The hydrocarbon compound named "Ethylene", also known as "ethene", according to web-based sources, is a widely-used industrial raw material. A lot of very useful things can be made out of it.
In fact, according to the seemingly-omniscient Wikipedia:
"Ethylene is the most produced organic compound in the world (and) to meet the ever increasing demand for ethylene, sharp increases in production facilities have been added globally, particularly in the Persian Gulf countries."
As you should, by now, know, we can make just about anything out of our domestic Coal that can be made out of Persian, or Mexican, Gulf petroleum; except for, perhaps, international conflicts, unfavorable trade imbalances and environmental disasters.
Previously, we sent you reports detailing the invention, by E.I. DuPont scientists working in West Virginia, of ways in which Coal, via the technologies disclosed in US Patents 2,699,384 and 3,763,205, could be converted, respectively, into both a valuable hydrocarbon synthesis gas and the nearly-precious liquid fuel, and Gasoline raw material, Methanol.
Herein, we see that other DuPont scientists, working outside of West Virginia, also developed a means whereby Coal could be used to synthesize that valuable, "most produced organic compound in the world", Ethylene.
Comment follows very brief excerpts from the enclosed link to, and attached file of:
"United States Patent 2,623,011 - Preparation of Olefins by Coal Carbonization
Date: December, 1952
Inventor: A.J. Wells, DE
Assignee: E.I. DuPont and Coompany, DE
Abstract: This invention relates to an improved process for the preparation of unsaturated hydrocarbons, and more particularly, to the preparation of ethylene by the carbonization of coal."
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The full disclosure reveals a variety of ways in which gases can be generated from Coal, and then reacted in specific ways with Steam, to form ethylene.
In sum, and our point is: Coal can be reacted with Steam to synthesize hydrocarbons; in this case, specifically, ethylene.
Quite simply: If there is anything we need, for whatever industrial purpose, that we now get from petroleum, we can most probably make it from Coal.