SYSTEMS, METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS RELATING TO COMBUSTIBLE BIOMATERIALS

1 . A method of washing biomass, comprising:

receiving a first discrete amount of biomass;

receiving a second discrete amount of biomass;

washing said first discrete amount of biomass with solvent to produce a first effluent stream enriched with inorganic material; and

washing said second discrete amount of biomass with said first effluent stream to produce a second effluent solvent stream.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said second effluent solvent stream has a higher concentration of inorganic material than said first effluent stream.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising washing a third discrete amount of biomass with said second effluent stream to produce a third effluent stream and said third effluent stream having a higher concentration of inorganic material than said second effluent stream.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising washing said second discrete amount of biomass with said solvent after said washing said first discrete amount of biomass with said solvent.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising washing different discrete amounts of biomass ranging from a first discrete amount of biomass to an N discrete amounts of biomass, washing said Nth discrete amount of biomass with an (N-1)th effluent stream, which results from washing (N-1) discrete amounts of biomass, wherein N is a whole number that is greater than 2.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said washing said Nth discrete amount of biomass produces an Nth effluent stream which has a higher concentration of inorganic material than said (N-1) effluent stream.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said Nth effluent stream is recycled back as solvent for washing another discrete amount of biomass or is conveyed for effluent treatment.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising collecting said first effluent stream in a first collection chamber after said washing said first discrete amount of biomass.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising pumping said first effluent stream to a position from where said first effluent stream can be dispensed to wash said second discrete amount of biomass.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising collecting said second effluent stream in a second collection chamber after said washing said second discrete amount of biomass.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising pumping said second effluent stream to a position from where said second effluent stream can be dispensed to wash a third discrete amount of biomass.

12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising unloading said first discrete amount of biomass after said washing said first discrete amount of biomass with said solvent.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising advancing said second discrete amount of biomass to a position from where said washing of said second discrete amount of biomass is carried out, and wherein said advancing is performed after said washing said first discrete amount of biomass.

14 . A method for washing biomass, comprising:

receiving N discrete amounts of biomass, wherein N is a whole number and is greater than 2;

conducting a first washing cycle, which includes washing a first of N discrete amounts of biomass using a solvent to produce a first effluent stream associated with said first washing cycle, washing a second of N discrete amounts of biomass using said first effluent stream associated with said first washing cycle to produce a second effluent stream associated with said first washing cycle and washing other discrete amounts of biomass to satisfy a condition of washing said Nth discrete amount of biomass using an (N-1)th effluent stream associated with said first washing cycle;

conducting a second washing cycle, which includes washing a second of N discrete amounts of biomass using a solvent to produce a first effluent stream associated with said second washing cycle, washing a second of N discrete amounts of biomass using said first effluent stream associated with said second washing cycle to produce a second effluent stream associated with said second washing cycle and washing other discrete amounts of biomass to satisfy a condition of washing said Nth discrete amount of biomass using an (N-1)th effluent stream associated with the second washing cycle.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising conducting an Xth washing cycle, which includes washing an Xth of N discrete amounts of biomass using a solvent to produce a first effluent stream associated with said Xth washing cycle, washing an (X+1)th of N discrete amounts of biomass using said first effluent stream associated with said Xth washing cycle to produce a second effluent stream associated with said Xth washing cycle and washing other discrete amounts of biomass to satisfy a condition of washing said Nth discrete amount of biomass using an (N-X)th effluent stream associated with the Xth washing cycle, where said X is a whole number ranging from 3 to said N.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein each of said N discrete amounts of biomass is washed with said solvent.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said washing said first discrete amount of biomass is carried out by spraying said solvent on said first discrete amount of biomass.

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said washing said N discrete amount of biomass includes washing a total of said biomass which weighs between about 1 metric ton and about 1000 metric tons.

19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein N discrete amounts of biomass is washed with a volume of solvent that is between about 1000 liters and about 40 mega-liters.

20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein each of said N discrete amounts of biomass weighs between about 1 kg and about 100 metric tons.

21 . The method of claim 14 , wherein each of said N discrete amounts of biomass is washed with a volume of solvent that is between about 0.5 liters and about 4 mega-liters.

22 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said washing said first discrete amount of biomass occurs for a time that is between about 5 minutes and 90 minutes.

23 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said solvent is maintained at a temperature that is between about 10° C. and about 90° C.

24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein said solvent is maintained at a temperature that is between about 20 to 70° C.

25 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said first effluent stream associated with said first washing cycle is maintained at a temperature that is between about 10° C. and about 90° C.

26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein said first effluent stream associated with said first washing cycle is maintained at a temperature that is about 50° C.

27 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising a step of draining said first effluent stream associated with said first washing cycle into a first collection chamber.

28 . The method of claim 27 , further comprising a step of pumping said first effluent stream associated with said first washing cycle such that it is dispensed above said second of said N discrete amount of biomass to produce said second effluent stream associated with said first washing cycle.

29 . The method of claim 28 , further comprising a step of collecting said second effluent stream into a second collection chamber.

30 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said receiving a first discrete amount of biomass includes receiving in a first bin said first discrete amount of biomass and said receiving a second discrete amount of biomass includes receiving in a second bin said second discrete amount of biomass.

31 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising emptying said first bin after washing said first discrete amount of biomass with said solvent.

32 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising after said first washing cycle is complete, advancing said second bin to a position so that said second bin can undergo washing using said solvent during said second washing cycle.

33 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said receiving N discrete amounts of biomass includes receiving N discrete amounts of biomass in N bins such that each bin contains a single discrete amount of biomass.

34 . The method of claim 33 , further comprising after said first washing cycle is complete, displacing a spray configured to dispense said solvent to a position such that said solvent is sprayed above said second of said N discrete amounts of biomass.

35 . The method of claim 34 , further comprising after a single washing cycle of one discrete amount of biomass contained inside one bin is complete, displacing a spray configured to dispense said solvent to position such that said solvent is sprayed above another discrete amount of biomass, which was not previously washed.

36 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising heating said second effluent stream after said washing said second discrete amount of biomass.

37 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising sieving said first effluent stream before said washing said second discrete amount of biomass.