A day or so ago, we documented for you "United States Patent 4,348,486 - Production of Methanol via Catalytic Coal Gasification", which was issued, in September of 1982, to a group of scientists employed by Exxon at their New Jersey Research and Engineering Center.
In, for us, startling confirmation of how much the petroleum industry and our own United States Government actually know about the efficient conversion of Coal into liquid hydrocarbon fuels, we herein submit the very next patent issued, in numerical sequence, with the very same title, by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Comment follows excerpts from the above link to:
"United States Patent 4,348,487 - Production of Methanol via Catalytic Coal Gasification
Date: September, 1982
Inventor: Stuart Goldstein, et. al., NJ
Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company, NJ
Abstract: Methanol is produced by gasifying a carbonaceous feed material with steam in the presence of a carbon-alkali metal catalyst and added hydrogen and carbon monoxide ... to produce a raw product gas comprising methane, steam, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide; withdrawing the raw product gas from the gasifier and treating it for the removal of steam, particulates, hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide to produce a treated gas containing primarily carbon monoxide, hydrogen and methane; separating the treated gas into a methane-rich gas stream and a gas stream containing primarily carbon monoxide and hydrogen; passing the gas stream containing primarily carbon monoxide and hydrogen to a methanol synthesis reactor where the carbon monoxide is reacted with the hydrogen in the presence of a methanol synthesis catalyst to form methanol; recovering methanol product from the effluent exiting the methanol synthesis reactor thereby leaving a gas comprised of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide; and passing a portion of this gas to a steam reforming furnace wherein at least a portion of the methane is reacted with steam to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide which is then passed from the steam reforming furnace into the gasifier. Preferably, at least a portion of the methane-rich gas produced in the separation step is used as fuel for the steam reforming furnace.
Claims: A process for the production of methanol from a carbonaceous feed material ... (and) ... wherein said carbonaceous feed material comprises coal.
Background: This invention relates to the gasification of coal and similar carbonaceous materials and is particularly concerned with producing methanol ... .
Under the proper operating conditions, (the necessary) reactions can be made to ... supply large amounts of methane and additional exothermic heat which would otherwise have to be supplied ... .
(About) 75 and about 97 volume percent of the ... carbon dioxide produced ... is recycled directly to said methanol synthesis zone ... .
Summary: This invention provides a process for producing methanol by the substantially thermoneutral reaction of steam with coal ... .
It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides a process for producing methanol via the catalytic gasification of coal and similar carbonaceous feed materials."
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And, lest anyone forget: United States Patent: 4035430 - "United States Patent 4,035,430 - Conversion of Methanol to Gasoline; July, 1977; Mobil Oil Corporation, NY; Abstract: The conversion of methanol to gasoline boiling products ... .".