As should be plain from our many, many reports documenting impeccable evidence attesting to the facts, both Coal and Carbon Dioxide - - contrary to what propagandists of various stripes and of questionable core motivations would have us believe - - can be efficiently converted into hydrocarbons; into anything, quite literally anything, we now fight foreign wars and bleed ourselves dry enriching the inimical nations of OPEC to keep ourselves supplied with.
In the case of Carbon Dioxide, although there are a number of ways to go about it, we can see in:
USDOE Synthetic Fuels from Atmospheric CO2 | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent Application 20100205856A1 - Synthetic Fuels from Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide; 2010; This invention was made with government support under Contract No. DE-AC52-06NA25396 awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy. Abstract: The present invention is directed to providing a method of producing synthetic fuels and organic chemicals from atmospheric carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide gas is extracted from the atmosphere, hydrogen gas is obtained by splitting water, a mixture of the carbon dioxide gas and the hydrogen gas (synthesis gas) is generated, and the synthesis gas is converted into synthetic fuels and/or organic products ... selected from the group consisting of fuel, diesel fuel, jet fuel, gasoline, petrochemicals, plastics, butane, methanol, ethylene, propylene, aromatic compounds, petrochemical derivatives, derivatives thereof, and mixtures thereof";
that, elemental, molecular Hydrogen can actually be rather directly combined, and reacted, with CO2 for the production of a number of seemingly-desirable substances.
And, the same, as seen for one example in:
Exxon 1982 CoalTL Uses WVU CoalTL Hydrogen Donor Solvent | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 4,345,989 - Catalytic Hydrogen-donor Liquefaction Process; 1982; Exxon Research and Engineering Company; Coal ... is converted into lower molecular weight liquid hydrocarbons by contacting the feed material with a hydrogen-donor solvent ... and molecular hydrogen";
is also true for Coal.
Given, then, that Hydrogen is desirable stuff to have some of, we've also documented a number of ways we can go efficiently about getting it, as seen, for one example, in:
NASA Hydrogen from Water and Sunlight | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 4,045,315 - Solar Photolysis of Water; 1977; NASA; Hydrogen is produced by the solar photolysis of water".
However, we've also documented, as in:
Florida Hydrogen and Sulfur from H2S | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 6,572,829 - Photocatalytic Process for Decomposing Hydrogen Sulfide; 2003; University of Central Florida;
System for separating hydrogen and sulfur from hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas produced from ... a sour natural gas well";
that, Hydrogen can be separated from a highly-toxic, naturally occurring pollutant; which pollutant, further, as can unfortunately be seen in:
1 Killed, 4 Wounded In Gas Well Accident | www.wtov9.com; "One person was killed and four others injured after a gas leak at a well in Guernsey County (Ohio). Officials said the men were working on a gas rig, preparing to cap the well, when they were overtaken by apoisonous hydrogen-sulfide gas mixture. Three victims were transported to Cambridge Hospital for treatment. One person was transported by medical helicopter to another Ohio hospital. Officials said one of the victims is in critical condition. The gas the men encountered is commonly referred to as "poison gas" ... and is common in natural gas drilling";
might be becoming more abundant in certain parts of Coal Country, as it is often found, in large quantities, in close association with "America's Clean Energy Alternative".
We'll note, too, that Hydrogen Sulfide, H2S, is also produced in the "hydrodesulfurization" processes undertaken at some petroleum refineries, with the effluent H2S most often forwarded to a subsequent process for the recovery of elemental Sulfur, or the production of Sulfuric Acid.
Herein, we confirm, through excerpts from the initial link above, and two additional links with excerpts following, that, if we do want to undertake the conversion of our abundant Coal and our undervalued Carbon Dioxide into "diesel fuel, jet fuel, gasoline, petrochemicals, plastics, butane, methanol, ethylene, propylene, aromatic compounds, petrochemical derivatives, derivatives thereof, and mixtures thereof", and we need a little Hydrogen to do it, then we can, perhaps, begin to make use of the natural pollutant, Hydrogen Sulfide, that is being produced along with Shale Gas in certain parts of Coal Country:
"United States Patent 3,933,608 - Method for the Decomposition of Hydrogen Sulfide
Date: January, 1976
Inventor: Larry Haas, et. al., MN
Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Interior
Abstract: Hydrogen sulfide is decomposed to elemental sulfur in an electrical discharge. In one embodiment of the invention the H2S decomposition rate is substantially increased when the decomposition is effected in the presence of polymeric chlorotrifluoroethylene.
Claims: A method for the decomposition of hydrogen sulfide into elemental sulfur and hydrogen which comprises exposing a gas comprising H2S to a silent electrical discharge derived from a voltage sufficient to effect said decomposition said decomposition being effected in the presence of polychlorotrifluoroethylene oil vapor.
The method ... wherein the said exposure is at ... ambient temperature.
The method ... wherein said gas comprises H2S and an inert gas diluent (and) wherein the gas diluent is selected from argon, nitrogen and helium.
(We don't, in other words, need expensive high temperatures or, since Nitrogen will work, expensive gases to get this done. We'll also note, that, the "silent electrical discharge" is a phenomenon about the use of which we have previously reported, as, for one instance, in:
West Virginia Coal Association | Switzerland Recycles Carbon Dioxide | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 6,045,761 - Process and Device for the Conversion of a Greenhouse Gas; 2000; ABB Research, Ltd., Zurich; Abstract: So that fuels can be produced efficiently from an undesirable greenhouse gas, the gas is subjected, together with a catalyst gas, preferably nitrogen or nitrous oxide, and a hydrogen-containing gas or vapour, to a silent electric discharge in a first reactor. In the process, excited or ionized atoms and/or molecules are formed which are converted, in a catalyst reactor comprising a copper-containing first catalyst, to H2 and possibly CO. Via an expansion valve, a liquid separates from a fuel in a liquid vessel. Gases escaping from the liquid vessel are passed over a thermal reactor containing a second catalyst and expanded via an expansion valve. In a downstream liquid vessel CH3OH (Methanol), for example, separates as the desired liquid fuel";
wherein, as the full Disclosure at painful length goes on the explain, both Carbon Dioxide and Hydrogen Sulfide can be reacted in a sequence of "silent electric discharge" and "thermal" reactors, with the desired end product being Methanol.)
The method for the decomposition of hydrogen sulfide into hydrogen and elemental sulfur wherein ... said temperature is ambient temperature and the pressure is atmospheric pressure.
Background and Summary: This invention relates to the decomposition of hydrogen sulfide. More particularly, the invention relates to the decomposition of hydrogen sulfide in an electrical discharge.
Hydrogen sulfide is one of the most toxic of gases, even more harmful than phosgene and cyanide gases. It is also very corrosive and responsible for the rapid deterioration of equipment. Industrially,hydrogen sulfide is emitted by ... oil refineries, natural gas producers ... and chemical plants manufacturing sulfur-containing compounds.
One object of the invention ... is to provide a onestep process for the decomposition of hydrogen sulfide directly into hydrogen and elemental sulfur.
Another object of the invention is to provide a one-step process for converting hydrogen sulfide to non-toxic products at atmospheric pressure and at low temperatures such as ambient temperatures.
Yet another object of the invention is to reduce atmospheric pollution by reducing the concentration of hydrogen sulfide in industrial gas by-products containing same while simultaneously producing hydrogen and elemental sulfur."
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We don't wish to dwell, really, overmuch on such processes for the extraction of Hydrogen and Sulfur from Hydrogen Sulfide, so, rather than devote separate reports to them, we'll note, that, as seen for just two examples in:
"United States Patent: 6780396 - Production of a Gas that Contains Hydrogen from Hydrogen Sulfide; 2004; Institut Francais du Petrole; France; Abstract: A process for the production of hydrogen from a hydrogen sulfide feedstock, comprising a stage for heating feedstock in a heating zone to a suitable temperature so as to produce a hot gas that contains hydrogen and elementary sulfur ... . Elementary sulfur is separated from this effluent and the hydrogen is recovered. Application for the elimination of hydrogen sulfide and the production of hydrogen"; and:
"United States Patent: 4302434 - Producing Hydrogen and Sulphur from Hydrogen Sulphide; 1981; Davy International AG, Germany; Abstract: A process is provided for the production of hydrogen and sulphur from a gas containing hydrogen sulphide. Such a process comprises passing the gas through a cracking zone at a temperature of from about 850C to 1600C, cooling the cracked gas to a temperature of from about 110C to 150C, and separating the condensed elemental sulphur. The uncracked hydrogen sulphide is separated and returned to the cracking zone; the remaining gas is withdrawn as hydrogen-rich gas";
a number of related, though in some ways quite different and perhaps less efficient, technologies for the conversion of unwanted effluent Hydrogen Sulfide, as might be sucked out of it's geologic sequestration during the extraction of Shale Gas, as in the tragic story from Ohio cited above; or, as might be co-produced in a number of chemical processing operations; into both: elemental Sulfur, which does have wide industrial demand, and, elemental Hydrogen, do exist.
And, such elemental, molecular Hydrogen, we again remind you, as seen, for yet another example, in:
WVU Hydrogenates Coal Tar | Research & Development; concerning: "Hydrogenation of Naphthalene and Coal Tar Distillate; Abhijit Bhagavatula; Thesis submitted to the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources at West Virginia University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Chemical Engineering.John W. Zondlo, Ph.D., Chair; Elliot B. Kennel, M.S; Alfred H. Stiller, Ph.D; Department of Chemical Engineering; Morgantown, West Virginia. 2009; Abstract: The hydrogenation of naphthalene and coal-tar distillates has been carried out in a Trickle Bed Reactor, in which the liquid is allowed to flow through the catalyst bed in the presence of hydrogen. The process of converting solid coal to liquid is called liquefaction. Direct liquefaction (is) the direct reaction between coal and hydrogen, (and) involves the conversion of coal to refinable crude hydrocarbons, from which liquid fuels such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene, etc., can be produced";
would be of great value in the conversion of our abundant Coal into things such as "gasoline, diesel", and other "liquid fuels".