Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for the removal of inorganic components such as potassium, sodium, chlorine, sulfur, phosphorus and heavy metals, from biomass of rural or forest or urban origin or even mixture of different origin biomasses, from low quality coals such as peat, lignite and sub-bituminous/bituminous coals, from urban/industrial origin residues/wastes, which are possible to include as much organic—>5% weight—as inorganic—<95% weight—charge and from sewage treatment plant sludges. The desired goal is achieved with the physicochemical treatment of the raw material. The method can also include the thermal treatment, which can precede or follow the physicochemical one. The application of the thermal treatment depends on the nature and the particular characteristics of each raw material as well as on the feasibility analysis of the whole process in order to determine the optimization point in each case.

Abstract: A methodology for the removal of the harmful components of the ash of biomass of agro/forest/urban origin and of low-quality coal fuels, as peat, lignite, sub-bituminous and bituminous coals, is invented. The harmful components are alkaline metals, chlorine and sulphur. They are removed before the thermochemical conversion in order to prevent or minimise the corrosion, scaling/deposition, ash agglomeration problems, as well as the alkaline metal, chlorine, sulphur emissions. Furthermore, it aims in the production of materials of low moisture content, low hygroscopicity, which can be easily ground, and mixed with various other materials, easily fed to commercial boilers for energy production, which can be easily pelletised with or without other materials at various proportions and with very low energy requirements. The removal is achieved with pre-pyrolysis/pre-gasification at 250-320° C.

Abstract: A methodology for the removal of the harmful components of ash from urban/industrial wastes and sludges from the sewage treatment plants is invented. The harmful components are alkaline metals, chlorine, sulphur, zinc, lead, and chromium. They are removed before the thermochemical conversion and therefore the corrosion problems, scaling/deposition, ash agglomeration, dioxin and furan emissions, alkaline metal, chlorine, sulphur emissions are minimized if not diminished. The emissions of heavy metals such as zinc, lead, copper, and chromium are reduced. The removal is achieved with prepyrolysis/pregasification at 250-320° C. for 5 min to 2 h of urban/industrial wastes and sludges from the sewage treatment plants. Then the prepyrolyzed/pregasified sample is washed with a 0.5%-5% weight basis aqueous calcium acetate and/or magnesium acetate and/or aluminum acetate solution.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for the removal of inorganic components such as potassium, sodium, chlorine, sulfur, phosphorus and heavy metals, from biomass of rural or forest or urban origin or even mixture of different origin biomasses, from low quality coals such as peat, lignite and sub-bituminous/bituminous coals, from urban/industrial origin residues/wastes, which are possible to include as much organic—>5% weight—as inorganic—<95% weight—charge and from sewage treatmentplant sludges. The desired goal is achieved with the physicochemical treatment of the raw material. The method can also include the thermal treatment, which can precede or follow the physicochemical one. The application of the thermal treatment depends on the nature and the particular characteristics of each raw material as well as on the feasibility analysis of the whole process in order to determine the optimization point in each case.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for the removal of inorganic components such as potassium, sodium, chlorine, sulfur, phosphorus and heavy metals, from biomass of rural or forest or urban origin or even mixture of different origin biomasses, from low quality coals such as peat, lignite and sub-bituminous/bituminous coals, from urban/industrial origin residues/wastes, which are possible to include as much organic—>5% weight—as inorganic—<95% weight—charge and from sewage treatment plant sludges. The desired goal is achieved with the physicochemical treatment of the raw material. The method can also include the thermal treatment, which can precede or follow the physicochemical one. The application of the thermal treatment depends on the nature and the particular characteristics of each raw material as well as on the feasibility analysis of the whole process in order to determine the optimization point in each case.

Abstract: Described is a methodology aiming to the removal of harmful ash constituents from the ash of biomass, such as alkali metals, chlorine and sulfur, prior to is thermochemical conversion, in order to minimize/eliminate the ash-related corrosion, deposition and agglomeration problems, as well as the emissions of alkali metals, chlorine and sulfur. This removal is achieved by a combined pre-treatment which includes prepyrolysis of biomass at temperatures varying in the range of 200-300° C. and for a period of 5 min up to 2 h, followed by the leaching of the biomass materials using water with a solid/water mass ratio varying from 33 g/L up to 300 g/L with water temperature varying from 13° up to 55° C. and residence time varying from 5 min up to 24 h.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for the removal of inorganic components such as potassium, sodium, chlorine, sulfur, phosphorus and heavy metals, from biomass of rural or forest or urban origin or even mixture of different origin biomasses, from low quality coals such as peat, lignite and sub-bituminous/bituminous coals, from urban/industrial origin residues/wastes, which are possible to include as much organic—>5% weight—as inorganic—<95% weight—charge and from sewage treatment plant sludges. The desired goal is achieved with the physicochemical treatment of the raw material. The method can also include the thermal treatment, which can precede or follow the physicochemical one. The application of the thermal treatment depends on the nature and the particular characteristics of each raw material as well as on the feasibility analysis of the whole process in order to determine the optimization point in each case.

Abstract: A methodology for the removal of the harmful components of ash from urban/industrial wastes and sludges from the sewage treatment plants is invented. The harmful components are alkaline metals, chlorine, sulphur, zinc, lead, and chromium. They are removed before the thermochemical conversion and therefore the corrosion problems, scaling/deposition, ash agglomeration, dioxin and furan emissions, alkaline metal, chlorine, sulphur emissions are minimized if not diminished. The emissions of heavy metals such as zinc, lead, copper, and chromium are reduced. The removal is achieved with prepyrolysis/pregasification at 250-320° C. for 5 min to 2 h of urban/industrial wastes and sludges from the sewage treatment plants. Then the prepyrolysed/pregasified sample is washed with a 0.5%-5% weight basis aqueous calcium acetate and/or magnesium acetate and/or aluminum acetate solution.

Abstract: A methodology for the removal of the harmful components of the ash of biomass of agro/forest/urban origin and of low-quality coal fuels, as peat, lignite, sub-bituminous and bituminous coals, is invented. The harmful components are alkaline metals, chlorine and sulphur. They are removed before the thermochemical conversion in order to prevent or minimise the corrosion, scaling/deposition, ash agglomeration problems, as well as the alkaline metal, chlorine, sulphur emissions. Furthermore, it aims in the production of materials of low moisture content, low hygroscopicity, which can be easily ground, and mixed with various other materials, easily fed to commercial boilers for energy production, which can be easily pelletised with or without other materials at various proportions and with very low energy requirements. The removal is achieved with pre-pyrolysis/pre-gasification at 250-320° C.

Abstract: The present application describes a methodology aiming t the removal of the harmful ash constituents from the ash of biomass, such as alkali metals, chlorine and sulfur, prior to its thermochemical conversion, in order to minimize/eliminate the ash-related corrosion, deposition and agglomeration problems, as well as the emissions of alkali metals, chlorine and sulfur. Thos removal is achieved by a combined pre-treatment method which includes the prepyrolysis of biomass at temperatures varying in the range of 200-300° C. and for a period of 5 min up to 2 h, followed by the leaching of the biomass materials using water with a solid/water mass ratio varying from 33 g/L up to 300 g/L with the water temperature varying from 13° up to 55° C. and the residence time varying from 5 min up to 24 h.