We've previously made report of the Coal and Carbon conversion technologies established by scientists working at Chicago's "Institute of Gas Technology".
Examples include:
Chicago Converts CO2 to Methane | Research & Development; concerning: "US Patent 3,766,027 - Method and Apparatus for CO Conversion to Methane (The title as published in the source we utilized is incorrect, and should read: "CO2 Conversion". - JtM); 1973; Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago; Claims: A process for the conversion of carbon dioxide to methane"; and:
Chicago Gasifies and Liquefies Coal with Ultrasound | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 4,954,246 - Gasification of Carbonaceous Materials using Ultrasound; 1990; Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago; Claims: A process for slurry-phase gasification of ... coal, ... biomass, and mixtures thereof. ".
We must also note that there was, at one time, another organization in Chicago devoted to the development of Carbon utilization technologies, as represented, for one example, by our report of:
Chicago Recycles CO2 to Methanol | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 4,609,441 - Electrochemical Reduction of Aqueous Carbon Dioxide to Methanol; 1986; Gas Research Institute, Chicago; Abstract: A method of producing methanol from carbon dioxide".
As we can learn via:
Gas Technology Institute - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; which explains that: The Institute of Gas Technology was founded in 1941 at Illinois Institute of Technology. The Gas Research Institute was founded in 1976. In 2000, the Institute of Gas Technology and the Gas Research Institute combined to form the Gas Technology Institute";
the two may now be considered one and the same, under their current title: "Gas Technology Institute".
Herein, we document, through report focused on three closely-related United States Patents, more innovations established by one lead scientist, and a team of co-workers, at the, now, Gas Technology Institute; which innovations are centered on the conversion of Coal into more versatile hydrocarbons, via technologies that enable the utilization, along with Coal, both of renewable, Carbon-recycling organic materials and of Carbon Dioxide itself.
Comments and additional links are inserted within and follow our excerpts from the initial link above to:
"United States Patent 5,092,984 - Pyrolysis of Coal
Date: March, 1992
Inventors: Suresh Babu, et. al., Illinois
Assignee: Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago
Abstract: A method for mild gasification of crushed coal in a single vertical elongated reaction vessel providing a fluidized bed reaction zone, a freeboard reaction zone, and an entrained reaction zone within the single vessel. Feed coal and gas may be fed separately to each of these reaction zones to provide different reaction temperatures and conditions in each reaction zone. The reactor and process of this invention provides for the complete utilization of a coal supply for gasification including utilization of caking and non-caking or agglomerating feeds in the same reactor. The products may be adjusted to provide significantly greater product economic value, especially with respect to desired production of char having high surface area.
(Note that a close read of the full Disclosure, though it won't be well-reflected in our necessarily-brief excerpts, will reveal that the still-carbonaceous "char", as above, is actually recycled into the process, in order to effect, as specified, "the complete utilization" of Coal.)
Government Interests: The U.S. Government has a paid-up license in this invention and rights as provided for by the terms of contract No. DE-AC21-87MC24266 awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Claims: A process for pyrolysis of coal comprising: separating coal feed particles into a coarse fraction (as specified) and a fines fraction (as specified, and) introducing said coal feed particles into at least two reaction zones in a single vertical elongated vessel having a fluidized bed reaction zone in its lower portion, a freeboard reaction zone in its central portion, a necking region leading to an entrained reaction zone in its upper portion, said fines fraction introduced to the lower portion of said entrained reaction zone to pass upwardly through said entrained reaction zone producing primarily high boiling aromatics comprising naphthalene, anthracene, phenanthrene and pitch and said coarse fraction introduced directly into said fluidized bed reaction zone and there forming low boiling aromatics comprising benzene, toluene, xylenes and phenols and high surface area char and into the upper portion of said freeboard reaction zone said coarse fraction particles passing downwardly through said freeboard zone forming gaseous devolitilization products which pass upwardly and are removed from the upper portion of said entrained reaction zone and partially devolitilized coal which passes into said fluidized bed reaction zone there forming low boiling aromatics comprising benzene, toluene, xylenes and phenols and high surface area char ...;
(Note that "benzene, toluene, xylenes" are produced in two interconnected "reaction zone"s, and that, better known as "BTX", they are major components of Gasoline blending stock.)
A process ... wherein said fluidizing gas principally comprises gas selected from the group consisting of hot flue gases, ... steam, CO2 rich gases, air, and mixtures thereof.
(Note: Both "flue gases" and "CO2" itself can be utilized as co-reactants with Coal. The addition of "steam" supplements the Hydrogen content.)
Background: The present invention relates to pyrolysis or mild gasification of coal and an apparatus suitable for conversion of both caking and non-caking coals. The process and apparatus of this invention provides selectivity of desired products with high yields of aromatic oils and tars and reactive char."
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The full Background and Summary section is quite, perhaps overly, detailed; but, if you sift it fine enough you'll discover that even more Carbon Dioxide can be added to the process at certain stages of it. Further, although the Disclosure does say that the "char" is to recycled within the process, that fact, too, is rather obtusely spelled out. But, if, at the end of the day, there is still some carbonaceous "char" left un-reacted and unutilized, we remind you, that, as seen in:
Exxon Gasifies Coal, and Steam-Gasifies the Char | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 5,055,181 - Hydropyrolysis-Gasification of Carbonaceous Material; 1991; Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company; Disclosed is a process for obtaining liquids and gases from carbonaceous material, such as coal (which) is first ... hydropyrolyzed ... to make liquid products (and, the) resulting char is gasified in the presence of steam";
processes exist which enable the conversion of any carbonaceous "char" which might remain, after an initial conversion of Coal utilizing CO2 as one of the agents of gasification, into even more hydrocarbon products.
Further, and very interestingly, the USDOE-sponsored Coal conversion process of United States Patent 5,092,984, as above, was actually based on and derivative of precedent technology that had been established by essentially the same team of Gas Technology Institute scientists, technology that actually centered on very similar technology related to the gasification and conversion of Carbon-recycling biomass and wastes.
And, we speculate that those earlier innovations might have inspired the USDOE's sponsorship of the subsequent research and development leading to United States Patent 5,092,984.
As evidenced by:
"United States Patent: 4699632 - Process for the Gasification of Cellulosic Materials
Date: October, 1987
Inventor: Suresh Babu, et. al., Illinois
Assignee: Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago
Abstract: A process for gasification of cellulosic materials in a single gasification vessel wherein the cellulosic materials are introduced directly into a single back-mixed fluidized bed of high heat capacity inert solids. The fluidized bed is maintained at (specified) temperatures ... devolatilizing the cellulosic materials.
A substantial portion of the heavier hydrocarbons produced by devolatilization of the cellulosic materials is reformed within the gasification vessel and a substantial portion of the devolatilized cellulosic materials is gasified by reaction with hydrogen and steam within the fluidized bed.
Cellulosic materials residue is combusted in an oxygen-rich atmosphere in the lower portion of the fluidized bed to principally form heat and cellulosic materials ash.
The process provides high throughput, efficient production of low and medium Btu fuel gas. The medium Btu fuel gas may be readily upgraded to high Btu SNG (Synthetic Natural Gas).
At least half of the methane required for SNG is produced in the gasification vessel.
Claims: A process for gasification of cellulosic materials ... wherein said cellulosic materials feed is selected from the group consisting of biomass, municipal solid wastes, industrial solid wastes, and mixtures thereof."
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And, since it is principally Methane that can be formed from the Carbon-recycling "biomass" and "municipal solid wastes", we remind you that, as seen for just one out of now many examples, in:
Exxon 2010 CO2 + Methane = Liquid Hydrocarbons | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 7,772,447 - Production of Liquid Hydrocarbons from Methane; 2010; Assignee: ExxonMobil, Houston; Abstract: (A) process for converting methane to liquid hydrocarbons ... , including benzene and/or naphthalene, and produce a first effluent stream comprising hydrogen ... (by) contacting a feed containing methane and ... H2O (and) CO2 with a (specified) catalyst under conditions effective to convert said methane to aromatic hydrocarbons, including benzene and naphthalene, and produce a first effluent stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbons and hydrogen";
such Methane, made, as in the process of the above US Patent 4,699,632, from CO2-recycling "biomass", can then be used to react with, to recycle, Carbon Dioxide itself, in the production of "hydrocarbons".
Further, both the above related US Patents, "5,092,984 - Pyrolysis of Coal" and "4,699,632 - Process for the Gasification of Cellulosic Materials" were founded on even more precedent, and closely-related technology, as disclosed in the very similar:
"United States Patent: 4592762 - Process for Gasification of Cellulosic Biomass
Date: June, 1986
Inventor: Suresh Babu, et. al., Illinois
Assignee: Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago
Abstract: A process for gasification of cellulosic biomass in a single gasification vessel ... .
The process provides high throughput, efficient production of low and medium Btu fuel gas. The medium Btu fuel gas may be readily upgraded to high Btu SNG. At least half of the methane required for SNG is produced in the gasification vessel.
Claims: A process for gasification of cellulosic biomass.
Background and Field: This invention relates to a process for gasification of cellulosic biomass, such as plants and trees, ... to produce low and medium Btu fuel gas, that is, gases varying in composition from those rich in CO, H2, and N2 to those rich in CO, H2 and CH4, respectively. The medium Btu fuel gas may be readily treated to form high Btu substitute natural gas, it can be processed as synthesis gas for methanol production, or may be directly used as an industrial fuel gas.
(Note reference to the fact that such "synthesis gas" can be used for the production of liquid fuels, such as "methanol". We submit as well that it would be suitable for use in Fischer-Tropsch, and related, processes, for the synthesis of any of a number of hydrocarbons.)
The process utilizes readily available and renewable energy resources which are converted by the process of this invention to clean and energy-intensive substitute fuel gases and for use as raw materials for desired chemicals or fuels.
The present invention provides a process for gasification of cellulosic biomass in a single gasification vessel obtaining high, approaching total, carbon conversion to useful gases. The process of this invention results in a high percentage of methane in the very rapid hydrodevolatilization of the cellulosic biomass feed, such as trees and plants."
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And, we are compelled to suggest yet another source of such naturally CO2-recycling "cellulosic biomass".
As seen, for just one example, in our earlier report of:
Honeywell Recycles CO2 with Algae | Research & Development; concerning: "Honeywell's UOP Awarded Funding for Carbon Dioxide Reuse Through Algae Biofuel Production; 2010: UOP, a Honeywell company, announced today that it has been awarded a $1.5 million cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Energy for a project to demonstrate technology to capture carbon dioxide and produce algae for use in biofuel and energy production.
The funding will be used for the design of a demonstration system that will capture carbon dioxide from exhaust stacks at Honeywell’s manufacturing facility in Hopewell, Va., and deliver the captured CO2 to a cultivation system for algae.
Algal oil can then be extracted from the algae for conversion to biofuels, and the algae residual can be converted to pyrolysis oil, which can be burned to generate renewable electricity".
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The "algae residual", remaining after "oil" had been extracted from Algae grown on CO2-laden "exhaust" gas, would consist, essentially, of cellulose from the walls of the Algae cells.
And, it would most definitely qualify as "cellulosic biomass" which could, as in the combined and related processes of our subject US Patents "5,092,984 - Pyrolysis of Coal"; "4,699,632 - Gasification of Cellulosic Materials"; and, 4,592,762 - Gasification of Cellulosic Biomass", be converted, along with Coal, into a "synthesis gas for methanol production" and/or "benzene, toluene" and "xylenes" which can be used as Gasoline blending stock.
Further, the combined processes would, as above, also result "in a high percentage of methane" being generated as a co-product; which Methane, we again remind you, could then be used in yet another process, as seen in:
Standard Oil 1987 CO2 + CH4 = Syngas | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 4,690,777 - Production of Synthesis Gas; 1987; Assignee: The Standard Oil Company; Abstract: Gas mixtures containing at least hydrogen and carbon monoxide are prepared by reforming hydrocarbons in the presence of a catalyst (which process comprises) contacting the light hydrocarbons with carbon dioxide ... (and) wherein the light hydrocarbon is methane (and which gas) mixtures (so produced) are particularly useful as feed ... in processes for producing higher hydrocarbons ... such as Fischer-Tropsch";
to react with and recycle Carbon Dioxide itself, recovered, perhaps, from the off-gases of a Corn Ethanol fermentation vat, with both CO2 and Methane being converted, through such reactions, into yet another synthesis gas suitable for the production of "higher hydrocarbons".