Patent US3700586
On April 17 of this year, we posted, to the West Virginia Coal Association, report of:
"United States Patent 3,972,958 - Conversion of Coal to High-Octane Gasoline; 1976; Mobil Oil;Abstract: An integrated process for converting coal to high octane gasoline ... ."
We have been, as one of the several themes in the course of our reportage, documenting the concurrent development of Coal liquefaction technologies by both Mobil Oil and Exxon prior to their merger, which finally led, we contend, to their current promotion of the ExxonMobil MTG(r), methanol-to-gasoline, process, wherein the methanol is posited to be made from Coal.
We submit the enclosed selection now for a couple of reasons.
First, it mirrors in theme the above-noted Mobil patent.
But, more significantly, to us, it also draws heavily, as they openly state, on prior art established by Consolidation Coal Company. As they reveal in, and as we further explain following:
"United States Patent 3,700,586 - Production of High Octane Gasoline from Coal Liquids
Date: October, 1972
Inventor: Bernard L. Schulman, NJ
Assignee: Esso Research and Engineering Company, NJ
Abstract: A high octane gasoline is obtained, without addition of lead-containing compounds, by the hydro treating and catalytic cracking of coal-derived liquids.
Background: The present invention is directed to a process for obtaining a high octane gasoline from a coal derived liquid, avoiding the need for addition of lead-containing compounds. By the present invention, the use of hydrocracking and subsequent reforming of the coal derived liquid is avoided, making the process more economically attractive.
The production of gasoline from coal derived liquids is well known in the art ... as shown in the (Everett) Gorin patents 3,018,241; 3,018,242 and 3,117,291 ... .
Summary: The present invention is directed to a process for producing a high octane gasoline from a coal derived liquid, avoiding (both) the addition of lead ... (and) ... an expensive reforming operation."
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We have reported on some of Everett Gorin's, and thus Consol's, coal liquefaction achievements previously, and will report on more in the future.
But, it's interesting, isn't it, that, as herein, a petroleum company inventor drew on the achievements of a Coal industry scientist?
Note especially, though, the emphasis Esso/Exxon put on the fact that, as we have from other sources documented, liquid fuels derived from Coal can be made to be both cleaner and higher-performing than their petroleum-based counterparts; and, Coal liquids can be made to be "more economically attractive".
If, in 1972, liquid fuels made from Coal were "more economically attractive", what are they now, nearly forty years later, with all that's happened since?
