Carbon Dioxide, reclaimed from practically any source, can be productively recycled in the synthesis and manufacture of both gaseous and liquid hydrocarbon fuels, and, of valuable industrial chemicals.
We've previously cited the two, what we presume to be former, Texaco scientists named as inventors of the United States Patent we enclose herein, attesting to that fact, as can be seen in:
Texaco Recycles CO2 to Methanol & Methane | Research & Development; wherein is reported: "United States Patent 4,523,981 - Means and Method for Reducing Carbon Dioxide to Provide a Product; 1985;
Inventor: Peter Ang, et. al., IL; Assignee: Texaco, Incorporated, NY; Abstract: A process for reducing carbon dioxide to at least one useful product"; and, in:
Texaco Recycles Even More Co2 | Research & Development; which details: "US Patent 4,608,132 - Means and Method for the Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide; 1986; Inventor: Anthony Sammells, IL; Assignee: Texaco Incorporated, NY; Abstract: Apparatus and method for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to a product".
Those two oil industry scientists subsequently collaborated in the development of yet another Carbon Dioxide recycling technology, but, apparently, after they had left the employ of Texaco; perhaps as Texaco downsized in preparation for it's own, final, dissolution; and, it's turn-of-the-century absorption by Chevron.
In the process which they disclose in our subject invention, the end product is neither, as in the above-cited patents, Methane and/or Methanol, but, "Formate", itself a valuable chemical commodity, about which we have as well previously reported, as a product of Carbon Dioxide recycling technologies developed by corporate components of our US defense industry; and, by the US Department of Defense itself.
As we further explain in comment, following excerpts from the initial link in this dispatch to:
"United States Patent 4,673,473 - Means and Method for Reducing Carbon Dioxide to Provide a Product
Date: June, 1987
Inventors: Peter Ang and Anthony Sammels, IL
Assignee: Peter Ang
Abstract: Apparatus for reducing carbon dioxide to the product includes a reduction cell which has a dual porosity cathode, a catholyte chamber having an inlet, a passageway through which passes an electrolyte, a dual porosity cathode separating the passageway from the catholyte chamber, an anolyte chamber has an inlet and an outlet. A porous anode with a hydrophobic barrier separates the passageway from the anolyte chamber. A source provides a d.c. voltage across the cathode and the anode. Water is provided to the inlet of the anolyte chamber, while an electrolyte is provided to the passageway. Carbon dioxide is provided to the inlet of the catholyte chamber so that the carbon dioxide is electrochemically reduced within the dual porosity cathode with the electrolyte and hydrogen ions so as to cause the reduction of the carbon dioxide to a product and to cause oxygen to be emitted from the outlet of the anode chamber. The product is removed from the electrolyte after leaving the electrolytic cell.
Claims: Apparatus for reducing carbon dioxide to a product.
(And) in which the electrolyte is a non-aqueous electrolyte.
(And) in which the catalyst is selected from a group consisting of lead and gold; and
(The) product is formate.
Background and Summary: The present invention relates to electrochemical processes in general and, more particularly, to apparatus and the method for reducing carbon dioxide to provide a product."
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We keep our excerpts brief, since the bulk of the Disclosure is devoted to a full technical description of the processing apparatus, and of the chemical specifications of the various salts, the use of which facilitates the efficient electrolysis of the Carbon Dioxide and the Water-salt solution - - which, in this scheme, are introduced separately into the reaction chamber; i.e., the CO2 itself is not, apparently, first dissolved in that Water-salt solution; - - into Formate.
The above is similar in some respects to other Carbon Dioxide-recycling technologies we have already reported, as in:
Princeton Recycles CO2 with US Government Support | Research & Development; concerning: USP Application 20100187123A1 - Conversion of Carbon Dioxide to Organic Products; 2010; Inventors: Andrew B. Bocarsly and Emily Barton Cole, NJ; Government Interests: This invention was made with United States government support from Natural Science Foundation Grant No. CHE-0606475. The United States Government has certain rights in this invention.The invention relates to various embodiments of an environmentally beneficial method for reducing carbon dioxide. The methods in accordance with the invention include electrochemically or photoelectrochemically reducing the carbon dioxide ... to produce at least one product (and) where the at least one product is methanol, isopropanol, formic acid, formaldehyde, glyoxal or ethanol".
And, although the Formate, or, as above, "formic acid", which is the primary product of United States Patent 4,673,473, might not seem at first as interesting as the "methanol ... or ethanol" synthesized from Carbon Dioxide by the above, US Government-funded, Princeton University CO2-recycling technology, we remind you that it does have some intriguing uses, as documented by:
England Improves Coal Liquid Hydrogenation with Formic Acid | Research & Development; for example, wherein is reported: "United States Patent 4,313,852 - Catalysts; 1982; Assignee: Coal Industry Limited, London; Abstract: A hydrotreating catalyst which is resistant to carbonaceous deposits and is particularly useful for hydrotreating coal-derived liquids, is (treated to prevent such deposits with) ... formic acid (or) sodium formate ... (a procedure which thereby provides) catalysts suitable for use in the hydrogenation and/or hydrocracking of coal-derived materials such as coal extracts"; wherein we see that Formic Acid compounds, as can be made from Carbon Dioxide, can even be used to improve the performance of the catalysts used to hydrogenate and upgrade crude hydrocarbon liquids made from Coal.
Further, as we noted, the technology of USP 4,673,473 is closely-similar to Carbon Dioxide recycling processes developed by both our US Department of Defense and their contractors. As reported via:
United Technologies Converts CO2 to Formic Acid | Research & Development; both the noted defense contractor, United Technologies, and - - as in a separate reference included in that dispatch, which concerns: "The Electrochemical Conversion of Carbon Dioxide into Methanol: The Formic Acid Reduction Step; 1984; Naval Weapons Research Center", - - the US Department of Defense itself, confirm that Carbon Dioxide can be efficiently converted, by electrochemical processes, into Formic Acid, as in our subject process of United States Patent 4,673,473; and, that, such conversion of CO2, into Formic Acid, or Formate, chemically facilitates the conversion of even more Carbon Dioxide into, ultimately, the quite valuable, and versatile, liquid fuel, Methanol.