Yet another US Patent for the conversion of captured CO2 into liquid hydrocarbon - this time, Methanol is both an end product, or an intermediary to the making of gasoline. Note the use of zeolite as a catalyst. Zeolite catalysis is at the heart of Exxon-Mobil's own, patented and being commercialized, "MTG" - Methanol To Gasoline - technology, wherein Exxon-Mobil posits obtaining their synthesis gas from coal.
The excerpts:
"Title:
Hybrid catalyst for hydrocarbon synthesis via hydrogenation of carbon dioxide
Document Type and Number:
United States Patent 6376562
Abstract:
The present invention provides a hybrid catalyst which is prepared by mixing a methanol synthesis catalyst with SAPO-type zeolite as a methanol conversion catalyst, and a process for the preparation of hydrocarbons from carbon dioxide by using the hybrid catalyst. The hybrid catalyst of the invention can be used for preparing hydrocarbons having a carbon number of more than 2 from carbon dioxide under a relatively on the hydrocarbons produced. Therefore, the hybrid catalyst may be used for preparing various high-valued hydrocarbons from an ubiquitous carbon source of carbon dioxide. "
Our own US patent inspectors have certified the validity of this technology for actually using the coal-use by-product Carbon Dioxide, Mike, using it to make liquid fuel.. Isn't it time everyone knew about it?