Solid fuel starter, including its manufacturing method, that utilizes agricultural biomass that displays high level of absorbency is provided. The anatomy of the typical biomass material, like corn cob, consists of several segments: a pith portion which includes a sponge like tissue infiltrated with a heating agent; a woody ring portion which surrounds an outer circumferential surface of the pith portion and maintains the rigidity of a body of the rapid flame starter; and a chaff portion which extends from the woody ring portion and includes an amorphous mane-like shell formed thereon. With an appropriate manufacturing technique, this type of agricultural biomass can be transformed into an efficient and rapid flame starter.

Mineral additive blend compositions and a method for operating a furnace are provided in order to avoid combustion problems such as agglomeration, deposition, corrosion and reducing emissions. A method for operating a furnace, such as a fluidized-bed reactor, pulverized-fuel combustor, and grate combustor, includes introducing fuel and a mineral additive blend including a clay and a functional mineral into the furnace.

Mineral additive blend compositions and a method for operating a furnace are provided in order to avoid combustion problems such as agglomeration, deposition, corrosion and reducing emissions. A method for operating a furnace, such as a fluidized-bed reactor, pulverized-fuel combustor, and grate combustor, includes introducing fuel and a mineral additive blend including a clay and a functional mineral into the furnace.

A method of purification of carbonizate resulting from the thermal recycling process of rubber waste consists in that the carbonizate is mixed with sodium bicarbonate, then deionized water having increased temperature and strong mineral acid and/or mixture of mineral acids are introduced into the obtained mixture, and next the whole is stirred at increased temperature, and filtered at decreased pressure while washing with deionized water having increased temperature, the filtrate is discarded, the solution of a strong base is introduced into the solid residue, and the whole is stirred at increased temperature, then the obtained suspension is filtered at decreased pressure, and washed with deionized water having increased temperature, and next the filtrate is discarded, and the solid residue is dried.

Disclosed is a desulfurization system using a catalyst for desulfurization, including a coal feed unit for conveying a combustible substance, a spray unit for spraying a catalyst for desulfurization, a coal pulverization unit for pulverizing the combustible substance conveyed from the coal feed unit, and a combustion unit for combusting the pulverized combustible substance, wherein during transfer of the combustible substance from the coal feed unit to the coal pulverization unit, the catalyst for desulfurization is sprayed using the spray unit and is mixed with the combustible substance. The desulfurization system of the invention can be simply and easily applied to various combustion facilities because, during the transfer of the combustible substance from the coal feed unit to the coal pulverization unit, the catalyst for desulfurization is sprayed and is mixed with the combustible substance, thereby efficiently reducing sulfur oxide (SO.sub.x) emission due to combustion of fossil fuel.

Disclosed is a desulfurization system using a catalyst for desulfurization, including a coal feed unit for conveying a combustible substance, a spray unit for spraying a catalyst for desulfurization, a coal pulverization unit for pulverizing the combustible substance conveyed from the coal feed unit, and a combustion unit for combusting the pulverized combustible substance, wherein during transfer of the combustible substance from the coal feed unit to the coal pulverization unit, the catalyst for desulfurization is sprayed using the spray unit and is mixed with the combustible substance. The desulfurization system of the invention can be simply and easily applied to various combustion facilities because, during the transfer of the combustible substance from the coal feed unit to the coal pulverization unit, the catalyst for desulfurization is sprayed and is mixed with the combustible substance, thereby efficiently reducing sulfur oxide (SO.sub.x) emission due to combustion of fossil fuel.

Sorbent compositions containing calcium and iodine are added to coal to mitigate the release of mercury and/or other harmful elements into the environment during combustion of coal containing natural levels of mercury.

Sorbent compositions containing calcium and iodine are added to coal to mitigate the release of mercury and/or other harmful elements into the environment during combustion of coal containing natural levels of mercury.

A process for cleaning and dewatering hydrophobic particulate materials is presented. The process is performed in two steps: 1) agglomeration of the hydrophobic particles in a first hydrophobic liquid/aqueous mixture; followed by 2) dispersion of the agglomerates in a second hydrophobic liquid to release the water trapped within the agglomerates along with the entrained hydrophilic particles.

A process for cleaning and dewatering hydrophobic particulate materials is presented. The process is performed in two steps: 1) agglomeration of the hydrophobic particles in a first hydrophobic liquid/aqueous mixture; followed by 2) dispersion of the agglomerates in a second hydrophobic liquid to release the water trapped within the agglomerates along with the entrained hydrophilic particles.