Systems and methods of producing a solid fuel composition are disclosed. In particular, systems and methods for producing a solid fuel composition by heating and mixing a solid waste mixture to a maximum temperature sufficient to melt the mixed plastics within the solid waste mixture is disclosed.

A process for upgrading of a coal product is provided. The process comprising the steps of: (i) providing a purified coal composition, wherein the composition is in the form of solid particles, and wherein at least about 90% by volume (% vol) of the solid particles are no greater than about 500 μm in diameter; and (ii) combining the purified coal composition with a solid coal feedstock, in order to create a combined solid-solid blend upgraded coal product. Further a process for preparation of a purified coal product is provided. The process comprising the steps of: obtaining a starting material that comprises coal; subjecting the starting material to at least one fine grinding stage so as to reduce the starting material to a particulate composition in which substantially all of the particles are no more than 500 microns (μm) in diameter; exposing the particulate composition to at least one froth flotation stage so as to separate hydrocarbonaceous material comprised within the particulate composition from mineral matter, wherein during the at least one froth flotation stage the hydrocarbonaceous material is associated with froth produced and separated from the at least one froth flotation stage; washing the froth separated from the at least one froth flotation stage with water to release the hydrocarbonaceous material; and subjecting the hydrocarbonaceous material to at least one dewatering stage so as to obtain a particulate purified coal product that has an ash content of less than 12% m, a water content of less than 25% m and wherein the particles comprised within the particulate purified coal product have a d90 of less than 00 μm. Products, such as pelletized or briquetted coal, comprising purified coal material obtainable via the described processes are also provided.

Systems and methods for rendering cannabis-related waste materials are provided. The method may include inserting a plurality of cannabis-related waste materials into, for example, a mobile rendering vehicle. The method may further include physically altering the cannabis-related waste materials such that the cannabis-related waste materials are unrecognizable and unusable. The insertion of the cannabis-related waste materials into the mobile rendering vehicle may be recorded and/or the physical alteration (e.g., pulverization) of the cannabis-related waste materials may be recorded via one or more cameras disposed on the mobile rendering vehicle to verify proper insertion and/or alteration of the cannabis-related waste materials.

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 fuel pellet includes a pellet body made from a mixture of (a) hemp byproduct, kenaf byproduct or hemp and kenaf byproduct, (b) sawdust and, optionally, (c) coal fines. The fuel pellet may be made without adding a binder. A method of making the binderless fuel pellet is also described.

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.

In some variations, the invention provides a biocarbon pellet comprising: 35 wt % to 99 wt % of a biogenic reagent, wherein the biogenic reagent comprises, on a dry basis, at least 60 wt % carbon; 0 wt % to 35 wt % water moisture; and 1 wt % to 30 wt % of a binder, wherein the biocarbon pellet is characterized by an adjustable Hardgrove Grindability Index (HGI) from about 30 to about 120, as shown in the Examples. The pellet HGI is adjustable by controlling process conditions and the pellet binder. The binder can be an organic binder or an inorganic binder. The carbon is renewable as determined from a measurement of the .sup.14C/.sup.12C isotopic ratio. Many processes of making and using the biocarbon pellets are described. Applications of the biocarbon pellets include pulverized coal boilers, furnaces for making metals such as iron or silicon, and gasifiers for producing reducing gas.

In some variations, the invention provides a biocarbon pellet comprising: 35 wt % to 99 wt % of a biogenic reagent, wherein the biogenic reagent comprises, on a dry basis, at least 60 wt % carbon; 0 wt % to 35 wt % water moisture; and 1 wt % to 30 wt % of a binder, wherein the biocarbon pellet is characterized by an adjustable Hardgrove Grindability Index (HGI) from about 30 to about 120, as shown in the Examples. The pellet HGI is adjustable by controlling process conditions and the pellet binder. The binder can be an organic binder or an inorganic binder. The carbon is renewable as determined from a measurement of the .sup.14C/.sup.12C isotopic ratio. Many processes of making and using the biocarbon pellets are described. Applications of the biocarbon pellets include pulverized coal boilers, furnaces for making metals such as iron or silicon, and gasifiers for producing reducing gas.

This invention provides processes and systems for converting biomass into highcarbon biogenic reagents that are suitable for a variety of commercial applications. Some embodiments employ pyrolysis in the presence of an inert gas to generate hot pyrolyzed solids, condensable vapors, and non-condensable gases, followed by separation of vapors and gases, and cooling of the hot pyrolyzed solids in the presence of the inert gas. Additives may be introduced during processing or combined with the reagent, or both. The biogenic reagent may include at least 70 wt %, 80 wt %, 90 wt %, 95 wt %, or more total carbon on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may have an energy content of at least 12,000 Btu/lb, 13,000 Btu/lb, 14,000 Btu/lb, or 14,500 Btu/lb on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may be formed into fine powders, or structural objects.

Processes and systems for converting biomass into high-carbon biogenic reagents that are suitable for a variety of commercial applications. Pyrolysis in the presence of an inert gas is employed to generate hot pyrolyzed solids, condensable vapors, and non-condensable gases, followed by separation of vapors and gases, and cooling of the hot pyrolyzed solids in the presence of the inert gas. Additives may be introduced during processing or combined with the reagent, or both. The biogenic reagent may include at least 70 wt %, 80 wt %, 90 wt %, 95 wt %, or more total carbon on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may have an energy content of at least 12,000 Btu/lb, 13,000 Btu/lb, 14,000 Btu/lb, or 14,500 Btu/lb on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may be formed into fine powders, or structural objects. The structural objects may have a structure and/or strength that derive from the feedstock, heat rate, and additives.