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First, we have so far been unable to learn more about either the inventor named herein, or about the assignee of the rights to this, yet another three-decades old US Patent for the liquefaction of Coal.
We present it both because our US Government Patent Examiners confirm the technical validity of it's claims, and because it echoes similar findings we have, from other sources, documented.
Moreover, it arises from the same time period when numerous other Coal liquefaction technologies were developed and published, many of them arising from research sponsored by the US Government.
We refer to it as "Advanced" Coal Conversion technology in our headline for reasons that should be apparent in a reading of the Abstract, especially if you keep in mind the date of issuance.
We note that the end product of this Coal liquefaction process is Benzene, a known carcinogen that was once widely used as a gasoline additive, but which is now being, or has been, phased out of such use.
However, not only does Benzene remain a very valuable raw material for some plastics, such as, according to web-based references, the well known Styrofoam(r), it can also be converted into gasoline, as explained, for instance, in United States Patent 5, 865, 987, "Benzene Conversion in an Improved Gasoline Upgrading Process".
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We have, over the months, made many references to Penn State University's "Tri-reforming" technology, as described most thoroughly by Chunsan Song and Craig Grimes, on the faculty of PSU, wherein Carbon Dioxide is reacted with Methane to synthesize higher hydrocarbons of commercial value and utility.
We have also made many references to the Sabatier technology, which was awarded the Nobel Prize early in the last century and which is still employed by NASA today, wherein Carbon Dioxide is recycled into Methane.
And, we have cited many reports wherein certain microbes, "archeo" bacteria, consume Carbon Dioxide and excrete Methane in the course of their metabolism.
We have suggested that the several technologies could be somehow combined into a complete Carbon Dioxide recycling system.
As we hinted in an earlier submission, Penn State just might be thinking along the same lines, as they have developed, or have begun to develop, a synergistic technology wherein biology and industry are combined to convert Carbon Dioxide into Methane in an efficient process that could, we submit, be powered by excess generating station electricity.
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United States Patent: 4105535
We have many times documented the decades-old Coal-to-liquid conversion expertise of both Mobil Oil and their current marriage partner, Exxon.
We have also documented that still-carbonaceous residues from some Coal liquefaction technologies can themselves be further processed to extract even more hydrocarbons of utility and value.
Mobil herein confirms that assertion; and, by extension, so does the United States Government, via the Patent Office, in this three-decades old US Patent for the conversion of solid residues left behind by the Solvent Refined Coal liquefaction process, which we have earlier documented, and which was developed primarily in the early and middle 1970's by companies operating under contract to the US Government.
Further, we believe the technology disclosed in this patent to be based the utilization of coal liquefaction residues, or "bottoms", arising from a Coal-to-liquid conversion technology, the "SRC", solvent-refined coal, Process, developed under contract to the US Government at several sites, including Kentucky and Alabama, by various contractors. They might also have arisen from FMC Corporation's pilot plant operation, for the Government, of the "COED" Coal char oil process, about which we have earlier reported, and regarding which we have further information that we intend to submit.
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We remind you of our earlier post, concerning the report: "Structure and Function of Enzymes Involved in the Methanogenic Pathway Utilizing Carbon Dioxide and Molecular Hydrogen", by Shima, et.al., Germany.
Herein, through the link and following excerpt, it is revealed that a US Patent has been applied for, detailing a technology to utilize that "Methanogenic Pathway", and to do so, as we have earlier suggested to be feasible, at the sources of Carbon Dioxide emission; specifically, in this US Patent Application, at power plants utilizing fossil fuel.
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Information Bridge: DOE Scientific and Technical Information - Sponsored by OSTI
We've earlier reported on the Coal Liquefaction research and achievements of Consol, including some documentation of their own "Zinc Chloride" or "Zinc Halide" Coal conversion technology.
Herein, via the enclosed link and following excerpts, it is revealed that they were continuing their efforts in CTL technology at least until 1995. Moreover, as in the "Disclaimer" statement, in the copy below, this report evolved from: "work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government".
Although we downloaded and reviewed the full report ourselves, it is too large for us to efficiently transfer via email. As with so much of what we send you, we feel it begs reading and review by truly knowledgeable people who could translate and summarize it's import for the rest of us.
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