We've previously reported on the work of West Virginia University, in the science of coal liquefaction, and their participation in, what is now, with more discretion, referred to as the Consortium for Fossil Fuel Science (CFFS), working under contract to the USDOE.
Herein, from the USDOE, is an older report of some of that work. Excerpts and comments are appended. But, note as you read, almost immediately below, that, as we have earlier reported, the CFFS was once named the, apparently less discreet, but, the more accurate and the more-to-what-should-be-the-point: "Consortium for Fossil Fuel Liquefaction Science":
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| Project Information | |
| Project ID: | DE-FC26-99FT40540 |
| Project Title: | Cooperative Research in CI Chemistry |
| FE Program: | Adv. Research - Technology Crosscut |
| Research Type: | Basic Research |
| Funding Memorandum: | Cooperative Agree't (nonCCT) - Tech R&D |
| Project Performer | |
| Performer Type: | State Higher Education Institution |
| Performer: | Consortium for Fossil Fuel Liquefaction Science 201 Kinkead Hall |
| Project Team Members: |
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| Project Location | |
| City: | Lexington |
| State: | Kentucky |
| Zip Code: | 40506-0001 |
| Congressional District: | 06 |
| Responsible FE Site: | NETL |
| Project Point of Contact | |
| Name: | Huffman, Gerald P. |
| Telephone: | (859) 257-4027 |
| Fax Number: | (859) 257-7215 |
| Email Address: | huffman@engr.uky.edu |
| Fossil Energy Point of Contact | |
| Name: | Krastman, Don |
| Telephone: | (412) 386-4720 |
| Location: | NETL |
| Email Address: | donald.krastman@netl.doe.gov |
| Project Dates | |
| Start Date: | 04/28/1999 |
| End Date: | 06/30/2003 |
| Contract Specialist | |
| Name: | Gruber, Thomas J. |
| Telephone: | (412) 386-5897 |
| Cost & Funding Information | |
| Total Est. Cost: | $5,694,068 |
| DOE Share: | $4,500,000 |
| Non DOE Share: | $1,194,068 |
| Project Description | |
| A major goal of the CFFLS C1 program is to develop technology for the conversion of methanol into transportation fuels and chemicals. Complementary goals include development of improved technology for the production of syngas from natural gas by reforming with carbon dioxide, new catalysts and processes for the production of hydrogen, technology for producing methanol from syngas in high yields per pass, and development of new processes for producing selected higher-value products. A general goal is to develop improved understanding of catalytic reaction mechanisms for these processes. Research topics that will be investigated by the CFFLS to achieve these goals are briefly summarized below along product lines. Transportation fuel Ø Technology will be developed for conversion of methanol to a number of oxygenated compounds that should make excellent diesel fuel and diesel fuel additives. We will attempt to find catalysts and operating conditions for Fischer-Tropsch processes that yield more oxygenated products than are now made using conventional FT catalysts. This program will emphasize oxygenated compounds that are stable liquids at ambient conditions such as methylal, dimethylacetal, dioxolane, dimethyl dioxolane, dimethyl carbonate, and ethylene glycol. Ø Research will be conducted on the conversion of methanol to higher ethers (C5 - C7) and alcohols (C4 - C6). Such ethers and alcohols can be used as additives to improve the performance of gasoline and diesel fuel. Ø Processes to produce dimethyl carbonate (DMC) by reaction of methanol with urea will be explored. The oxidative carbonylation of methanol to yield DMC will be investigated. Ø The hydroprocessing of the C12 - C60 Fischer-Tropsch fraction to produce low pour-point, high cetane, diesel fuel, jet fuel, and lubricating oil will be investigated. Ø The conversion of methanol to olefins, and subsequently into diesel fuel and gasoline (MOGD) using new molecular sieve catalysts will be investigated. Synthesis gas Ø The conversion of natural gas to syngas by reaction with carbon dioxide will be investigated. This program will emphasize the development of more active and economical catalysts that resist carbon deposition. Both pure CO2 and mixtures of CO2 and H2O will be used in the reforming reactions. The reaction of CO2 with other hydrocarbons will also be examined. Benefits of the resulting technology will include utilization of CO2, production of syngas with tailored CO/H2 ratios, and development of processing conditions suitable for oil fields emitting gas that contains both CH4 and CO2. Hydrogen Ø Novel methods of producing hydrogen will be investigated, including catalytic decomposition of methane or other hydrocarbons and redox cycling of binary metal oxides. Ø Development of water-gas shift catalysts that are more active at lower temperatures. Ø Catalytic reforming of methanol to hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Methanol Ø The combined synthesis of methanol and dimethyl ether from syngas at lower temperatures (80-100 °C) than currently used (250 °C) will be investigated. The use of lower temperatures should increase conversion of syngas to methanol per pass. Advanced Analytic Characterization Research Ø A wide range of advanced analytical techniques will be employed to obtain accurate determinations of both product distribution and catalyst structure and reactions. These techniques include TGA/GC-MS, NMR using 13C and other nuclei, x-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy, Mössbauer spectroscopy, HPLC, TEM, computer-controlled SEM, XRD, FTIR, ESR, XPS and other methods. In situ analytical measurements at elevated temperatures and pressures will be emphasized. | |
| Project Background | |
| Faculty and students from five universities (Kentucky, West Virginia, Utah, Pittsburgh and Auburn) are collaborating on a basic research program to develop novel C1chemistry processes for the production of clean, high quality transportation fuel. An Industrial Advisory Board (IAB) with members from Chevron, Eastman Chemical, Energy International, Teir Associates, and the Department of Defense has been formed to provide practical guidance to the program. The program has two principal objectives. 1. Develop technology for conversion of C1 source materials (natural gas, synthesis gas, carbon dioxide and monoxide, and methanol) into clean, high efficiency transportation fuel. 2. Develop novel processes for producing hydrogen from natural gas and other hydrocarbons. Transportation fuel Ø Technology will be developed for conversion of methanol to a number of oxygenated compounds that should make excellent diesel fuel and diesel fuel additives. We will attempt to find catalysts and operating conditions for Fischer-Tropsch processes that yield more oxygenated products than are now made using conventional FT catalysts. This program will emphasize oxygenated compounds that are stable liquids at ambient conditions such as methylal, dimethylacetal, dioxolane, dimethyl dioxolane, dimethyl carbonate, and ethylene glycol. Ø Research will be conducted on the conversion of methanol to higher ethers (C5 - C7) and alcohols (C4 - C6). Such ethers and alcohols can be used as additives to improve the performance of gasoline and diesel fuel. Ø Processes to produce dimethyl carbonate (DMC) by reaction of methanol with urea will be explored. The oxidative carbonylation of methanol to yield DMC will be investigated. Ø The hydroprocessing of the C12 - C60 Fischer-Tropsch fraction to produce low pour-point, high cetane, diesel fuel, jet fuel, and lubricating oil will be investigated. Ø The conversion of methanol to olefins, and subsequently into diesel fuel and gasoline (MOGD) using new molecular sieve catalysts will be investigated. Synthesis gas Ø The conversion of natural gas to syngas by reaction with carbon dioxide will be investigated. This program will emphasize the development of more active and economical catalysts that resist carbon deposition. Both pure CO2 and mixtures of CO2 and H2O will be used in the reforming reactions. The reaction of CO2 with other hydrocarbons will also be examined. Benefits of the resulting technology will include utilization of CO2, production of syngas with tailored CO/H2 ratios, and development of processing conditions suitable for oil fields emitting gas that contains both CH4 and CO2. Hydrogen Ø Novel methods of producing hydrogen will be investigated, including catalytic decomposition of methane or other hydrocarbons and redox cycling of binary metal oxides. Ø Development of water-gas shift catalysts that are more active at lower temperatures. Ø Catalytic reforming of methanol to hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Methanol Ø The combined synthesis of methanol and dimethyl ether from syngas at lower temperatures (80-100 °C) than currently used (250 °C) will be investigated. The use of lower temperatures should increase conversion of syngas to methanol per pass. Advanced Analytic Characterization Research Ø A wide range of advanced analytical techniques will be employed to obtain accurate determinations of both product distribution and catalyst structure and reactions. These techniques include TGA/GC-MS, NMR using 13C and other nuclei, x-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy, Mössbauer spectroscopy, HPLC, TEM, computer-controlled SEM, XRD, FTIR, ESR, XPS and other methods. In situ analytical measurements at elevated temperatures and pressures will be emphasized. | |
| Project Milestones | |
| This information is currently unavailable. | |
| Project Accomplishments | |
| Title: | 20001 annual report |
| Date: | 04/19/2002 |
| Description | The addition of acetylenic compounds in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is found to produce significant amounts of oxygenated products in FT diesel fuels. Such oxygenated products should decrease particulate matter (PM) emissions. Nanoscale, binary, Fe-based catalysts supported on alumina have been shown to have significant activity for the decomposition of methane into pure hydrogen and potentially valuable multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Catalytic synthesis processes have been developed for synthesis of diethyl carbonate, higher ethers, and higher alcohols from C1 source materials. Testing of the effect of adding these oxygenates to diesel fuel on PM emissions has begun using a well-equipped small diesel engine test facility. Supercritical fluid (SCF) FT synthesis has been conducted under SCF hexane using both Fe and Co catalysts. There is a marked effect on the hydrocarbon product distribution, with a shift to higher carbon number products. |
| Title: | semianual briefing 10/1/2001 |
| Date: | 02/08/2002 |
| Description | see images |
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So, "A major goal of the CFFLS C1 program is to develop technology for the conversion of methanol into transportation fuels and chemicals", along with the "technology for producing methanol from syngas in high yields per pass" and "development of new processes for producing selected higher-value products".
Note, that: "Both pure CO2 and mixtures of CO2 and H2O will be used in the reforming reactions. The reaction of CO2 with other hydrocarbons will also be examined. Benefits of the resulting technology will include utilization of CO2."
So, they are following up on the technologies we've reported from around the world: Carbon Dioxide can be recycled into "other hydrocarbons" and "the resulting technology will include utilization of CO2".
And, finally, "processes have been developed for synthesis of diethyl carbonate, higher ethers, and higher alcohols from C1 source materials." In other words, we can make plastics, and are working to "Develop technology for conversion of C1 source materials (natural gas, synthesis gas, carbon dioxide and monoxide, and methanol) into clean, high efficiency transportation fuel".
All of that is wonderful, except that, our favorite four-letter word, and our most abundant "C1 source material", "coal", is mentioned only once, as in: "West Virginia University - National Research Center for Coal & Energy". That, even though coal was the first, and remains the largest potential, source "for the production of syngas".