Korea Recycles CO2

January 06, 2010

ScienceDirect - Catalysis Today : Tri-reforming of CH4 using CO2 for production of synthesis gas to dimethyl ether

Subsequent to our recent citations of Penn State University's Chunsan Song, and others, revealing the truth that Carbon Dioxide is a valuable by-product of our coal-use industry, we wanted to confirm that the concept of "tri-reforming" CO2, to produce liquid hydrocarbon fuels and valuable industrial chemicals, isn't just some isolated notion cooked up in the academic clouds of Pennsylvania's Happy Valley.

Herein, research from Korea affirms that, yes, we certainly can recycle Carbon Dioxide into products of genuine commercial, industrial value, through the tri-reforming process.

The excerpt, with brief comment appended:

"Tri-reforming of CH4 using CO2 for production of synthesis gas to dimethyl ether

Seung-Ho Lee, Wonihl Cho, Woo-Sung Ju, Byoung-Hak Cho, Young-Chul Lee and Young-Soon Baek

LNG Technology Research Center, Research and Development Division, Korea Gas Corporation, 973, Dongchun-dong, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 406-130, South Korea

Abstract

In general, there are three processes for production of synthesis gas; steam reforming, CO2 reforming and partial oxidation of methane or natural gas. In the present work, we refer to tri-reforming of methane to synthesize syngas with desirable H2/CO ratios by simultaneous oxy-CO2-steam reforming of methane. In this study, we report the results obtained on tri-reforming of methane over the Ni/ZrO2 based catalyst in order to restrain the carbon deposition and to evaluate the catalytic performance. Results of tri-reforming of CH4 by three catalysts (Ni/Ce–ZrO2, Ni/ZrO2 and Haldor Topsoe R67-7H) are showed that the coke on the reactor wall and the surface of catalyst were reduced dramatically. It was found that the weak acidic site, basic site and redox ability of Ce–ZrO2 play an important role in tri-reforming of methane conversion. Carbon deposition depends not only on the nature of support, but also on the oxidant as like steam or oxygen. Therefore, the process optimization by reactant ratios is important to manufacture the synthesis gas from natural gas and carbon dioxide."

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As with the PSU developments reported by Dr. Song, some of the problems associated with Carbon Dioxide recycling, such as troublesome depositions of "coke" ..."were reduced dramatically", and the process thus made more efficient.

We shouldn't need to, but will, affirm that "synthesis gas", once produced from Coal or CO2, can be used to make a number of useful things, gasoline included. But, once again, dimethyl ether itself is an extremely versatile liquid fuel and organic chemical processing raw material.

And, as NASA is doing aboard the International Space Station, as a function of their air purification system, if we need additional Methane to react with the Carbon Dioxide, to produce dimethyl ether, we can use Sabatier technology to make that, too, directly out of Carbon Dioxide - or, as we have more-than-thoroughly documented, through gasification processes, directly from Coal.