United States Patent Application: 0100130803
Without citation, we remind you that we have, in previous reports, documented that Methane can be utilized in some indirect processes of Coal hydrogenation, and the consequent conversion of Coal into more versatile hydrocarbons.
We perceive its role in such reactions with Coal synthesis gas to be similar to the part it plays in reforming reactions with Carbon Dioxide, wherein that accused greenhouse pollutant can be reacted with Methane, with or without the addition of Steam, and converted, through one of a number of catalytic and energetic processes, into useful hydrocarbons; as we most recently documented in our report of:
United States Patent Application: 0060269471 - "Reforming Hydrocarbons with Carbon Dioxide; November, 2006; Akira Takahashi, et. al., Japan".
We remind you, again, as well, that Methane can itself be synthesized, via the century-old Sabatier process, from Carbon Dioxide; or, via long-known techniques of Steam gasification, from Coal.
In any case, we document herein that, this very year, through the United States Patent Application we enclose, ExxonMobil has improved the use of Methane in the hydrogasification of Coal.
The end product of the process disclosed herein is Acetylene; the utility of which should be familiar to anyone who has ever had to use a "blue wrench", i.e., an oxy-acetylene torch, in the repair of an auto exhaust system after a winter spent driving on salty West Virginia roads.
However, perhaps of more importance, Acetylene can be further converted, through known processes, into Gasoline; as we document via the inclusion of a few additional reference links, following excerpts from the above link to:
"United States Patent Application 20100130803 - Conversion of Methane and (Coal) to Acetylene
Date: May, 2010
Inventor: Paul Keusenkothen, TX, and Frank Hershkowitz, NJ
Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Company, TX
Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided to produce acetylene from a feed stream of low hydrogen content hydrocarbons such as coal by: (a) blending the hydrocarbons with methane to provide a blended mixture ...; (b) partially combusting the blended mixture in a reactor in the presence of a source of oxygen to provide a partially combusted mixture at or above a temperature sufficient to produce methyl radicals; (c) maintaining the partially combusted mixture at or above the temperature for a residence time sufficient to produce a product stream containing enhanced yields of acetylene without significant formation of coke or coke precursors; (d) cooling the product stream to reduce the temperature of the product stream within a time sufficiently brief to substantially arrest any cracking reactions and provide a cooled product stream; and (e) recovering acetylene from the cooled product stream. The acetylene can be converted to ethylene by a conventional hydrogenation process.
Field: This invention pertains to conversion of low hydrogen content hydrocarbons such as coal by blending with methane and treating the resulting blend in a partial oxidation reactor utilizing oxygen as a cofeed, to produce acetylene."
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Exxon hints at what the true purpose of this technology is, in their statement that "acetylene can be converted to ethylene by a conventional hydrogenation process".
The Acetylene, in other words, after being synthesized from Coal and Methane, can, as we long ago documented for you as being feasible, be readily converted through known processes into other hydrocarbons, including liquid Gasoline blending components.
But, to provide additional confirmation of that fact, we submit a few additional references, as follows:
"United States Patent 5,118,893 - Zeolite Catalyzed Conversion of Acetylene
Date: June, 1992
Inventor: Richard Timmons, et. al., TX
Assignee: The University of Texas System
Abstract: The invention relates to an efficient process for the production of higher hydrocarbon from the catalyzed conversion of acetylene. This invention describes the use of a nickel or cobalt-containing zeolite catalyst, coupled with the addition of a hydrogen donor co-reactant to the acetylene feed, to obtain continuous and complete conversion of acetylene to other hydrocarbons. The catalyst/reactant feed process described eliminates rapid catalyst deactivation."
And:
"United States Patent 4,424,401 - Aromatization of Acetylene
Date: January, 1984
Inventor: Noam White, et. al. Australia
Assignee: The Broken Hill Proprietary Company
Abstract: A process for production of hydrocarbons useful as fuels, comprises contacting a feed stream containing acetylene with a zeolite catalyst, whereby a reaction product containing said hydrocarbons is obtained. In a preferred embodiment the feed stream contains acetylene in admixture with one or more other compounds, for example inert gases, water, hydrogen, methane, ethane, and alcohols."
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Note that, in the Australian technology, after we have made the Acetylene by, in Exxon's process, reacting Methane with Coal, we can make "hydrocarbons useful as fuels" by reacting that Coal-based Acetylene with "other compounds" such as "water (and more) methane".
And, yet again: We can synthesize such valuable Methane, which enables the conversion of Coal into Acetylene, and then the conversion of that Acetylene into "hydrocarbons useful as fuels", via the Sabatier process, from Carbon Dioxide; or, via processes of Steam gasification, from Coal.