Having thoroughly documented that we can obtain Methane through processes of Carbon Dioxide recycling and Coal steam-, or hydro-, gasification, we wanted to affirm that, in addition to using Methane to tri-reform more Carbon Dioxide into higher hydrocarbons, or to enhance the productivity of some Coal indirect liquefaction technologies, we can also transform Methane directly into hydrocarbons.
No one, so far, has said that more thoroughly than ARCO, Atlantic Richfield, in the following sequence of five, closely related, US Patents.
Comment follows the links to, and excerpts from:
United States Patent: 4443645
"Title: Methane Conversion; Patent Number: 4,443,645; Date: April 17, 1984
Inventor: Jones, C. Andrew, et. al. (Pennsylvania)
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company (Los Angeles, CA)
Abstract: A method for synthesizing hydrocarbons from a methane source which comprises contacting methane with an oxide of germanium at a temperature of 500.degree. to 800.degree. C. The oxide is reduced by the contact and coproduct water is formed. A reducible oxide of germanium is regenerated by oxidizing the reduced composition with molecular oxygen. The oxide GeO2 is a particularly effective synthesizing agent.
United States Patent: 4443646
Title: Methane Conversion; Patent Number: 4,443,646; Date: April 17, 1984
Inventor: Jones, C. Andrew, et. al. (Pennsylvania)
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company (Los Angeles, CA)
Abstract: A method for synthesizing hydrocarbons from a methane source which comprises contacting methane with an oxide of bismuth at a temperature of about 500.degree. to 850.degree. C. The oxide is reduced by the contact and coproduct water is formed. A reducible oxide of bismuth is regenerated by oxidizing the reduced composition with molecular oxygen. The oxide Bi2O3 is a particularly effective solid synthesizing agent.
United States Patent: 4443647
Title: Methane Conversion; Patent Number: 4,443,647; Date: April 17, 1984
Inventor: Jones, C. Andrew, et. al. (Pennsylvania)
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company (Los Angeles, CA)
Abstract: A method for synthesizing hydrocarbons from a methane source which comprises contacting methane with an oxide of lead at a temperature of about 500.degree. to 1000.degree. C. The oxide is reduced by the contact and coproduct water is formed. A reducible oxide of lead is regenerated by oxidizing the reduced composition with molecular oxygen. The oxide PbO is a particularly effective synthesizing agent.
United States Patent: 4443648
Title: Methane Conversion; Patent Number: 4,443,648; Date: April 17, 1984
Inventor: Jones, C. Andrew, et. al. (Pennsylvania)
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company (Los Angeles, CA)
Abstract: A method for synthesizing hydrocarbons from a methane source which comprises contacting methane with an oxide of indium at a temperature of about 500.degree. to 850.degree. C. The oxide is reduced by the contact and coproduct water is formed. A reducible oxide of indium is regenerated by oxidizing the reduced composition with molecular oxygen. The oxide In2O3 is a particularly effective solid synthesizing agent.
United States Patent: 4443649
Title: Methane Conversion; Patent Number: 4,443,649; Date: April 17, 1984
Inventor: Jones, C. Andrew, et. al. (Pennsylvania)
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company (Los Angeles, CA)
Abstract: A method for synthesizing hydrocarbons from a methane source which comprises contacting methane with an oxide of manganese at a temperature of about 500.degree. to 1000.degree. C. The oxide is reduced by the contact and coproduct water is formed. A reducible oxide of manganese is regenerated by oxidizing the reduced composition with molecular oxygen. The oxide Mn3O4 is a particularly effective synthesizing agent."
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Now, our take on all the foregoing is that these Pennsylvania scientists - Jones and all of his co-inventors are located in PA - and ARCO knew that they had stumbled on to something of genuine value, especially presuming them to have known that we can obtain Methane from both Coal and Carbon Dioxide, and wanted, through this sequence of patents, to make certain they had the technology locked up tighter than a bull's butt at fly time.
And, since they're not, as far as we know, actually using the technology, we are led to suppose that they locked it up through so many patents so that no one else could use it, either, and thereby employ Methane, derived from Coal hydro-gasification or Sabatier-type Carbon Dioxide recycling, to start synthesizing liquid fuels and eating into the profits from imported foreign oil.
