WV Coal Member Meeting 2024 1240x200 1 1

Exxon Recycles CO2

 
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.