United States Patent: 4041094
We present, at the understood risk of irritating repetitiveness, yet another US-patented technology developed by Mobil Oil, prior to their, perhaps unholy, alliance with Exxon, for the refining of hydrocarbon liquids synthesized, via their advanced Fischer-Tropsch technology, from Coal.
As preview, we can't resist excerpting one passage from the patent as a foreword:
"Processes for the conversion of coal and other hydrocarbons such as natural gas to a gaseous mixture consisting essentially of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, or of hydrogen and carbon dioxide, or of hydrogen and carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, are well known."
Are they really?
In any case, brief comment follows further excerpts from:
"United States Patent 4,041,094 - Upgrading Products of Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis
Date: August 9, 1977
Inventor: James Kuo, et. al.
Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation, NY
Abstract: Upgrading of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis product is obtained by separating a 560F minus hydrocarbon fraction from gaseous C5 rich material and a water phase comprising oxygenates. Alcohols may be recovered from the water phase for conversion to gasoline ... components. C5 rich material is converted to gasoline boiling material with a ZSM-5 crystalline zeolite and upgrading of the 560F minus hydrocarbon fraction is accomplished with a ZSM-5 crystalline zeolite catalyst.
It is considered desirable to effectively and more efficiently convert synthesis gas, and thereby coal and natural gas, to highly valued hydrocarbons such as motor gasoline with high octane number, petrochemical feedstocks, liquefiable petroleum fuel gas, and aromatic hydrocarbons."
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Well, we don't think it's just "desirable" to "convert ... coal ... to highly valued hydrocarbons such as motor gasoline", we think it's downright essential to our national survival and prosperity.
We find it very strange that not many United States citizens, including those resident in United States Coal Country, seem to feel, openly and publicly at least, the same way.
