Methods and systems are described for processing cellulosic and lignocellulosic materials and useful intermediates and products, such as energy and fuels. For example, irradiating methods and systems are described to aid in the processing of the cellulosic and lignocellulosic materials. The electron beam accelerator has multiple windows foils and these foils are cooled with cooling gas. In one configuration a secondary foil is integral to the electron beam accelerator and in another configuration the secondary foil is part of the enclosure for the biomass conveying system.

The present invention relates to a method for purifying a flow (1) of natural gas, comprising the following steps: a) a step (5) of processing at least a portion (3) of the flow (1) by pyrolysis at a temperature in the range from 1000? C. to 2000? C. so as to decompose the hydrocarbons which comprise at least two carbon atoms into elemental carbon and dihydrogen H.sub.2 and to thereby obtain a processed flow (6), then b) a step (7) of eliminating the elemental carbon which is present in the processed flow (6) from step a) so as to obtain a processed flow without any elemental carbon (8); then c) when steps a) and b) have been carried out on only a portion of the flow (I) of natural gas, a step (IO) of mixing the processed flow without any elemental carbon (8) from step b) with the portion (4) of the non-processed flow; then d) obtaining a flow of purified natural gas (11) which consists of either the mixture (10) from step c) or the processed flow without any elemental carbon (8) from step b). The invention also relates to preparing a fuel from the natural gas purified in this manner.

Methods and systems are described for processing cellulosic and lignocellulosic materials into useful intermediates and products, such as energy and fuels. For example, conveying systems and methods, such as highly efficient vibratory conveyors, are described for the processing of the cellulosic and lignocellulosic materials.

A method for treating petroleum, petroleum fraction, or natural gas, the process comprising:

adding a) a first component which is selected from material, particularly roots, of a plant of the genus Glycyrrhiza, and/or an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and b) a second component which is selected from a plant material or -ingredient comprising plastids, algae and/or cyanobacteria,
to the petroleum, petroleum fraction, or natural gas.

Materials such as biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) and hydrocarbon-containing materials are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, or oil sands, oil shale, tar sands, bitumen, and coal to produce altered materials such as fuels (e.g., ethanol and/or butanol). The processing includes exposing the materials to an ion beam.

A distillation apparatus for use in microwave-assisted pyrolysis includes a microwave, a pyrolysis reactor, a microwave-absorbent bed, and a condenser. The pyrolysis reactor is located within the microwave and configured to receive a liquid input stream and to output a vapor. The microwave-absorbent bed is located within the pyrolysis reactor that converts microwave energy provided by the microwave to thermal energy to initiate pyrolysis within the pyrolysis reactor, wherein the pyrolysis reactor provides a vapor output. The condenser is configured to receive the vapor output of the pyrolysis reactor and to cool and condense the vapor into a recoverable product.

Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) or other materials are processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as energy, fuels, foods or materials. For example, systems and methods are described that can be used to treat feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, in a vault in which the walls and optionally the ceiling include discrete units. Such vaults are re-configurable.

Materials such as biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) and hydrocarbon-containing materials are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, or oil sands, oil shale, tar sands, bitumen, and coal to produce altered materials such as fuels (e.g., ethanol and/or butanol). The processing includes exposing the materials to an ion beam.

A method for converting agricultural biomass or industrial bio waste into biofuel using concentrated radiated energy is disclosed. Biomass or bio waste is stored inside a batch reactor in either solid or semisolid state. Unwanted moisture and unwanted oxygen are removed from the stored agricultural biomass or industrial bio waste. Concentrated radiated energy is directed towards the biomass or bio waste through a radiated energy concentrator that focuses the concentrated radiated energy. Biomass or bio waste is kept within the depth of focus of the concentrated radiated energy during the conversion operation. Due to substantial matching of the absorption peak of biomass or bio waste with the emission peak of the concentrated radiated energy, the biomass or bio waste that is within the depth of focus instantaneously decomposes into biofuel. The biofuel thus generated is at ambient temperature with higher energy density.

Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as energy, fuels, foods or materials. For example, equipment, systems and methods are described that can be used to treat feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, in a vault in which hazardous gases are removed, destroyed and/or converted. The treatments are efficient and can reduce the recalcitrance of the lignocellulosic material so that it is easier to produce an intermediate or product, e.g., sugars, alcohols, sugar alcohols and energy, from the lignocellulosic material.