Patent Publication Number: US-2017355909-A1

Title: Mobile apparatus for carbon-containing materials including biohazard wastes gasification by thermal decomposition and conversion into a liquid fuels.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates generally to a system and process for converting carbon-contained materials to a synthetic hydrocarbon liquid and, more particularly, to carbon-contained materials conversion system utilizing municipal solid and biohazardous wastes, coal, used machine oil and tires, plastic, wet wastes and biomass and process employing a material preparation system, gasifier and a Fischer-Tropsch reactor constructed on a movable platform. The system will accommodate the possibility for variation in feedstock co-gasification and production of and ultra clean Fischer-Tropsch synthetic fuels. 
     2. Background Information 
     Energy is fundamental to economic growth. Economies cannot grow and people cannot raise their standard of living without adequate supplies of affordable energy. The global demand for energy is projected to rise by 56% between 2010 and 2040, with the greatest increase in the developing world′. 
     Gasification, which can provide cleaner energy and products, is not new. Its origin dates back to the late 1700s when an early form of gasification was used in the UK to create “town gas” from local coal reserves. More modern gasification technologies began to evolve prior to and during World War II as Germany needed to create its own transportation fuels after being cut off from oil supplies. 
     Gasification is a process that enables the production of a combustible or synthetic gas (e.g., H 2 , CO, CO 2 , and CH 4 ) from carbon-based feedstock, referred to as carbonaceous feedstock. The gas can be used to generate electricity or as a basic raw material to produce chemicals and liquid fuels. This process enables the production of a gas that can be used for generation of electricity or as primary building blocks for manufacturers of chemicals and transportation fuels. 
     As useful feedstocks for the gasification process can be any carbonaceous material, the types of feedstock can range broadly. Useful feedstocks can include, but are not limited to, any waste materials, coal, petroleum coke, heavy oils, biomass and agricultural wastes. 
     Generally, a gasification process consists of feeding carbon-containing materials into a heated chamber (the gasifier) along with a controlled and limited amount of oxygen and steam. Depending on the origin of the feedstock, the volatiles may include H 2 O, H 2 , N 2 , O 2 , CO 2 , CO, CH 4 , H 2 S, NH 3 , C 2 H 6  and very low levels of unsaturated hydrocarbons such as acetylenes, olefins, aromatics and tars. Once a carbonaceous material is converted to gaseous state, undesirable substances such as sulfur compounds and ash may be removed from the gas. 
     Fischer-Tropsch processes for converting synthesis gas into higher carbon number hydrocarbons are well known. The Fischer-Tropsch process was developed in early part of the 20 th  century in Germany. It has been practiced commercially in Germany during World War II and later in South Africa. The hydrocarbon products of a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis generally include a wide range of carbon number, ranging from between about 1 and about 100. The end products which may be recovered from the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis product, following separation, hydro processing or other upgrading, include but are not limited to liquefied petroleum gas (“LPG”), naphtha, middle distillate fuels, e.g. jet and diesel fuels, and lubricant base stocks. Some of these end products, however, are more desirable than others for a variety of reasons, including for example, being marketable at a higher margin. 
     The desirability of an end product of a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis may also be dependent upon geographic location of the Fischer-Tropsch plant. 
     A number of carbonaceous sources have been used as raw-materials for producing hydrogen and carbon monoxide containing synthesis gas (hereinafter referred as to syngas) which can be fed into the FT process. Originally, coal was used as the primary raw-material, but lately also natural gas has been taken into use in commercial processes. Even more recently various processes have been developed in which biological materials, such as plant oils, plant waxes and other plant products and plant parts or even oils and waxes of animal origin, are gasified and processed to produce a suitable feed. 
     The technology and process flow utilizes a combination and variation of carbon-contained materials as feedstock that will be converted to synthesis gas. Parts of the process includes mechanisms and equipment to be incorporated in the process flow to control/remove various acid gases including carbonyl sulfide, hydrogen sulfide, methane, hydrochloric acid, mercury and sulfur oxides, sulfur compounds, and carbon dioxide. The remaining clean stream of syngas comprising of only hydrogen and carbon monoxide will be further converted into ultra clean synthetic transportation fuels. No energy plant, research and development data, or global facility exists, with any intent, or proposal that shows a complete process flow for conversion solutions, utilizing the combination and variation of carbon-contained materials as feedstock for clean synthetic transportation fuels production constructed on a movable platform. 
     There are number of patents relating to different technologies for the gasification of carbon-contained materials for the production of synthesis gases for use in various applications, including US2527197 A; U.S. Pat. No. 2,879,148 A; US3009795 A; U.S. Pat. No. 3,544,291 A; U.S. Pat. No. 3,904,386 A; U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,868 A; U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,125 A; U.S. Pat. No. 3,976,442 A; WO2011129878 A2 and US5961673 A. 
     There are number of patents relating to a novel process and apparatus for feedstock preparing prior to the gasification including U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,770 B1; U.S. Pat. No. 4,039,425 A; U.S. Pat. No. 3,826,208 A; US20090007484 A1; CA2185330 A1; U.S. Pat. No. 7,354,550 B2; US20140251923 A1; U.S. Pat. No. 4,342,830 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,468. 
     In recent years, government agencies, industries, and other organizations have had to address various problems relating to the handling and processing of organic waste materials including chemical and biological products. The disposal of medical waste is particularly difficult because of the presence of infectious bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens in the waste. The amount of contagious or infectious waste from medical institutions increases every year. The incineration is most reliable from the viewpoint of sterilization. Since, however, most medical instruments are formed of plastic materials; the plastic materials decompose when incinerated to generate gases containing harmful substances. That is, a secondary contamination problem occurs, and it is required to use a large apparatus for treating the exhaust gases. In the sterilization using a liquid chemical, the chemical itself is harmful to a human body, and handling of the chemical and disposal of the wasted chemical may cause secondary contamination. Safety measures and disposal of liquid waste generate additional costs. Moreover, like the case of sterilization using high-pressure steam, the chemical does not fully reach the interiors of waste materials having the form of a pipe or a tube, and it is therefore difficult to achieve complete sterilization. 
     Canadians produce more than 660,000 metric tons of dry stabilized organic waste materials each year 2 , and The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) predicts this output will continue to increase in the foreseeable future. In its raw form, organic waste materials are a pollutant subject to strict federal regulation at the hands of the CEAA, and bio solids are similarly regulated by counterpart state and municipal authorities as well. There is a number of patents relating to different technologies for the biohazardous materials handling and processing including U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,146 A; U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,679; U.S. Pat. No. 6,348,174 B1; U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,250 A and U.S. Pat. No. 6,867,393 B1. 
     When carbon-containing materials are gasified, “fuel gas” is produced consisting of CO, CO 2 , H 2 , N 2 , H 2 O, CH 4 , and other light hydrocarbons in varying proportions and amounts. Residual tar and oil materials are also produced as by-products entrained in the pyrolysis gases. These materials are extremely viscous, and condense on piping and other equipment in the gasification system. They may also combine with char produced in the system to form layers of a solid organic residue which are extremely difficult to remove. 
     The gasifier is comprised of a primary chamber for receiving the waste, a fume transfer vent, and a mixing chamber to accept the pyrolysis gases from the primary chamber. The fumes then flow to an afterburner chamber, where a burning flame oxidizes the constituents of the fumes. One disadvantage with the foregoing, conventional pyrolysis process is that transferring heat through the floor of the primary chamber is a relatively slow process. Thus, there is generally a long time period required for raising the temperature in the primary chamber and completing the pyrolysis reaction. This time-consuming process can be costly and inefficient. Another disadvantage with the above-described conventional pyrolysis process is that depending upon the type of waste, it may not be possible to reach the required temperature in the primary chamber even if heat is applied through the floor for a long period of time. 
     Many attempts have been made to develop high efficiency gasification systems which minimize the problems described above including U.S. Pat. No. 4,344,373 A; U.S. Pat. No. 4,135,885 A; U.S. Pat. No. 4,541,841 A and U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,625 A. 
     However, a need still exists for a highly efficient movable gasification system in which problems associated with undesired tar/oil formation and catalyst contamination are controlled. The present invention accomplishes these goals, and represents an advance in the art of gasification technology. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile gasification system and process for carbon-containing materials in a highly efficient manner. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a gasification process which is capable of producing substantial amounts of gaseous products from a wide variety of feedstock materials. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a gasification process which is simple in design, and uses inexpensive, readily available components. 
     The invention provides movable carbon-contained materials to liquids system and process. In some embodiments of the invention, a synthesis gas production unit, a synthetic crude production unit and a product cleaning unit are located on a movable platform wherein the units are operationally connected to each other. 
     Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a method for converting carbon-containing raw material into liquids, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  The principal scheme for the processing unit 
         FIG. 2  The system in transportation mode 
         FIG. 3  Functional parts of the system 
         FIG. 4  The pyrolysis and syngas cleaning units 
         FIG. 5  The medical and biohazardous wastes preparation unit 
         FIG. 6  Schematic for a unit to sterilize the medical and biohazardous wastes 
         FIG. 7  Schematic process flow 
         FIG. 8  Mobile wastes processing plant 
         FIG. 9  Extended mobile wastes processing plant 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. For the purposes of the present invention, the term syngas (or synthesis gas) refers to the product of a gasification process, and may include carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide, in addition to other gaseous components such as methane and water. 
     In the Figures,  FIG. 1  shows the principal scheme for the mobile processing unit for converting carbon-contained materials to a synthetic hydrocarbon liquid. The mobile processing unit is adapted for treatment of a wide variety of carbon-contained materials including, without limitation, municipal wastes, carbonate, mycelium, coal (including low grade, high sulfur coal not suitable for use in coal-fired power generators), old tires, paper sludge, petroleum coke, heavy oils, biomass, sewage sludge and agricultural wastes. Waste materials suitable for gasification include both hazardous and non-hazardous wastes, such as municipal waste, and wastes produced by industrial activity and biomedical wastes. Examples of biomass useful for gasification include, but are not limited to, waste or fresh wood, remains from fruit, vegetable and grain processing, paper mill residues, straw, grass, and manure. The mobile processing unit is also adapted for processing of biohazardous and medical wastes. The mobile processing unit is comprised of: the standard 40′ container  1 ; a pre-conditioning unit  2  for initial treatment (or processing) of the carbon-contained materials; cracking reactor with the burner  3 ; d Diesel fuel stabilization unit  4 ; distillation columns  5 ; diesel fuel purification unit  6  and the control panel  7 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the mobile processing unit is fully enclosed behind a plurality of panels secured to a frame (not shown), and is built upon a wheeled trailer bed to allow for connection of the processing unit to a truck (not shown) or other similar device for remote transportation to a working site. 
       FIG. 2  shows the mobile processing unit in transportation mode. 
       FIG. 3  the the mobile processing unit includes a plurality of main processing components that are secured to a frame  8  and will be described in detail herein below, these include an inlet hopper for receipt of the carbon-contained materials (not shown); compartment  9  for a pre-conditioning and/or initial treatment (or processing) of the carbon-contained materials; a feed-through housing  10  that receives the carbon-contained materials from the grinder (not shown) and through which the carbon-contained material is transferred to a pyrolysis system  11 ; pyrolysis system  11  converts carbon-contained material into a synthetic gas using known processes and through gas pipeline transferred to gas cleaning and purification system  12  and finally through gas pipeline into a Fischer-Tropsch reactor combined with the product upgrading and recovery system  13 . Within the Fischer-Tropsch reactor synthesis gas is being converted into synthetic crude using known processes. Referring to  FIG. 3  embodiment of the invention further includes product upgrading and recovery facilities for the conversion of synthetic crude into one or more products, such as naphtha and transportation fuels, including diesel fuel. As used herein, the term “product upgrading” means the refining of a synthetic crude that is waxy, into one or more hydrocarbon products, including for example, a single wide-boiling range product (e.g., C5 to C40) having a reduced pour point which is lower than the waxy synthetic crude which is sufficient to prevent wax crystallization during shipment either as a separate product or blended with crude oil and/or condensate, naphthas, liquefied petroleum gases, base stocks, solvents, kerosene, and hydrocarbon products meeting fuel specifications. 
       FIG. 4  shows the pyrolysis and gasification unit  16  of the present invention integrated through the pipelines with the gas cleaning system  17 . Pyrolysis and gasification units are well known in the arts. Further to  FIG. 4  carbon-contained materials from a hopper  14  are transferred into the pyrolysis and gasification unit  16  of the present invention by a transportation conveyer  15  which is also well known in the arts. Further referring to  FIG. 4  waste material is described by its ultimate analysis as (CH x O y ) 10  and the global gasification reaction may be written as follows: 
       CH x O y   +w H 2 O+ m 0 2 +3.76mN 2 -&gt; a H 2   +b CO+CCO 2   +d H 2 O+ e CH 4   +f N,+ g C 
     where w is the amount of water per mole of waste material, m is the amount of O2 per mole of waste, a, b, c, d, e, f and g are the coefficients of the gaseous products and soot (all stoichiometric coefficients in moles). The detailed main reactions are as follows: 
       CH 4 +H 2 O-&gt;CO+3H 2   (CH4 decomposition-endothermic)
 
       CO+H 2 O-&gt;CO 2 +H 2   (water gas shift reaction-exothermic)
 
       C+H 2 O-&gt;CO+H 2   (Heterogeneous water gas shift reaction-endothermic)
 
       C+CO 2 -&gt;2CO  (Boudouard equilibrium-endothermic)
 
       2C+-&gt;CO 2    
     A raw synthesis gas product may be characterized by a dirty mixture of gases and solids, comprised of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, ethylene, ethane, acetylene, and a mixture of unreacted carbon and ash, commonly called ‘char’, as well as elutriated bed material particulates, and other trace contaminants, including but not limited to ammonia, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfide, and trace metals. Syngas may also contain a variety of volatile organic compounds (VOC) or aromatics including benzene, toluene, phenol, styrene, xylene, and cresol, as well as semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC) or polyaromatics, such as indene, indan, napthalene, methylnapthalene, acenapthylene, acenapthalene, anthracene, phenanthrene, (methyl-) anthracenes/phenanthrenes, pyrene/fluoranthene, methylpyrenes/benzofluorenes, chrysene, benz[a] anthracene, methylchrysenes, methylbenz[a]anthracenes, perylene, ben-zo[a]pyrene, dibenz[a,kl] anthracene, and dibenz[a,h]anthracene. 
     There is a number of patents relating to different technologies for the synthesis gas cleaning including US 20110126460 A1 and WO 2015089554 A1. The present invention routes the dirty exhaust from the pyrolysis and gasifier  16  into a gas cleaning system  17 . Blowers or fans, pumps or other equipment (not shown) can be added to ensure proper flow of the dirty exhaust is maintained. Dry scrubbers with sorbent injectors that introduce limestone or hydrated lime into the gas streams will be added to control any trace of sulfur and nitrogen oxides. Synthesis gas cleanup equipment will consist of packed bed wet scrubbers with sodium hydroxide solutions, absorber vessels, and filters. Small dry scrubbers and/or filters will be used for particulate matter control, while the packed bed scrubbers will be used to neutralize HCl. In addition to the packed bed wet scrubbers, an absorber vessel used for gas purification will be added in to control H2S and COS. 
       FIG. 5  shows the mobile medical and biohazardous wastes preparation unit. The unit includes a plurality of main processing components that are secured to a frame  18  and will be described in detail herein below; these include an inlet hopper  19  for receipt of materials, a pressure container which fully enclosed behind a plurality of panels  20  and secured to a frame  18  having at least one opening portion with an air-tightly closing means, a means of crushing medical waste, a means of supplying steam  22 , a means of exhausting air out of the pressure container and a means of sterilizing the exhausted air  21 . Referring to  FIG. 5  embodiment of the invention further includes the means of crushing medical waste and the means of supplying steam being positioned within the pressure container. 
       FIG. 6  shows a schematic view of embodiment for processing medical and biohazardous wastes, provided by the present invention. Further to  FIG. 6  the high-pressure steam is required to have a temperature between 150° C. and 170° C. When the temperature is lower than 150° C., the sterilization treatment takes an impractically long time to obtain a sufficient sterilization effect. Further, when it is higher than 170° C., some of waste medical instruments start to decompose, and secondary contamination may occur. When the high-pressure steam has a temperature in the above range, it is preferred to keep the container filled with the high-pressure steam for at least 15 minutes to obtain a sufficient sterilization effect. Further to  FIG. 6  waste is fed to a container  23  through an inlet  24  which is one opening of the container  23  formed so as to endure a high-pressure steam. The container  23  has an outlet  25  as another opening. These two openings are structured to be air-tightly closed for the introduction of a high-pressure steam into the container. The fed medical waste passes along a hopper  26  positioned within the container  23  and it is stacked on rotary blades  27  for crushing by biaxial rotary shearing. Then, the inlet  24  is closed to prevent the spread of the medical waste out of the container  23 , and the rotary blades  27  are rotated with a motor (not shown) positioned outside the container  23 , whereby the medical waste is crushed, and the resultant pieces  28  are stacked on a receiving pan  29  on a receiving bed  30 . A valve  31  is a required to open or close the tubing as needed. The sucked air is released into the atmosphere through a sterilization filter  32  positioned on the tubing. Water  34 , which is introduced into the container  23  from an external water source (not shown) and whose level is controlled with a water controller  33 , is heated with heater  35  to fill the container  1  with a high-pressure steam. The temperature inside the container  1  is controlled with a temperature controller  36 . 
       FIG. 7  shows process from the gasification of feedstock stage, through the syngas cleanup stages and the Fischer Tropsch synthesis process for the conversion of clean syngas into ultra clean synthetic fuels. 
       FIG. 8  shows a schematic view of embodiment for mobile wastes processing plant layout. Further to  FIG. 8  the mobile wastes processing plant is comprised of: the standard 40′ container  39 ; the said mobile processing unit  40 ; wastes pre-processing unit  41 ; storage means  42  for produced synthetic hydrocarbon liquids and mobile office  43 . Further to  FIG. 8  the mobile wastes processing plant of the present embodiment requires industrial ground of 30 meters long and 30 meters wide. 
       FIG. 9  shows a schematic view of embodiment for extended mobile wastes processing plant layout. Further to  FIG. 9  single mobile processing units are connected to form a production chain to increase the processing volume of the carbon-contained materials. 
     REFERENCES 
     
         
         1. U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2013, 25 Jul.). International energy outlook 2013: World energy demand and economic outlook, ww.eia.gov/forecasts/ieo/world.cfm 
         2. Canada-wide Approach for the Management of Wastewater Bio solids. Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, 2012 
         3. Hedden, K., et al., “A New Concept for the Production of Liquid Hydrocarbons from Natural Gas in Remote Areas”, Oil Gas—European Magazine, March 1994, pp. 42-44. 
         4. Chris Higman and Maarten van der Burgt. Gasification, Second Edition, Elsevier (2008). 
         5. Beychok, M. R., Process and environmental technology for producing SNG and liquid fuels, U.S. EPA report EPA-660/2-75-011, May 1975 
         6. Thanapal S S, Annamalai K, Sweeten J, Gordillo G, (2011), “Fixed bed gasification of dairy biomass with enriched air mixture”. Appl Energy, doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2011.11.072 
         7. High temperature electrolyte supported Ni-GDC/YSZ/LSM SOFC operation on two-stage Viking gasifier product gas, Ph. Hofmann et al. in Journal of Power Sources 173 (2007) 357-366 
         8. Fundamental Issues in Control of Carbon Gasification Reactivity edited by L. Lahaye, Pierre Ehrburger Centre de Recherches sur la Physico-Chimie des Surfaces Solides—C.N.R.S., Mulhouse, France, 2012 
         9. Encyclopedia of Electrochemical Power Sources edited by Chris K. Dyer, Patrick T. Moseley, Zempachi Ogumi, David A. J. Rand, Bruno Scrosati. Elsevier, 2009 
         10. A. Mountouris, E. Voutsas, D. Tassios, 2006 Solid waste plasma gasification: Equilibrium model development and exergy analysis. Energy Conyers. Manage. 4717231737 
         11. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2010 Municipal solid waste in the United States: 2009 Facts and Figures Washington, D.C. 
         12. A. S. An′shakov, V. A. Faleev, A. A. Danilenko, E. K. Urbakh, A. E. Urbakh, 2007 Investigation of plasma gasification of carbonaceous technogeneous wastes. Thermophys. Aeromech. 14607616 
       
    
     Patent Citations 
       
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Cited Patent 
                 Filing date 
                 Publication date 
                 Applicant 
                 Title 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 U.S. Pat. No. 2,527,197 A 
                 17 Feb. 1945 
                 24 Oct. 1950 
                 Walter F Rollman 
                 Method of producing a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 carbon monoxide and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 hydrogen gas mixture from 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 carbonaceous materials 
               
               
                 U.S. Pat. No. 2,879,148 A 
                  6 Dec. 1955 
                 24 Mar. 1959 
                 Harold V Atwell 
                 Process for the production of 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 carbon monoxide from a solid 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 fuel 
               
               
                 U.S. Pat. No. 3,009,795 A 
                 10 Nov. 1958 
                 21 Nov. 1961 
                 Harold V Atwell 
                 Gasification of solid 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 carbonaceous materials 
               
               
                 U.S. Pat. No. 2,618,544 A 
                 29 Jun. 1951 
                 18 Nov. 1952 
                 Herbert G M 
                 Gasification of carbonaceous 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Fischer, Jr Albert B 
                 materials 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Welty 
                   
               
               
                 U.S. Pat. No. 3,544,291 A 
                 22 Apr. 1968 
                  1 Dec. 1970 
                 Warren G 
                 Coal gasification process 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Schlinger, William L 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Slater 
                   
               
               
                 U.S. Pat. No. 3,904,386 A 
                 26 Oct. 1973 
                  9 Sep. 1975 
                 Ernest E Donath, 
                 Combined shift and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Michael S 
                 methanation reaction process 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Graboski 
                 for the gasification of 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 carbonaceous materials 
               
               
                 U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,868 A 
                  8 Feb. 1978 
                  5 May 1981 
                 John F. Kamody 
                 Production of carbon 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 monoxide by the gasification 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 of carbonaceous materials 
               
               
                 U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,125 A 
                 30 Nov. 1983 
                 10 Feb. 1987 
                 Maksymilian 
                 Carbonaceous material and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Burk, Jack L. 
                 methods for making 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Blumenthal 
                 hydrogen and light 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 hydrocarbons from such 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 materials 
               
               
                 U.S. Pat. No. 3,976,442 A 
                 18 Dec. 1974 
                 24 Aug. 1976 
                 Peter L. Paull, 
                 Synthesis gas from gaseous 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Warren G. 
                 CO2-solid carbonaceous fuel 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Schlinger 
                 feeds 
               
               
                 U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,443 A 
                 27 Dec. 1991 
                  8 Nov. 1994 
                 Mitsuyuki Tanaka 
                 Method and apparatus for 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 disposal of medical waste 
               
               
                 WO2011129878 A2 
                 11 Apr. 2011 
                 20 Oct. 2011 
                 Bhagya Chandra 
                 Methods for gasification of 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Sutradhar, Ching- 
                 carbonaceous materials 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Whan Ko 
                   
               
               
                 U.S. Pat. No. 5,961,673 A 
                 26 Jun. 1996 
                  5 Oct. 1999 
                 Norbert Topf, 
                 Process and apparatus for 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Guenter Reichert 
                 producing fuel gas 
               
               
                 U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,770 B1 
                 11 Aug. 1999 
                  9 Jan. 2001 
                 John W. Rich, Jr. 
                 Process and apparatus for 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 preparing feedstock for a coal 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 gasification plant 
               
               
                 U.S. Pat. No. 4,039,425 A 
                 22 Dec. 1975 
                  2 Aug. 1977 
                 Richard C. Neavel 
                 Method for preparing a coal 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 slurry substantially depleted 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 in mineral-rich particles 
               
               
                 U.S. Pat. No. 4,061,274 A 
                 26 Jul. 1976 
                  6 Dec. 1977 
                 Robert M. Williams 
                 Material reducing apparatus 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 and method of operating the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 same 
               
               
                 U.S. Pat. No. 3,826,208 A 
                  6 Aug. 1973 
                 30 Jul. 1974 
                 Williams R 
                 Apparatus and system for 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 disposing of combustible and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 waste material 
               
               
                 US20090007484 A1 
                 15 Sep. 2008 
                  8 Jan. 2009 
                 David G. Smith 
                 Apparatus and process for 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 converting biomass feed 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 materials into reusable 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 carbonaceous and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 hydrocarbon products 
               
               
                 CA2185330 A1 
                 10 Mar. 1995 
                 14 Sep. 1995 
                 Bruno Aubert, 
                 Method for sterilising 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Serge Hauss 
                 hazardous waste, particularly 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 hospital waste, using high 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 frequency treatment, and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 device therefor 
               
               
                 U.S. Pat. No. 7,354,550 B2 
                  6 Sep. 2001 
                  8 Apr. 2008 
                 Bruno Aubert 
                 Disinfection or sterilisation 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 method 
               
               
                 US20140251923 A1 
                 19 May 2014 
                 11 Sep. 2014 
                 Mauri Salmisuo, 
                 Solids separator and method 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Juha Mattila, Teppo 
                 of treatment for bio-waste 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Nurminen 
                   
               
               
                 U.S. Pat. No. 4,342,830 
                 11 May 1981 
                  3 Aug. 1982 
                 Clifford C. Holloway  
                 Process for separating and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 recovering organics and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 inorganics from waste 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 material 
               
               
                 U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,468 
                 22 Jan. 1998 
                 24 Aug. 1999 
                 Robert W. Lewis, 
                 Waste treatment apparatus 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Randall G. McKee 
                 and method 
               
               
                 U.S. Pat No. 5,333,146 A 
                 27 Jul. 1992 
                 26 Jul. 1994 
                 Murry Vance 
                 On-site, biohazardous waste 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 disposal system 
               
               
                 U.S. Pat No. 8,123,731 B2 
                 21 Aug. 2002 
                 28 Feb. 2012 
                 Marshall C. Ryan 
                 Method and apparatus for 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 disposing of liquid surgical 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 waste for protection of 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 healthcare workers 
               
               
                 U.S. Pat. No. 6,348,174 B1 
                  6 Dec. 1999 
                 19 Feb. 2002 
                 John L. Hall 
                 Biohazardous waste source 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 sterilizer system and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 processing method 
               
               
                 U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,679 
                  7 Oct. 1999 
                 26 Mar. 2002 
                 Howard Morgan 
                 Sanitary waste disposal unit 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Clarke 
                   
               
               
                 U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,250 A 
                 29 Jan. 1990 
                 28 Jan. 1992 
                 John Hall 
                 Apparatus for treating and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 disposing of bio-hazardous 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 waste and solid waste 
               
               
                 U.S. Pat. No. 6,867,393 B1 
                  5 Dec. 2003 
                 15 Mar. 2005 
                 Robert W. Lewis 
                 Steam sterilization system for 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 sterilizing medical waste 
               
               
                 U.S. Pat. No. 4,344,373 A 
                 30 Oct. 1979 
                 30 Aug. 1982 
                 Yoshiaki Ishii 
                 Method for pyrolyzing 
               
               
                 U.S. Pat. No. 4,135,885 A 
                  3 Jan. 1977 
                 23 Jan. 1979 
                 Alex F. Wormser 
                 Burning and desulfurizing coal 
               
               
                 U.S. Pat. No. 4,541,841 A 
                 16 Jun. 1982 
                 17 Sep. 1985 
                 Dieter Reinhardt 
                 Method for converting 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 carbon-containing raw 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 material into a combustible 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 product gas 
               
               
                 U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,625 A 
                  2 May 1988 
                 12 Sep. 1989 
                 Lyle K. Mudge 
                 Method of producing 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 pyrolysis gases from carbon- 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 containing materials 
               
               
                 WO 2015089554 A1 
                 16 Dec. 2013 
                 25 Jun. 2015 
                 Chun-zhu Ll, 
                 Process and apparatus for 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Richard 
                 cleaning raw product gas 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 GUNAWAN, Li 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Dong 
                   
               
               
                 US 20110126460 A1 
                 26 May 2009 
                  2 Jun. 2011 
                 Leslie Bromberg 
                 Regenerator for syngas 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 cleanup and energy recovery 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 in gasifier systems