Korea Improves CO2 to Methane Artificial Photosynthesis

United States Patent: 8716171

If we need more ammo with which to defend Coal Country in the CO2-based "War On Coal", we have it.

The pace of innovation in the productive recycling of Carbon Dioxide, especially in the synthesis of liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon fuels, is increasing dramatically.

There is no longer any doubt that Carbon Dioxide can be efficiently harvested, either from the environment or from industrial exhaust gases, and then be profitably consumed as a primary raw material in the synthesis of hydrocarbons, including both liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon fuels.

Columbia University CO2 + H2O to Hydrocarbon Syngas

United States Patent Application: 0140130415

We remind you that New York City's Columbia University, as seen for just the most recent example in our report of:

Columbia University Converts CO2 to Ethylene | Research & Development | News; concerning: "United States Patent Application 20130048506 - Electrodes for High Efficiency Aqueous Reduction of CO2; 2013; Inventor: Ed Chen, NY; Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York; Abstract: An electrolytic cell system to convert carbon dioxide to a hydrocarbon that includes a first electrode including a substrate having a metal porous dendritic structure applied thereon; a second electrode, and an electrical input adapted for coupling to a source of electricity, for applying a voltage across the first electrode and the second electrode. ... Claims: An electrolytic cell system to convert carbon dioxide to a hydrocarbon comprising: (a) a first electrode including a substrate having a metal porous dendritic structure applied thereon; (b) a second electrode; and (c) an electrical input adapted for coupling to a source of electricity, for applying a voltage across the first electrode and the second electrode. ... The electrolytic cell system ... wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is at least partially saturated with carbon dioxide (and) further comprising a membrane to dissolve carbon dioxide in the electrolyte (and) further comprising a conduit to pass carbon dioxide directly to the surface of the first electrode. ... A method of converting carbon dioxide to a hydrocarbon comprising: providing an electrolytic cell that includes (a) a first electrode including a substrate having a metal porous dendritic structure applied thereon; (b) a second electrode, and (c) an electrical input adapted for coupling to a source of electricity, for applying a voltage across the first electrode and the second electrode; introducing a source of carbon dioxide to the electrolytic cell; and applying the voltage across the first electrode and the second electrode. ... The method ... wherein the carbon dioxide is obtained from an air stream, a combustion exhaust stream, or a pre-existing carbon dioxide source. The method ... wherein the hydrocarbon (produced) is ethylene";

Chicago Converts CO2 into Methane and Ethylene

United States Patent: 4897167

We've made quite few reports to you by now documenting the development, by Chicago's former Gas Research Institute, of technologies whereby Carbon Dioxide and Water can be electro-chemically and/or thermo-chemically converted into hydrocarbon fuels, as seen, for one example, in our report of:

Chicago CO2 + H2O = Hydrocarbons | Research & Development | News; concerning: "United States Patent 4,756,806 - Synthesis of Gaseous Fuels from Water and Carbon Dioxide; 1988; Assignee: Gas Research Institute, Chicago; Abstract: A hybrid thermoelectrochemical process cycle for production of gaseous fuels from cycle inputs of water and carbon dioxide ... (and, which cycle produces) oxygen, gaseous fuel selected from the group consisting of methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and mixtures thereof ... . A two step hybrid process cycle ... wherein said inorganic oxidizer comprises principally water (or)  principally carbon dioxide and said gaseous fuel comprises principally methane". 

GE Improves Coal Flue Gas/Coal Syngas CO2 Capture Efficiency

United States Patent: 8709367

We've documented for you quite a few times that the venerable General Electric Corporation, as seen for example in:

General Electric and China Forge Coal Conversion Partnership | Research & Development | News;  concerning the news release: "'GE, Shenhua Form Coal Tech Venture'; May 11, 2012; China Daily; State-owned Shenhua Group, China's largest coal producer, will work with General Electric Co to advance the development of 'cleaner coal' technology and solutions through the 50-50 joint venture. Partners plan to make greater use of nation's huge reserves, reduce import reliance. As a coal-to-gas boom grows in China, the founding of a new joint venture to develop gasification technologies marks part of the country's multi-billion-yuan effort to lessen dependency on oil imports"; and:

China Extracts High-purity, High-tech Metal from Coal Ash

United States Patent: 8728296

We submit today another dispatch further confirming the value inherent in Coal Fly Ash.

We've documented many times that valuable metals can be extracted from Coal Ash, primary among them Aluminum, all raw ore of which the United States now imports.

Another, more modestly important, metal, the ore of which the United States must import, but which can be extracted from Coal Ash, is Gallium.