Systems and methods for processing waste plastics are provided. One method includes mixing, heating and compacting a supply of the waste plastic based feedstock having an appreciable amount of halide compounds or heteroatoms from one or more sources of contamination; providing an amendment comprising alkaline earth oxides and/or hydroxides, oxides of iron, and/or oxides of aluminum to be mixed, heated and compacted with the waste plastic based feedstock to form a densified melt of plastic material including the amendment; and pyrolyzing the densified melt of plastic material including the amendment within a pyrolysis reactor. Another method includes pyrolyzing a supply of the waste plastic feedstock within a pyrolysis reactor to generate a hydrocarbon gas stream and a solids residue stream; condensing out a tars product from the hydrocarbon gas stream output from the pyrolysis reactor with a quenching apparatus; and pyrolyzing the tars product within a supplemental pyrolysis reactor.

Processes for producing high biogenic concentration Fischer-Tropsch liquids derived from the organic fraction of municipal solid wastes (MSW) feedstock that contains a relatively high concentration of biogenic carbon (derived from plants) and a relatively low concentration of non-biogenic carbon (derived from fossil sources) wherein the biogenic content of the Fischer-Tropsch liquids is the same as the biogenic content of the feedstock.

Processes for producing high biogenic concentration Fischer-Tropsch liquids derived from the organic fraction of municipal solid wastes (MSW) feedstock that contains a relatively high concentration of biogenic carbon (derived from plants) and a relatively low concentration of non-biogenic carbon (derived from fossil sources) wherein the biogenic content of the Fischer-Tropsch liquids is the same as the biogenic content of the feedstock.

A method for processing feedstock is described, characterized in that incoming feedstock is processed to selectively recover biogenic carbon material from the incoming feedstock. In some embodiments the incoming feedstock is comprised of mixed solid waste, such as municipal solid waste (MSW). In other embodiments the incoming feedstock is comprised of woody biomass. In some instances, the incoming feedstock is processed to selectively recover biogenic carbon material from the incoming feedstock to produce a processed feedstock having biogenic carbon content of 50% and greater suitable for conversion into biogenic carbon Fischer Tropsch liquids. The high biogenic carbon Fischer Tropsch liquids may be upgraded to biogenic carbon liquid fuels. Alternatively, the incoming feedstock is processed to selectively recover plastic material from the incoming feedstock to produce a processed feedstock having biogenic carbon content of 50% or less.

A method for processing feedstock is described, characterized in that incoming feedstock is processed to selectively recover biogenic carbon material from the incoming feedstock. In some embodiments the incoming feedstock is comprised of mixed solid waste, such as municipal solid waste (MSW). In other embodiments the incoming feedstock is comprised of woody biomass. In some instances, the incoming feedstock is processed to selectively recover biogenic carbon material from the incoming feedstock to produce a processed feedstock having biogenic carbon content of 50% and greater suitable for conversion into biogenic carbon Fischer Tropsch liquids. The high biogenic carbon Fischer Tropsch liquids may be upgraded to biogenic carbon liquid fuels. Alternatively, the incoming feedstock is processed to selectively recover plastic material from the incoming feedstock to produce a processed feedstock having biogenic carbon content of 50% or less.

The invention relates to a gas scrubbing process and plant for purifying raw synthesis gas by physical absorption in methanol. A raw synthesis gas stream which includes hydrogen and carbon monoxide as desired constituents and water and acid gases as undesired constituents is admixed with methanol and subsequently cooled below the freezing point of water. According to the invention a liquid phase including methanol and water is separated from the cooled raw synthesis gas stream. Acid gases are removed from the remaining gaseous phase by physical absorption in methanol at elevated pressure. Separating the water from the raw synthesis gas stream before the absorption of the acid gases prevents larger amounts of water passing into the methanol circuit of the gas scrubbing process. This achieves savings in resources and certain plant parts may be smaller than is customary.

The invention relates to a gas scrubbing process and plant for purifying raw synthesis gas by physical absorption in methanol. A raw synthesis gas stream which includes hydrogen and carbon monoxide as desired constituents and water and acid gases as undesired constituents is admixed with methanol and subsequently cooled below the freezing point of water. According to the invention a liquid phase including methanol and water is separated from the cooled raw synthesis gas stream. Acid gases are removed from the remaining gaseous phase by physical absorption in methanol at elevated pressure. Separating the water from the raw synthesis gas stream before the absorption of the acid gases prevents larger amounts of water passing into the methanol circuit of the gas scrubbing process. This achieves savings in resources and certain plant parts may be smaller than is customary.

The present invention provides a process for the manufacture of a useful product from carbonaceous feedstock of fluctuating compositional characteristics, the process comprising the steps of: continuously providing the carbonaceous feedstock of fluctuating compositional characteristics to a gasification zone; gasifying the carbonaceous feedstock in the gasification zone to obtain raw synthesis gas; sequentially removing ammoniacal, sulphurous and carbon dioxide impurities from the raw synthesis gas to form desulphurised gas and recovering carbon dioxide in substantially pure form; converting at least a portion of the desulphurised synthesis gas to a useful product. Despite having selected a more energy intensive sub-process i.e. physical absorption for removal of acid gas impurities, the overall power requirement of the facility is lower on account of lower steam requirements and thereby leading to a decrease in the carbon intensity score for the facility.

The present invention provides an improved process for recovering CO from a catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) process product effluent. The process comprises the steps of: a) providing a first vapor phase stream resulting from a CFP process comprising, on a water-free and solids-free basis, from 25 to 80% CO and at least 15% CO.sub.2, b) mixing the first vapor phase stream of step a) with a particular solvent to make a mixed phase stream, c) separating the mixed phase stream of step b) into a second vapor phase stream comprising CO and a liquid phase stream, and d) recovering a product stream from the second vapor phase stream of step c) having a higher concentration of CO and a lower concentration of CO.sub.2 than the first vapor phase stream of step a).

Processes for producing high biogenic concentration Fischer-Tropsch liquids derived from the organic fraction of municipal solid wastes (MSW) feedstock that contains a relatively high concentration of biogenic carbon (derived from plants) and a relatively low concentration of non-biogenic carbon (derived from fossil sources) wherein the biogenic content of the Fischer-Tropsch liquids is the same as the biogenic content of the feedstock.