In a previous dispatch, dated August 8, 2010, and entitled "Korea CO2 to Methanol to Gasoline", we made report of: United States Patent: 6376562; Hydrocarbon Synthesis via Hydrogenation of Carbon Dioxide; Date: April, 2002; Inventor: Son-Ki Ihm, et. al.; Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.
We refer you to that report for more details concerning the specific Carbon Dioxide recycling technology disclosed. But, we see herein that Korea's US Patent 6376562 was actually an advancement on prior Korean art for recycling Carbon Dioxide, through which CO2 is converted into Methanol and Dimethyl Ether.
Comment follows excerpts from the initial link in this dispatch to:
"United States Patent 6,248.795 - Dimethyl Ether and Methanol from Carbon Dioxide
Date: June, 2001
Inventor: Ki Won Jun and Kyu Wan Lee, Daejeon, KR
Assignee: Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology
Abstract: This invention relates to the process of preparing from carbon dioxide a mixture of dimethyl ether and methanol which are useful as clean fuel or raw materials in the chemical industry. More particularly, this invention relates to the process of preparing dimethyl ether and methanol in high yield without by-products such as hydrocarbons by means of chemical conversion of carbon dioxide ... .
Claims: A process for preparing a mixture of dimethyl ether and methanol by hydrogenation of carbon dioxide in the presence of a mixture of catalysts (all based on zeolite minerals).
Background: This invention relates to the process of preparing from carbon dioxide a mixture of dimethyl ether and methanol which are useful as clean purifying fuel or raw materials in the chemical industry. More particularly, this invention relates to the process of preparing dimethyl ether and methanol in high yield without by-products ... by means of chemical conversion of carbon dioxide ... .
Dimethyl ether, an intermediate generated in the MTG (methanol to gasoline) process of preparing various hydrocarbons from methanol, has a high potential use as a basic material in the chemical industry in addition to being a highly effective clean fuel.
(Note: We reproduce "MTG" exactly as it appears in the patent record. We are led to understand that it is, by ExxonMobil, nearly always published as "MTG(r)", since they wish, or at one time did wish, it to be considered their own registered trademark. We hereby acknowledge that trademark intent.)
(The) objective of this invention is to provide a process for preparing a mixture of dimethyl ether and methanol from hydrogenation of carbon dioxide."
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We forego reproduction of technical detail, as it is concerned for the most part with the minutia of preparing a variety of zeolite-based catalysts which facilitate the transformation of Carbon Dioxide into Dimethyl Ether and Methanol; and, as in ExxonMobil's MTG(r) technology, through Methanol, into Gasoline.
We remind you that Dimethyl Ether is a serviceable Diesel fuel, in it's own right; and, that, in addition to it's use in making Gasoline, Methanol can also be used as the raw material for manufacturing a variety of useful plastics, wherein the Carbon Dioxide consumed in it's original synthesis would be forever sequestered.
Yet again, it is demonstrated: As confirmed herein by at least one branch of our US Government, Carbon Dioxide, which arises. relative to natural sources of emission, such as volcanoes, from our varied and productive uses of Coal, is a valuable raw material resource.
We really don't want to tax, through Cap & Trade, our vital Coal-use industries out of existence because they co-produce a relatively little bit of it for us.
Nor, do we want to enslave those Coal industries, and the consumers of Coal-based electrical power, into the service of Big Oil, through mandated Geologic Sequestration of CO2 in leaky old oil wells.
We have some far better options.
We can, again as herein, for instance, use Carbon Dioxide as a raw material to synthesize liquid fuels, direct replacements for those we are now extorted by OPEC for the supply of.
And, it is far, far past time the Coal Country public was privileged to learn about those far better options.