Ireland, too, is included in the mix of European nations that fostered the Carbon Dioxide recycling process disclosed by the United States Patent we submit herein.
There isn't much conceptually new in the Disclosure, relative to the many other bi-reforming and tri-reforming technologies we've already presented to you: processes wherein Carbon Dioxide can be catalytically reacted with Methane, with or without the inclusion of Water, or Steam, and made thereby to synthesize higher, and valuable, hydrocarbons.
But, it is further evidence, as we have been documenting, that:
Carbon Dioxide, as is emitted in very generous quantities by the current processes of oil refining, beer making, ethanol production from agricultural produce and tar sand processing; and, by some natural processes, such as volcanism, is a raw material resource of potentially great value.
Additional comment follows excerpts from the above link to:
"United States Patent 5,989,457 - Process for the Production of Synthesis Gas
Date: November, 1999
Inventors: K. Seshan and Julian Ross, et. al., The Netherlands and Ireland
Assignee: Mannesmann & K.T.I. Group, Germany
Abstract: A catalyst for the production of synthesis gas (CO and H2) by reaction of CO2 and CH4 and/or other light hydrocarbons ... .
Claims: A process for making CO/H2 -synthesis gas comprising: contacting a gas containing one of CO2, CH4, hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof with a (specified) catalyst ... .
The process ... wherein the molar weight ratio of CO2 to CH4 is between about 0.5 and 4.
Background and Summary: The present invention relates to a catalyst for the production of synthesis gas in the form of CO and H2 from CO2 and CH4 and/or other light hydrocarbons.
CO2 is one of the so-called greenhouse gases ... (and, a) ... possible manner of reducing the liberation of CO2 is to reuse this gas for instance, for the production of other products.
In Federal Republic of Germany 41 02 185 A1, a catalytic system for the production of synthesis gas by the reforming of light hydrocarbons with CO2 is described ... .
The object of the (present) invention is to find a catalyst which is not only sufficiently active to obtain a high yield of CO and H2 but which ... avoids ... coking for sufficiently long periods of time and thus remains sufficiently active for a long period of time (and, thus) it should be possible to dispense, as far as possible, with the use of steam during the reaction.
The H2 /CO ratio can (however) be shifted ... by increasing the amount of H2O (and, a) synthesis gas produced in this manner is particularly suitable for the synthesis of methanol, which in its turn can be further converted into other petrochemical products, (and) for the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis ... ."
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First, though left unmentioned, these European scientists would certainly have been aware of the fact that Europe's Nobel Committee awarded it's 1912 Prize in Chemistry to France's Paul Sabatier, for demonstrating that Carbon Dioxide can be converted into Methane, the CH4, above; with which, as herein, even more CO2 can be reacted, in order to form a "gas ... particularly suitable for the synthesis of methanol".
And, again, we can also make the needed Methane via the Steam-gasification of Coal; a fact we are confirming yet again today, via our separate report of: "US Patent 4,204,843 - Gasification Process; May, 1980; Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company"; wherein is disclosed a process for such Steam-gasification of Coal, which results in the production of, according to Exxon's Disclosure, a "synthesis gas, or gaseous mixture of high methane content".
The range of liquid hydrocarbon products also available via the use of the "Fischer-Tropsch synthesis", as above, aside, consider: Once we have the Methanol, as herein synthesized from Carbon Dioxide, not only can such Methanol "be further converted into other petrochemical products", it can, via ExxonMobil's "MTG"(r) technology, as one example, be further converted into Gasoline.
And, again, it is demonstrated: Through it's use in the process disclosed herein, especially in combination with the Sabatier process, which is now being, as we've previously documented for you, further developed by NASA, Carbon Dioxide is a raw material resource of potentially great value.