Herein is yet another pre-ExxonMobil technology for converting Coal into liquid hydrocarbon fuels, from the old Mobil Oil Corporation.
We find it to be of great interest since it describes an advance on technology we have earlier documented, wherein the Hydrogen needed to hydrogenate Coal, in order to synthesize gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons, could be generated by Water-Carbon reactions, often in earlier work accomplished through the relatively simple expedient of passing Steam over hot Coal.
This Mobil process is much more sophisticated. In it, the needed Hydrogen is produced by reacting Water with Coal in the presence of Carbon Monoxide, which we can, most certainly, make from Coal.
The complete reaction is facilitated, apparently made possible, through the use of a reasonably common mineral.
And, the resultant product mixture, according to Mobil, as affirmed by the United States Patent Office herein, seems ideally suited in composition for further conversion into liquid hydrocarbon fuels.
Comment follows excerpts from the boldly-titled:
"United States Patent 3,923,634 - Liquefaction of Coal
Date: December, 1975
Inventor: Anthony Silvestri, et. al., PA and NJ
Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation, NY
Abstract: This specification discloses the liquefaction of coal. The liquefaction procedure involves reacting the coal with hydrogen or with a mixture of carbon monoxide and water in the presence of, as a catalyst, a material derived from the naturally occurring underwater deposit known as a manganese nodule. The manganese nodule may be employed without pretreatment or may be pretreated by sulfiding. The catalyst, after it has become deactivated by use, may be processed to remove and recover one or more valuable metallic constituents.
Claims: A process for the liquefaction of coal comprising: reacting said coal with hydrogen or with a mixture of carbon monoxide and water, said reacting step being conducted ... in the presence of, as a catalyst, the naturally occurring underwater deposit known as manganese nodules; and recovering hydrocarbonaceous liquid.
Summary: In accordance with the invention, coal is liquefied by reacting the coal with hydrogen, or with carbon monoxide and water, in the presence of, as a catalyst, a material derived from the naturally occurring underwater deposit known as manganese nodules. In accordance with a specific embodiment of the invention, the manganese nodule is employed without treatment. In accordance with another specific embodiment of the invention, the manganese ... catalyst, after it has become deactivated by use, is processed to remove and recover therefrom one or more valuable metallic constituents."
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In case you were wondering, we can scrape manganese nodules in abundance from the floors of the Great Lakes and the ocean.
The significance is: Those manganese nodules, herein, facilitate the transfer of Hydrogen, taken from Water, to the Carbon in Coal, in a reaction facilitated by Carbon Monoxide, which we can most definitely make in abundance from Coal.
The result, according to Mobil Oil Corporation, is "hydrocarbonaceous liquid".
And, a bonus: Mobil's scientists note, that, once the Manganese nodules are finally - through use in producing liquid fuels from Coal, Carbon Monoxide and Water - deactivated, they can be refined by standard means for the production of Manganese metal; which does have commercial uses and value.
This is, in essence, a way to obtain the Hydrogen needed to, specifically, liquefy Coal, cheaply, from Water.
