This document relates to a fuel oil composition comprising: (i) a solid hydrocarbonaceous and/or solid carbonaceous material, wherein the material is in particulate form, and wherein at least about 90% by volume (% v) of the particles are no greater than about 20 microns in diameter; and (ii) a liquid fuel oil; wherein the solid hydrocarbonaceous and/or solid carbonaceous material is present in an amount of at most about 30 by mass (% m) based on the total mass of the fuel oil composition. The invention further relates a process for the preparation of this fuel oil composition, a method of changing a grade of a liquid fuel oil, and a method for adjusting the flash point of a liquid fuel oil.

A fuel element adapted for use in a smoking article is provided, the fuel element including a combustible carbonaceous material in an amount of at least 25% by dry weight, based on the weight of the fuel element, and a particulate ignition aid dispersed throughout the fuel element and selected from ceramic particles, cellulose particles, fullerenes, impregnated activated carbon particles, inorganic salts, and combinations thereof, wherein the average particle size of the ignition aid is less than about 1,000 microns. Also provided are elongate smoking articles having a lighting end and an opposed mouth end, and including the above-noted fuel element configured for ignition of the lighting end.

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.

A biomass fuel slurry includes a mixture of a biomass material and a plastic material suspended in water. In other embodiments, the biomass fuel slurry also includes coal. A method of making a biomass fuel slurry includes the steps of encapsulating a biomass material with a plastic material to produce a plastic encapsulated biomass material and suspending the plastic encapsulated biomass material in water.

An additive composition for a marine fuel or a heating oil comprising a stabilized colloidal dispersion of catalytic metal particles, a neutral or overbased alkaline earth metal detergent and a carrier fluid miscible with a marine fuel oil, a heavy fuel oil, a marine distillate fuel, and/or a residual fuel oil. Also provided are marine fuel and/or heating oil compositions having the additive composition described above and associated methods and uses.

A formulation and methods for making high energy organic fuels that incorporate suspended metal particles with metal particle sized ranging from 33 nm to 5 micron. The hybrid organic fuels contain superior density and/or energy content to conventional liquid organic fuels. These hybrid organic fuels used in combination with metal particle afford fuels with 5 to 80% more net heat of combustion (based on volume). These fuels should extend the distant range for jets, liquid rocket engines, SCRAM jet engines, and improve energy content in fuel-air explosive applications such as fuel-air explosives and in the Multi-Effects Weapons System (MEWS) where the fuel is used both for propulsion and explosive effects.

Disclosed are methods of producing calcined coke from bio-oil from a biomass feedstock. Also disclosed are calcined cokes produced by such methods.

An emulsifying dispersant includes, as the main component, vesicles formed from an amphiphilic substance capable of self-assembly or an emulsifying dispersant comprising single particles of a biopolymer as the main component. The particles made from amphiphilic substances capable of self-assembly are used. The amphiphilic substances are selected from among polyoxyethylene-hydrogenated castor oil derivatives wherein the average number of added ethylene oxide molecule is 5 to 15, dialkyldimethyl-ammonium halides wherein the chain length of the alkyl or alkenyl is 8 to 22, and phospholipids or phospholipid derivatives. According to the invention a three-phase structure composed of an aqueous phase, an emulsifying dispersant phase and an oil phase is formed on the surface of an emulsion to give an emulsion (such as emulsion fuel) excellent in thermal stability and long-term stability.

The invention relates to aqueous polymer dispersions comprising at least one polymer obtainable by the reaction of at least one monomer M1 of the general formula H.sub.2CCHC(O)OR (I), wherein R is an unbranched alkyl chain comprising from 18 to 22 carbon atoms, and optionally at least one monomer M2. The invention relates moreover to a method for the preparing of such aqueous polymer dispersion and the use thereof as pour point depressant for crude oil, petroleum, and petroleum products.

Provided is a fuel oil composition comprising a liquid fuel and carbon black with a particle diameter less than 1 micron. The content of the carbon black is from 0.001 wt % to 4 wt % based on the total weight of the liquid fuel. By way of adding carbon black with the particle diameter less than 1 micron, combustion efficiency of the fuel oil composition used in the internal combustion engine is improved, reducing the emissions of the hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide to reduce greenhouse gas production.