Starting today, June 23, 2013, experts from around the world that have gathered in and near the capitol of our nation will participate in the:
"12th International Conference on Carbon Dioxide Utilization, ICCDU XII, June 23-27, 2013; Alexandria, VA, USA";an event that is in this case being hosted, basically in Washington, DC, by the Pennsylvania State University. As they put it:
"Organized by EMS Energy Institute & Penn State Institutes of Energy and the Environment, The Pennsylvania State University".
From our perspective, the conference hasn't been publicly well-promoted, especially in US Coal Country, although a lot of researchers from nations scattered all around the globe seem to know about it. Several months ago, though, we were able to notify some of our key direct addressees for these dispatches of it's existence and schedule.
The theme of the conference is the productive, profitable recycling of Carbon Dioxide, whether reclaimed from the atmosphere or from industrial exhaust gases, and the chemical transformation of Carbon Dioxide into, as the official conference logo has it:
"Chemicals, Fuels and Materials - For Sustainability":
ICCDU XII - June 23-27, 2013 | Chemicals • Fuels • Materials; "The International Conference on Carbon Dioxide Utilization (ICCDU), which began in 1991 in Nagoya, Japan, has since been held in countries throughout Asia, Europe, and North America. The biennial conference provides a multi-disciplinary forum on recent innovations in fundamental and applied aspects of CO2 utilization. In 2013, the conference will focus on CO2 conversion and utilization for chemicals, fuels and materials for sustainable development. The goal of the conference is to facilitate the advances in CO2 research and bring together the academic and industrial communities for the exchange of ideas, concepts, and innovations."The program for the "12th International Conference on Carbon Dioxide Utilization" is accessible via the initial link in this dispatch; and, we will separately transmit a file of it to the West Virginia Coal Association.
Some highlights include:
"Conference Chair: Dr. Chunshan Song, Chair of International Scientific Committee (ISC) for ICCDU, United States of America. Dr. Song is a Distinguished Professor of fuel science and chemical engineering at The Pennsylvania State University. He also serves as associate director of Penn State Institutes of the Energy and Environment and as co-director of the International Joint Center for Energy Research between Penn State and Dalian University of Technology. He specializes in clean fuels and catalysis research such as catalytic conversion and utilization of energy resources, including coal, petroleum, natural gas and biomass. His current research interests include catalysis in fuel processing for ultra-clean fuels and fuel cells; CO2 capture, conversion and utilization; reforming of hydrocarbon and alcohol fuels for syngas and H2 production; shape-selective catalysis for synthesis of organic chemicals; catalysis and reaction chemistry for energy conversion; and synthesis."
(You will, we trust, recall Dr. Song, whose work was the subject of a number of our earlier reports concerning the productive recycling of Carbon Dioxide via the "tri-reforming" process. An example would include:
West Virginia Coal Association | More Penn State CO2 Recycling with Methane | Research & Development; concerning, in part:
"'Tri-reforming A New Process Concept for Effective Conversion and Utilization of CO2 in Flue Gas from Electric Power Plants'; Chunshan Song; Pennsylvania State University; CO2 conversion and utilization are a critically important element in chemical research on sustainable development. The prevailing thinking for CO2 conversion and utilization begins with the use of pure CO2, which can be obtained by separation. ... While new technology developments could make this recovery easier to handle and more economical to operate in power plants, it is highly desirable to develop novel ways to use CO2 in flue gases without separation (and) it would be highly desirable if the flue gas mixture can be used for CO2, conversion but without pre-separation of CO2. Based on our research. there appears lo be a unique advantage of directly using flue gases, rather than pre-separated and purified CO2 ftom flue gases, for the proposed tri-reforming process. In the proposed tri-reforming process, CO2 in the flue gas does not need to be separated. In fact. H2O and O2 along with CO2 in the waste flue gas from fossil-fuel-based power plants will be utilized for tri-reforming of natural gas for the production of synthesis gas. The tri-reforming refers to simultaneous oxy-CO2-steam reforming of natural gas ... and ... is a synergetic combination of endothermic CO2 reforming and steam reforming and exothermic partial oxidation of methane. The tri-reforming is an innovative approach to CO2 conversion using flue gases for syngas production. Coupling CO2 reforming and steam reforming can give syngas with desired (gas) ratios for methanol (MeOH) and Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) synthesis (and) the tri-reforming is the key step in the recently proposed CO2-based Tri-generation of fuels, chemicals, and electricity ... . In principle, once the syngas with desired H2/CO ratio is produced from tri-reforming, the syngas can be used to produce liquid fuels by established routes such as Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, and to manufacture industrial chemicals by methanol and oxo synthesis. Syngas can also be used for generating electricity either by IGCC type generators or by using fuel cells".
And, since Methane is required for reaction with Carbon Dioxide in the "tri-reforming" process, as outlined above by Penn State's Dr. Song, we remind you, that, as seen for one example in our report of:
West Virginia Coal Association | Penn State Solar CO2 + H2O = Methane | Research & Development; concerning:
"'High-Rate Solar Photocatalytic Conversion of CO2 and Water Vapor to Hydrocarbon Fuels'; Oomman K. Varghese, (et. al.); The Pennsylvania State University; 2009; Efficient solar conversion of carbon dioxide and water vapor to methane and other hydrocarbons is achieved";
Penn State has that based covered, too, with Carbon Dioxide.)
Following is an overall outline of what the Conference refers to as it's "Scientific Program"; but, do not be misled. It is only an outline. There are multiple technical sessions with multiple technical presentations in each session; presentations made by scientists from around the world, in addition to those listed below. For instance, India, Mexico, Singapore, France and Poland are represented, as well:
Scientific Program | ICCDU XII - June 23-27, 2013
"Scientific Program - ICCDU XII - June 23-27, 2013
- Michele Aresta, University of Bari, Italy; "The Changing Paradigm in CO2 Utilization"
- Ronald R. Chance, Algenol Biofuels, USA; "Anthropogenic CO2 as a Feedstock for Cyanobacteria-Based Biofuels"
(We initially reported on "Algenol Biofuels" about four years ago, via:
West Virginia Coal Association | Plant Would Let Algae Turn Carbon Dioxide to Fuel | Research & Development; in which it was related, that: "Dow Chemical and Algenol Biofuels ... are set to announce that they will build a demonstration plant that, if successful, would use algae to turn carbon dioxide into ethanol as a vehicle fuel or an ingredient in plastics.'The ethanol would be sold as fuel', the companies said, but Dow’s long-term interest is in using it as an ingredient for plastics, replacing natural gas".
And, since our own prejudices for more direct routes of CO2 chemical conversion have led us away from reporting overmuch on plans and projects based on algae and "cyanobacteria", we haven't done a good job of following up. However, we do note that the active participation by Dow Chemical in the project has apparently, for whatever reason, ended. But, we also note, that, as in:
West Virginia Coal Association | USDOE Algae Recycle More CO2 and Produce Ethanol | Research & Development; "US Patent 7,973,214 - Designer Organisms for Photosynthetic Production of Ethanol from CO2 and Water; 2011; Inventor: James Weifu Lee, TN; Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC, Oak Ridge (USDOE); Abstract: The present invention provides a revolutionary photosynthetic ethanol production technology based on designer transgenic plants, algae, or plant cells. The designer plants, designer algae, and designer plant cells are created such that the endogenous photosynthesis regulation mechanism is tamed, and the reducing power and energy acquired from the photosynthetic (processes) are used for immediate synthesis of ethanol directly from carbon dioxide and water";
the potential for using algae to convert CO2 directly into Ethanol, as per Algenol's and Dow's earlier plans, is quite real.)
- Emily Barton Cole, Liquid Light, Inc., USA; "CO2 as the New Petrochemical Feedstock"
(We've devoted quite a few reports to the Carbon Dioxide recycling achievements of the above Emily Barton Cole, in the lab of Professor Andrew Bocarsly at Princeton University, and, then, at the company "Liquid Light, Inc", which we believe to be a corporate spin-off from Bocarsly's Princeton lab. See, for example:
West Virginia Coal Association | Princeton University November 20, 2012 CO2 to Ethanol | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 8,313,634 - Conversion of Carbon Dioxide to Organic Products; 2012; Inventors: Andrew Bocarsly and Emily Barton Cole; Assignee: Princeton University, NJ;
Abstract: The invention relates to various embodiments of an environmentally beneficial method for reducing carbon dioxide. The methods in accordance with the invention include electrochemically or photoelectrochemically reducing the carbon dioxide in a divided electrochemical cell ... . Government Interests: This invention was made with United States government support from National Science Foundation Grant No. CHE-0616475. The United States Government has certain rights in this invention. Claims: A method of converting carbon dioxide to provide ... ethanol"; and:
West Virginia Coal Association | New Jersey CO2 to High-Energy Alcohol | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent Application 20120132538 - Electrochemical Production of Butanol from Carbon Dioxide and Water; 2012; Inventors: Emily Barton Cole, Andrew Bocarsly, et. al., NJ and DC;
(Presumed Assignee of Rights: Liquid Light); Abstract: Methods and systems for electrochemical production of butanol (from Carbon Dioxide and Water)".)
- Anthony Cugini, NETL, U.S. DOE; "Perspectives on Carbon Capture and Storage Technologies and the Potential for CO2 Utilization"
(We've made previous report on the USDOE's Pittsburgh Lab's interests in Carbon Dioxide "Utilization" technology. See, for example:
West Virginia Coal Association | Pittsburgh USDOE Converts CO2 to Methane & Methanol | Research & Development; concerning: "'Visible Light Photoreduction of CO2'; November, 2009; American Chemical Society; Congjun Wang, et. al.; National Energy Technology Laboratory, USDOE, Pittsburgh, PA; Abstract: A series of ... Titanium Dioxide (catalysts) have been synthesized, characterized, and tested for the photocatalytic reduction of CO2 in the presence of H2O. ... The ... analysis shows that the primary reaction product is CH4 (Methane), with CH3OH (Methanol), H2, and CO observed as secondary products.")
- Yuichiro Himeda, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Japan; "Catalyst Design for Interconversion of CO2 and Formic Acid on the Basis of Proton-Responsive Ligand"
- Osamu Ishitani, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan; "Artificial Photosynthesis Using Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Photocatalytic Systems"
(We don't believe that we've yet cited either of the above Japanese sources. There has been, however, what might be justifiably perceived as a broad-based government, academic and commercial development of Carbon Dioxide recycling technology in Japan, See, for example:
West Virginia Coal Association | Japan Converts CO2 to Formic Acid | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 7,479,570 - Process for the Reduction of Carbon Dioxide; 2009; Assignee: Japan Science and Technology Agency; Abstract: Carbon dioxide and water are mixed with an organometallic complex (of varied and specified compositions). This makes it possible to directly reduce carbon dioxide in water ... so that formic acid or alkali salt thereof is formed"; and:
West Virginia Coal Association | Japan Artificial Photosynthesis Makes Fuels from Carbon Dioxide | Research & Development; concerning: "'Recent Advances in the Photocatalytic Conversion of Carbon Dioxide to Fuels with Water and/or Hydrogen Using Solar Energy'; Yasuo Izumi; Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University; Japan"; and:
West Virginia Coal Association | Panasonic 2013 CO2 to Methane, Formic Acid and Carbon Monoxide | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 8,414,758 - Method for Reducing Carbon Dioxide; 2013; Assignee: Panasonic Corporation, (Japan); Abstract: A device for reducing carbon dioxide (wherein) formic acid (and/or) carbon monoxide (and/or) methane is obtained".
And, as seen for one example in:
West Virginia Coal Association | Japan Converts CO2 to Hydrocarbons | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 3,842,113 - Catalyst for Reducing Carbon Dioxide; 1974; Assignee: Sagami Chemical Research Center, Tokyo; Abstract: Catalyst capable of converting carbon dioxide into hydrocarbons ... is disclosed. The catalyst according to this invention shows a remarkable absorption of hydrogen and carbon dioxide; ... when a mixture of (them) is contacted with the catalyst, there is observed the formation of C2-C5 hydrocarbons, especially ... ethylene and ethane";various entities in Japan have been laying the foundations for the productive recycling of Carbon Dioxide for quite a few decades.)
- Gabor Laurenczy, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland; "The Carbon Dioxide - Formic Acid Cycle for Hydrogen/Energy Storage and Delivery"
- Xiao-Bing Lu, Dalian University of Technology, China; "Synthesis of Isotactic CO2-based Polycarbonates by Stereospecific Polymerization Catalysis"
(Various entities in, as above, Switzerland and China have actually collaborated on the development of CO2 recycling technologies. See, for instance:
West Virginia Coal Association | CO2 Recycled: Switzerland, China and...Oklahoma! | Research & Development; concerning, in part: "'Converting of Carbon Dioxide Into More Valuable Chemicals Using Catalytic Plasmas'; Tianjin University; China (and) ABB Corporate Research Ltd.; Switzerland; Experiment has confirmed that the CO2 plasmas can generate a plentiful of active oxygen species and other active plasma species for further reaction with other reactants, like methane, low alkanes and others. These reactions leads to a formation of more valuable chemicals, like ethylene, propylene and oxygenates".)
- Sang-Eon Park, Inha University, South Korea; "CO2 Activation for the Use as Oxidant"
(The above "Inha University" in South Korea has been involved in CO2-recycling research for more than a decade, as seen in:
West Virginia Coal Association | Korea Recycles CO2 | Research & Development; concerning: "'The Methane Reforming with Carbon Dioxide'; 2001; Inha University, Korea; Abstract: CO2 reforming of CH4 to the synthesis gas was investigated ... . It was established that the corona discharge could effectively lower the reaction temperature range of optimum catalytic performance for reforming. The synergy effect could be found in the ... conversion of Methane and Carbon Dioxide. ... The obtained synthesis gas was used to produce DME."
In "reforming" reactions, such as with Methane (CH4), through application of heat and catalysis, CO2 can be made to act as what we have seen labeled as a "soft" "oxidant", as in the Sang-Eon Park report. Keep in mind, too, that, when CO2 reacts with hot Coal, as, for example, in our report of:
West Virginia Coal Association | Bayer Improves Coal + CO2 = Carbon Monoxide | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 7,473,286 - Carbon Monoxide Generator; 2009; Assignee: Bayer Material Science, AG, Germany; The present invention relates to a novel generator for the reaction of carbon-containing raw materials and also to an improved process for the production of carbon monoxide gas (CO gas) having a high degree of purity using such a generator. Carbon monoxide gas is frequently produced in the art by means of a continuous process in which carbon-containing raw materials are reacted with oxygen and carbon dioxide";
it also acts as an "oxidant".
And, as seen, for one further example, in
West Virginia Coal Association | Korea CO2 to Methanol & Dimethyl Ether | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 6,248.795 - Dimethyl Ether and Methanol from Carbon Dioxide; 2001; Assignee: Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology; Abstract: This invention relates to the process of preparing from carbon dioxide a mixture of dimethyl ether and methanol which are useful as clean fuel or raw materials in the chemical industry. More particularly, this invention relates to the process of preparing dimethyl ether and methanol in high yield without by-products such as hydrocarbons by means of chemical conversion of carbon dioxide";
multiple entities in Korea have been at work developing multiple routes for the recycling of Carbon Dioxide for more than a decade.)
- Abdelhamid Sayari, University of Ottawa, Canada; "Amine-Containing Nanoporous Materials for CO2 Removal: Performance and Stability
- Peter Styring, The University of Sheffield, UK; "Carbon Dioxide Utilization: Footing the Costs of CCS from a UK Perspective"
- Bala Subramaniam, University of Kansas, USA; "Dense CO2 as an Enabling Medium for Intensified Catalytic and Particle Formation Processes".
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As we indicated in our introductory comments, the above represent only a fraction of the various technical presentations to be made at the "12th International Conference on Carbon Dioxide Utilization".
There are, it seems, according to the program, numerous "poster presentations", exhibits and working or discussion groups.
It is a major scientific conference, starting today and spanning the better part of a week; and, it is all focused on the efficient reclamation and profitable utilization of a falsely-vilified natural resource, Carbon Dioxide, that has been hung, for hugely suspect reasons, like a rotting albatross around the neck and across the throat of United States Coal Country for far too long.
Carbon Dioxide, as it is emitted in only a small way, relative to the Earth's inexorable processes of planetary volcanism, from our essential use of Coal in the generation of abundant and genuinely affordable electric power, is a valuable, maybe even a precious, raw material resource.
Carbon Dioxide can be recovered from the source of our choosing and then be efficiently utilized and consumed in the chemical synthesis of fuels and plastics; hydrocarbon products we now rely on imported petroleum, at great cost to our national wealth, to keep ourselves supplied with.
That fact is being affirmed right now in the capitol city of the United States of America by accomplished scientists and educators from around the world.
When, we must ask, if ever, will the working stiffs in United States Coal Country, whose ways of life and livelihoods are threatened by the specter of Cap and Trade taxation, and whose children go off to fight in foreign wars to keep the OPEC spigots flowing, be deemed worthy enough by the United States Coal Country press to "read all about" the fact that Carbon Dioxide can be the profitable basis of:
"Chemicals, Fuels and Materials - For Sustainability"?