Abstract: A method for generating, from refuse or refuse in combination with coal, a fuel gas suited for public utility purposes wherein refuse and coal can be introduced into the process in any proportion one to the other. The method provides the steps of subjecting the refuse to allothermal low-temperature carbonization, if desired in combination with coal, burning the gasification residue, purifying the crude gas and conditioning the pure gas for public utility purposes.

Abstract: An economic and safe process includes a catalytic cracking of the rubber tires and rubber products in the presence of mica catalyst selected from muscovite, sericite and biotite at a reaction temperature of 230.degree.-400.degree. C. under a pressure of 1-2.5 atmospheres for forming mixed oils, carbon black, gaseous products, and other residual products.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a processor comprising means for mixing a process material with a process liquid (such as water) and forming an emulsion or slurry. Means is provided for pressuring and heating the slurry, and the slurry is then fed to means for quickly reducing the pressure to a relatively low value and further increasing the temperature. The rapid drop in pressure and increase in temperature causes volatile components of the slurry to convert to a gas and separate from the remainder of the slurry which is removed from the processor in the form of solids. The gas is fed to one or more condensers which separate the gas into useful liquids such as various grades of oil.

Abstract: Scrap rubber chunks from used tires are processed and the monomeric chemicals from which the tire rubber was synthesized are recovered. Rubber chunks reduced to a finely divided size are exposed to gaseous ozone to break down the cross-linked structure of the rubber. Subsequent thermal depolymerization occurs in a reactor chamber. Finely divided silica is introduced within the reactor to prevent agglomeration of rubber particles and to enhance the maintenance of a uniform reactor temperature. Reduced pressure within the reactor permits rapid removal of monomer vapors. Once the monomer vapors are separated, silica and carbon residues are recovered separately for either recycle or disposal.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for producing crystalline hydroxyacetaldehyde precipitated from a complex mixture of products provided by the pyrolysis of a carbohydrate-containing feedstock. The method includes distilling a first condensate under reduced pressure to give a second condensate which is enriched in hydroxyacetaldehyde; combining the second condensate with a solvent to give a homogeneous solution; precipitating hydroxyacetaldehyde from the solution; and separating the precipitated hydroxyacetaldehyde from the solution.Aqueous solutions of hydroxyacetaldehyde are useful for browning foodstuffs and for producing flavors by contacting the hydroxyacetaldehyde with ammonia or amines.In addition, hydroxyacetaldehyde may be used to make an artificial tanning product containing a suitable topical vehicle and an amount of hydroxyacetaldehyde suitable to impart a brown color to skin.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for pyrolyzing used tires into a char fraction, wire, fiberglass, oil fraction and gas fraction. The tires are continuously conveyed to a preheating chamber where they are heated to a temperature level of 200.degree. F. to 400.degree. F. The heated tires are metered into a cavity having disposed therein a ram system, which shapes and forces the whole tire into a pipe which leads to a pyrolyzing chamber. The tires form a plug at the front end of the system to prevent the release of toxic gases into the atmosphere and also to prevent air from entering the pyrolyzing chamber. Similarly, solid residue produced by pyrolysis of the apparatus is forced into a discharge column, forming a plug to seal the system at its outlet end. An alternate embodiment of the invention apparatus operated manually can also be used for compacting, neutralizing and disposing of medical waste, infectious materials and the like as well as auto tires.

Abstract: A process for producing solid, liquid and gaseous fuels comprising the use of an organic starting material selected from a bio-mass of microbial, vegetable or animal origin and sediments or garbage containing organic material, heating said organic material under the exclusion of air slowly to a conversion temperature of 200.degree. to 600.degree. C., conducting the gases and vapors escaping during the heating through suitable gas and liquid separators, maintaining the conversion temperature until the development of gases and vapors has substantially ceased, and isolating the solid conversion residues and the separated gases and liquids.

Abstract: An improved delayed coking process is described in which sludge and oxygen contact hot coke during the quench cycle at conditions which cause at least a portion of the organics contained in the sludge to oxidize. Preferably, a portion of the sludge is combusted and the heat generated is used to help remove, during the quench cycle, entrapped liquids contained in the coke bed and to enhance thermal conversion of hazardous materials contained in the sludge to less harmful materials.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for sludge addition to a coking zone in which the sludge is contacted with oxygen. The sludge is then contacted with feed, liquid derived from the feed, or vapor derived from the feed. Oxygen also contacts the feed, liquid derived from the feed, or vapor derived from the feed to help maintain reaction temperature in the coking zone.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for near-zero discharge soil remediation, preferably in conjunction with an asphalt plant, comprising heating soil contaminated with up to about 30,000 ppm light hydrocarbons in an inclined, axially-fired rotating separator, and sampling the output soil to determine the remaining contaminants. If below 100 ppm (preferably 10 ppm) it may be reemplaced as clean fill. If it does meet D.O.T./CALTRANS standards and is below about 100 ppm it may be used as roadbed fill. If between about 1000 and 100 ppm and meets standards it may be used as aggregate, being mixed with hot oil to form asphalt. The separator offgases are condensed, the reclaimed liquid hydrocarbons separated and combined with the hot oil. The hot condenser offgases are supplied as secondary air to a main dryer, improving efficiency of operation. A dust/mud blow down system clears the heat exchange plenums with compressed air.

Abstract: An apparatus for the thermal conversion and recovery of organic waste materials includes an oxygen-free chamber filled with molten lead and a method of use of the apparatus. The chamber is elongate and inclined so that organic material introduced in a lower portion of the chamber migrates through the molten lead to a higher portion of the chamber due to the organic material having a specific gravity less than that of lead. As the organic material migrates through the molten lead, the material is thermally converted to gaseous and vapor hydrocarbons that are captured in a condenser. The gaseous hydrocarbons are utilized to heat the lead in the chamber and the vapor is condensed to liquid hydrocarbons in the condenser. Residual solids flow to a reservoir connected to the chamber. Light carbon black is drawn into a receiver by a vacuum line located near the top of the reservoir and all other residual solids flow over a reservoir wall.

Abstract: The macromolecular waste (which is not itself susceptible to microwave heating and may be, for example, plastics or polychlorinated biphenyl) is mixed (B) with pulverulent carbonaceous material, which comprises elemental carbon or is degradable by microwave irradiation to elemental carbon (such as waste tire material). The mix is subjected to microwave irradiation (C) in an inert atmosphere to cause pyrolysis of the plastics. Preferably part of the resulting solids is recycled to the microwave zone (C).

Abstract: The organic material (such as waste tire compound) is pyrolyzed by pre-heating the organic material (without pyrolysis) in a preheat zone 9 by a hot gas stream; feeding pre-heated material directly to a microwave discharge zone 10 by means of conveyor 8; pyrolyzing the pre-heated material in the microwave discharge zone to produce solid fission products containing elemental carbon and gaseous by-products; and recycling at least some of the latter to the hot gas stream which is supplied to the pre-heating zone.

Abstract: A process is disclosed wherein at least two separate gaseous oxygen streams are passed into a coker transfer line to effect oxidation of a portion of the feed passing through the transfer line. Another aspect of the process is disclosed wherein gaseous oxygen is passed into a coking process and sludge is also passed into the coking process.

Abstract: A method of continuously carbonizing a mixture of primarily organic waste material wherein a stream of comminuted waste material with a substantial organic material content is fed to one end of a mixer barrel, the material is compressed to form a barrel filling mass functioning as a first vapor block, and the work energy required to compress it and squeeze out entrapped air is used virtually exclusively to maintain the temperature of the material adiabatically, air and any steam created are vented, the material downstream from the first vapor block is decompressed in a second vent region, the material is recompressed in the absence of air to form another vapor block, while exclusively utilizing the work energy required to compress it to maintain the temperature of the material adiabatically at volatile releasing and carbonizing temperatures, the volatiles are vented, and the product is discharged as a dry, friable particulate char.

Abstract: Petroleum refinery waste stream sludges are recycled by segregating the sludges according to their oil content. Sludges of high oil content are developed and then injected into a delayed coking unit during the coking phase so that they are converted to coke and liquid coking products. High water content sludges are used to quench the coke during the quench phase of the coking cycle, with minimal increases in coke volatile matter. The process increases the capacity of the delayed coking unit to process and recycle refinery waste sludges and produce a coke of lower volatile content.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the recovery of oil from aqueous oil refinery waste involves mixing the waste with a fluidizing oil and evaporating the water from the mixture in a plurality of stages. The dewatered mixture is fed to a delayed coking system in which a conventional coker feedstock is being used. The heavy hydrocarbon portion of the dewatered mixture changes to coke and light hydrocarbon material, the inert solids become trapped in the coke, and the fluidizing oil vaporizes. A stream of heavy coker gas oil is fed from a fractionator in the delayed coking system to a fluidizing tank where it is mixed with the sludge to define the fluidizing oil. Another hot stream of hydrocarbon material from the coker fractionator is sent to the evaporator section to provide the heat for evaporation.

Abstract: A process for treating pretroleum refinery sludge to produce a coke-like residue product wherein an oily petroleum refinery sludge containing organic solid material boiling above 1000.degree. F. and water is heated to a temperature above the boiling point of water and below the thermal cracking temperature of hydrocarbons and water in the sludge forms steam used to steam strip any light hydrocarbons from the organic solid material which is recovered as a solid coke-like residue product.

Abstract: Wet refinery sludges are disposed of by feeding them into a delayed coking process. The sludge is fed to the blowdown drum of the delayed coking process and mixed with oil condensed from the coke drum overhead, and the resulting sludge-oil mixture is fed to the coke drum where it is converted into coke. In order to remove the water from the sludge, a portion of the sludge-oil mixture is heated and recirculated to the blowdown drum where it provides the heat for drying and heating the sludge. The recirculating sludge-oil mixture is heated by a low level heat source, such as one of the fluid streams taken off from the fractionator.

Abstract: Process water is formed when pyrolysis gas obtained in the pyrolytic decomposition of a starting material is cooled. Due to its content of chemical compounds, it is very costly to dispose of or eliminate the process water. A process for reducing the quantity of by-products in the generation of pyrolysis gas recycles the process water to a pyrolysis reactor operating with a fluidized bed. As a result, the process water is reduced in quantity and purified in a simple manner, and the yield of pyrolysis gas is increased.

Abstract: In the treatment of hydrocarbon-containing waste material, in particular plastic-containing waste material, by pyrolysis, gases containing hydrogen halide compounds which are formed are neutralized by the addition of basic additive material. Since the reacted additive material increases the pyrolysis residue, it is desirable to monitor the controlled feed of the additive material. Therefore, the pH value is measured in the low-boiling pyrolysis oil, which additionally also contains water vapor condensate, and the controlled feed of the additive material is automatically varied as a function of the measurement. The result is that the pollutants are largely, or at least adequately, bound with low consumption of additive material.

Abstract: In a process for the recovery of usuable gas from garbage by pyrolysis, the garbage is sorted into a heavy wet vegetable portion and a light dry portion. The light portion is pressed into pellets or granules having characteristics dimensions in a range of 1-50 mm that are dried to a maximum moisture of approximately 25 wt. %, and then are passed to a pyrolysis reactor in which partially burned gas is generated and separated from noncombustible residues. The partially burned gas is taken to a high temperature gas converter where it is converted to fuel gas over a glowing carbonaceous bed. The heavy vegetable fraction of the garbage is taken to a biomass converter in which it is used to generate methane gas.

Abstract: A method of generating a de-sulphurized volatile matter and a relatively low Btu gas includes the initial step of pyrolyzing coal to produce volatile matter and a char. The volatile matter is fed to a first de-sulphurizer containing a de-sulphurizing agent to remove sulphur therefrom. At the same time, the char is gasified to produce a relatively low Btu gas. The low Btu gas is fed to a second de-sulphurizer containing the de-sulphurizing agent to remove sulphur therefrom. A regenerator is provided for removing sulphur from the de-sulphurizing agent. Portions of the de-sulphurizing agent are moved among the first de-sulphurizer, the second de-sulphurizer, and the regenerator such that the regenerator regenerates the de-sulphurizing agent. Preferably, the portions of the de-sulphurizing agent are moved from the second de-sulphurizer to the first de-sulphurizer, from the first de-sulphurizer to the regenerator, and from the regenerator to the second de-sulphurizer.

Abstract: A method for the pyrolytic production of synthetic gas from components of solid materials, including selected segregated post-consumed waste materials, within a pyrolytic gasifier operably heated by an associated furnace, which includes the steps of: preparing the materials for use as furnace fuel; preparing the materials for use as pyrolytically decomposable gassifier fuel by material proparation means; conveying the materials from the material preparation means to material segregation means by material conveying means operably associated therebetween; segregating the materials into selected segregated components of the gassifier fuel by the material segregation means; delivering the components of gasifier fuel into a desired gasifier fuel formula component ratio by gasifier fuel delivery means so as to comprise a gasifier fuel formula mixture; and compacting the gasifier fuel mixture by compacting means operably connected to gasifier fuel delivery means, so as to substantially eliminate entrapped oxygen and

Abstract: A method of continuously carbonizing a mixture of primarily organic waste material to a high British Thermal Unit char product wherein a stream of comminuted garbage material with a substantial organic material content is fed to one end of a mixer barrel, the material is compressed to form a barrel filling mass functioning as a first vapor block, and the work energy required to compress it and squeeze out entrapped air is used virtually exclusively to raise the temperature of the material adiabatically, air and any steam created are vented, the material downstream from the first vapor block is decompressed in a second vent region, the material is recompressed in the absence of air to form another vapor block, while exclusively utilizing the work energy required to compress it to raise the temperature of the material abiabatically to a volatile releasing temperature in the neighborhood of 400.degree. F. to 600.degree. F.

Abstract: A continuous pyrolysis system is adapted for continuous pyrolysis of tire shreds with the simultaneous recovery of solid, liquid, and gas pyrolysate. The pyrolysis system includes an anaerobic pyrolyzing chamber with a conveyor for conveying tire shreds therethrough from an infeed end to a solids output end, and a heater for pyrolyzing the tire shreds as they are conveyed. The system also includes a solid pyrolysate output device for removing solid pyrolysate from the chamber, a liquid and gas pyrolysate output device for removing liquid and gas pyrolysate from the chamber, and a tire shred infeed device for feeding tire shreds into the chamber without interrupting either the pyrolysis of tire shreds already in the chamber, or the removal of pyrolystate from the chamber.

Abstract: An improved gasification system, in which synthesis gas is produced through the operation of a fuel gas production bed comprising an upper layer (66) of organic input material, typically in the form of pellets or briquettes of substantially uniform size and configuration, two intermediate layers, one intermediate layer (70) for carbonizing the input material, and the other intermediate layer (72) for partially oxidizing and substantially completely pyrolyzing the input material and a lower layer (68) of tar-free charcoal. The length of the gas production bed from the top of the upper intermediate layer to the point where gas exits from the gas production bed is approximately at least 1.5 times the diameter of the bed, but not less than 7 feet. The removal of charcoal from the gas production bed is controlled and the operation of the bed otherwise controlled such that the charcoal produced during the process is activated carbon.

Abstract: Petroleum refinery waste stream sludges are recycled by segregating the sludges according to their oil content. Sludges of high oil content are injected into a delayed coking unit during the coking phase so that they are converted to coke and liquid coking products. High water content sludges are used to quench the coke during the quench phase of the coking cycle, with minimal increases in coke volatile matter. The process increases the capacity of the delayed coking unit to process and recycle refinery waste sludges and produce a coke of lower volatile content.

Abstract: A liquid fraction and a gas fraction produced during the reprocessing of waste material containing CH compounds by pyrolysis, have a mass ratio approximately equal to 1. Since the liquid fraction is more suitable for further processing than the gas fraction, there is an incentive to augment the liquid fraction at the expense of the gas fraction. In order to achieve this object, the pyrolysis gas is cooled until the benzene and the higher-boiling gaseous constituents of the pyrolysis gas pass into the liquid phase, so that a benzene-containing liquid fraction is produced. A gas mixture containing benzene and toluene is stripped out of the benzene-containing liquid fraction, passed together with the gas fraction at a temperature of 300.degree. to 450.degree. C. over a zeolitic catalyst and then separated by cooling into both a fraction which is liquid at atmospheric pressure and a residual gas fraction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a combined process for separating and converting asphaltenes of high molecular weight and high softening point from heavy hydrocarbon material containing asphaltenes by a process that combines a deasphalting method to produce solid asphaltenes and a continuous coking procedure for the solid asphaltenes. The combined process converts the material into more valuable liquid hydrocarbon products of lower molecular weight and coke.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the destruction of waste, like biologically difficult to degrade halogen-, nitrogen-, sulphur-, and/or oxygen containing compounds by thermal hydrogenolysis. The waste materials are heated together with an excess hydrogen and/or hydrogen donor during 1 to 10 sec. to a temperature between 700.degree.-1220.degree. C., followed by quenching the gaseous effluent of the reaction and separating it in a hydrocarbon and hydrogen containing phase and a hydrogen halogenide(s) nitrogen-, sulphur-, and/or oxygen containing compounds containing phase.Preferably the hydrogenolysis is performed in two steps, first during 1-10 sec. at 700.degree.-900.degree. C. and second during 1-10 sec. at 850.degree.-1200.degree. C.

Abstract: A method and system of continually reforming sewage and other organic materials into liquid oils and gases by pyrolysis using the contained and entrained water in the inorganic and organic constituents of the sewage.

Abstract: Organic material is compacted to a density greater than 280 kg/m.sub.3 in a press, is preheated to a temperature of 44.degree.-46.degree. C., is then subjected in an irradiation device to 1-20 electromagnetic wave pulses having a duration of almost 5 s and a frequency between 800 and 2000 MHz and is subsequently subjected to a fermentation causing its heating, until its temperature has risen to 85.degree.-90.degree. C., and is subjected to pyrolysis in a pyrolysis oven. During irradiation, fermentation and pyrolysis no air is supplied to the material.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the working up of salvage oil, in which the salvage oil is subjected to an extraction under supercritical conditions. The halogen compounds contained in the produced extract are removed by catalytic hydrogenation. The extraction residue is eliminated by deposition or thermal treatment (gasification). In the case of a thermal treatment of the extraction residue, other residues can be simultaneously converted, so that the process is performed without yield of environmentally burdensome residues or by-products. Ethane in particular and/or propane is employed as solvent for the supercritical extraction.

Abstract: Pyrolyzate oil is made amendable to hydrotreatment without substantial coking problems by means of pre-treatment with hydrogen at temperatures in the range of 250.degree. to 300.degree. C.

Abstract: Coke for reactor graphite is produced continuously by coking a hard pitch with a softening point (K.-S.) above 130.degree. C. and a coking residue of at least 45% by weight in a rotary pipe furnace equipped with a moving device and subsequent calcination without intermediate cooling. The temperature of the inner wall of the indirectly heated furnace ranges from about 500.degree. to about 800.degree. C. The gases and vapors formed during the coking process are guided in countercurrent flow to the pitch.

Abstract: Pyrolytic reprocessing of plastic, rubber, or other hydrocarbon materials in which the resultant pyrolysis gas is brought in a cooling stage to a temperature just above the freezing point of water and to a pressure of approximately 0.8 to 1.4 bar of overpressure. The resultant condensate is then separated and heated to a normal storage temperature and the super atmospheric pressure on the condensate reduced to atmospheric pressure. The gas produced thereby comprising C.sub.4 hydrocarbon compounds is supplied to the pyrolysis process as special product gas. By means of this provision, the proportion of aromatic compounds in the pyrolysis gas is raised substantially.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the coproduction of a combustible feed gas stream useable as an energy source and a sulfur-containing second gas stream useable as a feedstock for the production of sulfuric acid. The process includes heating coal in the presence of an oxygen-lean atmosphere under partial coal gasifying conditions to produce a solid carbonaceous char and a crude coal-gas stream. Sulfur-containing compounds are removed from the coal gas stream and converted to solid sulfur-containing materials. The solid sulfur-containing materials are combined with the solid carbonaceous char and gypsum to form a feed mixture. The non-gypsum portion of the feed mixture contains sufficient reducing potential to release substantially all of the sulfur in the gypsum as gaseous compounds of sulfur in a +4 or lower oxidation state. The feed mixture is heated under reducing conditions to produce a sulfur-containing second gas stream and a solid sintered product.

Abstract: This invention relates to products obtained from sugar mill boiler ash, methods of using such products as a filtration material, and/or adsorbent material and methods of manufacturing such products. More specifically, this invention relates to filtration materials, with either a low or relatively high activated carbon content derived from the combustion of sugar cane residues whose characteristics and properties can be preselected and controlled to provide predetermined performance characteristics, and methods of obtaining such products through processing techniques which control the properties of such products. The invention also provides adsorbent materials of very high carbon content useful for applications other than a filter medium.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of used rubber tires by vacuum pyrolysis in a reactor to produce liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons and a solid carbonaceous material is disclosed. According to the invention, the pyrolysis of the tires is carried out at a temperature in the range of about 360.degree. C. to about 415.degree. C., under a sub-atmospheric pressure of less than about 35 mm Hg and such that gases and vapors produced in the reactor have a residence time of the order of a few seconds. The process according to the invention enables one to increase the yield of the liquid hydrocarbons and lower the yields of the gaseous hydrocarbons and solid carbonaceous material, and to thereby produce hydrocarbon oils in substantially maximum yield. These hydrocarbon oils have a high calorific value and are thus suitable for use as heating fuel.

Abstract: A polymeric material containing solids in the form of metal and/or cord lumps is partially thermally decomposed to produce a suspension of the polymeric material containing solids in the form of metal and/or cord lumps. Then, the suspension with the solids is directed to a separator, which may be an inclined conveyor, where the solids and the suspension are separated. The separated polymeric material then is thermally decomposed completely. In the separator, the separated solids may be treated by flushing the solids on the conveyor with a preheated solvent, followed by applying steam to the solids and finally drying the solids on the conveyor. Thermal decomposition of the separated polymeric material is completed in a vertical distillation column having a lower liquid phase and an upper vapor-gas phase.

Abstract: A process for producing hydrocarbons from biological sludge, wherein the sludge is treated at a temperature of from 300.degree. to 600.degree. C. and at a pressure of from 100 to 500 bar to cause cracking of the organic compounds present in the sludge, the sludge is simultaneously or immediately thereafter hydrogenated with hydrogen under the same pressure and temperature conditions in the presence of a catalyst, and thereafter the resulting gas phase is separated into its components by stepwise reduction of pressure and/or temperature; thereby disposing of the biological sludge without environmental damage and with the simultaneous recovery of hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Slugs (4) of products dehydrated by compression are thrust into the tube (11) up to the hearth (15). The hot gases from the hearth passing round the tube (11) heat it up in order to release the gases and carbonize the solids which burn in the form of coke in the bottom (16) of the hearth. Household refuse may thus be eliminated not only without expense but with recovery of energy from it.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and process for the pyrolysis of used vehicular tires. The apparatus includes a reaction chamber supported internally of an insulated casing and heated by heating means interposed between the chamber and the casing. Tire fragments are introduced into and removed from the reaction chamber through airlock mechanisms to prevent the ingress of ambient air as the fragments are conveyed through the chamber by a chain and flight conveyor scraping any accumulated solids from the chamber and the conveyor. All portions of the apparatus contacting the pyrolysis reaction products are clad with a layer of aluminum oxide to prevent corrosion. The process includes shredding the used tires, preheating the tire fragments if desired, passing the fragments through the reaction chamber, separating solid and gaseous products, recycling a portion of the gaseous product to the heating means, and recoving salable gas, oil and carbon products.

Abstract: A process for the production of liquid hydrocarbons from old tires, cable wastes, polyethylene wastes and/or polypropylene wastes, by which the waste products, in pulverized form, are treated at a temperature of 150.degree. to 500.degree. C. and a pressure 20 to 300 bar with a solvent which is liquid at 1 bar and 20.degree. C. to form a solvent phase charged with liquid hydrocarbons and a residue phase. The charged solvent phase is separated from the residue, and the separated charged solvent phase is resolved into its components by lowering of pressure and/or temperature, and by distillation.

Abstract: A method and system of continually reforming sewage and other organic materials into liquid oils and gases by pyrolysis using the contained and entrained water in the inorganic and organic constituents of the sewage.

Abstract: An energy efficient process for beneficiating and dewatering high water content carbonaceous materials utilizing a pneumatic stream to entrain, transport, dewater and to carbonize organic carbonaceous material in a fluidized bed. The process utilizes physical separation for principal removal of moisture and reduces contact between organic carbonaceous matter and hot process water, thereby retaining a high organic content in the product fuel. The organic carbonaceous materials are chemically beneficiated during carbonization in a fluidized bed contactor. Heat exchange and heat recovery procedures provide an economical, energy efficient process.

Abstract: There is disclosed a new process for the conversion of the organic components of sludge, particularly sewage sludge, to produce useful, storable, energy-containing oil products, apparatus for carrying out the process and a control process for optimization of the process temperature. The sludge preferably is mechanically dewatered to about 20-25% solids by weight and thermally dried to about 90% solids by weight. The resultant material is comminuted and heated in the apparatus of the invention to at least 250.degree. C. in a heating zone in the absence of oxygen to generate a gaseous atmophere containing volatiles; this atmosphere is then removed, scrubbed of H.sub.2 S and NH.sub.3 if required, and passed preferably in countercurrent flow in a heated reaction zone in intimate contact with the "devolatilized" sludge solids from the heating zone, again in the absence of oxygen, at a temperature of at least 280.degree. C., resulting in catalyzed vapor phase oil-producing reactions.

Abstract: A process for converting cellulose-containing refuse into a fuel comprising forming a suspension of said cellulosic material in a polycyclic hydrogen donor substance and hydrogenating the suspension at elevated temperature and pressure in the presence of a catalyst to produce a mixture of gaseous, liquid and solid hydrocarbons having a low oxygen content and correspondingly high calorific value.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for pyrolytic decomposition of polymeric materials into lower molecular weight products involving the heat treatment of raw polymeric material within reactive conduits submerged in a fluidized bed furnace operated at pyrolizing temperatures.