United States Patent: 6376562
In a very recent dispatch, we alerted you that scientists in Korea had been awarded a United States Patent for technology that enables the conversion, the recycling, of Carbon Dioxide into valuable hydrocarbons.
Herein is that patent, with comment appended following excerpts from the enclosed link:
"United States Patent 6,376,562 - Hydrocarbon Synthesis via Hydrogenation of Carbon Dioxide
Date: April, 2002
Inventors: Son-Ki Ihm, et. al., Korea
Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
Abstract: The present invention provides a hybrid catalyst which is prepared by mixing a methanol synthesis catalyst with SAPO-type zeolite as a methanol conversion catalyst, and a process for the preparation of hydrocarbons from carbon dioxide by using the hybrid catalyst. The hybrid catalyst ... may be used for preparing various high-valued hydrocarbons from an ubiquitous carbon source of carbon dioxide.
Claims: A hybrid catalyst comprising a methanol synthesis catalyst and a methanol conversion catalyst (and a) process for producing hydrocarbons from carbon dioxide ... .
Background: In general, hydrocarbons are synthesized from carbon oxides such as carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide via hydrogenation by employing hybrid catalysts, that are prepared by mixing a catalyst for the synthesis of methanol, an intermediate in the process of preparing hydrocarbons from the carbon oxides, with a methanol conversion catalyst.
Summary: The present inventors have ... discovered that hydrocarbons can be synthesized from carbon dioxide ... in a high yield under a relatively mild condition. ... As clearly illustrated and demonstrated ... the present invention provides a hybrid catalyst for production of hydrocarbons from carbon dioxide (and) may be used for preparing various high-valued hydrocarbons from an ubiquitous carbon source of carbon dioxide."
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The full disclosure, as we understand it, actually reveals that, what be believe to be gasoline-range, higher hydrocarbons are synthesized from Carbon Dioxide via the intermediary of Methanol.
We have, though, already more than amply documented that Methanol can be synthesized from Carbon Dioxide, as well as from Coal; and, that Methanol can then be processed into Gasoline and other valuable organic chemical products, such as raw materials for the manufacture of certain Plastics.
Now, we don't rightly know, off the tops of our heads, what "ubiquitous" actually means; but, does anyone out there, in US Coal Country, know where we might be able to find any old "source of carbon dioxide"?
If anyone does, why don't we license this technology from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and go start making some Methanol, and other "high-valued hydrocarbons"?
Unless, of course, we would rather spend the money to collect our CO2 and ship it all off to West Texas, where the cowboys down there can use it, "sequester" it, all at Coal Country's expense, to force more crude oil out of their withered petroleum reservoirs.
