A biomass fuel slurry includes a mixture of a biomass material and a plastic material suspended in water. In other embodiments, the biomass fuel slurry also includes coal. A method of making a biomass fuel slurry includes the steps of encapsulating a biomass material with a plastic material to produce a plastic encapsulated biomass material and suspending the plastic encapsulated biomass material in water.

Processes for upgrading of a coal product and preparing of a purified coal product are provided. The process comprises 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.

The present disclosure provides a dehydration and upgrading system for a high-water-content material, including a reaction kettle, a steam generator and a steam recovery apparatus, wherein the steam generator and the steam recovery apparatus are located at left and right sides of the reaction kettle respectively, and are connected through steam pipelines; a pressure sensing device is arranged on the reaction kettle to sense the pressure therein; a feed port is formed at an upper end of the reaction kettle; a discharge port is formed at a lower end of the reaction kettle; a discharge conveying belt is arranged below the discharge port; a high-pressure air pipe is arranged on one side of the middle part of the reaction kettle; and a high-pressure air valve is arranged on the high-pressure air pipe.

The invention relates to a method for producing a biofuel from an aqueous mixture of carbonized biomass obtained by means of a method for the hydrothermal carbonization of biomass, characterized in that it comprises: (a) grinding the aqueous mixture of carbonized biomass until a maximum size of less than 500 micrometers of the particles contained in the mixture is obtained; (b) applying a method for the physical separation of inorganic substances; and (c) reducing the moisture content until a water content of between 25 and 55 wt. % is reached. The invention also relates to the biofuel obtained by said method, and to the use thereof in various applications.

The lifetime of artificial lift systems, such as progressing cavity pumps (PCPs), used to transport aqueous slurries which contain fine particles, e.g. coal fines, may be prolonged by incorporation of at least one dispersant in the slurries. The dispersants act to inhibit or prevent the fine particles from agglomerating to plug the artificial lift intake and/or inhibit or prevent the agglomerated coal fines settling above the artificial lift system. The dispersant may also improve the lubricity of the slurry.

Provided is a process where the biomass and bisolids are hydrothermally treated under a reductive gas. Using this process a high carbon content pumpable mixture of biomass and biosolid slurry is produced with a viscosity value of less than 1.5.

A method for preparing dispersant using lignin degradation products includes preparation of lignin degradation products: degrading lignin which are used as raw materials using alkali through microwave-assisted activation at the presence of a metal oxide catalyst to obtain the lignin degradation products; and preparation of dispersant: preparing dispersant by molecularly reforming and chemically modifying the lignin degradation products obtained in the step of preparation of lignin degradation products.

A composition is provided that includes: a carbonized carbon having an iodine number of at least 60 mg/g and a domain size of between 1.0 and 2.3 nm. An article or fuel is provided that includes the composition in a polymer forming a matrix or water suspension, respectively. A composition of so provided and derived from wood has been assigned a new CAS number (CAS No. 1362167-53-0).

The coal-derived solid hydrocarbon particles are discrete particles of coal-derived carbonaceous matter having a particle size less than about 10 μm that are substantially free of inherent or entrained mineral matter. The particles of have an average particle size in the range from 1 μm to 8 μm. The particles of coal-derived carbonaceous matter are milled to a size approximately the same as a size of coal-derived mineral matter inherent in the coal source to release inherent coal-derived mineral matter particles such that the particles of carbonaceous matter and the particles of mineral matter are discrete and separable solid particles. Following separation, less than 1.5 wt. % discrete coal-derived mineral matter particles are associated with the discrete particles of coal-derived carbonaceous matter. Particles of coal-derived solid hydrocarbon matter are blended with a gaseous or liquid hydrocarbon fuel to form a two-phase hydrocarbon fuel feedstock.

A method for preparing dispersant using lignin degradation products includes preparation of lignin degradation products: degrading lignin which are used as raw materials using alkali through microwave-assisted activation at the presence of a metal oxide catalyst to obtain the lignin degradation products; and preparation of dispersant: preparing dispersant by molecularly reforming and chemically modifying the lignin degradation products obtained in the step of preparation of lignin degradation products.