Recycling Excess Carbon Dioxide

  
The linked article was published in the popular media in 2003, and we're surprised the ideas haven't since then received broader public dissemination. We've already introduced the concept of Carbon Dioxide recycling, as opposed to expensive taxation schemes like Cap and Trade - which is nothing more than a tax on the coal industry in the ugly disguise of a shell game; and, the wasteful concept of Geologic Sequestration - which nothing more, at best, than the coal industry's enforced subsidization of the oil industry's scraping of dry soup pots; or, at worst, the costly stuffing of rat holes with a potentially-valuable raw material resource. But, this is one of the few magazine rack examples we've located, and we're submitting it now as an introduction to other, perhaps more credible, references we intend to forward.
 
The excerpt(s):
 
"The name Nakamichi Yamasaki won't ring any bells unless you are a specialist in the arcane branch of chemistry called solvothermal reactions. Yamasaki, a research scientist at Tohoku University in Japan, detailed his experiments at last summer's International Conference on Solvothermal Reactions, organized by Rutgers University in New Jersey.

Yamasaki reported that his team had successfully combined carbon from CO22 problem because it would consume more energy than there would be in the resulting fuel. and hydrogen from hydrochloric acid to produce a hydrocarbon gas that included methane, ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene and butane. Chemists have known that this type of reaction was possible. But it had been ruled out as a potential solution to the CO

Yamasaki solved this problem by using an iron powder and magnetite catalyst. The catalyst reduces the reaction temperature to the point at which the necessary process heat could be obtained by using the waste heat from power plants."

(We've noted the use of Iron-group metals and minerals as syngas liquefaction catalysts in coal-to-liquid processes. Note here the use of hydrochloric acid as the Hydrogen donor, which might reduce the cost of obtaining the needed Hydrogen ions relative to the electrolysis of water; or, it might be a more effective and simpler way to carry free Hydrogen into the synthesis reaction. And, note the additional synergy of using waste heat from a coal-fired power plant to attain the needed reaction temperature. - JtM)

"Changing Nature
J. Craig Venter is a scientist whose name does ring bells. Venter is a former government scientist who became a multimillionaire when he persuaded investors to back his private effort to decode the genetic map contained in human DNA. Last spring he used some of that fortune to create the Institute for Biological Energy Alternatives (IBEA). "The IBEA staff will use microbes, microbial genomics, microbial pathways and plants as potential solutions to carbon sequestration and clean energy production," explains lab spokesperson Heather Kowalski."

We've reported Venter's work previously, in connection with the potentials for the biological extraction of liquid values from both coal and coal mine wastes.

In any case, the potential for recovering and recycling the valuable Carbon Dioxide by-product of our coal use is quite real, and we will provide further documentation of that fact.

More Japan CO2 Recycling

 

Advanced materials for global carbon dioxide recycling
 
We herein present more, with more to follow, on Japanese proposals to recycle the CO2 by-product of our coal use.
 
Notable, we think, in these Japanese studies, is the fact that so many researchers, and so many institutions, are putting their names on these reports. Given Japanese culture, it must be a point of honor with them. They are standing together to make public a concept and a technology they know to be true and viable, in the face of mass ignorance and blind opposition.
 
The excerpt, from our CO2 samurai: 

"K. Hashimoto, H. Habazaki, M. Yamasaka, S. Meguro, T. Sasaki, H. Katagir, T. Matsui, K. Fujimura, K. Izumiya, N. Kumagai and E. Akiyama

Tohoku Institute of Technology, Sendai 982-8588, Japan

Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan

Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Ichihara, Chiba 290-8601, Japan

Daiki Engineering Co. Ltd., Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8515, Japan

National Research Institute for Metals, Sengen, Tsukuba 305-0047, Japan

Abstract

CO2 emission increase inducing global warming occurs mostly with the growth of the economic activity. Global CO2 recycling can prevent global warming and supply abundant renewable energy. Global CO2 recycling consists of three district: The electricity is generated by solar cells on deserts. At coasts close to the deserts, the electricity is used for hydrogen production by seawater electrolysis and hydrogen is used for methane production by the reaction with CO2. Methane (CH4) is liquefied and transported to energy consuming districts where after CH4 is used as a fuel CO2 is recovered, liquefied and transported to the coasts close to the deserts. Key materials necessary for the global CO2 recycling are the anode and cathode for seawater electrolysis and the catalyst for CO2 conversion. All of them have been tailored by us. Amorphous and nanocrystalline nickel alloys are active cathodes for hydrogen production in seawater electrolysis. Anodically deposited nanocrystalline Mn–Mo and Mn–W oxides are the unique substance which can evolve oxygen with 100% efficiency without evolving chlorine in seawater electrolysis. Amorphous Ni–Zr alloys are excellent precursors of catalysts for conversion of CO2 into CH4 by the reaction with hydrogen at 1 atm. A prototype CO2 recycling plant to supply clean energy preventing global warming has been built on the roof of our Institute (IMR) in 1996 using these key materials and has been operating successfully."

Methane is reasonably useful stuff in it's own right, but can be, as we've previously documented, transformed through various catalytic procedures into more complex hydrocarbons, including liquid fuels.

Germany CO2 Recycling

 
We have submitted a number of reports from credible sources documenting the fact that the Carbon Dioxide co-product of our coal use can be efficiently collected, through an array of optional processes, and then recycled into additional liquid hydrocarbon fuels or useful chemicals.
 
Our previous research seemed to indicate that the capture of atmospheric CO2, as opposed to extracting it from the flue gasses of coal-to-liquid conversion facilities and coal-fired power plants, might be the more practical and profitable option.
 
Herein, we submit additional information, this time from Germany, in support of that position. Comment follows the excerpt:
 

"Document title

Methanol from atmospheric carbon dioxide : A liquid zero emission fuel for the future

Author(s)

WEIMER T.; SCHABER K.; SPECHT M. ; BANDI A.

Author(s) Affiliation(s)

Institut fuer Technische Thermodynamik und Thermische Verfahrenstechnik, University of Stuttgart, ALLEMAGNE

Abstract

Methanol is a promising liquid energy carrier for the storage of renewable energy. The comparison with hydrogen shows a lower total energy efficiency for methanol. But methanol is easy to handle within the existing transport and storage capacities of the petrol industry. Therefore it causes low investment costs for the infrastructure of a global renewable energy network. For the storage of small amounts of energy like in individual traffic and for the distribution of energy in low populated regions methanol is even the most efficient alternative. Beside hydrogen, a basic component for the synthesis of methanol is CO2. The recovery of CO2 from atmosphere will avoid an infrastructure for CO2-transport to the place where methanol is generated. With solar energy as the energy source a lower energy demand for the recovery of CO2 from atmosphere than from combustion fluegases can be achieved. An integration of biomass as basic product for the synthesis of methanol improves the conversion efficiency from solar energy to methanol."
 
As in earlier references we've cited, the co-conversion of Carbon Dioxide with Biomass seems to result in liquid fuel production efficiencies. Other reports suggest that similar efficiencies can be achieved by co-liquefying coal with some types of biomass. Such inclusion of biomass in liquid fuel conversion processes would increase the amount of CO2 that could be recycled into liquid fuels, above and beyond what direct-capture installations could provide.
 
Perhaps most interestingly, the report seems to indicate that atmospheric collection would allow "strategic" positioning of CO2 collection and conversion facilities. We are led to speculate, for instance, that a combined CO2 atmospheric collection and CO2-to-methanol conversion facility could be sited in Arizona to take advantage of abundant solar energy to drive the industrial processes.
 
And, an Arizona site, in addition to the solar-powered industrial extraction and liquid-fuel conversion of atmospheric CO2, would be well-positioned to supplement synthetic extraction processes with biomass, perhaps intensively-cultivated in algae "farms".
 
Moreover, such extraction of atmospheric CO2 in such a desert state should result in "Carbon Credits", which could, perhaps, be transferred to coal-to-liquid or coal-fired power facilities, the CO2 manufactures, in West Virginia.
 
In a way, the CO2 generated in WV would be transported, for free, by the wind, to Arizona where solar energy would convert it into liquid fuels.
 
Presumably, the CO2 conversion facility could then "sell" Carbon Credits back to the coal processing facilities - at some discount one would hope, given that the coal plants are providing raw materials, inadvertent as that provision might be.
 
Such an arrangement, might, in fact, serve as way to subsidize the construction of both coal-to-liquid and bio-to-liquid fuel conversion plants. An economical way to "dispose" of CO2, as opposed to costly geologic sequestration or misapplied, undirected and meaningless Cap-and-Trade taxation, would benefit both the coal power and the coal-to-liquid-conversion industries. The CO2 conversion facilities could benefit from subsidies in the form of discounted "Carbon Credits" they could sell to coal processors.
 
Just a thought about a situation far too complex for us to figure out, but:
 
We can convert our coal into liquid fuels. And, we can recycle the major by-product of our coal-use industries into liquid fuel. All the money exchanged in such enterprise would stay within the United States, as opposed to flowing overseas. We seem to desperately need liquid fuel, so why don't we just make it out of the stuff we have plenty of on hand, and stop buying so much of it from people who don't really seem to like us all that much? Why don't we keep as much of our own money in our own house, and put as many of our own people to work, as we can?. 
 
That makes sense to us. And, coal can do that.

Korea & CO2 Recycling

 
 
We've now reported from several sources that Carbon Dioxide, co-produced by coal-fired power generation or coal-to-liquid fuel conversion, can itself be reclaimed and recycled - into more liquid fuels.
 
As additional evidence in support of that fact, we submit this report from Korea.
 
The excerpt has been edited slightly for the sake of clarity by the deletion of formulaic terms.
 
"Promotion of CO2 Hydrogenation in Fixed Bed Recycle Reactors 
M.J. Choi, J.S. Kim, S.B. Lee, W.Y. Lee and K.W. Lee
ENR Team, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Taejon 305-600, Korea
 

Summary

One of the promising technologies for the utilization of CO2 is the selective synthesis of valuable chemicals by means of catalytic hydrogenation. A catalytic fixed bed recycle reactor and series reactors have been proposed to increase the level of reaction conversion in conducting the hydrogenation of CO2. The hydrogenation of CO2 was carried out over Fe-K based catalyst. The conversion of carbon dioxide  increased with increasing reaction temperature and residence time in the fixed bed single reactor. ...  CO2 (hydrogenation) increased with increasing recycle ratio ... For the olefin rich production, maximum  (CO2) was the level of 75% in the recycle reactor, however paraffin selectivity was increased when the (CO2) was above 80%. From the results of experiments, the recycle reactor as an alternative reactor was beneficial ...for the hydrogenation of CO2 instead of the fixed bed single reactor."

A little confusing, perhaps; but, the upshot is that paraffins and olefins can be manufactured by hydrogenating Carbon Dioxide, and the Koreans are refining the types of apparatus ("reactor") that accomplish the conversion to achieve higher yields.

According to readily available inter net resources: "Paraffins" covers a lot of organic chemical ground, all the way from methane to candle wax, and the paraffin grade(s) in this report isn't specified. "Olefins" can be blended into gasoline, although the percentage content is limited by statute; but, over zeolite catalysts, it can, according to multiple published patents, be readily and directly converted into gasoline-type hydrocarbons. In any case, they're both useful products and could both contribute to satisfying our fuel needs, while at the same time consuming Carbon Dioxide.

Korean Bio-CO2-to-Fuel Recycling

 
 
The Synthesis of Clean Fuels from CO2 Rich Biosyngas   
 
Kyu-Wan Lee and Jae-Sung Ryu
Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Korea
 
In this study, it is confirmed that both Biomass and Carbon Dioxide can, as we've earlier documented to be feasible,  be processed together into liquid fuels utilizing coal-to-liquid conversion technology, i.e. Fischer-Tropsch processes.
 
The excerpt:

"Summary

In this work, the authors performed the Fischer-Tropsch reaction with biosyngas containing CO2, controlling the water gas shift reaction. We carried out the reaction in a fixed bed, slurry bed and other reactor systems. However, in this paper, we report only the results from the fixed bed reactions. The reactions were carried out at both laboratory- and bench-scales. We also elucidated the causes of catalyst deactivation."

This admittedly sparse abstract doesn't allow too many conclusions to be reached. But, this information, considered along with earlier reports we've submitted on the recycling of Carbon Dioxide, supports our thesis that Carbon Dioxide originating from our use of coal - whether we use that coal to generate power or to synthesize liquid fuels - can be captured directly, through chemical/physical in-plant processes; and/or indirectly, through botanical agents such as algal bio-reactors. The directly-captured CO2 can be added to syngas generated from the botanical agents and coal; and, the combined gas mixture can then be converted into liquid fuels via Fischer-Tropsch processing.

Thus, a valuable co-product, Carbon Dioxide, arising from our coal-use processes, such as power generation, metal smelting and liquid fuel synthesis, can be effectively and thoroughly captured via multiple technologies, and then converted into more liquid fuel.