A substantially solid brick of non-volatile bituminous material has a shape that is defined by an irregular outer surface to minimize surface contact with nearby bricks when shipped in bulk. The overall shape is preferably that of a modified tetrahedron having three non-planar face surfaces, a top surface, and a surface or point. Both the top and bottom surfaces are preferably modified domed shapes comprised of several sections. The face sections are preferably modified concave surfaces comprised of several triangular sections that can be planar, concave, or convex. Curved edges connect the face sections to each other and can include several planar edge sections. The bituminous material can include additives, and the brick can further include a skeleton distributed throughout. The skeleton can be a customizable matrix, framework of fiber groups, or other structure and can include customizable buoyant features such as air pockets or capsules.

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 receiver for irregularly shaped bricks cast from non-volatile bituminous material includes a receiver with a specialized storage chamber that can receive viscous bituminous material and a concave lid preferably modified with a radiant heating system that can accept and melt or soften arriving bricks. The lid includes multiple openings or other delivery routes that funnel the melted bituminous material to the chamber below. The radiant heating system can be electrical where cables or grids are embedded in the lid or where conductive materials coat or are distributed throughout the lid. Alternatively, the radiant heating system can be hydronic where channels or conduits are embedded in the lid to circulate heated liquid such as water or water mixed with propylene glycol. The receiver can also include blenders, skimmers, and additional heaters to further skim, blend, or process the bituminous material collected in the chamber.

Formulations and methods of making wood pellets treated with lignin sulfonate as an anti-autooxidative component to reduce the rate of self-heating of bulk wood pellets. The lignin sulfonate may be used as a binder in the wood pellets or the wood pellets may be sprayed with lignin sulfonate for an encapsulated wood pellet. Wood pellets having the lignin sulfonate have a lowered potential of self-heating below high reactivity pellets and better structural durability during storage and transportation without adversely affecting the fuel value of the wood pellets.

Upgraded coal, method of forming the same, and graphene films and quantum dots made therefrom. A method of upgrading coal includes cleaning coal to form a cleaned coal residue. The method also includes (A) reacting the cleaned coal residue with an oxidizable inorganic metallic agent, or (B) reacting the cleaned coal residue with a reducing agent, or a combination thereof, to form the upgraded coal.

An inventive incendiary device is provided. The incendiary device comprises a plurality of corrugated components which are substantially saturated with a waxy component. In one preferred embodiment, the plurality of corrugated components are arranged in a stacked configuration to form a firestarter log. The firestarter log can additionally include a support component longitudinally disposed therethrough. The firestarter log can further comprise an ignition component at least partially disposed thereupon. In some aspects, the firestarter log further comprises a groove, which can provide an air passageway, and in which the ignition component can be at least partially disposed.

The present invention relates to a method for producing agglomerates from a feedstock comprising at least one biomass stream, the method comprising the steps of: combining the feedstock with one or more binding reagents; and introducing the feedstock into an agglomeration apparatus in the presence of a polymerisation activator to produce the agglomerates.

A three-phase fuel composition may be synthesized by producing a first composition by trapping at least one gas into pores of an adsorbent, producing a coated composition by spray coating a solution on the first composition, and mixing the coated composition with a liquid fuel.

Provided is an antioxidant capable of coating the surface layer of a coal deposit (coal pile) and further reducing the amount of oxygen permeation into the inside of the deposit. The present invention is an antioxidant for coal, containing an oil-in-water type resin emulsion having an average particle size of emulsion particles of 0.3 μm or more and 1.0 μm or less. The antioxidant preferably further contains a surfactant. The worker sprays the above antioxidant on the coal deposit. This forms a consolidated layer on the surface of the coal deposit that is highly effective in suppressing oxygen permeation. Therefore, the permeation of oxygen in the air atmosphere into the inside of the coal deposit is blocked, thus preventing the oxidation of the coal.

A coating method for compressed biomass products for providing the products with a substantially monolithic, water resistant coating to facilitate improved storage characteristics. The coating Method for compressed biomass products generally includes conveying the products into a tank or spray of heated, liquified coating material that then cools and hardens to provide a uniform, monolithic coating on the entire outer surface of the products.