In our recent report:
West Virginia Coal Association | United Technologies Converts CO2 into Hydrocarbons | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 4,921,586 - Electrolysis Cell and Method of Use; 1990; Assignee: United Technologies Corporation; Abstract: The present invention discloses an improved solid polymer electrolysis cell for the reduction of carbon dioxide. The improvement being the use of a cathode having a metal phthalocyanine catalyst which results in the suppression of the formation of hydrogen during the reduction process and the subsequent improved conversion efficiency for carbon dioxide. A method for reducing carbon dioxide in an electrolysis cell having an anode a cathode and a solid polymer electrolyte comprising; contacting the anode with a hydrogen containing material, converting said hydrogen containing material to hydrogen ions (and) causing the carbon dioxide to react with the hydrogen ions to form organic compounds ... (including) formic acid ... (,) methanol and formaldehyde ... or methane";
two precedent US Patents were cited by United Technologies as key to the development of their process of "United States Patent 4,921,586", one being, as we included a reference to in that report:
West Virginia Coal Association | Chicago Recycles CO2 to Methanol | Research & Development; "United States Patent 4,609,441 - Electrochemical Reduction of Aqueous Carbon Dioxide to Methanol; 1986; Gas Research Institute; A method of producing methanol from carbon dioxide is set forth. A solution of carbon dioxide in an aqueous solvent having electrolyte dissolved therein is electrolyzed utilizing a molybdenum cathode. Faradaic efficiency is generally quite high and without detectable corrosion. Claims: A method of producing methanol from carbon dioxide (which comprises) electrolyzing a solution of carbon dioxide in an aqueous solvent having an electrolyte therein and utilizing a cathode which comprises molybdenum to produce methanol. Field: The invention relates to the electrochemical reduction of aqueous carbon dioxide to form methanol".
The other precedent technology referenced by United Technologies, in their full Disclosure of "United States Patent 4,921,586 - Electrolysis Cell and Method of Use", a reference which we didn't include in our excerpts in that report, is the subject our dispatch herein.
First, we remind you of the importance of elemental, molecular Hydrogen; not only for the recycling of Carbon Dioxide, but, as well, in some technologies for the conversion of Coal into liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons; as seen, for just one example, in:
West Virginia Coal Association | Exxon Multi-Stage Hydrogen Donor Coal Liquefaction | Research & Development; concerning, in part: "United States Patent 4,210,518 - Hydrogen-donor Coal Liquefaction Process; 1980; Exxon Research and Engineering Company; Abstract: Improved liquid yields are obtained during the hydrogen-donor solvent liquefaction of coal ... . Government Interests: The Government of the United States of America has rights in this invention pursuant to Contract No. E(49-18)-2353 awarded by the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration. Claims: A hydrogen-donor liquefaction process for converting coal or similar carbonaceous solids into lower molecular weight liquid hydrocarbons.In processes of this type, the coal ... is contacted with molecular hydrogen and a hydrogen-donor solvent at elevated temperature and pressure in a liquefaction zone".
And, the generation of economical Hydrogen, for just such recycling of Carbon Dioxide and hydrogenation of Coal, is the object of the technology cited by United Technologies in their full Disclosure of "United States Patent 4,921,586 - Electrolysis Cell and Method of Use", as seen in our excerpts from the initial link in this dispatch to:
"United States Patent 3,992,271 - Method for Gas Generation
Date: November, 1976
Inventor: Ivan Danzig, et. al., MA
Assignee: General Electric Company, MA
Abstract: A gas generation apparatus which is useful for the concentration of oxygen or for the generation of oxygen and hydrogen by electrolysis has a catalytic cathode, an improved catalytic anode with a catalyst selected from platinum-iridium alloys containing 5 to 50 per cent iridium, a cation-exchange membrane positioned between and in electrical contact with the cathode and anode, means for providing a direct current potential between the cathode and the anode, and outlet means for removing gas from at least one of the electrodes. Methods are described for the concentration of oxygen and for generation of oxygen and hydrogen by electrolysis.
(Note, that, as seen in our earlier report of:
West Virginia Coal Association | General Electric Hydrogen from Geothermal Energy | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 7,331,179 - System and Method for Production of Hydrogen; 2008; Assignee: General Electric Company; Abstract: A technique is disclosed for a system and method for combined production of power and hydrogen utilizing the heat from a first working fluid heated by a geothermal energy source using a steam generator and an electrolyzer designed to receive the steam produced by the steam generator for the production of hydrogen and oxygen using electrolysis";
we have already documented a somewhat similar and related Hydrogen production process developed much later by General Electric, which process, as could be inferred from:
West Virginia Coal Association | Another Energy Bonanza for Coal Country | Research & Development; concerning: "Project Reveals Large, Green Energy Source in Coal Country; The SMU Geothermal Laboratory has increased its estimate of West Virginia’s geothermal generation potential to 18,890 megawatts (assuming a conservative 2% thermal recovery rate). The new estimate represents a 75 percent increase over estimates in MIT’s 2006 “The Future of Geothermal Energy” report and exceeds the state’s total current generating capacity, primarily coal based, of 16,350 megawatts.The high temperature zones beneath West Virginia revealed by the new mapping are concentrated in the eastern portion of the state. Starting at depths of 4.5 km (greater than 15,000 feet), temperatures reach over 150°C (300°F), which is hot enough for commercial geothermal power production";
might prove to have special applicability in certain parts of Coal Country.)
Claims: In an electrolytic method for generating hydrogen and oxygen comprising providing a catalytic cathode, providing a catalytic anode, positioning a cation exchange membrane positioned between and in electrical contact with the cathode and the anode, providing a direct current potential between the cathode and the anode, and generating simultaneously separate supplies of hydrogen and oxygen, the improvement in combination therewith of providing the anode with an oxygen evolution catalyst consisting of reduced platinum-iridium alloys ... in which the catalyst is 5 weight percent iridium and the balance is platinum.
(The above-cited "United States Patent 4,921,586 - Electrolysis Cell and Method of Use" specifies "Indium" as one of it's preferred catalytic electrode metals; supply issues for which we touched on briefly in our report concerning that United Technologies process. The Indium is different from the "iridium" specified herein, and a careless read could cause confusion between the two. However, as can be learned via:
Iridium - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; Iridium is available to us via potentially-commercial deposits in Canada and Colombia, with smaller amounts also accessible in the United States itself; although it is, no matter what the source, rather exquisitely rare and, thus, expensive. However, it serves, in essence, only as a catalyst for the electrolytic process and isn't used up or consumed to any appreciable extent.)
Description and Background: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for the generation of gases. More particularly, it relates to methods and apparatus for the concentration of oxygen, and for the generation of oxygen and hydrogen by electrolysis.
The primary object of our invention is to provide an improved method ... in which to ... to produce oxygen and hydrogen by electrolysis."
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We'll leave our excerpts at that; our primary purpose herein being to substantiate the Carbon Dioxide recycling technology disclosed in our above-cited report, concerning "US Patent 4,921,586 - Electrolysis Cell and Method of Use", wherein an integral, and economical, water electrolysis, based on the process of our subject, is utilized to provide the Hydrogen ions for the chemical reduction of CO2 into such things as Methanol and Methane.
Further, other Carbon Dioxide recycling technologies, as well, such as that disclosed in:
West Virginia Coal Association | US Navy Improves CO2 Hydrogenation Catalyst | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent Application 20110105630 - Catalytic Support for use in Carbon Dioxide Hydrogenation; 2011; The Government of the USA as represented by the Secretary of the Navy; Abstract: A catalyst support which may be used to support various catalysts for use in reactions for hydrogenation of carbon dioxide (are disclosed, wherein) CO2 and H2 can ... be reacted over a heterogeneous catalyst to form hydrocarbons of desired chain length and type";
also call for a supply of elemental, molecular Hydrogen, "H2".
Hydrogen, again as noted above, also has potential utility in some processes for the direct hydrogenation of Coal, as via a solvent process such as that disclosed in the cited Exxon technology of "United States Patent 4,210,518 - Hydrogen-donor Coal Liquefaction Process"; and, as well, in certain Coal gasification technologies, such as that disclosed in our report of:
California Rocket Scientists Liquefy Coal | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 4,243,509 - Coal Hydrogenation; 1981; Rockwell International Corporation; Disclosure is made of a method and apparatus for reacting carbonaceous material such as pulverized coal with heated hydrogen to form hydrocarbon gases and liquids suitable for conversion to fuels".
Otherwise, the Oxygen that is co-produced by the process of our subject could also find utility in yet another Coal conversion process, such as that seen in:
Conoco 2011 Coal + CO2 + H2O + O2 = Syngas | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 7,959,829 - Gasification System and Process; 2011; ConocoPhillips Company; Abstract: A system and process for gasifying carbonaceous feedstock ... . Dry solid carbonaceous material is partially combusted, then pyrolyzed ... in two separate reactor sections, thereby producing ... synthesis gas";
wherein the use pf concentrated Oxygen to support a Coal and Steam gasification process makes the reaction so robust, that, as disclosed in the full report, Carbon Dioxide can be added to and consumed in the gasification, and in the consequent production of hydrocarbon "synthesis gas"; with such use of the byproduct Oxygen, in a Coal conversion process, perhaps making the production of Hydrogen, for use in a separate Carbon Dioxide recycling process, that much more economically attractive.