Abstract: A method for dewatering a water-containing combustible solid excluding coal, comprising heating, in a sealed vessel, the water-containing combustible solid at a temperature of 100° C. to 300° C. under a pressure not less than a saturated steam pressure at said heating temperature, while applying a shearing force of 0.01 MPa to 20 MPa to said water-containing combustible solid. The method allows the production of a slurry in water which contains the water separated from the water-containing combustible solid and a combustible solid from which the water is removed, has a suitable viscosity and water content, and can be subjected to spray combustion, at low costs.

Abstract: A method for dewatering water-containing coal which includes heating the water-containing coal at a temperature of 100 to 350° C. under a pressure not less than a saturated steam pressure at the temperature for the heating, while applying a shearing force of 0.01 to 20 MPa to the coal, in a sealed vessel. The method is novel and allows the production of dewatered coal which is inhibited from reabsorbing water after dewatering and is also inhibited from absorbing oxygen after dewatering.

Abstract: A method for converting a material comprising lignocellulose or cellulose into a substance convertible with yeast into ethyl alcohol, wherein a mixture comprising 1 part by weight of the material and 0.5 to 5 parts by weight of water is stirred at a temperature of 150 to 270 degrees C. in a vessel closed in terms of pressure in conditions of providing a high shearing force to be pulverized to an average of maximum dimensions of 1 to 20 micrometers, whereby the material is degraded and at least 15% by weight of the cellulose in the material is converted into a substance convertible into ethyl alcohol. It is possible to prepare saccharides for alcohol fermentation from lignocellulose or cellulose by using this method.

Abstract: A method for dewatering a water-containing combustible solid excluding coal, comprising heating, in a sealed vessel, the water-containing combustible solid at a temperature of 100° C. to 300° C. under a pressure not less than a saturated steam pressure at said heating temperature, while applying a shearing force of 0.01 MPa to 20 MPa to said water-containing combustible solid. The method allows the production of a slurry in water which contains the water separated from the water-containing combustible solid and a combustible solid from which the water is removed, has a suitable viscosity and water content, and can be subjected to spray combustion, at low costs.

Abstract: A reformer for reacting a raw material gas to be reformed, with an oxidizing agent gas and a reforming agent gas in the presence of an oxidation catalyst and a reforming catalyst to obtain a hydrogen-containing gas, including: a set of catalyst layers consisting of an oxidation catalyst layer and a reforming catalyst layer, and two or more inlets for feeding the oxidizing agent gas to the oxidation catalyst and/or the reforming catalyst in plural stages. The reformer can produce a hydrogen-containing gas without forming a combustion region of a temperature of as high as one thousand and several hundreds centigrade and can be manufactured at a low cost.

Abstract: A process is provided for the preparation of artificial zeolite comprising the steps of (a) mixing x kilograms of incineration ash or any other aluminosilicate-containing substance with y liters of an aqueous solution of alkali metalhydroxide having a concentration of 1 N or higher in a proportion, y/x, of from about 0.1 to about 1.5 (liter/kg) to prepare a slurry, and (b) heating the slurry to cause a zeolite forming reaction. Water is continuously or intermittently removed by evaporation so that a decrease in a concentration of alkali which would otherwise naturally occur during the reaction is at least suppressed to thereby facilitate the reaction.