.2); a fluidized-bed reactive crystallizer that encloses a solid bed mass and includes an input for a slurry of primarily slaked lime, an input for an alkaline solution and carbonate, and an output for crystalline calcium carbonate solids that include particles and an alkaline carbonate solution; a dewatering apparatus that includes an input coupled to the crystallizer and an output to discharge a plurality of separate streams that each include a portion of the crystalline calcium carbonate solids and alkaline carbonate solution; and a seed transfer apparatus to deliver seed material into the crystallizer to maintain a consistent mass of seed material.

A process for isolating lignin from an alkaline process stream of thickened black liquor which is introduced continuously into a lower region of at least one circulation reactor having two reactor zones in concentric arrangement, liquid level of the alkaline process stream in the interior of the reactor is at a level with an upper end of an inner tubular reactor zone, a CO.sub.2-containing gas is blown continuously from the bottom into the inner tubular reactor zone of the reactor, wherein the CO.sub.2-containing gas is absorbed by the alkaline process stream in the inner circulation reactor zone and offgas is drawn off with residual amounts of the CO.sub.2 at the top of the reactor, the process is run at 1 atm, and thickened black liquor with a reduced lignin content together with precipitated lignin present are drawn off optionally after settling at the base of the reactor.