Although the focus of our reportage, concerning the profitable use of the gaseous byproducts of Coal combustion, has centered primarily on their use in the synthesis of hydrocarbon fuels, as seen in:
USDOE Algae Recycle CO2 into Liquid Fuels | Research & Development; concerning: "Liquid Fuels from Microalgae; 1987; National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO; USDOE; Abstract: The goal of the DOE/SERI Aquatic Species Program is to develop the technology to produce gasoline and diesel fuels from microalgae";
wherein the USDOE's "microalgae" are specified to be nourished with industrial effluent CO2;, and, in:
Exxon Methane and Hydrogen from H2S and Carbon Monoxide | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 4,517,171 - Synthesis of H2 and CH4 from H2S and CO; 1985; Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company; Abstract: Hydrogen and methane are synthesized from a gaseous feed comprising a mixture of H2S and CO";
wherein Hydrogen Sulfide, as can be recovered from the emissions of some natural gas preparation facilities as well as the exhaust from combusting high-Sulfur Coal, and Carbon Monoxide can be reacted together and made to yield both Substitute Natural Gas (SNG) Methane and elemental Sulfur, with the needed Carbon Monoxide, we suggest, being generated by a process such as that described in:
Germany 98% Pure Carbon Monoxide from Coal, CO2 and O2 | Research & Development; concerning: "Carbon Monoxide from Coke, Carbon Dioxide and Oxygen; Hydrocarbon Process(US); 1986: Lurgi GmbH, Frankfurt (Germany); (Merely) two process steps are required to convert coke to high purity CO. The purpose of the first process step is to gasify coke using a mixture of CO2 and O2 as gasification agent while the second one serves to remove sulfur compounds and residual CO2. (The) produced gas (can show) a CO concentration of 97 to 98.5% by volume";
wherein Carbon Dioxide, recovered from whatever source, and some Oxygen, are reacted with red-hot Coal;
there are other, perhaps seemingly more mundane, ways in which nearly the entire mix of exhaust gases arising from a Coal combustion process can be productively utilized; and, utilized in a way that might be more economical, since nearly all of the various exhaust gas components are consumed, together, without the expense of gas separation; although we do note, that, as in the above US Department of Energy's "Liquid Fuels from Microalgae", some exhaust gas recycling technologies don't really require much separation and purification.
And, in fact, the technology we report in this dispatch might well go hand-in-hand with technologies for making "Liquid Fuels from Microalgae", since the little buggers do need something else to eat besides Carbon Dioxide, as they go about their primary business of converting industrial exhaust gas CO2 into such seemingly needful things as "gasoline and diesel fuels".
According to our own United States Department of Energy, we can convert some pretty raw Coal combustion flue gas into the nourishing fertilizer we might need to feed them with.
But, there is another "kicker" to all of this, as we summarize, following excerpts from the initial link in this dispatch to:
"United States Patent 6,447,437 - Method for Reducing CO2, CO, NOx and SOx Emissions
Date: September, 2002
Inventors: James Lee, TN, and Rongfu Li, China
Assignee: UT Battelle, LLC, Oak Ridge, TN
(Note: As we have previously explained in other reports, our USDOE, in it's wisdom, has begun to farm out management of our vital US National Energy Laboratories to consortia of various public and private entities. And, not only do those consortia get paid with our tax money to direct and conduct research in laboratories We the People supposedly own, research performed by scientists whose wages are paid with our tax money, those public and private consortia get to own all, or in some cases just part, of the rights to inventions developed in our labs by our scientists. In this case, "UT Battelle LLC" is composed primarily of the University of Tennessee and Battelle Memorial Institute.
We've documented some of the private and semi-private "skunk works" that conduct some very interesting activities on behalf of our US Government, and, Battelle is one of them. We'll be reporting further on some of their energy conversion activities in the future, but, for now, more can be learned via:
Battelle Memorial Institute - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. It's interesting reading.)
Abstract: Industrial combustion facilities are integrated with greenhouse gas-solidifying fertilizer production reactions so that CO2, CO, NOx, and SOx emissions can be converted prior to emission into carbonate-containing fertilizers, mainly NH4HCO3 and/or (NH2)2CO, plus a small fraction of NH4NO3 and
(NH4)2SO4. The invention enhances sequestration of CO2 into soil and the earth subsurface, reduces NO3 contamination of surface and groundwater, and stimulates photosynthetic fixation of CO2 from the atmosphere. The method for converting CO2, CO, NOx, and SOx emissions into fertilizers includes the step of collecting these materials from the emissions of industrial combustion facilities such as fossil fuel-powered energy sources and transporting the emissions to a reactor. In the reactor, the CO2, CO, N2, SOx, and/or NOx are converted into carbonate-containing fertilizers using H2, CH4, or NH3.
The carbonate-containing fertilizers are then applied to soil and green plants to:
(1) sequester inorganic carbon into soil and subsoil earth layers by enhanced carbonation of groundwater and the earth minerals,
(2) reduce the environmental problem of NO3 runoff by substituting for ammonium nitrate fertilizer, and:
(3) stimulate photosynthetic fixation of CO2 from the atmosphere by the fertilization effect of the carbonate-containing fertilizers.
(A number of things are going on in the above which should not be missed by the environmentally-sensitive among our readers. First, as we will try to emphasize as we go along, plants stimulated to grow faster and bigger by the application of Coal flue gas- based fertilizer will, in the course of their daily affairs, suck even more Carbon Dioxide out of the atmosphere. Second, the use of Coal flue gas-based nitrogenous compounds, which might otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere and partially return to earth in precipitation, in place of nitrogenous compounds deliberately synthesized from other sources and applied to the earth as fertilizer, reduces the total "NO3 (nitrate) runoff" attributable to human activities.)
Government Interests: This invention was made with United States Government support awarded by the Department of Energy to Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation, Contract No. DE-ACO5-96OR22464. The United States Government has certain rights in this invention.
(So, in addition to UT-Battelle, there are other corporate shareholders of this technology.)
Claims: A method for reducing the emissions of industrial combustion facilities, comprising the steps of: collecting emissions from said industrial combustion facilities, reacting said emissions to form at least carbonate-containing fertilizers (including) NH4HCO3 ... .:
A method for reducing the emissions of industrial combustion facilities, comprising the steps of: collecting emissions from said industrial combustion facilities, reacting said emissions to form at least carbon-containing fertilizers, wherein said emissions are reacted to produce (NH2)2CO fertilizer ... .
A method for reducing the emissions of industrial combustion facilities, comprising the steps of: collecting emissions from said industrial combustion facilities, reacting said emissions to form at least carbonate-containing fertilizers, wherein said emissions are reacted according to (illustrated reactions which utilize) NO, NO2, N2O, N2O3 and N2O4; and SOx (which) is at least one selected from the group consisting of SO2 and SO3, and applying at least a portion of said fertilizers to soil and plants.
Background and Field: This invention relates generally to chemical, geological, and photosynthetic sequestration of CO2, pollution control systems, and particularly to a method for removal of CO2, CO, NOx, and SOx emissions, for reduction of NO3 contamination of surface water and groundwater, and for sequestration of inorganic carbon into soil and subsoil earth layers.
The process of photosynthesis removes more CO2 from the atmosphere than any other reaction. Each year, land-based green plants remove about 403 Gt CO2 (equivalent to 110 Gt C) from the atmosphere and the oceans draw approximately 385 Gt CO2 as well. An enhancement as small as 6% for terrestrial or ocean photosynthesis is sufficient to remove 22 Gt CO2 (6 Gt C), or the entire amount of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere annually from the use of fossil fuels. The requirements of the recent Kyoto Treaty could be satisfied by an increase of only 0.62% in annual global photosynthetic biomass production, if the increased biomass is in a stable form such as woody products.
(Thus, a point not to be missed: If, through the application of Coal flue gas-based fertilizer, we were able to stimulate photosynthetic plants, admittedly on a global basis, to increase their rate of growth by only a little more than one half of one percent, then the "Kyoto Treaty could be satisfied".)
In many parts of the world, land-based photosynthesis in the form of crop production is limited by the lack of fertilizers. Nitrogen in the form of ammonium, NH4, is the most-needed fertilizer since it is an essential substrate for the synthesis of all amino acids--and thus proteins, chlorophyll, and many lipid molecules of membranes. All are important components of photosynthetic membranes. An increase in the use of fertilization can dramatically enhance photosynthetic activity by stimulating more green plants to grow. This would result in the capture of more sunlight energy and the fixation of more CO2. A more abundant supply of environmentally friendly fertilizers and appropriate fertilization of trees can be a positive contribution to global CO2 sequestration.
Simultaneous, selective, and/or total removal of SOx, NOx, CO, and CO2 emissions is possible by using the method described in the invention.
The H2 and CH4 used in the invention can be obtained from many suitable sources. The H2 can be generated by photosynthetic and solar photovoltaic water splitting, in addition to steam reforming of CH4, CO, and fuel including coal.
(Concerning some of the economical, even intriguing, ways in which we can make the Hydrogen, see:
USDOE Makes Hydrogen by Using Sulfur Dioxide | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 4,244,794 - Hydrogen Production by the Decomposition of Water; 1981; Assignee: The United States of America; This invention relates generally to the production of hydrogen gas from water and in particular relates to a sulfuric acid process for producing hydrogen. It is a result of a contract with the Department of Energy. Claims: A process for producing hydrogen comprising: passing an electric current from a cathode to an anode through water containing sulfur dioxide so as to produce hydrogen gas at the cathode and so as to oxidize the sulfur dioxide to form sulfuric acid at the anode, thus producing an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid";
wherein, again, Sulfur Dioxide emissions can be used to especially good effect, since the co-produced "sulfuric acid" is a commercial commodity with broad utility and a ready market.
And, since they mention "solar photovoltaic water splitting" as a way to get Hydrogen, see:
Solar-Powered Hydrogen Generation | Research & Development; concerning:"United States Patent 7,726,127 - Solar Power for Thermochemical Production of Hydrogen; 2010; Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Incorporated".
And, perhaps even more intriguingly, as seen in:
USDOE Algae Make Hydrogen for Coal and CO2 Hydrogenation | Research & Development; concerning: "Photosynthetic Hydrogen and Oxygen Production by Green Algae; Oak Ridge National Laboratory;
Abstract: Photosynthesis research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is focused on hydrogen and oxygen production by green algae";
the same Algae which, as in our citation, above, of "Liquid Fuels from Microalgae; 1987; National Renewable Energy Laboratory", that convert industrial exhaust Carbon Dioxide into "gasoline and diesel fuels", can, in their "down time", be coerced into making Hydrogen, as a sideline.
But, if we prefer to use Methane, instead of Hydrogen, then, as seen in:
Penn State Solar CO2 + H2O = Methane | Research & Development; concerning the: "High-Rate Solar Photocatalytic Conversion of CO2 and Water Vapor to Hydrocarbon Fuels; The Pennsylvania State University; 2009; Efficient solar conversion of carbon dioxide and water vapor to methane";
we can use Solar energy to make that more directly out of Water and Carbon Dioxide, as well.
And, since the USDOE mentions obtaining the Hydrogen or Methane by the "steam reforming of ... coal", God bless 'em, we'll note, that, as seen in:
Consol 1953 Coal to Hydrogen & Methane with No CO2 | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 2,654,661 - Gasification of Carbonaceous Solid Fuels; 1953; Assignee: Consolidation Coal Company, Pittsburgh; This invention relates to the gasification of carbonaceous solid fuels (wherein a) gaseous product is obtained which contains methane and hydrogen in varying relative proportions depending upon the particular temperature and pressure conditions";
we have known, or some privileged few have known, how to make both Hydrogen and Methane, efficiently, from Steam and Coal, for more than half a century.)
The invention provides a method for reducing CO2, CO, NOx and SOx emissions by converting these emissions into useful fertilizers. The invention can be applied to many combustion facilities that produce one or more of the following emissions: CO2, CO, NOx and SOx. In the preferred practice of this invention, combustion facilities are integrated with greenhouse gas-solidifying fertilizer production processes so that the gases are passed to a reactor before they can be emitted to the atmosphere and the waste heat from the combustion facilities can be utilized for the chemical engineering conversion processes.
(We've previously documented the potentials for productively utilizing waste heat from Coal-fired power generation facilities, as seemingly suggested above, with more reports on such potentials to follow.)
This reaction is more environmentally sound than the current ammonium nitrate production process, which emits three molecules of CO2 for the same amount of nitrogen-valued fertilizer".
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And, we'll end our over-long excerpts there to emphasize that final point:
If we start making fertilizer out of Coal plant exhaust, not only will we be indirectly, by, essentially, feeding green plants with that Coal plant exhaust, sequestering Carbon Dioxide and other objectionable gases, we will, by displacing fertilizer as it is now conventionally made, be preventing other, non-Coal, emissions of Carbon Dioxide, a great deal of which arises from the making of fertilizer as it is now practiced.
That, in addition to the earlier-noted "consolidation" and minimization of Nitrogen compounds being applied, through natural processes and human agricultural activities, to the earth's surface; and, in addition also to technologies such as those referenced above, i.e., "United States Patent 4,517,171 - Synthesis of H2 and CH4 from H2S and CO" and "United States Patent 4,244,794 - Hydrogen Production by the Decomposition of Water", which USP 4,244,794 process actually utilizes a solution of Sulfur Dioxide in water, wherein any emitted Sulfur compounds can, having been captured, be productively utilized.
Further, although not represented in our excerpts due to length and complexity, the USDOE provides calculations and estimates demonstrating that, by the strategic use of inexpensive Coal exhaust-based fertilizer, we could not only stimulate increased growth in forests, but, we would have to, through such stimulation, increase forest growth worldwide by only a relatively very small percentage to, through the combined use of Carbon Dioxide-based fertilizer and the subsequently increased rate of natural, Carbon Dioxide-consuming botanical photosynthesis, "sequester", in wood, enough CO2 to amount to an "equivalent (of) a 24% reduction of CO2 emissions from the current world consumption of all fossil fuels".
And, that does mean all fossil fuels, including those we burn in our automobiles and other vehicles, and the other fossil fuels, such as petroleum and natural gas, which we utilize in our various industrial and commercial activities.
Further: Should you take the time to examine the data provided by our United States Department of Energy's Energy Information Agency, in their own tabulation of "Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Sector and Source", as accessible via the link:
http://www.eia.gov/oiaf/aeo/
you will see, that, when all industrial and transportation sources of Carbon Dioxide are included, Coal contributes only about 25% of the total Carbon Dioxide emitted by human activity.
Thus, by converting some small percentage of Coal power plant exhaust into fertilizer, with some, at least small, commercial value, we could indirectly leverage the capture and utilization, through the intermediary of botanical photosynthesis, essentially all of the Carbon Dioxide emitted by all US Coal-fired power plants.
Then, if we were to begin utilizing, at other Coal-fired power plants, a technology such as that described, for just one example, in our report of:
Conoco Converts CO2 to Methanol and Dimethyl Ether | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 6,664,207 - Catalyst for Converting Carbon Dioxide to Oxygenates; 2003;
and, a portion of the CO2-derived Methanol were, as it easily can and is being, utilized for the synthesis and manufacture of certain durable plastics, then even more Carbon Dioxide would be productively and, for all practical purposes, permanently sequestered; more Carbon Dioxide, in theory, than is actually emitted by our vital uses of Coal.
All of which should, in fact, enable us to establish another Coal Country profit center:
Selling Carbon Credits to profligate emitters of Carbon Dioxide, such as cement plants, ethanol breweries and distilleries, petroleum refineries, and, since it can be naturally contaminated with high percentages of CO2 as it comes out of the ground, natural gas cleaning and compression facilities.