We've noted both Honeywell and Rentech previously in our posts concerning coal liquefaction technology and development; and, in the case of Honeywell, the history of coal chemicals industry.
It looks as if they are now combining their efforts to achieve synergies, between coal and biomass, we've suggested to be possible.
The excerpt:
"DES PLAINES, Ill., Oct. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, announced today that it has expanded its alliance with Rentech, Inc. to support clean fuels production, adding UOP gas processing technology for the treatment of synthesis gas, or syngas, from sources such as biomass, natural gas and coal.
"Our goal has been to provide a one-stop solution for producers to convert syngas into high-quality, ultra-clean transportation fuels and high-value chemicals," said UOP Refining Business Director Ashis Banerji. "UOP's high-performance gas processing technologies are proven worldwide and this alliance will further enhance our ability to support production of ultra-clean fuels."
Specifically, Rentech's technology uses synthesis gas produced from biomass and fossil feedstocks. UOP gas processing technology, now a part of the alliance, can be used to remove impurities from syngas derived from these sources as well as hydrogen-rich streams utilized within the overall plant. The resulting syngas is upgraded to ultra-clean hydrocarbons using Rentech's proprietary iron catalyst and the purified hydrogen streams are used with UOP's Unionfining and Unicracking technology to convert the liquid hydrocarbons to high-value naphtha or distillate products, which are used to produce ultra-clean jet and diesel fuel as well as specialty waxes and chemicals."
Rentech's indirect coal liquefaction technology, using syngas, sounds very much like Sasol's, in South Africa, especially in regards to the sheer range of valuable products which can be made from coal and carbon-recycling biomass: "ultra-clean jet and diesel fuel as well as specialty waxes and chemicals".
All while utilizing our most abundant natural resource, coal, and recycling Carbon Dioxide.