We've previously documented the "electrochemical" conversion, the recycling, of Carbon Dioxide; and, we submit this Japanese report of development in further confirmation of the technology's validity.
And, we have previously reported that Japanese scientists have recycled Carbon Dioxide all the way to gasoline-range hydrocarbons.
Herein, it's reported that the process of recycling Carbon Dioxide is being refined and made more efficient, as we explain in comments following:
"Electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide to methane in aqueous NaHCO3 solution at less than 273 K
Satoshi Kaneco, et. al.; Mie University, Tsu, Mie, Japan
July 2002
Methanation process - US4211718
We headlined this dispatch as "Phillips Oil Patents Coal to Methane". But, this oil company was careful to use the dirty, four-letter word "Coal" only once, as we were able to find it, in the full disclosure, as in:
"An important route to manufacturing methane is the hydrogenation of carbon monoxide. Although this reaction has been known since 1902, it still suffers from some technological problems. Important among these problems is the fact that commonly available sources of carbon monoxide, e.g., coal and lignite ... contain ... sulfur".
See if you can find it.
Having thoroughly documented that we can obtain Methane through processes of Carbon Dioxide recycling and Coal steam-, or hydro-, gasification, we wanted to affirm that, in addition to using Methane to tri-reform more Carbon Dioxide into higher hydrocarbons, or to enhance the productivity of some Coal indirect liquefaction technologies, we can also transform Methane directly into hydrocarbons.
No one, so far, has said that more thoroughly than ARCO, Atlantic Richfield, in the following sequence of five, closely related, US Patents.
Comment follows the links to, and excerpts from:
United States Patent: 4443645
"Title: Methane Conversion; Patent Number: 4,443,645; Date: April 17, 1984
Inventor: Jones, C. Andrew, et. al. (Pennsylvania)
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company (Los Angeles, CA)
Abstract: A method for synthesizing hydrocarbons from a methane source which comprises contacting methane with an oxide of germanium at a temperature of 500.degree. to 800.degree. C. The oxide is reduced by the contact and coproduct water is formed. A reducible oxide of germanium is regenerated by oxidizing the reduced composition with molecular oxygen. The oxide GeO2 is a particularly effective synthesizing agent.
United States Patent: 4443646
Title: Methane Conversion; Patent Number: 4,443,646; Date: April 17, 1984
Inventor: Jones, C. Andrew, et. al. (Pennsylvania)
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company (Los Angeles, CA)
Abstract: A method for synthesizing hydrocarbons from a methane source which comprises contacting methane with an oxide of bismuth at a temperature of about 500.degree. to 850.degree. C. The oxide is reduced by the contact and coproduct water is formed. A reducible oxide of bismuth is regenerated by oxidizing the reduced composition with molecular oxygen. The oxide Bi2O3 is a particularly effective solid synthesizing agent.
United States Patent: 4443647
Title: Methane Conversion; Patent Number: 4,443,647; Date: April 17, 1984
Inventor: Jones, C. Andrew, et. al. (Pennsylvania)
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company (Los Angeles, CA)
Abstract: A method for synthesizing hydrocarbons from a methane source which comprises contacting methane with an oxide of lead at a temperature of about 500.degree. to 1000.degree. C. The oxide is reduced by the contact and coproduct water is formed. A reducible oxide of lead is regenerated by oxidizing the reduced composition with molecular oxygen. The oxide PbO is a particularly effective synthesizing agent.
United States Patent: 4443648
Title: Methane Conversion; Patent Number: 4,443,648; Date: April 17, 1984
Inventor: Jones, C. Andrew, et. al. (Pennsylvania)
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company (Los Angeles, CA)
Abstract: A method for synthesizing hydrocarbons from a methane source which comprises contacting methane with an oxide of indium at a temperature of about 500.degree. to 850.degree. C. The oxide is reduced by the contact and coproduct water is formed. A reducible oxide of indium is regenerated by oxidizing the reduced composition with molecular oxygen. The oxide In2O3 is a particularly effective solid synthesizing agent.
United States Patent: 4443649
Title: Methane Conversion; Patent Number: 4,443,649; Date: April 17, 1984
Inventor: Jones, C. Andrew, et. al. (Pennsylvania)
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company (Los Angeles, CA)
Abstract: A method for synthesizing hydrocarbons from a methane source which comprises contacting methane with an oxide of manganese at a temperature of about 500.degree. to 1000.degree. C. The oxide is reduced by the contact and coproduct water is formed. A reducible oxide of manganese is regenerated by oxidizing the reduced composition with molecular oxygen. The oxide Mn3O4 is a particularly effective synthesizing agent."
--------------------------
Now, our take on all the foregoing is that these Pennsylvania scientists - Jones and all of his co-inventors are located in PA - and ARCO knew that they had stumbled on to something of genuine value, especially presuming them to have known that we can obtain Methane from both Coal and Carbon Dioxide, and wanted, through this sequence of patents, to make certain they had the technology locked up tighter than a bull's butt at fly time.
And, since they're not, as far as we know, actually using the technology, we are led to suppose that they locked it up through so many patents so that no one else could use it, either, and thereby employ Methane, derived from Coal hydro-gasification or Sabatier-type Carbon Dioxide recycling, to start synthesizing liquid fuels and eating into the profits from imported foreign oil.
No one, so far, has said that more thoroughly than ARCO, Atlantic Richfield, in the following sequence of five, closely related, US Patents.
Comment follows the links to, and excerpts from:
United States Patent: 4443645
"Title: Methane Conversion; Patent Number: 4,443,645; Date: April 17, 1984
Inventor: Jones, C. Andrew, et. al. (Pennsylvania)
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company (Los Angeles, CA)
Abstract: A method for synthesizing hydrocarbons from a methane source which comprises contacting methane with an oxide of germanium at a temperature of 500.degree. to 800.degree. C. The oxide is reduced by the contact and coproduct water is formed. A reducible oxide of germanium is regenerated by oxidizing the reduced composition with molecular oxygen. The oxide GeO2 is a particularly effective synthesizing agent.
United States Patent: 4443646
Title: Methane Conversion; Patent Number: 4,443,646; Date: April 17, 1984
Inventor: Jones, C. Andrew, et. al. (Pennsylvania)
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company (Los Angeles, CA)
Abstract: A method for synthesizing hydrocarbons from a methane source which comprises contacting methane with an oxide of bismuth at a temperature of about 500.degree. to 850.degree. C. The oxide is reduced by the contact and coproduct water is formed. A reducible oxide of bismuth is regenerated by oxidizing the reduced composition with molecular oxygen. The oxide Bi2O3 is a particularly effective solid synthesizing agent.
United States Patent: 4443647
Title: Methane Conversion; Patent Number: 4,443,647; Date: April 17, 1984
Inventor: Jones, C. Andrew, et. al. (Pennsylvania)
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company (Los Angeles, CA)
Abstract: A method for synthesizing hydrocarbons from a methane source which comprises contacting methane with an oxide of lead at a temperature of about 500.degree. to 1000.degree. C. The oxide is reduced by the contact and coproduct water is formed. A reducible oxide of lead is regenerated by oxidizing the reduced composition with molecular oxygen. The oxide PbO is a particularly effective synthesizing agent.
United States Patent: 4443648
Title: Methane Conversion; Patent Number: 4,443,648; Date: April 17, 1984
Inventor: Jones, C. Andrew, et. al. (Pennsylvania)
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company (Los Angeles, CA)
Abstract: A method for synthesizing hydrocarbons from a methane source which comprises contacting methane with an oxide of indium at a temperature of about 500.degree. to 850.degree. C. The oxide is reduced by the contact and coproduct water is formed. A reducible oxide of indium is regenerated by oxidizing the reduced composition with molecular oxygen. The oxide In2O3 is a particularly effective solid synthesizing agent.
United States Patent: 4443649
Title: Methane Conversion; Patent Number: 4,443,649; Date: April 17, 1984
Inventor: Jones, C. Andrew, et. al. (Pennsylvania)
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company (Los Angeles, CA)
Abstract: A method for synthesizing hydrocarbons from a methane source which comprises contacting methane with an oxide of manganese at a temperature of about 500.degree. to 1000.degree. C. The oxide is reduced by the contact and coproduct water is formed. A reducible oxide of manganese is regenerated by oxidizing the reduced composition with molecular oxygen. The oxide Mn3O4 is a particularly effective synthesizing agent."
--------------------------
Now, our take on all the foregoing is that these Pennsylvania scientists - Jones and all of his co-inventors are located in PA - and ARCO knew that they had stumbled on to something of genuine value, especially presuming them to have known that we can obtain Methane from both Coal and Carbon Dioxide, and wanted, through this sequence of patents, to make certain they had the technology locked up tighter than a bull's butt at fly time.
And, since they're not, as far as we know, actually using the technology, we are led to suppose that they locked it up through so many patents so that no one else could use it, either, and thereby employ Methane, derived from Coal hydro-gasification or Sabatier-type Carbon Dioxide recycling, to start synthesizing liquid fuels and eating into the profits from imported foreign oil.
Energy Citations Database (ECD) - - Document #7257959
Pursuant to our recent dispatches concerning both the technologies for reforming Carbon Dioxide with Methane to synthesize liquid hydrocarbons, as described most particularly by Song and Grimes at Penn State University; and, for the direct catalysis of Methane into liquids, we wanted to further affirm that, in addition to being able to synthesize Methane from the recycling of Carbon Dioxide, via the Sabatier, and similar, processes, Methane can also be generated from the gasification of Coal.
To that end, we submit yet another US Patent owned by yet another Big Oil stalwart, attesting to the fact that, if we want Methane for whatever purpose, we can synthesize it from Coal. And, note that this is not a patent for the gasification of coal into Methane, but a patent on technology to improve such coal gasification.
The excerpt, with brief comment appended:
"Title: Purification process for coal gas methanation
Author: Dew, J.N.; Casad, B.M.; Harlacher, E.A.; Kleinpeter, J.A.
Patent Assignee: Continental Oil Co.
Date: August, 1976; US Patent 3977843; OSTI ID: 7257959
Abstract: An improved method for removing sulfur compounds during coal gas methanation comprises removing essentially all carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide from synthesis gas, then adding carbon dioxide containing lower levels of sulfur back to the gas stream before feeding the mixture to a desulfurization reactor. Carbon dioxide, at levels above about 12 percent, will prevent high temperature methanation runaways in the hydrodesulfurization reactor, where a stream consisting essentially of hydrogen sulfide and methanation materials is produced, the lower level of hydrogen sulfide produced being removed by conventional methods before proceeding to methanation units. The carbon dioxide can be supplied either from an outside source or can be obtained from the synthetic natural gas after methanation."
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So, for more than 30 years, the petroleum industry, and our own US Government, have known that coal can be converted into a "synthetic natural gas", Methane.
And, as we've elsewhere documented, it is also known that Methane can be itself converted into liquid fuels.
Even better, it can be combined with Carbon Dioxide in a "Tri-reforming" process to make more liquid fuels.
And, it all starts with Coal.
Pursuant to our recent dispatches concerning both the technologies for reforming Carbon Dioxide with Methane to synthesize liquid hydrocarbons, as described most particularly by Song and Grimes at Penn State University; and, for the direct catalysis of Methane into liquids, we wanted to further affirm that, in addition to being able to synthesize Methane from the recycling of Carbon Dioxide, via the Sabatier, and similar, processes, Methane can also be generated from the gasification of Coal.
To that end, we submit yet another US Patent owned by yet another Big Oil stalwart, attesting to the fact that, if we want Methane for whatever purpose, we can synthesize it from Coal. And, note that this is not a patent for the gasification of coal into Methane, but a patent on technology to improve such coal gasification.
The excerpt, with brief comment appended:
"Title: Purification process for coal gas methanation
Author: Dew, J.N.; Casad, B.M.; Harlacher, E.A.; Kleinpeter, J.A.
Patent Assignee: Continental Oil Co.
Date: August, 1976; US Patent 3977843; OSTI ID: 7257959
Abstract: An improved method for removing sulfur compounds during coal gas methanation comprises removing essentially all carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide from synthesis gas, then adding carbon dioxide containing lower levels of sulfur back to the gas stream before feeding the mixture to a desulfurization reactor. Carbon dioxide, at levels above about 12 percent, will prevent high temperature methanation runaways in the hydrodesulfurization reactor, where a stream consisting essentially of hydrogen sulfide and methanation materials is produced, the lower level of hydrogen sulfide produced being removed by conventional methods before proceeding to methanation units. The carbon dioxide can be supplied either from an outside source or can be obtained from the synthetic natural gas after methanation."
----------
So, for more than 30 years, the petroleum industry, and our own US Government, have known that coal can be converted into a "synthetic natural gas", Methane.
And, as we've elsewhere documented, it is also known that Methane can be itself converted into liquid fuels.
Even better, it can be combined with Carbon Dioxide in a "Tri-reforming" process to make more liquid fuels.
And, it all starts with Coal.
http://www.anl.gov/PCS/acsfuel/preprint%20archive/Files/08_1_PHILADELPHIA_04-64_0207.pdf
In April of 1964, the Pittsburgh, PA, US Bureau of Mines lab knew that Coal could be converted into SNG (synthetic, or substitute, natural gas) Methane.
Our comments follow excerpts from, linked above and included as an attached document, the:
"Development of Catalysts and Reactor Systems for Methanation
J. H. Field, J. J. Demeter, A. J. Forney, and D. Bienstock
U. S. Bureau of Mines, 4800 Forbes Avenue,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
The continued increase in the consumption of natural gas, the slowly declining reserves-to-consumption ratio, and the slow but steady increase in the price of natural gas have extended the interest in production of
high-Btu gas from coal. Estimates of the time when supplemental gas will be required range from about 10 to 25 years, depending on the estimated rise in consumption and ultimate reserves. Desspite record production, reserves of natural gas are still increasing slowly. For example, while U.S. production increased to 13.75 trillion cubic feet in 1962, the reserves at the end of 1962 were 285.3 trillion cubic feet, an increase of 8 trillion cubic feet for the year, with gas well completions at an all time high at 5,848. Importation of gas from Canada and Mexico and possibly of liquefied methane by tanker are other factors that will affect the need for supplemental gas. Nevertheless, synthetic pipeline gas from coal can insure a long-time domestic source of gas from an abundant raw material.