Abstract: A biofuel product having constituents selected from the group including fat, oil and/or grease components. A container is formed of a biodegradable material having a multiplicity of openings of a size and shape adapted for allowing the fat, oil and/or grease components to pass through the openings to an interior area of the container. An absorbent capture material is positioned in the container and holds a quantity of the fat, oil and/or grease. The container, capture material and fat, oil and/or grease collectively comprise the biofuel product.

Abstract: An artificial firelog and firestarter chip producing apparatus comprising a cutting assembly, a compression conveyor auger assembly and a die. The apparatus converts standard waxed corrugated cardboard boxes into artificial firelogs by first slicing cardboard sheets into cardboard strips, then chopping the cardboard strips into cardboard segments in the cutting assembly. The cardboard segments are compressed and in the compression conveyor auger assembly and extruded in the die to form generally circular, longitudinally-shaped sections of a firelog. Firestarter chips are fabricated by the cutting assembly, which slices cardboard sheets in conjunction with paper sheets into cardboard and paper strips, then chopping the cardboard strips into cardboard segments and the paper strips into paper mix.

Abstract: A sustained release composite is made from a three-dimensional piece of calcium silicate having a xontolite structure and in which are fibers of textile glass and borosilicate glass, and an active agent. The active agent can be a fire starting material, a fragrance, or a masking fragrance.

Abstract: A fuel pack for igniting charcoal includes an elongated member formed from combustible material that includes an elongated wick passing through it. Advantageously, the ignitable member and wick are saturated with a non-petroleum oil for providing a catalyst to ignite the fuel pack. The fuel pack further includes a package for receiving and storing the ignitable member. The package includes an open end for moving the ignitable member into and out of the package. The package further includes a sealed end portion for maintaining the ignitable member at a substantially stable position.

Abstract: A fuel article, suitable for barbecuing, allowing greater burning efficiency and the method of making such a fuel article. The fuel article includes anthracite coal for cleaner burning and utilizes an accelerant covering containing nitrates to be amenable to easy ignition.

Abstract: A low-energy input process for the pyrolytic conversion of biomass to charcoal or carbonized charcoal is provided. The biomass is sealed in a container, pressurized with air and heated to ignition. Control of pressure by input of air and release of gases to maintain successively lower pressure levels results in a typical time for the conversion of less than 30 minutes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fire starter for use as sole fuel to ignite a log of wood in order to start a campfire or a fire in a fireplace easily and quickly. Advantageously, starting a fire with the fire starter of the present invention avoids the necessity of using paper and/or firewood. The fire starter is made of a sealed flammable bag enclosing wood shavings treated with at least one combustible solution. Inside the bag, the wood shavings are in contact with each other and sufficiently spaced from each other to allow air circulation therebetween. A flame-retardant sheet is optionally inserted in the bag, underneath the treated wood shavings.

Abstract: A mixture includes paraffin wax and a thickening agent, the thickening agent being pseudoplastic above the melting point of the paraffin wax. The paraffin wax ideally makes up 50-99% w of the mixture, and the thickening agent 1-40% w of the mixture. The thickening agent includes diatomaceous earth. The mixture may include abrasive material, fibrous particles, and talc to affect its texture when applied to an article. Also disclosed is a synthetic log of combustible material including wood waste and a hydrocarbon (such as paraffin wax), and a coating applied in a state of low viscosity so as to partially or wholly cover the surface of the log, which then sets. This coating is ideally the mixture defined above. The log may be wrapped in a sleeve which features a transparent window, so the coating can be viewed, especially if the coating is only applied to part of the log's surface.

Abstract: This invention pertains to an article that emits infrared radiation for a period of about 15 minutes or more, depending on the size and shape, and to a process for preparing the article. The article includes, in a preferred embodiment, a combustible aerogel or other nanocellular substrate with iron metal impregnant formed by thermal decomposition of iron pentacarbonyl deposited on and in the substrate in an amount of at least about 5% or at least about 20% of the weight of the substrate, depending on the substrate. The impregnant reacts exothermically on contact with air or an oxygen-containing gas and imparts sufficient energy to the substrate to cause it to burn for about 30 seconds to about 30 minutes depending on size and shape, thereby emitting infrared radiation. The process pertains to deposition of the impregnant on and in the substrate by flowing a carrier gas saturated with the impregnant precursor over and through the substrate.

Abstract: A process for sterilizing biological waste such as medical waste and a biomass fuel product from sterilized waste are disclosed. The biological waste preferably includes waste capable of sorbing substantial amounts of a liquid fuel having a boiling temperature higher than about 240.degree. F. The waste is shredded and then introduced into a container holding the liquid fuel, which is maintained at atmospheric pressure at a temperature between about 240.degree. F. and the boiling temperature of the liquid fuel. The shredded waste is immersed in the liquid fuel for a time sufficient to effect sterilization of the shredded waste. Thereafter, the sterilized shredded waste is removed from the container, and ground to either make it pumpable or increase its pumpability, and to further destroy the physical shape of the waste as to make it unrecognizable. The ground waste is then pumped to a desired location. The waste with sorbed liquid fuel is atomizable and usable as a fuel for many applications.

Abstract: Manufactured fuel articles having, as a first component, an inner core of a primary fuel element, and as a second component, a combustible covering layer on the primary fuel element. In some embodiments, the covering layer is preferably at least about a nominal 1.5 millimeters thick, with a preferred thickness being at least about 3 millimeters. In other embodiments, the fuel article may be described as a primary fuel element with a combustible covering layer, wherein the primary fuel element comprises a substantial portion of at least one of the ends, and the covering layer and the primary fuel element are in interfacial contact about a majority of the area of their facing surfaces.

Abstract: Fuel articles having a covering layer thereover, wherein the covering layer serves as an ignition material for the underlying fuel element, and may be spaced from the underlying fuel element. Preferred fuel articles have charcoal compositions in the underlying fuel element and the covering layer is fibrous. The covering layer may be spaced from the fuel element by means of bridging concavities in the fuel element itself, by providing intermediate spacing elements within a concavity of the fuel element, or by providing a spacing material between the fuel element and the covering layer, not necessarily at a location of concavity in the fuel element. The covering layer may have a variety of compositions, and may be overlain by one or more additional layers. The invention further provides methods of manufacturing the fuel articles disclosed as well as methods of using them.