Disclosed is a process for treating waste plastic materials such as whole tyres, coarsely cut tyres, large plastic pieces, plastic composites such as hoses or combinations of above into gases, liquids and solids by direct heating in a pyrolysis liquid (1) such as molten salt or molten metal. The pyrolysis system is constructed such that the segregation of the light and heavy materials occurs within the pyrolysis chamber. The carbon black is segregated from the pyrolysis vapours via a cyclone and fractions of carbon black may be obtained by installing a number of cyclones in series so that different qualities of carbon black may be produced. Diesel or other oils, steel, carbon black, ZnO and synthesis gas are recovered; all of which can be feed streams to other processes. This process avoids the inefficient procedure of cutting the tyres or other plastic composites into small pieces before treatment by pyrolysis and also recovers valuable components.

A method of converting cellulosic feedstock to bio coal. The cellulosic feedstock in a carrier of process fluid is introduced within a conduit having substantially linear portions connected by curved portions creating a serpentine structure. The substantially linear portions are surrounded by tubular sleeves creating annular spaces between the tubular sleeves and substantially linear portions for carrying a high temperature fluid for transferring thermal energy to the cellulosic feedstock and process fluid. The cellulosic feedstock is maintained in an oxygen-free environment. The method is continuous as the cellulosic feedstock in process fluid is subjected to a plurality of mixing elements characterized as having no edges perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the plurality of substantially linear segments and which are sized and positioned within the plurality of substantially linear segments such no mixing elements are in contact with one another resulting in an open region of travel for fluids passing from the conduit inlet to conduit outlet.

A process for decomposing a hydrocarbon-containing composition includes feeding the hydrocarbon-containing composition to a reactor containing a catalytically active molten metal or a catalytically active molten metal alloy, wherein the metal or alloy catalyzes a decomposition reaction of the hydrocarbon-containing composition into a hydrogen-rich gas phase and a solid carbon phase. The solid carbon phase is insoluble in the metal or alloy. The process may be a continuous process.

A process for decomposing a hydrocarbon-containing composition includes feeding the hydrocarbon-containing composition to a reactor containing a catalytically active molten metal or a catalytically active molten metal alloy, wherein the metal or alloy catalyzes a decomposition reaction of the hydrocarbon-containing composition into a hydrogen-rich gas phase and a solid carbon phase. The solid carbon phase is insoluble in the metal or alloy. The process may be a continuous process.

The present invention provides a method of simultaneously recycling plastics and detoxifying chromite ore processing residue with residual heat from a steel slag. By heating and gasifying plastics with steel slag, followed by catalytically split-decomposing the plastics with catalysts such as chromite ore processing residue, the plastics are thoroughly converted into a energy gas under water vapor gasification. The surface coking of Chromite Ore Processing Residue is avoided. Meanwhile, the energy gas reduces Cr.sup.6+ in Chromite Ore Processing Residue into Cr.sup.3+, and the energy gas is cooled, and CO.sub.2 and Cl in the energy gas are adsorbed by alkaline substances in Chromite Ore Processing Residue. With this method, chromite ore processing residue is detoxified, and steel slag is cooled, furthermore, energy is saved and a energy gas is obtained.

The present invention provides a method of simultaneously recycling plastics and detoxifying chromite ore processing residue with residual heat from a steel slag. By heating and gasifying plastics with steel slag, followed by catalytically split-decomposing the plastics with catalysts such as chromite ore processing residue, the plastics are thoroughly converted into a energy gas under water vapor gasification. The surface coking of Chromite Ore Processing Residue is avoided. Meanwhile, the energy gas reduces Cr.sup.6+ in Chromite Ore Processing Residue into Cr.sup.3+, and the energy gas is cooled, and CO.sub.2 and Cl in the energy gas are adsorbed by alkaline substances in Chromite Ore Processing Residue. With this method, chromite ore processing residue is detoxified, and steel slag is cooled, furthermore, energy is saved and a energy gas is obtained.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a reactor system comprising: a reaction vessel comprising a reactant, a heat transfer fluid and a first reaction product, wherein the heat transfer fluid has a greater density than the first reaction product such that at least a portion of the first reaction product floats on a surface of the heat transfer fluid; a first outlet positioned at a surface level of the first reaction product, the first outlet configured to output a first outlet flow comprising at least a portion of the first reaction product and at least a portion of the heat transfer fluid; wherein the heat transfer fluid is configured to provide thermal energy to the reactant in the reaction vessel to form the first reaction product.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a reactor system comprising: a reaction vessel comprising a reactant, a heat transfer fluid and a first reaction product, wherein the heat transfer fluid has a greater density than the first reaction product such that at least a portion of the first reaction product floats on a surface of the heat transfer fluid; a first outlet positioned at a surface level of the first reaction product, the first outlet configured to output a first outlet flow comprising at least a portion of the first reaction product and at least a portion of the heat transfer fluid; wherein the heat transfer fluid is configured to provide thermal energy to the reactant in the reaction vessel to form the first reaction product.

A system and method for torrefying a combination of biomass and biochar colloidal dispersion is provided.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for recycling plastics, electronics, munitions or propellants. In particular, the method comprises reacting a feed stock with a molten aluminum or aluminum alloy bath. The apparatus includes a reaction vessel for carrying out the reaction, as well as other equipment necessary for capturing and removing the reaction products. Further, the process can be used to cogenerate electricity using the excess heat generated by the process.