Solid fuel composition formed from mixed solid waste

Abstract

Systems and methods of producing a solid fuel composition are disclosed. In particular, systems and methods for producing a solid fuel composition by heating and mixing a solid waste mixture to a maximum temperature sufficient to melt the mixed plastics within the solid waste mixture is disclosed.

1 .- 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A solid composition comprising:
 a solid plastics mixture formed by melted plastics, the solid plastics mixture comprising between about 5 wt. % and about 60 wt. % mixed plastics; and   organic material;   wherein the solid composition has an energy content of at least 8,000 BTU/lb.   
     
     
         36 . The solid composition of  claim 35 , wherein the amount of carbon is from about 54 wt. % to about 68 wt. %. 
     
     
         37 . The solid composition of  claim 35 , wherein the amount of carbon is from about 56 wt. % to about 62 wt. %. 
     
     
         38 . The solid composition of  claim 35 , wherein the amount of carbon is from about 60 wt. % to about 64 wt. %. 
     
     
         39 . The solid composition of  claim 35 , wherein the amount of carbon is from about 62 wt. % to about 66 wt. %. 
     
     
         40 . The solid composition of  claim 35 , wherein the amount of carbon is from about 64 wt. % to about 68 wt. %. 
     
     
         41 . The solid composition of  claim 35 , wherein the solid composition has an energy content of at least about 9,000 BTU/lb. 
     
     
         42 . The solid composition of  claim 41 , wherein the solid composition has an energy content of at least about 11,000 BTU/lb. 
     
     
         43 . The solid composition of  claim 35 , wherein the solid composition comprises at most 0.5 wt. % chlorine. 
     
     
         44 . The solid composition of  claim 35 , wherein the mixed plastics are selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyamides, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, polyethylene/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, polycarbonate, polycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyurethanes, maleimide/bismaleimide, melamine formaldehyde, phenol formaldehydes, polyepoxide, polyetheretherketone, polyetherimide, polyimide, polylactic acid, polymethylmethacrylate, polytetrafluoroethylene, and urea-formaldehyde. 
     
     
         45 . The solid composition of  claim 35 , wherein, when burned, the solid composition produces per million BTUs:
 less than about 0.5 lb. alkali oxide;   less than about 3 lb. ash;   less than about 0.1 lb. SO 2 ; and   less than about 1.5 lb. of chlorine.   
     
     
         46 . The solid composition of  claim 35 , wherein the composition has a density of at least about 30 lbs./ft 3 . 
     
     
         47 . The solid composition of  claim 35 , wherein the composition comprises from about 6 wt. % to about 8 wt. % hydrogen. 
     
     
         48 . The solid composition of  claim 35 , comprising less than about 2 wt. % water. 
     
     
         49 . A solid composition, comprising:
 about 40 wt. % to about 80 wt. % carbon;   water; and   a solid mixture formed from between about 5 wt. % and about 60 wt. % mixed plastics, wherein the mixed plastics comprise one or more plastics selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyamides, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, polyethylene/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, polycarbonate, polycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyurethanes, maleimide/bismaleimide, melamine formaldehyde, phenol formaldehydes, polyepoxide, polyetheretherketone, polyetherimide, polyimide, polylactic acid, polymethylmethacrylate, polytetrafluoroethylene, and urea-formaldehyde;   wherein the solid composition comprises a solid mixture formed from melted mixed plastics.   
     
     
         50 . The solid composition of  claim 49 , wherein the solid composition has an energy content of at least about 8,000 BTU/lb. 
     
     
         51 . The solid composition of  claim 49 , wherein the solid composition comprises at most 0.5 wt. % chlorine. 
     
     
         52 . The solid composition of  claim 51 , wherein the solid composition comprises at most 0.1 wt. % chlorine.