A method and device for the material use of an off-gas which is rich in carbon monoxide and contains hydrocarbons as well as hydrogenatable sulfur compounds, wherein a sulfur-free reformer feed is formed using the off-gas and is subsequently converted by steam reforming into a hydrogen-containing synthesis gas. According to the invention, the off-gas which is rich in carbon monoxide and contains hydrocarbons as well as hydrogenatable sulfur compounds is heated and subjected to hydrolysis at a temperature between 150 and 250 C., preferably between 150 and 190 C., in order to convert the hydrogenatable sulfur compounds with catalytic support into hydrogen sulfide, and to obtain an off-gas which is free of hydrogenatable sulfur compounds and which is subsequently desulfurized over a fixed bed containing zinc oxide.

A method and device for the material use of an off-gas which is rich in carbon monoxide and contains hydrocarbons as well as hydrogenatable sulfur compounds, wherein a sulfur-free reformer feed is formed using the off-gas and is subsequently converted by steam reforming into a hydrogen-containing synthesis gas. According to the invention, the off-gas which is rich in carbon monoxide and contains hydrocarbons as well as hydrogenatable sulfur compounds is heated and subjected to hydrolysis at a temperature between 150 and 250 C., preferably between 150 and 190 C., in order to convert the hydrogenatable sulfur compounds with catalytic support into hydrogen sulfide, and to obtain an off-gas which is free of hydrogenatable sulfur compounds and which is subsequently desulfurized over a fixed bed containing zinc oxide.

Aspects of the invention are associated with the discovery of approaches for the conversion of carbonaceous feeds, such as biomass and biomass-containing solids via thermal treatment. Particular examples of biomass-containing solids are municipal solid waste (MSW), as well as waste plastics and waste tires. In some cases, this conversion, such as by pyrolysis, will allow for straightforward integration with gasification (e.g., entrained-flow gasification) or partial oxidation. Advantageously, processes and associated apparatuses/equipment described herein are tailored to the physical and chemical properties of the feeds. In this regard, important advantages reside in auger reactors that include electric heating elements within one or more auger shafts. Such centralized heating may be used in combination with external heating, for example also utilizing electric heaters. With centralized heating, the surface area available for heat transfer into the feedstock may be increased dramatically (e.g., by a factor of 3 to 5).

Aspects of the invention are associated with the discovery of approaches for the conversion of carbonaceous feeds, such as biomass and biomass-containing solids via thermal treatment. Particular examples of biomass-containing solids are municipal solid waste (MSW), as well as waste plastics and waste tires. In some cases, this conversion, such as by pyrolysis, will allow for straightforward integration with gasification (e.g., entrained-flow gasification) or partial oxidation. Advantageously, processes and associated apparatuses/equipment described herein are tailored to the physical and chemical properties of the feeds. In this regard, important advantages reside in auger reactors that include electric heating elements within one or more auger shafts. Such centralized heating may be used in combination with external heating, for example also utilizing electric heaters. With centralized heating, the surface area available for heat transfer into the feedstock may be increased dramatically (e.g., by a factor of 3 to 5).

The invention relates to a method for hydrothermal carbonisation of biomass containing organic matter, the method comprising: injecting the biomass, a heat transfer fluid and a reagent into a reactor (1), circulating a mixture consisting of the biomass, the heat transfer fluid and the reagent under specific pressure and temperature conditions for transforming the organic matter by hydrothermal carbonisation. The invention consists in: 1) determining the production rate of the emitted gas T.sub.e during the hydrothermal carbonisation reaction; 2) comparing the determined production rate of the emitted gas T.sub.e with a predefined value for the set gas production rate T.sub.c, and 3) adjusting at least one of the reaction control parameters chosen from among the temperature within the reactor (1), the quantity of injected reactant, and the residence time in the reactor in order to adjust the production rate of the emitted gas T.sub.e, such that the value of said production rate of the emitted gas Te tends to be equal to the value of the set gas production rate T.sub.c. The invention is applicable to treatment of biomass containing organic matter.

The invention relates to a method for hydrothermal carbonisation of biomass containing organic matter, the method comprising: injecting the biomass, a heat transfer fluid and a reagent into a reactor (1), circulating a mixture consisting of the biomass, the heat transfer fluid and the reagent under specific pressure and temperature conditions for transforming the organic matter by hydrothermal carbonisation. The invention consists in: 1) determining the production rate of the emitted gas T.sub.e during the hydrothermal carbonisation reaction; 2) comparing the determined production rate of the emitted gas T.sub.e with a predefined value for the set gas production rate T.sub.c, and 3) adjusting at least one of the reaction control parameters chosen from among the temperature within the reactor (1), the quantity of injected reactant, and the residence time in the reactor in order to adjust the production rate of the emitted gas T.sub.e, such that the value of said production rate of the emitted gas Te tends to be equal to the value of the set gas production rate T.sub.c. The invention is applicable to treatment of biomass containing organic matter.

The present invention relates to a process for the production of syngas by thermal catalytic decomposition of methanol produced from a mixture comprising at least a carbon oxide (CO and/or CO2) and hydrogen.

The present invention relates to a process for the production of syngas by thermal catalytic decomposition of methanol produced from a mixture comprising at least a carbon oxide (CO and/or CO2) and hydrogen.