Phillips CO2 + Coal + H2O = Methane

United States Patent: 4011058

Without attempting linkage to any of our prior reports concerning the fact, we see herein that Phillips Petroleum again confirms that several known and established processes can be combined to synthesize a hydrocarbon fuel, in this case, and perhaps importantly, Methane, by recycling and reacting Carbon Dioxide, from whatever source, with hot Coal, to form Carbon Monoxide; and, then, reacting that Carbon Monoxide with Steam to form a hydrocarbon gas consisting primarily of Methane.

Such rather direct synthesis of Methane, in a process that, as a first step, recycles Carbon Dioxide through reactions with Coal, offers additional Carbon Dioxide recycling potentials, as well, as we emphasize, following excerpts from the link to:

 

"Mobil" Oil 1949 Coal-enabled CO2 Recycling

Production of synthesis gas

Before presenting our excerpts from the above link, we must note, prior to some extended preamble, that:

The process of the US Government-certified invention we herein disclose and report, wherein Carbon Dioxide, Methane and Water are all combined to manufacture a hydrocarbon synthesis gas suitable for catalytic condensation into liquid hydrocarbon fuels, can be made possible, and even simplified to the extreme, by one key co-reactant: Coal.

But, Coal, or any independent Carbon source, is not actually named or specified to be included in the process.

 

USDOE Biotechnology Converts CO2 to Diesel Fuel

Energy Citations Database (ECD) - - Document #6588442

We have many times made reference to, and report of, the potentials for utilizing biological agents for the large-scale recycling of industrial effluent Carbon Dioxide.

Although we are personally and preferentially drawn to more straightforward chemical processes for CO2 recycling, such as those technologies based on the Sabatier process, and on CO2 reforming with Methane and/or Steam, we have documented that Algae can be employed to harvest industrial exhaust gas Carbon Dioxide, and to transform it into a wider variety of products, including "lipids", which can then rather easily be refined into Diesel fuel.

 

Consol 1970 Coal + Steam = Methane + Syngas

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING MIXTURES OF METHANE,CARBON MONOXIDE,AND HYDROGEN

Herein, we have yet another Coal conversion technology developed by a scientist in the employ of our local Consolidation Coal Company; but, one which generates a slightly different product mix of hydrocarbons, relative to another US Patent, issued to Consol in the same year as the subject invention of this report, and as seen in: Consol 1970 Liquid Fuels from Coal | Research & Development | News; which contains information concerning: "United States Patent 3,523,886 - Making Liquid Fuels from Coal; 1970; Inventor: Everett Gorin, et. al.; Assignee: The United States of America and Consolidation Coal Company".

Herein, another Consol scientist demonstrates that Methane can be generated as a co-product, along with a synthesis gas suitable for catalytic condensation into liquid hydrocarbon fuels, by, in a way similar to other Coal conversion technologies we have reported to you, reacting hot Coal with Steam.

 

Marcellus Shale Gas and the "Terrible, Horrible...Very Bad"

Fracking and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week – CleanTechnica: Cleantech innovation news and views

As per one or two of our earlier notes:

Since you've taken, at your work, to flirting with and wooing so effusively the new Marcellus Shale Gas secretary, while ignoring, hardly ever mentioning, your old, faithful battle-axe wife, Coal - who continues, back at the house, toiling unceasingly at her chores - herein are some more blemishes on the new girl, which you would see - - if you could damp down your feelings of infatuation and force yourself to look past the fake eyelashes and glamorous makeup.