Disclosed are novel engineered fuel feed stocks, feed stocks produced by the described processes, and methods of making the fuel feed stocks. Components derived from processed MSW waste streams can be used to make such feed stocks which are substantially free of glass, metals, grit and noncombustibles. These feed stocks are useful for a variety of purposes including as gasification and combustion fuels.

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, 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 equipment is protected from radiation and hazardous gases by equipment enclosures. The equipment enclosures may be purged with gas.

Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is 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, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

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.

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, 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 equipment is protected from radiation and hazardous gases by equipment enclosures. The equipment enclosures may be purged with gas.

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, systems and methods are described that can be used to treat feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, while cooling equipment and the biomass to prevent overheating and possible distortion and/or degradation. The biomass is conveyed by a conveyor, which conveys the biomass under an electron beam from an electron beam accelerator. The conveyor can be cooled with cooling fluid. The conveyor can also vibrate to facilitate exposure to the electron beam. The conveyor can be configured as a trough that can be optionally cooled.

The present invention relates generally to the field of waste processing. The method comprises separating waste into at least two parts, comprising: (i) mainly food waste (fines) and (ii) mainly paper and other recyclable material (overs). The overs are pulped and washed to obtain a cellulose-rich biomass and the fines are optionally processed separately to recover a cellulose-rich biomass and the cellulose-rich biomass from both the fines and the overs may be combined.

A method for producing levulinic acid from lignocellulosic biomass comprising hemicellulose including one or more six carbon chain compound precursors comprises the steps of hydrolyzing the lignocellulosic biomass to form a first phase comprising partially hydrolyzed lignocellulosic biomass including cellulose and lignin and a second phase comprising one or more five carbon chain sugars and one or more six carbon chain sugars from degradation of the hemicellulose, separating the first phase from the second phase, and converting at least a portion of the one or more six carbon chain sugars to levulinic acid.

The invention provides a process for producing cement, the process comprising providing heat to a cement manufacturing process using a secondary fuel, wherein the secondary fuel comprises cellulose and plastic and is in the form of pellets of a size between about 3-25 mm thickness, having a calorific value of about 16 GJ/ton or more, and wherein said secondary fuel is supplied at a place between the kiln inlet and the first cyclone, wherein after formation of the cement clinker, the cement clinker is cooled and milled to cement powder. Preferably, the secondary fuel is supplied to the riser pipe or to a pre-kiln combustion chamber. Generally, the secondary fuel is provided at a place which allows the pellets to burn before coming in contact with the cement materials in the kiln, while it also does not rise into the cyclone, thereby preventing blocking of the cyclones.

The invention relates to a process for firing an industrial furnace, in particular for electricity generation, wherein coal or cokes together with a secondary fuel comprising cellulose and plastic, in the form of pellets of a size larger than about 3 mm thickness, and having a caloric value of about 16 GJ/ton or more is ground to a powder wherein about 95 wt % or more has a particle size smaller than 2 mm and wherein the d50 of the particle size distribution is between about 5 and about 100 m, wherein the powder is injected in the flame of the furnace. In this process the grinding is performed in a roller mill or ball mill, and the amount of pellets used together with the coals preferably is about 3 wt % or more, relative to the coal.