Carbon Recycling International
We're making the effort in this dispatch to clean up and summarize some information we've provided in earlier reports, concerning the development, in the small island nation of Iceland, of an industry founded on the manufacture of liquid hydrocarbons fuels via the recycling of Carbon Dioxide.
First, in two earlier submissions, now accessible on the West Virginia Coal Association's web site via the links:
CO2 + Iceland = New Kuwait | Research & Development; we made report of the Icelandic company:
"Carbon Recycling International, Ehf", who describe their technology as one that: "captures carbon dioxide from industrial emissions and converts carbon dioxide to renewable fuel, including renewable methanol and renewable Di-Methyl-Ether (DME). Other fuels, such as gasoline and diesel, can be derived from these feed stocks. CRI is a venture-backed Icelandic American company with headquarters in Iceland and operations in Iceland"; and, of their current activities:
Iceland Methanol from CO2 in 2010 | Research & Development; which included the news story:
"CRI breaks ground for the first CO2 to Renewable Methanol Industrial Scale Plant in the world: Carbon Recycling International (CRI) captures carbon dioxide from industrial emissions and converts carbon dioxide into clean Renewable Methanol (RM) fuel. RM can be blended with different grades of gasoline for existing automobiles and hybrid flexible vehicles. The capture of carbon dioxide results in a net reduction of carbon dioxide from power generation. It is a cost effective method and sustainable production of renewable fuel.
RM fuel can be utilized in existing automobiles and distributed by the current gasoline stations. RM can potentially be a sustainable source of renewable fuel for Iceland and Europe. The production of RM and the harnessing of renewable energy are feasible in Iceland and in many other similar locations in the world. CRI plans to construct larger plants for export to other European countries.
The ground-breaking of the George Olah Plant took place on October 17 2009 in Svartsengi, Iceland. CRI will construct an Industrial Scale Plant to capture carbon dioxide from emissions and produce Renewable Methanol (RM) which can be used to power existing automobiles without requiring new gasoline station infrastructure. Consumers will be able to fill up their tanks at OLIS, one of the leading gasoline companies in Iceland, at the end of 2010".
However, we recently discovered that the link to CRI's web site we enclosed in the first dispatch cited above no longer functions, and, herein, we document that they do still seem to be very much alive and kicking.
All the links we enclose in this report function properly at this time.
First, to recapitulate, as excerpted from the initial, new, link in this dispatch:
"Carbon Recycling International (CRI) captures carbon dioxide from industrial emissions and converts carbon dioxide into Renewable Methanol (RM). RM is a clean fuel and can be blended at different levels with gasoline to meet renewable energy directives. The capture of carbon dioxide minimizes emissions from energy intensive industries. It is compatible to the existing energy and fuel infrastructure.
RM is a drop-in fuel for existing automobiles and hybrid flexible vehicles and can be purchased at existing gasoline stations. The production of RM is feasible in many locations in the world with geothermal, wind, and solar energy sources. CRI plans to build commercial plants for domestic consumption and for export to other European countries."
CRI's main web site, as accessible via the new link enclosed above, presents a collection of additional links providing more information, including:
Technology; which relates, that: "Carbon Recycling International has developed technology - Emission to Liquid (ETL)- which enables economical conversion of renewable energy to liquid fuel at small scale. Energy can be from any renewable sources such as geothermal, hydro, wind, or solar. ETL consists of a system of electrolytic cracking and catalytic synthesis, leading to a low pressure and low temperature electrochemical plant design.
Implementation of the CRI technology to produce Renewable Methanol can be done in phases and in a modular construction approach.
CRI's technology is practical for energy storage, fuel transport and carbon dioxide reduction";
and: Board of Directors and Advisors; which Directors and Advisors include, among others:
"George Olah, Ph.D., Nobel Prize Laureate, Chemistry, USC, USA
Surya Prakash, Ph.D., Director, Loker Institute of Hydrocarbon, USA
Agust Valfells, Ph.D., Former Professor of Iowa State University, Iceland
Howard Bruschi, Former Chief Technology Officer, Westinghouse Electric Corporation, USA
Deo Van Wijk, Co-Founder, Methanex, USA".
Concerning Nobel Laureate Olah and his University of Southern California, "USC", colleague, Surya Prakash, we remind you of just one of our earlier reports centering on them, as accessible via:
Southern California Recycles More CO2 | Research & Development; concerning their fairly recent: "United States Patent 7,608,743 - Efficient and Selective Chemical Recycling of Carbon Dioxide to Methanol, Dimethyl Ether and Derived Products; 2009; Inventors: George Olah and Surya Prakash; Assignee: The University of Southern California; Abstract: An efficient and environmentally beneficial method of recycling and producing methanol from varied sources of carbon dioxide including flue gases of fossil fuel burning powerplants, industrial exhaust gases or the atmosphere itself. Converting carbon dioxide by chemical or electrochemical reduction secondary treatment to produce essentially methanol, dimethyl ether and derived products."
All of that said, we also remind you of two additional reports related to both Iceland and Carbon Dioxide recycling technology, as accessible via:
More Iceland CO2 + H2O = Diesel Fuel, Methanol & Gasoline | Research & Development; concerning:
"United States Patent Application: 20070244208 - Liquid Fuels From Carbon Dioxide And Water; 2007; Inventors: Arthur Shulenberger, et. al., Iceland and California; Abstract: A process for producing high octane fuel from carbon dioxide and water is disclosed";
and:
Iceland Seeks CO2 Recycling World Patent | Research & Development; concerning:
"World Patent Application Number: PCT/IS2007/000007 - Process for Producing Liquid Fuel From Carbon Dioxide and Water; Inventors: Arthur Schulenberger, US; Oddur Ingolfson, Iceland; et. al.; Abstract: A process for producing high octane fuel from carbon dioxide and water is disclosed".
We have no idea of, and have found no documentation revealing, what, if any, relationship exists between the above Schulenberger and Ingolfson, and their co-inventors, with Carbon Recycling International.
There may be none, even though California and Iceland are linked by both groups.
However, clearly, at least some of the folks at Carbon Recycling International speak English; and, their phone number is prominently displayed on their web site.