China & Japan: CO2 Improves CoalTL

October 22, 2009

Researching Fe Catalyst Suitable for CO2-Containing Syngas for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis - Energy & Fuels (ACS Publications)

In confirmation of the US Department of Energy project we just reported to you, wherein the addition of flue gas Carbon Dioxide actually improved the production of liquid fuels from coal-derived synthesis gas, we are able to submit a report of work performed in China and Japan, and published very recently by the American Chemical Society.

These Chinese and Japanese researchers, too, acknowledge that the Carbon Dioxide by-product of coal use can improve the production of liquid fuels from synthesis gas extracted from coal.

The excerpt:

"Researching Fe Catalyst Suitable for CO2-Containing Syngas for Fischer−Tropsch Synthesis

Wensheng Ning, Naoto Koizumi and Muneyoshi Yamada

College of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Chaowang Road No. 18, Hangzhou 310032, China

Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Aoba 6-6-07, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579, Japan

Energy Fuels, 2009, 23 (9), pp 4696–4700

DOI: 10.1021/ef900428t

Publication Date (Web): August 19, 2009

Abstract

Fischer−Tropsch (FT) synthesis is a technology to produce liquid fuels from coal, natural gas, and biomass as an alternate to crude oil. However, the quantity of emitted CO2 from the FT process consisting of syngas preparation, FT synthesis, and product workup is one of the serious disadvantages of FT process. The conversion of CO2 into hydrocarbons is one of the promising methods to decrease CO2 emissions. Effects of promoter addition on the activity of precipitated Fe catalysts for the conversion of CO22 and CO2-containing syngas feeds. The results suggested that CO2 can be activated by suitable promoter(s) for hydrocarbon synthesis at low temperature. Low K content is suitable for increasing hydrocarbon yield. The Fe catalysts promoted by equal Zn and Cu have higher CO and CO2 conversion and decreased CH4 selectivity." were studied using pure CO

So, even though CO2 is generated both by coal combustion for power generation and by some indirect processes of coal liquefaction, "CO2 can be activated by suitable promoter(s) for hydrocarbon synthesis at low temperature".

In other words, Carbon Dioxide, wherever we get it, can be converted into hydrocarbons, such as liquid fuels, in a low energy, "low temperature", process.

And, note: Even though the work was performed in China and Japan, it was reported by the American Chemical Society.

This process of coal conversion and CO2 recycling might be "low temperature", but it's way past time for our Coal Country journalists to start turning up the heat on the topic of coal conversion and CO2 recycling, isn't it?