Waste, such as municipal solid waste (MSF), is separated into a wet fraction and refuse derived fuel (RDF). For example, the waste may be separated in a press. The wet fraction is treated in an anaerobic digester. The RDF is further separated into a cellulosic fraction and a non-cellulosic fraction. The cellulosic fraction is treated by pyrolysis and produces a pyrolysis liquid. The pyrolysis liquid is added to the anaerobic digester.

A reactor is described which is useful for the generation of hydrocarbon products by thermochemical treatment. The reactor comprises a feeding means for the addition of feedstock material to the reactor; an outlet for the extraction of hydrocarbon products from the reactor; a devolatilization zone; and a cracking zone; wherein the devolatilization zone comprises a first gas distribution base plate for the generation of a fluidised bed of material in the devolatilization zone, the cracking zone comprises a second gas distribution base plate for the generation of a fluidised bed of material in the cracking zone, and the devolatilization zone is in fluid communication with the cracking zone through a plurality of apertures within the second gas distribution base plate permitting the passage of gas from the devolatilization zone into the cracking zone. Processes of producing hydrocarbon products by thermochemical treatment are also described. The hydrocarbon products may be useful as drop-in fuel products and/or chemical feedstock.

A reactor is described which is useful for the generation of hydrocarbon products by thermochemical treatment. The reactor comprises a feeding means for the addition of feedstock material to the reactor; an outlet for the extraction of hydrocarbon products from the reactor; a devolatilization zone; and a cracking zone; wherein the devolatilization zone comprises a first gas distribution base plate for the generation of a fluidised bed of material in the devolatilization zone, the cracking zone comprises a second gas distribution base plate for the generation of a fluidised bed of material in the cracking zone, and the devolatilization zone is in fluid communication with the cracking zone through a plurality of apertures within the second gas distribution base plate permitting the passage of gas from the devolatilization zone into the cracking zone. Processes of producing hydrocarbon products by thermochemical treatment are also described. The hydrocarbon products may be useful as drop-in fuel products and/or chemical feedstock.

Some variations provide a biomedia composition comprising: from 50 wt % to 75 wt % total carbon, on a dry basis, according to ASTM D5373, wherein the total carbon is renewable according to ASTM D6866 (.sup.14C/.sup.12C isotopic ratio); from 20 wt % to 40 wt % oxygen, on a dry basis, according ASTM D5373; from 3 wt % to 10 wt % hydrogen, on a dry basis, according to ASTM D5373; and from 0.1 wt % to 2 wt % nitrogen, on a dry basis, according to ASTM D5373, wherein the biomedia composition is characterized by volatile-matter content from 50 wt % to 75 wt %, according to ASTM D3175; wherein the biomedia composition is characterized by ash content from 1 wt % to 25 wt %, according to ASTM D3174; and wherein the biomedia composition is characterized by moisture content from 0 to 75 wt %, according to ASTM D3173. Processes are also described to make and use the biomedia compositions.

A method for processing plastics includes receiving input plastics to be processed. The method further includes driving the input plastics through a reactor chamber having at least two zones each containing heated fluid that is heated to greater temperatures in a subsequent zone such that remaining plastics of the input plastics are exposed to increasingly greater temperatures in each zone of the reactor chamber. The method also includes collecting condensable vapors that flow out of the at least two zones of the reactor chamber. The method further includes condensing the condensable vapors into a liquid condensate. The method also includes removing biochar products from the heated fluid. The method further includes removing contaminants from the reactor chamber.

A method for processing plastics includes receiving input plastics to be processed. The method further includes driving the input plastics through a reactor chamber having at least two zones each containing heated fluid that is heated to greater temperatures in a subsequent zone such that remaining plastics of the input plastics are exposed to increasingly greater temperatures in each zone of the reactor chamber. The method also includes collecting condensable vapors that flow out of the at least two zones of the reactor chamber. The method further includes condensing the condensable vapors into a liquid condensate. The method also includes removing biochar products from the heated fluid. The method further includes removing contaminants from the reactor chamber.

The invention relates to a process according to claim 1 and pyrolysis devices used therein for the pyrolysis of pyrolysis stock comprising polyurethane-containing material, allowing carrying out pyrolysis on an industrial scale. According to the invention, even with higher amounts of pyrolysis stock an amount of pyrolysis product is obtained that contains cleavage products which can be reused for the synthesis of polyurethane-containing material.

The invention relates to a process according to claim 1 and pyrolysis devices used therein for the pyrolysis of pyrolysis stock comprising polyurethane-containing material, allowing carrying out pyrolysis on an industrial scale. According to the invention, even with higher amounts of pyrolysis stock an amount of pyrolysis product is obtained that contains cleavage products which can be reused for the synthesis of polyurethane-containing material.

A process and apparatus are provided in the present invention for treatment of particulate biomass. The present process comprises a densification stage, a first treatment stage, a second treatment stage, a cooling stage; the present apparatus comprises a thermo-chemical treatment chamber which is a two-stage compact moving bed type including two compartments for pre-torrefaction and torrefaction and having a star or spider or ring formic hot gas distribution system equipped with at least one hot gas input and at least one hot gas output for each compartment, and at least one particulate biomass inlet and at least one particulate biomass outlet.

A process and apparatus are provided in the present invention for treatment of particulate biomass. The present process comprises a densification stage, a first treatment stage, a second treatment stage, a cooling stage; the present apparatus comprises a thermo-chemical treatment chamber which is a two-stage compact moving bed type including two compartments for pre-torrefaction and torrefaction and having a star or spider or ring formic hot gas distribution system equipped with at least one hot gas input and at least one hot gas output for each compartment, and at least one particulate biomass inlet and at least one particulate biomass outlet.