Glycerin byproduct blend stock for mixing with refinery sludges

Abstract

Refinery sludge, including centrifuge filter cake and/or thermal desorption unit powder and glycerin byproduct, including glycerin byproduct from a biodiesel process are blended together. Moisture together with any methanol and any light hydrocarbons are removed and the resulting blend is burnt in a cement kiln.

1 . A combustible fuel composition which comprises a blend of:
 refinery sludge; and   glycerin,   wherein the glycerin comprises about 20-80 weight percent of the blend.   
     
     
         2 . A combustible fuel composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the glycerin comprises a glycerin byproduct from a biodiesel process. 
     
     
         3 . A combustible fuel composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the refinery sludge comprises at least one of a centrifuge filter cake, filter press cake, belt press cake, tank bottom sludge and thermal desorption unit powder. 
     
     
         4 . A combustible fuel composition according to  claim 3 , wherein the glycerin comprises a glycerin byproduct from a biodiesel process. 
     
     
         5 . A combustible fuel composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the glycerin comprises about 50-60 weight percent of the blend. 
     
     
         6 . A method of producing a combustible fuel composition, which method comprises:
 providing a refinery sludge;   providing glycerin; and   combining the refinery sludge and glycerin to form a blend.   
     
     
         7 . A method of producing a combustible fuel composition according to  claim 6 , wherein moisture and any methanol and light hydrocarbons is removed from the blend after the refinery sludge and glycerin are combined together. 
     
     
         8 . A method of producing a combustible fuel composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the moisture and any methanol and light hydrocarbons is removed by heating the blend in a vessel or processing the blend in a flash evaporator. 
     
     
         9 . A method of producing a combustible fuel composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the glycerin comprises a glycerin byproduct from a biodiesel process. 
     
     
         10 . A method of producing a combustible fuel composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the refinery sludge comprises at least one of a centrifuge filter cake, filter press cake, belt press cake, tank bottom sludge and thermal desorption unit powder. 
     
     
         11 . A method of producing a combustible fuel composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the blend is passed through a high speed disperser or attritor to reduce the particle size of the blend. 
     
     
         12 . A method of producing a combustible fuel composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the refinery sludge comprises a centrifuge filter cake that is obtained in a preheated manner from a centrifuge and the glycerin is preheated before being blended with the refinery sludge. 
     
     
         13 . A method of producing a combustible fuel composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the glycerin comprises about 20-80 weight percent of the blend. 
     
     
         14 . A method of producing a combustible fuel composition according to  claim 13 , wherein the glycerin comprises about 50-60 weight percent of the blend 
     
     
         15 . A method of disposing of refinery sludge, which method comprises:
 providing a refinery sludge;   providing glycerin;   combining the refinery sludge and glycerin to form a blend; and   burning the blend in a cement kiln.   
     
     
         16 . A method of disposing of refinery sludge according to  claim 15 , wherein the glycerin comprises a glycerin byproduct from a biodiesel process. 
     
     
         17 . A method of disposing of refinery sludge according to  claim 15 , wherein the refinery sludge comprises at least one of a centrifuge filter cake, filter press cake, belt press cake, tank bottom sludge and thermal desorption unit powder. 
     
     
         18 . A method of disposing of refinery sludge according to  claim 17 , wherein the glycerin comprises a glycerin byproduct from a biodiesel process. 
     
     
         19 . A method of disposing of refinery sludge according to  claim 15 , wherein before the blend is burned in a cement kiln, moisture from the blend together with any methanol and light hydrocarbons originally present in the blend are removed. 
     
     
         20 . A method of disposing of refinery sludge according to  claim 19 , wherein the moisture and any methanol and light hydrocarbons are removed by processing the blend in a flash evaporator or heating the blend in a vessel.