Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing activated carbon from biomass or other solid carbonaceous feed within a housing containing boiler components, by spatial separation of drying, pyrolysis and activation zones as the feed is conveyed across the bottom of the housing, such that the thermal requirements for drying, pyrolysis, and activation of the solid carbonaceous feed occur by direct radiation from the combustion flame located above the drying, pyrolysis and activation zones. The balance of the heat not required for drying, pyrolysis, and activation is used to vaporize and superheat steam as part of a conventional steam/electric power plant.

Abstract: Production of activated carbon at biomass-fueled steam/electric power plants (biomass plants) is described. At a typical biomass plant, various types of woody fuels are combusted to produce steam, and a steam turbine drives a generator to produce electric power. According to the invention, the biomass plant's existing fuel handling, combustion, and ash handling processes are replaced, in whole or in part, by pyrolysis, pyrolysis gas combustion, char activation, and activation offgas combustion using known methods. Carbonaceous feedstocks, typically nut shells which are known to produce high quality activated carbon, are pyrolyzed, producing char containing fixed carbon and ash, while the volatile constituents are driven off and collected. The char is activated by steam to produce activated carbon and syngas. Particulate matter is removed from the volatile pyrolysis products and activation offgas.