Energy Citations Database (ECD) - - Document #7257959
Pursuant to our recent dispatches concerning both the technologies for reforming Carbon Dioxide with Methane to synthesize liquid hydrocarbons, as described most particularly by Song and Grimes at Penn State University; and, for the direct catalysis of Methane into liquids, we wanted to further affirm that, in addition to being able to synthesize Methane from the recycling of Carbon Dioxide, via the Sabatier, and similar, processes, Methane can also be generated from the gasification of Coal.
To that end, we submit yet another US Patent owned by yet another Big Oil stalwart, attesting to the fact that, if we want Methane for whatever purpose, we can synthesize it from Coal. And, note that this is not a patent for the gasification of coal into Methane, but a patent on technology to improve such coal gasification.
The excerpt, with brief comment appended:
"Title: Purification process for coal gas methanation
Author: Dew, J.N.; Casad, B.M.; Harlacher, E.A.; Kleinpeter, J.A.
Patent Assignee: Continental Oil Co.
Date: August, 1976; US Patent 3977843; OSTI ID: 7257959
Abstract: An improved method for removing sulfur compounds during coal gas methanation comprises removing essentially all carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide from synthesis gas, then adding carbon dioxide containing lower levels of sulfur back to the gas stream before feeding the mixture to a desulfurization reactor. Carbon dioxide, at levels above about 12 percent, will prevent high temperature methanation runaways in the hydrodesulfurization reactor, where a stream consisting essentially of hydrogen sulfide and methanation materials is produced, the lower level of hydrogen sulfide produced being removed by conventional methods before proceeding to methanation units. The carbon dioxide can be supplied either from an outside source or can be obtained from the synthetic natural gas after methanation."
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So, for more than 30 years, the petroleum industry, and our own US Government, have known that coal can be converted into a "synthetic natural gas", Methane.
And, as we've elsewhere documented, it is also known that Methane can be itself converted into liquid fuels.
Even better, it can be combined with Carbon Dioxide in a "Tri-reforming" process to make more liquid fuels.
And, it all starts with Coal.
