Catalytic steam-carbon monoxide synthesis oxygen-containing compounds
As in:
Pittsburgh 1951 Carbon Monoxide + Water = Hydrocarbons | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 2,579,663 - Process of Synthesizing Hydrocarbons; 1951; Assignee: Gulf Research and Development Company, Pittsburgh; Abstract: This invention relates to a process for synthesizing hydrocarbons; more particularly the invention relates to a process for synthesizing normally liquid hydrocarbons from carbon monoxide and steam";
we have previously documented that liquid hydrocarbon fuels can be synthesized via seemingly-direct reactions between Carbon Monoxide and Water.
Herein, from Germany, is even more confirmation of that fact.
Comment, concerning implications related to that fact, follows excerpts from the initial link to:
"United States Patent 2,786,863 - Catalytic Steam-Carbon Monoxide Synthesis
Date: March, 1957
Inventors: Herbet Kolbel, et. al., Germany
Assignee: Rheinprussen Aktiengesellschaft fur Bergbau and Chemie, Homburg
Abstract: This invention relates to the catalytic steam-carbon monoxide synthesis of hydrocarbons and oxygen-containing compounds.
(Note: By "oxygen-containing compounds", they do mean alcohols, such as Ethanol and Methanol.)
The production of hydrocarbons and oxygen-containing compounds by the hydrogenation of carbon monoxide with hydrogen ... is well known in the prior art.
(Too bad our Coal Country press don't seem to be aficionado's of old art work.)
The various catalysts which may be used for this purpose ... are all well described.
(The products of the reactive process can be) built up during the synthesis into higher molecular products.
The increase or reduction of the number of carbon atoms of hydrocarbons by the addition thereof to the hydrogenation is also known.
(Anyone know where we might be able to find a few "carbon atoms" lying around to spare?)
Various other syntheses have also been described as, for example, the synthesis of methane, the synthesis of isohydrocarbons, the synthesis of oxgen-containing products such as synthol-synthesis, synol-synthesis, butyl-oil synthesis, methanol synthesis ... .
In all these syntheses the hydrogenation of the carbon monoxide is effected with hydrogen ... .
One object of this invention is to effect the catalytic hydrogenation of carbon monoxide with the use of steam in place of hydrogen.
In accordance with this invention, it has now ... been found that the hydrogen required for the hydrogenation of carbon monoxide ... can be replaced by steam.
(We don't need expensive Hydrogen, just Steam, as a co-reactant for Carbon Monoxide in synthesis reactions that result in the creation of liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon fuels. That, in terms of costs, is very important, as they continue to emphasize.)
The invention constitutes a very substantial advance and enrichment in the art, inasmuch as it is no longer necessary to produce carbon monoxide-hydrogen mixtures in a cumbersome manner or prepare the hydrogen by reacting carbon monoxide with steam, and that now it is sufficient to react carbon monoxide or gases containing carbon monoxide with inexpensive and readily available steam.
The economic advantage (of that) ... is obvious.
The method (of this invention) is applicable in principle to all syntheses of hydrocarbons (wherein) the starting products constituted carbon monoxide and hydrogen, or from gases containing these two substances.
(Synthesis gas, or "syngas", made by the gasification, or steam-gasification, of Coal, would be one of the "gases containing" both "carbon monoxide and hydrogen", referred to above.)
The replacement of the hydrogen by steam in accordance with the present invention also extends to all methods in which carbon monoxide-hydrogen mixtures are caused to react ... .
Thus, in accordance with the invention, it is merely necessary to effect any catalytic carbon monoxide hydrogenation with the use of hydrogen in the conventional and well-known manner by replacing the hydrogen with steam ... .
The method in accordance of the invention of replacing the hydrogen with the steam is applicable to all the hydrogenation and synthesis processes previously effected with carbon monoxide and hydrogen."
---------------------
We'll close our excerpts there, to explain and document a few things.
First, although they don't really emphasize it, the Carbon Monoxide and Steam appear to require the addition of some "seed" - our term, not theirs - Methanol or Ethanol, or other alcohol, to the blend of Carbon Monoxide and Steam, to help really kick things off.
We'll leave that interpretation to those knowledgeable among our readers. Our take on it, thouhgh, is that once the process gets started it makes enough of it's own by-product alcohols to keep the process going.
If so, we could get the needed "starter" alcohol from, for instance, Carbon Dioxide, as in:
USDOE 1976 Atmospheric CO2 to Methanol | Research & Development; wherein is reported:
"United States Patent 3,959,094 - Electrolytic Synthesis of Methanol from CO2; 1976; Assignee: The USA as represented by the USDOE; Abstract: A method and system for synthesizing methanol from the CO2 in air using electric power."
Or, we could make the Methanol from Coal, as in:
Eastman Coal to Methanol and Electric Power | Research & Development; which reports:
"US Patent Application 20060096298 - Method for Satisfying Variable Power Demand; 2006; Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company; Abstract: A process for satisfying variable power demand and a method for maximizing the monetary value of a synthesis gas stream are disclosed. One or more synthesis gas streams are produced by gasification of carbonaceous materials and passed to a power producing zone to produce electrical power during a period of peak power demand or to a chemical producing zone to produce chemicals such as, for example, methanol."
The above Eastman process would produce both the Methanol, seemingly needed by our subject process of United States Patent 2,786,863, to make hydrocarbons out of Carbon Monoxide and Water, while at the same time making spare electricity, which could be used in the process of United States Patent 3,959,094, to make even more Methanol out of atmospheric Carbon Dioxide.
As far as getting the needed Carbon Monoxide, for the process of our subject US Patent 2,786,863, to effect the "production of hydrocarbons and oxygen-containing compounds by the hydrogenation of carbon monoxide", we'll remind you that we can make that Carbon Monoxide, as well, as seen in:
More Pre-WWII CO2 Recycling | Research & Development; which includes the details of: "United States Patent 2,128,262 - Carbon Monoxide Manufacture; 1938; Assignee: Semet-Solvay Engineering Corporation; Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide an efficient and economical process for the manufacture of carbon monoxide of high purity by the reduction of carbon dioxide (by the method of passing) carbon dioxide through ... incandescent ... coke";
simply by reacting a supposed pollutant, Carbon Dioxide, with some of our abundant, and red-hot, Coal.