As in many of the technologies for the conversion of Coal into liquid hydrocarbons which have been developed, published and patented by Big Oil, use of the dirty, four-letter word, Coal, is avoided herein to the point of absurdity.
Exxon, in this 33 years-old patent, only goes so far as to show us her garter belt in the full Description, by saying:
"This invention relates to a new and improved Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis process".
And, if Fischer-Tropsch isn't synonymous with Coal-to-Liquid conversion for you by now, then you haven't been paying any attention whatsoever.
In any case, some brief excerpts from:
"United States Patent 4,042,615 - Hydrocarbon Synthesis from CO and H2
Date: August 16, 1977
Inventors: Albert Vannice and Robert Garten, NJ
Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering
Abstract: Nickel supported on TiO2, other titanium-containing oxides or mixtures of various titanium oxides results in a catalyst system which exhibits superior hydrocarbon synthesis characteristics. ... The supported nickel catalysts exhibit enhanced activity, improved selectivity to higher molecular weight normal paraffins, improved longevity and tolerance to sulfur ... . A new method for the selective synthesis of higher molecular weight normal paraffins from CO and H2 ... .
Description: This invention relates to a new and improved Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis process incorporating a catalyst of nickel on TiO2, Ti-containing oxide support or mixed titanium oxides used therein. This catalyst has a number of desirable characteristics including increased activity, improved selectivity to higher molecular weight paraffins, life, sulfur tolerance, and resistance to nickel carbonyl formation."
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It should, by now, go without saying that a mixture of CO and H2 is just synthesis gas, syngas, which, again, it should, by now, go without saying, we can manufacture from Coal.
If Coal conversion could have been made to be "new and improved" in 1977, that must mean that it was, by then, already "old but adequate".