Energy Citations Database (ECD) - - Document #10140201
We have cited the primary author of this report, and the University of Colorado, previously.
Herein, we see that, under contract to the United States Department of Energy, they continued their work on the conversion of Coal into more versatile hydrocarbons; further refining a process we have many times previously, from other sources, documented: wherein Water, H2O, in the form of Steam, can be used as an agent of Coal gasification; and, made thereby to provide the Hydrogen needed to convert the primarily Carbon content, of the Coal, into a hydrocarbon synthesis gas of a variable, and controllable, composition; and, thus well-suited for subsequent catalytic condensation into a variety of hydrocarbon products.
Comment follows brief excerpts from the initial and following links to:
View Document or Access Individual Pages; DOI:10.2172/10140201
Title: Steam gasification of carbon: Catalyst properties. Final report, October 31, 1992
Author: J.L. Falconer; Research Organization: Colorado University
OSTI ID: 10140201; USDOE Contract: FG22-88PC88915; Report Number: DOE/PC/88915--T17
Abstract: Coal gasification by steam is of critical importance in converting coal to gaseous products ... that can then be further converted to synthetic natural gas and higher hydrocarbon fuels.
Alkali and alkaline earth metals (present as oxides) catalyze coal gasification reactions and cause them to occur at significantly lower temperatures. A more fundamental understanding of the mechanism of the steam gasification reaction and catalyst utilization may well lead to better production techniques, increased gasification rates, greater yields, and less waste.
We are studying the gasification of carbon by steam in the presence of alkali and alkaline earth oxides, using carbonates as the starting materials. Carbon dioxide gasification (CO2 + C --> 2CO) has been studied in some detail recently, but much less has been done on the actual steam gasification reaction, which is the main thrust of our work.
We have recently (studied) CO2 gasification. We are (now) investigating ... steam gasification (in which) coal chars ... will be used."
-----------------
We are compelled, by technical density, to keep our excerpts from the full document brief.
We do note, however, that, along with Steam, these Colorado scientists did also utilize some reclaimed Carbon Dioxide, and, through their work, developed a much more efficient process that enables the conversion of Coal, through controlled and variable interactions with both Steam and recycled CO2, into a variety of products, including, as they specify, what could be construed as a hydrocarbon synthesis gas, consisting of Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen, and Methane (CH4).
And, since Methane, in addition to hydrocarbon synthesis gas, is one of the valuable by-products, as herein, of gasifying Coal with Steam, we are compelled to remind you, that, as in, for just one example, our report:
Pittsburgh 1941 CO2 + Methane = Hydrocarbon Syngas | Research & Development | News; concerning: "United States Patent 2,266,989 - Manufacture of a Gas from CO2 and Methane; 1941; Assignee: Koppers Company, Pittsburgh, PA"; that:
Once we have Methane, as herein generated by Colorado University, as a by-product of a process for gasifying Coal with Steam to generate a Hydrogen-Carbon Monoxide synthesis gas intended for catalytic condensation into liquid hydrocarbons, we can react that by-product Methane with Carbon Dioxide, reclaimed from whatever source, and thereby convert the both of them into even more synthesis gas, that, even as the Coal and Steam-based gas mixture generated herein, can "then be further converted to ... higher hydrocarbon fuels".