- Details
Some of our readers might find the United States Patent, issued to a scientist in the employ of an Australian mining company, we enclose in this dispatch to be of special interest.
It seems to us more of a scholarly thesis on the overall subject of converting Coal into liquid hydrocarbon fuels, rather than a targeted disclosure of one specific way for doing so.
Anyone genuinely interested in the Truths that Coal can be efficiently converted into the complete range of liquid fuels we are now reliant on unreliable petroleum for the supply of, and, that the technology for doing so is, in certain circles, well-known and well-understood, would likely find the full document, and it's references, well worth a close read.
- Details
We have many times documented that processes exist whereby Carbon Dioxide can be efficiently transformed into useful hydrocarbons, including hydrocarbon fuels - which is what, as in a few of our earlier reports, NASA plans to do with it on the planet Mars and our US Navy intends to with it aboard some of its ships at sea.
As in some of our more recent reports, the nation of Iceland, who, with their many volcanic sites, are blessed with more natural CO2 than we could ever dream of making with all of our Coal-fired power plants put together, intends to start making Gasoline out of Carbon Dioxide and exporting that Gasoline to Europe.
- Details
Without citing the specifics, we remind you of our previous documentation of the fact that both Methanol and electricity can be co-produced from an integrated facility employing Coal as the primary raw material.
Coal is first gasified, in those technologies, to supply synthesis gas, via separate process streams, to both a steam generator, where the syngas is simply burned, or heat is extracted from the hot syngas, to create steam for driving electric turbines; and, to a Methanol synthesis reactor, where some of the syngas is catalytically condensed into Methanol.
The co-produced Methanol is most often posited in those schemes to be stored on-site as a fuel that can be used for generating more power during periods of peak demand.
- Details
We have many times referenced operation of the factory in Kingsport, TN, where Eastman Chemical Company is profitably making the liquid fuel and, as in ExxonMobil's "MTG"(r) technology, Gasoline raw material, Methanol, out of Coal.
We have also documented, from a variety of sources, that, if the Hydrogen content of synthesis gas derived from Coal needs to be supplemented, in order to make such syngas amenable to more complete catalytic conversion into liquid hydrocarbons, such supplementation can be effected by the rather simple expedient of adding Steam, in appropriate ways, to the reaction mix.
- Details
Carbon Recycling International
We have previously reported on the Carbon conversion work of Nobel Laureate George Olah, at the University of Southern California's Loker Hydrocarbon Institute.
Our most recent dispatch concerning him can be found on the West Virginia Coal Association's web site as: California Recycles CO2 to Methanol | Research & Development | News, which report includes a link to: https://wiki.ornl.gov/sites/carboncapture/Shared%20Documents/Background%20Materials/Alternative%20Methods/G.%20Olah.pdf; wherein, in a January, 2009, article for the American Chemical Society, Olah discloses details of the "Chemical Recycling of Carbon Dioxide", and how Carbon Dioxide can be converted into the liquid fuel, Methanol.
Join Friends of Coal
Be part of West Virginia's coal industry future. Together, we can continue building a stronger, more prosperous Mountain State by supporting our miners and communities.
West Virginia Coal Association
The West Virginia Coal Association has been the voice of the coal industry for over 100 years, advocating for safe, responsible mining practices and supporting the communities that depend on coal.
Join the FOC
Become a Friend of Coal and download our app to stay connected and support the industry.
