Systems and processes of providing novel thermal energy sources for hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) reactors are described herein. According to various implementations, the systems and processes use concentrated solar thermal energy from a focused high-energy beam to provide sufficient energy for driving the HTL biomass-to-biocrude process. In addition, other implementations convert biowaste, such as municipal biosolids and grease and food waste, to biocrude using anaerobic digesters, and a portion of the biogas generated by the digesters is used to produce the thermal and/or electrical energy used in the HTL reactor for the biomass-to-biocrude process. Furthermore, alternative implementations may include a hybrid system that uses biogas and solar radiation to provide sufficient thermal energy for the HTL reactor.

Digestion of cellulosic biomass solids may be complicated by release of lignin therefrom. Methods and systems for processing a reaction product containing lignin-derived products, such as phenolics, can comprise hydrotreating the reaction product to convert the lignin-derived products to desired higher molecular weight compounds. The methods and systems can further include separating the higher molecular weight compounds from unconverted products, such as unconverted phenolics, and recycling the unconverted phenolics for use as at least a portion of the digestion solvent and for further conversion to desired higher molecular weight compounds with additional hydrotreatment. The methods and systems can further include a further hydrotreatment step configured for additional lignin conversion and/or a further hydrotreatment step configured for generating hydrogen.

Digestion of cellulosic biomass solids may be complicated by release of lignin therefrom. Methods and systems for processing a reaction product containing lignin-derived products, such as phenolics, can comprise hydrotreating the reaction product to convert the lignin-derived products to desired higher molecular weight compounds. The methods can further include separating the higher molecular weight compounds from unconverted products, such as unconverted phenolics, and recycling the unconverted phenolics for use as at least a portion of the digestion solvent and for further conversion to desired higher molecular weight compounds with additional hydrotreatment. The methods and systems can further include generating hydrogen with the further hydrotreatment.

The invention relates to a continuous process for converting carbonaceous material contained in one or more feedstocks into a liquid hydrocarbon product, said feedstocks including the carbonaceous material being in a feed mixture including one or more fluids, said fluids including water and further liquid organic compounds at least partly produced by the process in a concentration of at least 1% by weight, where the process comprises converting at least part of the carbonaceous material by pressurizing the feed mixture to a pressure in the range 250-400 bar; heating the feed mixture to a temperature in the range 370-450° C., and maintaining said pressurized and heated feed mixture in the desired pressure and temperature ranges in a reaction zone for a predefined time; cooling the feed mixture to a temperature in the range 25-200° C. and expanding the feed mixture to a pressure in the range of 1-70 bar, thereby causing the carbonaceous material to be converted to a liquid hydrocarbon product and separating from the converted feed mixture a fraction comprising liquid hydrocarbon product.

The present disclosure provides a process for preparing a hydrocarbon fuel from waste rubber. The process involves admixing, in a reaction vessel, at least one fluid medium with the waste rubber to obtain a slurry; wherein the concentration of the waste rubber in the slurry ranges from 45% to 70%. A reactor is charged with the slurry and a predetermined amount of at least one catalyst composition to obtain a mixture, followed by introduction of hydrogen to the reactor to attain a predetermined pressure and heating the mixture at a predetermined temperature, to attain an autogenously generated pressure, and for a predetermined time period to obtain a reaction mass comprising the hydrocarbon fuel. This reaction mass comprising the hydrocarbon fuel is then cooled to obtain a cooled reaction mass. The hydrocarbon fuel is then separated from the cooled reaction mass.

The present disclosure provides a process for preparing a hydrocarbon fuel from waste rubber. The process involves admixing, in a reaction vessel, at least one fluid medium with the waste rubber to obtain a slurry; wherein the concentration of the waste rubber in the slurry ranges from 45% to 70%. A reactor is charged with the slurry and a predetermined amount of at least one catalyst composition to obtain a mixture, followed by introduction of hydrogen to the reactor to attain a predetermined pressure and heating the mixture at a predetermined temperature, to attain an autogenously generated pressure, and for a predetermined time period to obtain a reaction mass comprising the hydrocarbon fuel. This reaction mass comprising the hydrocarbon fuel is then cooled to obtain a cooled reaction mass. The hydrocarbon fuel is then separated from the cooled reaction mass.

A process and apparatus for producing hydrocarbon oil from the thermal decomposition of waste plastics in a continuous process which comprises melting of a waste plastic feedstock into an auger assisted melt reactor to remove chlorine and organics contained in the waste plastic, and transferring the melted waste plastic into an heated screw pyrolysis reactor which includes a transitional metal heat transfer medium. The hydrocarbon gas from the pyrolysis reactor is fed into a vessel containing metal trays for a second decomposition which is connected with an alkali treatment 2-step process gas reactor to remove acidic gases, and any inorganic solids. The hydrocarbon gases are separated by three separate condensers. The hydrocarbon fraction of the first condenser is recycled back into the pyrolysis reaction for further thermal treatment, and the hydrocarbon fractions are collected in the remaining condensers.

A direct coal liquefaction process capable of producing unexpectedly high levels of C5/650° F. product, which process employs a relatively high ratio of solvent plus bottoms product recycle to feed coal.

A combined hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) and catalytic hydrothermal gasification (CHG) system and process are described that convert various biomass-containing sources into separable bio-oils and aqueous effluents that contain residual organics. Bio-oils may be converted to useful bio-based fuels and other chemical feedstocks. Residual organics in HTL aqueous effluents may be gasified and converted into medium-BTU product gases and directly used for process heating or to provide energy.

A combined hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) and catalytic hydrothermal gasification (CHG) system and process are described that convert various biomass-containing sources into separable bio-oils and aqueous effluents that contain residual organics. Bio-oils may be converted to useful bio-based fuels and other chemical feedstocks. Residual organics in HTL aqueous effluents may be gasified and converted into medium-BTU product gases and directly used for process heating or to provide energy.