We have previously documented the potential for utilizing biological, "Green", technologies to convert the by-products of both coal use, as in Dow-Algenol's plans for the algal recycling of CO2; and, of coal mining, as in Joe's WVU graduate research into the recoverable organic content of coal mine refuse, into vital liquid transportation fuels.
Herein, from the University of Arkansas, oddly enough, since Arkansas isn't exactly in the same league with states like West Virginia and Pennsylvania as regards coal mining, comes additional word confirming the potential of utilizing Green technology to extract the liquid fuels we need - from coal.
The excerpt:
"Document title
Biological conversion of coal and coal-derived synthesis gasAuthors
KLASSON K. T. ; ACKERSON M. D. ; CLAUSEN E. C. ; GADDY J. L. ;Authors Affiliation
Univ. Arkansas, dep. chemical eng., Fayetteville AR 72701, ETATS-UNISAbstract
Recent research has resulted in a number of promising biological pathways to produce clean fuels from coal. These processes all involve two or more steps: either the biosolubilization of coal, followed by bioconversion to ethanol or methane; or conversion of coal to synthesis gas, followed by bioconversion into alcohols or methane. Sulfur may also be removed from the solubilized coal or synthesis gas in a separate, or concurrent, biological step. This paper presents research results from both the direct and indirect conversion of coal to liquid fuels using biological processes. A review of direct conversion techniques in producing liquid fuels from coal in a serial conversion process is presentedJournal Title
Fuel ISSN 0016-2361Source
International symposium on the biological processing of coal, Clearwater Beach FL , ETATS-UNIS (04/05/1992) 1993, vol. 72, pp. 1673-1678"
Our question: How is it that Arkansas presented technology on Green technology for converting coal into liquid fuels at a coal conference in Florida, and the people, and their experts - who actually know something about coal, such those from WVU and Penn State, didn't, apparently, participate?
Regardless of those somewhat selfish sentiments: This is just more evidence that the technologies to convert our coal, and the wastes generated by our mining and use if coal, exist, and can be reduced to practice. The fact that this evidence was presented by an entity that couldn't, for economic reasons, have coal technology at the core of it's interests, at a conference in a state where they would likely be much more interested in solar, wind and tidal sources of power, confirms for us, as it should, we now contend, confirm for all, that the technologies to profitably convert our vast reserves of coal, and the by-products of our use of coal, into the liquid transportation fuels the United States desperately needs, does exist. But, that vital coal technology is, for whatever maleficent reason, being deliberately obscured, sidelined and suppressed.