Quite some time ago, we made report further documenting the versatility and utility of Coal as an alternative raw material for anything we now make from Petroleum.
As in: DuPont 1952 Ethylene from Coal | Research & Development, wherein is disclosed: "United States Patent 2,623,011 - Preparation of Olefins by Coal Carbonization; 1952; Assignee: E.I. DuPont; Abstract: This invention relates to an improved process for the preparation of unsaturated hydrocarbons, and more particularly, to the preparation of ethylene by the carbonization of coal"; we've known for half a century that Coal can be converted into what is documented, in that report, to be: "the most produced organic compound in the world", with most of it now coming from the Persian Gulf.
In any case, three decades after DuPont, as confirmed by our own US Government, revealed that we could synthesize that "most produced organic compound in the world" from Coal, our Government went a step beyond just confirming the fact.
They developed their own, perhaps more productive, way of doing so.
Comment, reminding you that at least one of the USDOE scientists named as the inventors herein shouldn't be unfamiliar to you, follows excerpts from the initial link in this dispatch to:
"US Patent 4,563,197 - Production of Ethylene and Other Hydrocarbons from Coal
Date: January, 1986
Inventors: Meyer Steinberg and Peter Fallon, NY
Assignee: The United States of America, as Represented by the Department of Energy
Abstract: A process for the production of economically significant amounts of ethyl and other hydrocarbon compounds, such as benzene, from coal is disclosed wherein coal is reacted with methane at a temperature in the approximate range of 500C. to 1100 C. at a partial pressure less than about 200 PSI for a period of less than 10 seconds. Ethylene and other hydrocarbon compounds may be separated from the product stream so produced, and the methane recycled for further production of ethylene. In another embodiment, other compounds produced, such as by-product tars, may be burned to heat the recycled methane.
Claims: A process for the production of ethylene from coal in commercially significant yields (with) methane and other reaction products (including) tars, hydrogen sulfide, benzene, and light oils (and) wherein after said recovery a first portion of said methane is recycled for further reaction with said coal particulates.
Description and Background: At present, no coal conversion process is known which produces economically significant amounts of the chemical feedstocks ethylene and benzene.
(Steinberg and Fallon were, unlikely as it might seem, perhaps, somehow unaware of the precedent "United States Patent 2,623,011"; especially since we didn't find it cited in their statement of "Prior Art", or included in their references.)
Thus, it is an object of the subject invention to provide a method for the production of substantial amounts of ethylene from coal.
It is another object of the subject invention to provide such a method which also produces substantial quantities of benzene and light oils.
It is still another object of the subject invention to provide a method for the production of ethylene from coal where substantially the only required raw material is coal.
Surprisingly, it has been found that in the practice of the subject invention not only are commercially significant quantities of ethylene produced, namely yields in excess of 10% (percent carbon converted to product), along with economically significant quantities of benzene and light oils, namely toluene and xylene, but also that there is little, if any, net consumption of methane in the reaction and possibly even a small net production. Since it is apparent that the carbonaceous solids or "char" remaining after the reaction is carried out may be burned to provide the necessary energy to carry out the process of the subject invention, it is apparent that the subject invention advantageously provides a method for the conversion coal to economically significant quantitites of ethylene, benzene and light oils while requiring only coal and, possibly, small amounts of make-up methane."
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First of all, we remind you that "the benzene and light oils, namely toluene and xylene", which are produced herein, as the by-products of converting Coal into the high-demand Ethylene, comprise, in fact, the product blend commonly referred to in the petroleum industry, simply, as "BTX"; which is the basic feedstock from which most modern petroleum refineries blend Gasoline.
And, since only "10%" of the Carbon content in the feed Coal is converted herein into Ethylene, this United States Department of Energy technology might, in fact, actually be one centered not so much on the production of Ethylene from Coal, but of Gasoline.
We also remind you that this same team of USDOE scientists was, as well, and as herein, otherwise focused on the use of Methane in Coal conversion processes, as witness:
USDOE Hydrogenates Coal with Methane | Research & Development; wherein is detailed: "United States Patent 4,687,570 - Direct Use of Methane in Coal Liquefaction; 1987; Inventors: Muthu Sundaram and Meyer Steinberg, NY; Assignee: The USA; Abstract: This invention relates to a process for converting solid carbonaceous material, such as coal, to liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons utilizing methane ... ".
Finally, since at least "small amounts of make-up methane" might be required in this USDOE technology, of USP 4,563,197, to make Ethylene and Gasoline blending stock, from Coal, we submit that, as seen, for one example, in our fairly recent report of:
Texaco Recycles More CO2 to Methanol and Methane | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 4,609,451 - Means for Reducing Carbon Dioxide to Provide a Product; 1986; Assignee: Texaco Incorporated, NY; Abstract: A process and apparatus for reducing carbon dioxide to at least one useful product ... (including) methanol and methane";
we could manufacture the Methane needed by the processes of US Patents 4,563,197 and 4,687,570, to synthesize a seemingly wide variety of "liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons" from Coal, as a by-product of converting Carbon Dioxide, dissolved in Water, into the nearly-precious liquid fuel, Methanol.