Another, seemingly forgotten, artifact of the 1970's confirming, if more confirmation was needed, subsequent to our report that Methanol can remove Sulfur from coal, that we can make the Methanol from coal.
The excerpt:
| "Title: | Methanol derivation from North Dakota lignite and use as a fuel | |
| Authors: | Glass, E.C.: Freeman, A.L.; Wentworth, T.O. | |
| Affiliation: | AA(Northern States Power Co., Minneapolis, MN | |
| Publication: | (U.S. Department of Energy and University of North Dakota, Biennial Lignite Symposium, 10th, Grand Forks, N. Dak., May 1979.) I & EC - Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, Product Research and Development, vol. 18, Dec. 1979, p. 288-291. |
Abstract
Methanol has the potential for a significant replacement of oil in the U.S. Its utilization by electric and gas utilities and by industry appears favorable. Methanol has an advantage over oil where a very clean flame is required. It can also be converted to gasoline at a modest cost. A process design firm has performed an engineering evaluation and a study of economic feasibility of a plant producing 2.5 billion gallons of methanol annually from North Dakota lignite. A range of costs for methanol from $18 to $28/bbl (1978 $) of oil equivalent is indicated depending mainly on type of financing."Note, especially: "Methanol ... can also be converted to gasoline at a modest cost.".
Please keep in mind, as we've said before, lignite is a lower-quality, lower-Btu coal compared to WV bituminous. It might compare in those respects to some older accumulations of WV coal mine refuse, with implications for the potential value of those "wastes".
And, once again, Methanol is both a perfectly-serviceable liquid fuel in it's own right, after the Sulfur it has cleaned from the coal is removed, as per our earlier dispatch on that subject; or, it can itself be converted, through known and established processes, into both gasoline and/or raw materials for plastics manufacturing.