We've been unable to learn much about the inventor, Titus Ulke, named in this United States Patent, except that he appears to have been something of an itinerant alchemist, or wandering metallurgical genius, who, along his way, authored a surprising number of technical treatises; including, for instance, a book, in 1903, entitled Modern Electrolytic Copper Refining.
Aside from his interests in the refining of metals, Ulke also realized that Coal, too, could be refined; and, in 1923, our United States Government agreed, via issuance of the enclosed and attached US Patent.
Comment follows excerpts from:
"United States Patent 1,445,423 - Hydrogenating Carbonaceous Material
Date: February, 1923
Inventor: Titus Ulke, Washington, DC
Abstract: My invention relates to the art of and apparatus for treating any carbonaceous material, such as coal of any kind, ... sawdust, ... carbohydrates ... for the purposes of recovering ... marketable fluid hydrocarbons. ... (The) use of hydrogen, or of gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen, is specified, although these ... may also be formed within the reaction vessel.
For this purpose an abandoned coal gas plant in good condition may be utilized ... .
Claims: The method of producing fluid hydrocarbons from solid carbonaceous materials ... (and apparatus) for hydrogenating carbonaceous material with ... means for condensing liquid and gaseous products."
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Quite interestingly, from our point of view, Ulke specifies, or suggests, deep within the full text of his Disclosure, the use of Sodium Formate, along with Steam, all as shown in his preliminary schematics, as one "hydrogen-yielding compound" which can be utilized to assist in the hydrogenation of Coal.
Sodium Formate can be made from Formic Acid; which itself can be made using Carbon Dioxide as one raw material - all as a quick web search will reveal for you.
Also, note that, as in other, similar, technologies we've cited, Carbon-recycling raw materials, such as "sawdust", can be used as a co-feed along with Coal.
In other words, we knew, as herein officially, in the capital of this nation, almost fully ninety years ago, that we could convert Coal into "fluid hydrocarbons"; and, that, in doing so, we could also, to some extent, arrange to recycle Carbon.
Further comment would seem unneeded.
But, interesting, isn't it, that, in 1923, there were "abandoned coal gas" plants which could have been turned to the production of such "fluid hydrocarbons"?
