The device for performing mechanical work and/or producing electrical or thermal energy, the energy necessary for operation is obtained from the oxidation of carbonaceous fuels into carbon dioxide and water. The device comprises means for compression and/or condensation of the exhaust gas, and storage means for receiving the compressed and/or condensed exhaust gas.

The device for performing mechanical work and/or producing electrical or thermal energy, the energy necessary for operation is obtained from the oxidation of carbonaceous fuels into carbon dioxide and water. The device comprises means for compression and/or condensation of the exhaust gas, and storage means for receiving the compressed and/or condensed exhaust gas.

A catalyst is illustrated, which has 70-90 parts by weight of mica, 1-10 parts by weight of zeolite, 5-15 parts by weight of titanium dioxide, 1-10 parts by weight of aluminum oxide, 1-5 parts by weight of sodium oxide and 1-5 parts by weight of potassium oxide. The present disclosure also illustrates a pyrolysis device using the catalyst, and further illustrates a pyrolysis method using the catalyst and/or the pyrolysis device for thermally cracking an organic polymer.

This disclosure provides a method of making a high-fixed-carbon material comprising pyrolyzing biomass to generate intermediate solids and a pyrolysis vapor; condensing the pyrolysis vapor to generate pyrolysis liquid; blending the pyrolysis liquid with the intermediate solids, to generate a mixture; and further pyrolyzing the mixture to generate a high-fixed-carbon material. A process can comprise: pyrolyzing a biomass-comprising feedstock in a first pyrolysis reactor to generate a first biogenic reagent and a first pyrolysis vapor; introducing the first pyrolysis vapor to a condensing system to generate a condenser liquid; contacting the first biogenic reagent with the condenser liquid, thereby generating an intermediate material; further pyrolyzing the intermediate material in a second pyrolysis reactor to generate a second biogenic reagent and a second pyrolysis vapor; and recovering the second biogenic reagent as a high-yield biocarbon composition. The process can further comprise pelletizing the intermediate material. Many process and system configurations are disclosed.

Some variations provide a process for producing biocarbon pellets, comprising: pyrolyzing a biomass-containing feedstock in a first pyrolysis reactor to generate a first biogenic reagent and a pyrolysis vapor; introducing the pyrolysis vapor to a separation unit, to generate a pyrolysis precipitate in liquid or solid form; contacting the first biogenic reagent with the pyrolysis precipitate, thereby generating an intermediate material; pelletizing the intermediate material, to generate intermediate pellets; optionally, drying the intermediate pellets; separately pyrolyzing the intermediate pellets in a second pyrolysis reactor to generate a second biogenic reagent and a pyrolysis off-gas; and recovering the second biogenic reagent as biocarbon pellets. Some variations provide a similar process that utilizes a carbon-containing condensed-matter material, which is not necessarily a pyrolysis precipitate. The disclosure provides improved processes for producing biocarbon compositions, especially with respect to carbon yield and biocarbon properties, such as reactivity.

The present disclosure relates to methods for processing plastic waste pyrolysis gas, such as methods wherein clogging of the systems used in the method is avoided or at least alleviated.

A fuel cell system for removing carbon dioxide from anode exhaust gas includes: a fuel cell having an anode configured to output an anode exhaust gas comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and water; an anode gas oxidizer; and an absorption system configured to receive the anode exhaust gas, the absorption system including: an absorber column configured to absorb the carbon dioxide from the anode exhaust gas in a solvent and to output a resultant gas comprising hydrogen and a hydrocarbon that is at least partially recycled to the anode; and a stripper column configured to regenerate the solvent and to output a carbon dioxide-rich stream. The anode gas oxidizer is configured to receive and oxidize an anode gas oxidizer input stream and at least a portion of the carbon dioxide-rich stream. The anode gas oxidizer input stream comprises a portion of the anode exhaust gas.

The invention provides a clog-free condensation system for a pyrolysis apparatus used in the thermal degradation of waste plastics that contain polyethylene terephthalate (PET). A conduit carries vapor from a pyrolysis reactor to a condenser having an inlet for an oil-immiscible solvent stream; a liquid outlet for removal of the oil-immiscible solvent, benzoic acid, and other condensed pyrolysates; and a vapor outlet to pass uncondensed vapors. A liquid-liquid phase separator connected to the liquid outlet continuously separates the two immiscible phases. Benzoic acid is precipitated and removed from the oil-immiscible phase, and the oil-immiscible solvent is returned to the condenser as a solvent stream. The invention provides a method for condensing PET pyrolysis vapors without formation of clogs in the condensation apparatus, and provides a method for the continuous recovery of benzoic acid and other condensable pyrolysates from a PET-containing waste plastic stream.

The present disclosure relates to a device that includes a filter element and a catalyst, where the filter element is configured to remove particulate from a stream that includes at least one of a gas and/or a vapor to form a filtered stream of the gas and/or the vapor, the catalyst is configured to receive the filtered stream and react a compound in the filtered stream to form an upgraded stream of the gas and/or the vapor, further including an upgraded compound, and both the filter element and the catalyst are configured to be substantially stable at temperatures up to about 500° C.

An anaerobic digester is fed a feedstock, for example sludge from a municipal wastewater treatment plant, and produces a digestate. The digestate is dewatered into a cake. The cake may be dried further, for example in a thermal drier. The cake is treated in a pyrolysis system to produce a synthesis gas and biochar. The gas is sent to the same or another digester to increase its methane production. The char may be used as a soil enhancer.