We've earlier documented, from other sources, that Coal can be efficiently converted into the valuable liquid hydrocarbon fuel, Methanol.
But, we wanted to confirm it, yet again - just in case anyone should have any lingering doubts about that fact; and, since we are preparing additional reports documenting that Methanol, once produced from Coal, and, as you will see below, some other interesting things, can then be converted directly into Gasoline, in a process that itself has some intriguing implications for sustainability and carbon recycling.
Note, first, in some passages from the full excerpt, the range of materials that can be converted into Methanol:
"The ... feedstock is selected from ... asphalt, coal tar, coal oil, ... pumpable slurries of coal, particulate carbon, ... methane, ... water-gas, coke-oven gas, ... and mixtures thereof."
In addition to Coal, Methane, according to Texaco, is a suitable feedstock for Methanol synthesis.
And, presuming you to have followed our posts, with more on the topic to follow, you know that Methane can be synthesized from Carbon Dioxide, via the 1912 Nobel Prize-winning Sabatier process now being further developed, again as we've reported, by both NASA and various contractors, most especially United Technologies, serving the US Department of Defense.
Brief comment follows fuller excerpts from:
"United States Patent 3,920,717 - Production of Methanol
Date: November, 1975
Inventor: Charles P. Marion, NY
Assignee: Texaco Development Corporation, NY
Abstract: A continuous process for producing methanol including the steps of producing synthesis gas i.e. H2 + CO by the partial oxidation of a hydrocarbonaceous feed in a free-flow non-catalytic synthesis gas generator, adjusting the mole ratio (H2 /CO) of the process gas stream to a value in the range of about greater than 2 to 12 by noncatalytic thermal direct water-gas shift, cooling the process gas stream by indirect heat exchange with water to produce steam for use in the process, purifying the gas stream preferably with a portion of the methanol product, catalytically reacting the purified synthesis gas stream under methanol producing conditions, and separating methanol from liquid impurities.
Claims: A continuous process for producing methanol comprising: (1) reacting a hydrocarbonaceous or oxygenated hydrocarbonaceous feedstock by partial oxidation with a free-oxygen containing gas and optionally in the presence of a temperature moderator selected from the group consisting of H2O, CO2, N2, flue gas ... , and mixtures thereof.
The process of claim 1 wherein said hydrocarbonaceous feedstock is selected from the group consisting of liquefied petroleum gas, petroleum distillates and residua, naphtha, gas oil, residual fuel, reduced crude, whole crude, asphalt, coal tar, coal oil, shale oil, tar-sand oil, and pumpable slurries of coal, particulate carbon, and petroleum coke in water or in a liquid hydrocarbon fuel, and mixtures thereof.
The process of claim 1 wherein said hydrocarbonaceous feedstock is selected from the group consisting of methane, propane, natural gas, water-gas, coke-oven gas, synthesis gas, refinery gas, and mixtures thereof.
The process of claim 1 wherein said hydrocarbonaceous feedstock is selected from the group consisting of methane, propane, natural gas, water-gas, coke-oven gas, synthesis gas, refinery gas, and mixtures thereof.
The process of claim 1 wherein said hydrocarbonaceous oxygenated feedstock are organic materials selected from the group consisting of carbohydrates, cellulosic materials, aldehydes, organic acids, alcohols, ketones, oxygenated fuel oil, waste liquids and by-products from chemical processes containing oxygenated hydrocarbonaceous organic materials, and mixtures thereof."
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Note, in the above, that CO2 and regular old "flue gas" can serve in this process that converts Coal, and Carbon-recycling products such as "cellulosic materials", into Methanol.
More on the Coal-Methanol-Gasoline connection is to follow in coming days. Just keep in mind that, yes, indeed, Coal, and Methane, can be converted on a practical basis into Methanol.
We remind you of several US Patents awarded to corporate representatives of the oil industry, as recorded in the West Virginia Coal Association R&D archives, wherein Methane can be converted directly into hydrocarbons of the Gasoline range.
As a closing note, we'll remind you as well that the pioneering Texaco was assimilated by the Chevron corporate amoeba, about whose carbon conversion technologies we've also reported, back in 2001.