We have made frequent reference to, and reports of, the Sabatier process - which was awarded the 1912 Nobel Prize for Chemistry, but which is now, as we've documented, being employed by NASA - wherein Carbon Dioxide is transformed into Methane.
Aside from what should be the obvious benefits of converting an accused greenhouse pollutant into substitute "natural" gas, the Methane so produced has special attributes that ought to make it be seen as a nearly precious raw material.
Methane can, for instance, be converted directly into Gasoline.
We have earlier provided you with multiple references attesting to that fact, but herein remind you of just one of them, as in our previous report of: "Conversion Of Methane To Gasoline-Range Hydrocarbons; Charles Taylor and Richard Noceti; USDOE; Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center; Pittsburgh, PA 15236".
Methane can also be made to react with Carbon Dioxide, in bi-reforming and tri-reforming technologies, and to thereby generate gas mixtures, "synthesis gas", suitable for catalytic condensation, as via, for one example, the Fischer-Tropsch process, into Gasoline-range hydrocarbons; while, thus, consuming and eliminating even more Carbon Dioxide.
We often cite Penn State University's accomplishments in those technical developments, but herein remind you of other confirmation of such technology's reality, as in, among others similar, our earlier report of: "United States Patent 4,690,777 - Production of Synthesis Gas, 1987; Assignee: The Standard Oil Company; Abstract: Gas mixtures containing at least hydrogen and carbon monoxide are prepared by reforming ... light hydrocarbons with carbon dioxide ... (and) wherein the light hydrocarbon is methane."
So, given that Methane is a valuable product to be made from Carbon Dioxide, we herein submit that there is, relative to the Sabatier process, a more efficient way, and, for our vital Coal-use industries, a better, even synergistic, way, to effect such conversion of Carbon Dioxide to Methane.
As we explain, following excerpts from the enclosed link to, and attached file of:
"Reduction of CO2 to Methane in Methanol
S. Kaneco, et. al., Mie University, Japan
Pathways for carbon capture come from potential sources ... which produce highly concentrated streams of CO2 as a byproduct (such as) power plants ... .
(Although) the chemical absorption (of CO2) using amines represents the most widely deployed commercial technology for capture ..., in other commercial applications, the typical solvents for physically absorbing CO2 include ... methanol.
Methanol is a better solvent for CO2 than water, particularly at low temperature ... (and) the solubility of CO2 in methanol is approximately five times that in water at ambient temperature ... .
Therefore, methanol has been industrially used as the physical absorbent of CO2 in the Rectisol method. (And, currently) over 70 large-scale plants apply the Rectisol process.
The electrochemical method appears to be a very suitable method for the conversion ... of CO2. (And) a combination technology of the Rectisol CO2 absorption process and the electrochemical CO2 conversion method (can be applied to) large scale plant(s).
(Experiments show that the) main products from CO2 (electro-reduced in Methanol) were methane, ethylene, carbon monoxide and formic acid ... (and) ... in the methanol-based electrolyte, high formation efficiency of methane was observed at low temperature."
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Without going into details, we'll note that "ethylene, carbon monoxide and formic acid" are industrially-useful things to have, as well; especially if they're being generated as by-products. They would definitely represent other potential profit streams.
But, it is the Methane, which can be made efficiently, and at "low temperature", as herein, from Carbon Dioxide, that is likely, as per our introductory comments, to be the most valuable and useful product.
Moreover, it is the product of a commercialized, widely used technology, the "Rectisol CO2 absorption process", that generates the Methanol-Carbon Dioxide mixture which can, as herein, be electrolyzed to synthesize Methane.
And, allow us to point out a few genuine synergies:
As in our earlier reports, among others related, of: "US Patent 3,959, 094 - Synthesis of Methanol from Carbon Dioxide; 1976; Assignee: The United States of America" and "US Patent 4,348,486 - Production of Methanol via Catalytic Coal Gasification; 1982; Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company", we can make all of the Methanol we need, to facilitate both the collection of Carbon Dioxide and it's subsequent efficient transformation into Methane, either from Carbon Dioxide itself, or, from Coal.
