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We're sending along two links in this dispatch, in case anyone wants to verify the sources. But, we've excerpted the texts, in any case.
We find these articles especially meaningful, even momentous:
At the same time as WV's then-Congressman Jennings Randolph was flying over the hills in a light aircraft, powered by coal liquids brewed up for him in WVU's basement, heavy freight trains were chugging along the tracks under liquid coal power.
TIME's two articles are revelatory enough, but we will append some comment following the excerpts:
"OIL: Synthetic
Monday, May. 23, 1949
Out of St. Louis one day last week glided a diesel-powered Burlington train with a cargo of bigwigs from the coal, oil and auto industries and the Department of the Interior. The big diesel was burning oil made from coal—the first time in U.S. railroading that a train has ever run on synthetic fuel.
The train swung 188 miles up the Mississippi to the sleepy, picturesque town of Louisiana, Mo. There the passengers witnessed the dedication of two plants, developed by the Bureau of Mines at a cost of $15 million, to convert coal into oil. This was the biggest step the U.S. had yet taken to create a synthetic oil industry against the possibility of war or of exhaustion of petroleum reserves.
The plants which made the oil that drove the dedication train will turn out about 400 gallons a day—at least ten times as much as has been produced in any of the 15-odd smaller pilot plants so far built by Government and industry. But it was still far short of the 10,000-gallon daily production of a full-sized commercial plant on the scale of those that powered Germany's Luftwaffe during World War II.
RESEARCH: Chemicals from Coal
Monday, May. 12, 1952
Deep in the coal country, at Institute, W. Va., 30 newsmen gathered last week to see something new in the way of a chemical plant. From a distance, the $11-million factory looked like many another—a mass of storage tanks, pipes, warehouses, and above it all a thin wisp of smoke. But close up, it was like nothing else in the world. Amid the maze of gurgling pipes and steaming valves, scarcely a worker could be seen. Staffed by only 50 men—mostly chemical engineers—the plant runs continuously, 24 hours per day, with scarcely any need of human attention.
It is different in another way. Built and operated by the huge Union Carbide & Carbon Corp., it is the only commercial plant in the world that uses coal as a direct raw material for producing chemicals. By means of hydrogenation, a method of pulverizing coal and combining it with hydrogen under extreme pressure, it produces cheap hydrocarbons.
With the new plant, Union Carbide opens the door to an infinite variety of new products. From a new abundance of such coal-hydrogenation chemicals as toluene, xylene, napthalene and phenol, predicted Union Carbide's President Morse Dial, will come an endless stream of new medicines and drugs, long-wearing and fireproof fabrics, new paints and detergents, better weed-killers and insecticides.
Saving Time. Hydrogenation of coal is not a Union Carbide invention; the Germans used a similar method to produce gasoline during World War II, and the U.S. Government is also using it at a synthetic liquid-fuel plant at Louisiana, Mo. (TIME, May 23, 1949). But Union Carbide is the first to build such a plant as a source of chemicals. After long research, it has succeeded in cutting the hydrogenation process from an hour to a few minutes, reducing the amount of high-cost hydrogen needed and boosting production of such chemicals as phenol (a base for plastics) and aniline (a base for dyestuffs) as much as 500 times the output by previous methods based on coke.
More Expansion. Until now, these and other "aromatic" chemicals (also used in perfumes, synthetic rubber, explosives and drugs) have been based on raw materials drawn from byproducts of the steel industry's coke ovens. Yet demand for them is growing at an average rate of 30% a year, while the supply has been growing by less than 5%. With the information gained from the new pilot plant, Union Carbide hopes soon to build a full-scale hydrogenation plant which will help solve this raw-materials problem for good."
So, out of Institute, WV, we learn that a "full-scale" coal "hydrogenation plant" could "solve" a major chemical manufacturer's "raw-materials problem for good". And, out of St. Louis, MO, we learn that diesel fuel made from coal can power a full-size locomotive. Keep in mind, as well, that coal can provide fuel for airplanes, too - Jennings Randolph's small one and "Germany's Luftwaffe during World War II".
Speaking of the Luftwaffe, to range even further, let's not forget army tanks. You will, hopefully, recall our documentation of General Patton's use of captured, German, coal-derived synthetic fuel to power his armored columns across the remains of the Third Reich.
We seem to have known a lot more about making liquid fuels out of coal for our planes, trains, automobiles and army tanks back in the 1940's than we do now. Anyone know, or care to speculate on, why that might be?
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We submit this information, from Japan, as further evidence that the technologies both to convert our abundant coal into needed liquid fuels and plastics manufacturing feed stocks, and to recycle the Carbon Dioxide by-product of our coal-use industries into similar valuable products, is real, substantial and, even, in certain circles, well-known and understood.
Herein is more illustration of how focused and detailed effort is being applied to improve the productivity and efficiency of Carbon Dioxide recycling. It is, perhaps, gratuitous to note that Methanol, as can be produced from CO2, is a valuable and useful organic chemical. It can be used as a liquid fuel itself, or employed as a raw material for plastics manufacture; or, through at least one commercial process, be converted into gasoline.
The excerpt:
"Title: Methanol Synthesis by Catalytic Hydrogenation of Carbon Dioxide on CuO-ZnO-Al2O3 and CuO-ZnO-Al2O3-Ga2O3-MgO Catalysts
Author: HIRANO MASAKI(Kansai Electr. Power Co., Inc., Tech. Res. Cent.) IMAI TETSUYA(Mitsubishi Heavy Ind., Ltd., Hiroshima Res. & Dev. Cent.) YASUTAKE TOSHINOBU(Mitsubishi Heavy Ind., Ltd., Hiroshima Res. & Dev. Cent.) KURODA KENNOSUKE(Mitsubishijukogyo Purantojigyose)
Journal: Kagaku Kogaku Ronbunshu
Abstract: The purpose of the study is to develop a practical catalyst for the conversion of carbon dioxide to methanol by hydrogenation."
We've truncated the Abstract deliberately to excise a lot of technical jargon and chemical formulae. We invite our readers of a more technical bent to open the link and investigate further. The gist of it is this: These Japanese researchers were working to optimize the conditions of temperature, pressure and catalyst type to achieve to optimum yield of Methanol, from Carbon Dioxide, in the shortest time, with the least amount of energy input, and the longest catalyst life, possible.
Simply put: Carbon Dioxide can be effectively recycled into useful products. These Japanese researchers were making the process more efficient and more profitable.
Beats the heck out of stuffing all our coal plants' CO2 down geologic storage rat holes, or taxing those coal plants, through Cap & Trade, out of existence, doesn't it?
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You should now be aware, from our posts, at least, of China's ambitious Coal-to-Liquid industrialization plans. There are conflicting news reports about their resolve to continue with those plans, wherein, with West Virginia University's documented assistance, they will be implementing the "West Virginia Process" for liquefying coal into chemical manufacturing raw materials, and petroleum diesel and gasoline replacements.
Nonetheless, they have been at work studying and developing follow-on technologies to take advantage of the by-products generated by their already-extensive use of coal in steel making, power generation and chemical manufacturing.
They, too, like NASA and the US Navy, as we've documented, see potential in recovering and recycling the Carbon Dioxide by-product of coal use, as the enclosed report confirms.
The excerpt:
"Study on the carbon dioxide hydrogenation to iso-alkanes over Fe–Zn–M/zeolite composite catalysts
Bai Rongxian, Tan Yisheng and Han Yizhuo
Abstract
Synthesis of iso-alkanes from carbon dioxide hydrogenation was investigated over Fe–Zn–M/Zeolite composite catalysts. The effects of different promoter metals (M=Cr, Mn, Zr, Al, La) and zeolites on the performance of carbon dioxide hydrogenation were studied. The structure and the acidity of zeolites were investigated. It was found that Zr had a better promotional effect than other additive metal components for the iron-based catalyst. The catalyst had different catalytic performances with different zeolites and the distribution of hydrocarbon products was influenced by the acidity of the zeolite. The HY zeolite was the most effective one for iso-alkane synthesis due to its medium-strength and strong acid sites, which could be observed through temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia."
This is, actually, pretty detailed stuff. In essence, they seem to be tweaking a zeolite catalyst, as used by Exxon-Mobil in their MTG(r) coal-to-methanol-to-gasoline process, by assessing the effects of different metal ion additives. They are, in other words, fine tuning a process, a process based on one for converting coal into liquid fuels, that they already know works. They are making the process more efficient, practical and profitable.
"Iso-alkanes", by the way, according to very general web-based resources, would include paraffin and kerosene. Without citing references, it appears that paraffin can be "cracked" into gasoline components, and kerosene itself serves as a pretty dandy jet fuel.
Also interesting to note, isn't it, that China has a "Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion" and an "Institute of Coal Chemistry"? They seem to take the potentials for coal conversion pretty seriously.
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We submit the enclosed article as further evidence that the conversion of coal AND the recycling of CO2, as arises from varied uses of coal, as well as many other sources, into liquid fuels can be accomplished via interrelated and synergistic technologies.
The excerpt, with additional comment following:
"Title: 'Hydrogenation of carbon dioxide over Fe-ZnO/HY composite catalyst'
Authors: F. Mashito; A. Hisanori; X. Qiang - Osaka National Research Institute, Ikeda, Osaka, Japan
Date: December, 1996
Source: American Chemical Society, Division of Fuel Chemistry; Journal Volume: 41; Journal Issue: 4; Aug 1996
Abstract:
Fe-based catalysts are often used for various fields of catalytic reactions. F-T (Fischer-Tropsch) reaction is a representative example. It is well known that the Schulz-Anderson-Flory law determines the distribution of hydrocarbons in F-T reaction. To overcome this limitation, the composite catalysts comprised of Fe-based catalyst and zeolite have been examined. Although these composite catalysts produced branched hydrocarbons and improved the selectivity of hydrocarbons, the distribution was essentially restricted by the Schulz-Anderson-Flory law in almost cases. We have already reported that hydrocarbons were obtained efficiently from carbon dioxide and hydrogen over another type of the composite catalysts which are prepared by the physical mixing of Cu-based catalysts and zeolite. This catalytic system combining methanol synthesis and MTG (Methanol-to-Gasoline) reaction presents a novel method for hydrocarbon synthesis which is free from the Schulz-Anderson-Flory law. We recently found that, in the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide, Fe-ZnO/HY composite catalyst produced hydrocarbons with a similar distribution to the composite catalysts comprised of Cu-Zn-chromate and zeolite, while Fe-ZnO catalyst acted as a typical F-T catalyst to afford hydrocarbons with the Schulz-Anderson-Flory distribution. This presentation describes the entire studies of the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide over Fe-ZnO/HY."
We'll note, first, that we have no idea what the "Schulz-Anderson-Flory" "distribution" and/or "law" might be. But, whatever it/they are, it is, apparently, "well known" that the "law determines the distribution of hydrocarbons in F-T reaction".
Now, by "F-T reaction", the authors refer to the Fischer-Tropsch process for synthesizing liquid transportation fuels from coal. That hasn't been made too "well known" to those of us in coal country, has it? So, it's no surprise that we've never heard of "Schulz-Anderson-Flory".
But, it doesn't matter. The point of this Japanese research report is that CO2 can be recovered and converted into liquid hydrocarbon transportation fuels, just as coal can be. In their words: "hydrocarbons were obtained efficiently from carbon dioxide and hydrogen". And, basic coal-to-liquid conversion technologies can be used to accomplish that. We've earlier noted, as these Japanese researchers note herein, the use of both zeolite, as in Exxon-Mobil's MTG(r), methanol-to-gasoline, process, where the methanol is synthesized from coal; and, Iron Group (Fe, Co, Ni) metal catalysts and Zinc in "traditional", for want of a better word, coal-to-liquid conversion processes.
Again: This Japanese research is just more confirmation, and more is "out there", and will be forthcoming, that the solutions to liquid fuel shortages andcan, through demonstrated, proven and established coal-to-liquid technology, put a stop to all of it. to CO2 emissions are in hand, and have been in hand for many years, many decades. It's way past time we stopped wrangling over liquid fuel shortages; stopped allowing ourselves to be extorted by unfriendly foreign powers and Big Oil robber barons. We
And, at the same time, through the development of complementary technology, such as is reported herein by Japanese researchers, and has been, or is being, reduced to practice by our own US Navy, as verified by their several patents on the technology, we can recycle the primary by-product of our coal use, CO2, into even more liquid fuels and industrial chemical manufacturing raw materials.
Coal can do that. Coal can do all of that.
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Not many people in Coal Country, aside from those who've been following the WV Coal Association's R&D Blog, have heard of Exxon-Mobil's MTG (r) - i.e., methanol-to-gasoline, wherein the methanol is synthesized from coal - Process.
But, it is just another of the several technologies that do exist to transform our abundant coal into the liquid fuels we're short of; another of the several that have fallen, apparently, into the hands of Big Oil, and thus into an obscuring pit of apparent non-existence.
We've documented from multiple sources that Iron Group metals can be effective catalysts for the conversion of "syngas", generated from coal, into more complex hydrocarbon liquids that can be refined into conventional liquid fuels.
Exxon, unfortunately Exxon, has discovered that those same Iron Group metals, as we've documented from other sources, can serve to catalyze the condensation and conversion of Carbon Dioxide, CO2, as well, into liquid hydrocarbon fuel precursors.
The excerpt:
"Iron catalyzed CO2 hydrogenation to liquid hydrocarbons
Rocco A. Fiato, E. Iglesia, G.W. Rice and S.L. Soled
Exxon Research and Engineering Company, Florham Park, New Jersey 07932 USA
Many of the catalysts which are useful in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis are also capable of catalyzing the hydrogenation of CO2 to hydrocarbons. Our structure-function studies have shown that it is possible to control the selectivity of CO2 hydrogenation by specific iron-based catalysts to generate yields of C5 + hydrocarbons that are comparable to those produced with conventional CO based feedstocks."
Some things it might be thought-provoking to note: "Many ... catalysts ... are useful in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis", for instance, implies that scientists have identified many substances that will convert coal-derived synthesis gas into liquid hydrocarbons. And, we realize it's not obvious, but, by "conventional CO based feedstocks", we are compelled to presume they mean Carbon Monoxide generated by coal gasification in a low-oxygen atmosphere. Where else would they get CO? And, once again, through describing coal-based syngas, by inference, as a component of "conventional ... feedstocks", these Exxon researchers reveal that the knowledge of such conversion technologies is, in certain circles, common and routine.
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