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 process and system for producing an engineered fuel product that meets customer specifications for composition and combustion characteristics is provided. The engineered fuel product is preferably a high-BTU, alternative fuel that burns cleaner than coal or petroleum coke (petcoke) and has significantly reduced NOx, SO.sub.2 and GHG emissions.

A system for and method of, processing post-consumer and post-industrial waste streams, producing active ingredients for waste stream processing, processing aqueous waste streams, preparing and collecting a multi-purpose chemical precursor, removing phosphates, nitrates, heavy metals, and other contaminants from aqueous waste streams, collecting and processing a post-consumer and post-industrial product from aqueous waste streams, administering and positioning assets and processes associated with waste stream processing, and scheduling operations for sub-systems of the system.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a lignin composition, which process comprises: providing a lignin slurry comprising water and a water miscible organic solvent; subjecting the lignin slurry to extraction at an extraction temperature of less than 100° C. for an extraction time of at least 1 minute to provide an extracted slurry; removing liquid from the extracted slurry to provide an extracted lignin; and suspending the extracted lignin in a polar organic solvent to provide a lignin composition having a dry matter content of at least 30% by weight.

The present invention also relates to a lignin composition comprising hardwood Kraft lignin and a polar organic solvent, which composition has a dry matter content of at least 30% by weight. The present invention also relates to use of the lignin composition as a fuel.

The invention relates to the use of fibres, often in briquettes, and to the production of briquettes, for instance from coal, metal or metal ores. Typically the briquettes are formed from particulate material and a fibre.

A process and system for producing an engineered fuel product that meets customer specifications for composition and combustion characteristics is provided. The engineered fuel product is preferably a high-BTU, alternative fuel that burns cleaner than coal or petroleum coke (petcoke) and has significantly reduced NOx, SO.sub.2 and GHG emissions.

Char fuels are described that result from a simple and efficient carbonization of cellulosic and/or lignin-containing materials, and can be provided as pellets, briquettes, or powders. Such char fuels show very low water absorption.

The invention relates to a method for producing pellets which are capable of providing free flowing powder suitable for firing an industrial furnace from municipal and/or other waste, the process comprising the following steps: (i) providing waste material comprising one or more thermoplastic material(s) of more than 40%, based on the total dry weight of the waste and one or more cellulosic material(s) of more than 30%, based on the total dry weight of the waste, wherein the waste has a particle size distribution with more than 80% larger than 5 mm, more than 95% smaller than 60 mm, (ii) subjecting the waste material through a pelletiser with holes between 4-16 mm and a length ratio of more than 2, and subjecting the pellets through a second pelletiser with holes between 4 and 10 mm, and a length ratio of more than 2 to provide pellets with a diameter between 4 and 10 mm, and a length of between 3 and 50 mm. The invention also relates to pellets obtained and having advantageous properties.

A composite ash produced by thermally processing paper and/or carpet exothermic processing waste, the composite ash being an inorganic mineral product or oxidized material of common crystalline and amorphous non-crystalline composition comprising metakaolin and at least one of a group consisting of mineral oxide and mineral carbonate, the composite ash being reactive with a pH greater than about 7.0.

Char fuels are described that result from a simple and efficient carbonization of cellulosic and/or lignin-containing materials, and can be provided as pellets, briquettes, or powders. Such char fuels show very low water absorption.