A method of preparing non-volatile bituminous material in solid form includes first accessing molds having mold cavities defining an irregularly shaped brick having a plurality of non-planar surfaces and preparing the bituminous material for casting by heating it until it is suitably viscous for casting and optionally blending it with an additive. Then, the molds can be filled with the bituminous materials, preferably using a retractable conduit that progressively fills each mold cavity from its bottom to its top. Next, the bituminous material in the molds is solidified until substantially solid bricks are formed. Optionally, a skeleton with optional additional buoyant features can be placed in each mold cavity prior to casting so that the resulting brick has increased buoyancy throughout, and the skeleton and any buoyant features can be customized according to the needs of the customer. The resulting bricks can be removed for transport.

A charcoal replacement solid energy fuel comprises wood particles substantially fully impregnated with a melt-flowable, natural, monolignol biopolymer derived from biomass which can be further processed into various shapes of briquettes, pellets and other shapes for grilling, heating/cooking, green coal energy and other applications. The material and its method of making are environmentally friendly, carbon neutral, and lower cost alternative to charcoal or traditional coal. The melt-flowable monolignol based material impregnated into the wood imparts significant water resistance, UV resistance, antimicrobial functionality, faster lighting and higher BTU/lb energy without the need to add carbonize wood or coal. The impregnated wood granules or particles can then be compressed, without the need for additional binder, into various homogenous charcoal briquette replacements, pellets, or shapes for grilling or green coal energy fuel.

Reversion problems with heavy oils, such as heavy fuel oils, are mitigated by introducing an effective amount of an additive that contains both a phase change material and a pour point depressant, even synergistically mitigated.

The present invention relates to the field of renewable energy. More specifically, the present invention relates to the production of biofuel from biomass including, for example, polymeric materials.

Provided is a composition comprising at least one polymer, the repeat unit of which comprises at least one amide functional group, at least one polyetheramine with a weight-average molecular weight (M.sub.w) of greater than 100 g.mo1.sup.−1 and exhibiting at least two secondary and/or tertiary amine functional groups, and optionally, but preferably, at least one organic solvent. Also provided is method of using of the composition for delaying, indeed even preventing, the formation of gas hydrates, in particular in a process for extracting oil and/or gas and/or condensates, and also to the process for delaying, indeed even preventing, the formation and/or the agglomeration of gas hydrates, employing a composition as defined above.

A gaseous combustible fuel includes a gaseous hydrocarbon fuel feedstock and solid fuel particles suspended in the gaseous hydrocarbon fuel feedstock. The solid fuel particles have a sufficiently small particle size so that they remain suspended during transportation. The hydrocarbon fuel feedstock may include natural gas, ethane, propane, butane, and gaseous derivatives and mixtures thereof. The solid fuel particles may include coal-derived solid carbonaceous matter. Other examples of solid fuel particles include biomass, refined bioproducts, and combustible polymer particles. The gaseous combustible fuel has an energy density at atmospheric pressure which is at least 25% greater than the volumetric energy density of the gaseous hydrocarbon fuel feedstock. Improvements in volumetric energy density of 50%, 100%, and even 500% are disclosed. The gaseous combustible fuel may be pressurized to a pressure in the range from 2 to 100 atmospheres.

A method of treating petroleum fluids may include adding a flow improver composition to the petroleum fluids, the flow improver composition, comprising: a solvent; and a dendrimer-based flow improver, wherein at least a portion of the surface sites of the dendrimer are chemically modified with saturated and unsaturated fatty acids.

A process of aggregating coal fines in a coal flotation concentrate includes dewatering the coal flotation concentrate to reduce moisture content and provide a dewatered flotation concentrate, mixing the dewatered flotation concentrate with a binder to provide a mixture, compacting the mixture under pressure to provide a green body of aggregated coal fines, having a sufficient strength for handling utilizing typical commercial methods of conveying and shipping.

A method of preparing a fuel composition includes placing coal having a heat content between about 3,000 BTU/lb and about 9,000 BTU/lb and a moisture content between about 20 wt % and about 60 wt % in a vessel. The coal is exposed to heat and a pressure less than atmospheric pressure within the vessel, thereby reducing the coal, such that an average primary particle size of the coal is less than 1 millimeter. A binder is introduced to the vessel, such that the coal combines with the binder to yield a mixture. The mixture is shaped to yield a fuel composition.

A method of transporting non-volatile bituminous materials from a first location to a second location involves carrying a plurality of irregular bricks formed by the bituminous material in transport chambers carried by vehicles. Bricks are defined by a plurality of non-planar surface, which create gaps between adjacent bricks, and can further include polymer skeletons and other features that help them float. The bricks can travel by land, sea, air, or rail and need not be heated while in transit. Transport chambers have active or preferably passive environmental control systems to circulate cooling air, water, or other substances through the transport chamber and the gaps between adjacent bricks. In a preferred embodiment, ambient air circulates among the bricks during travel by land and ambient water circulates among the bricks during marine travel. The vehicles carrying the transport chambers can be low-emissions or zero-emission vehicles including fuel-cell powered trains and ships.