Herein, we see that scientists in the United Kingdom claim, and our United States Government agrees, that Carbon Dioxide, as arises in a small way, relative to volcanoes, for instance, from some of our varied and productive uses of Coal, is a valuable raw material resource.
We can make higher hydrocarbons, including liquid fuels, with Carbon Dioxide.
The science disclosed in this United States Patent sounds, to us, very similar to the "tri-reforming" technology explained most recently and, for us, most clearly, by scientists at Penn State University; one of whom, Craig Grimes, as we reported, was quoted as saying, in reference to the mandated geologic sequestration of CO2, primarily to assist in secondary petroleum recovery in leaky West Texas oil fields, that, "Burying CO2 is ridiculous".
The Patent Disclosure is replete with chemical shorthand and technical references that would be blindingly obscure to all but the most appropriately-educated.
We have thus, with the help of a few non-disabled experts, edited our following excerpts for the sake of elucidation and clarification, and indicated parenthetically the changes we've made.
We urge genuine experts among our readers to access the full document via the above link, and, then, to explain it more clearly to the rest of us.
Thus, with more comment appended, we submit excerpts from:
"United States Patent 5,431,855 - Processes for the Conversion of Methane to Synthesis Gas
Date: July, 1995
Inventors: Malcom Green, et. al.; United Kingdom
Assignee: British Gas plc; London
Abstract: A method of converting a reactant gas mixture of CO2, O2 and CH4 (i.e., Methane) comprises contacting the reactant gas at 750-850 degrees C with a solid catalyst, which is a d-block transition metal or oxide such as a group VIII metal on a metal oxide support such as alumina, and which selectively converts the reactant gas into a product gas mixture comprising H2 and CO.
Claims: A method of converting a reactant gas mixture comprising CO2, O2 and CH4 into a product gas mixture comprising H2 and CO by combined partial oxidation-dry reforming reaction which method comprises bringing the reactant gas mixture at a temperature of from 600 degrees-1000 degrees C into contact with a solid catalyst (specified by a complex formula that includes one metal chosen from either the Sodium or Calcium Group; another from a selection that includes, among others, Lanthanum and Cesium; and, another selected from a group that includes Iron and Zinc.).
The method ... in which composition of the reactant gas mixture is selected so as to obtain a thermally neutral reaction.
(As with other, similar technologies we've reported, the entire reaction sequence is "thermally neutral". That is, exothermic reactions can provide the heat energy required by the endothermic reactions. The whole thing can be made to be "self-powered", with little or no external sources of energy being required.)
Description: In view of the dwindling supplies of fossil fuels and the relative abundance of methane, there is considerable interest in processes which have greater efficiency and selectivity for the conversion of methane to synthesis gas.
There are several known reactions for the oxygenation of methane.
There are also catalysts for the reforming of methane using carbon dioxide.
There are also catalysts for the reforming of methane using carbon dioxide.
The two gases (produced by those reactions), carbon monoxide and hydrogen, can be combined under catalytic conditions to give useful chemicals such as methanol or , via Fischer-Tropsch catalysis, higher hydrocarbons ... .
Thus, this invention is concerned with essentially two processes. Process 1 is the reaction of CO2 with methane giving synthesis gas ... . Process 2 is the reaction of oxygen and carbon dioxide mixtures with methane also giving synthesis gas.
This invention is concerned with the definition of the conditions and catalysts which will give rise to the conversion of the methane and CO2, O2 to synthesis gas with greatly improved selectivity and conversions. Accordingly, the present invention provides a method of converting a primary reactant gas mixture comprising CO2, O2 and CH4 into a product gas mixture comprising H2 and CO ... ."
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We close our excerpts here to summarize and emphasize a few things:
Carbon Dioxide can be reacted with Methane to generate Synthesis Gas in a process that requires the input of little or no external energy.
Methane can be synthesized, as we've earlier documented, via the Sabatier process now being employed by NASA, from Carbon Dioxide.
Methane can be synthesized, using one of multiple known technologies, also as we've earlier documented, via the Steam gasification of Coal.
Synthesis Gas can be catalytically condensed, via the long-known "Fischer-Tropsch" process, as noted herein, among others similar, to generate liquid fuels, such as the immensely valuable and versatile "methanol", as identified specifically above.
Methanol can be converted, via ExxonMobil's "MTG"(r) - Methanol-to-Gasoline - process, into that traditional liquid fuel we all know and love. Or, it can be used as the raw material in the manufacture of certain plastics, where the Carbon Dioxide consumed in it's synthesis would be