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.