Methane prodn. from coal - by reacting with electrolytic oxygen and reacting carbon mon:oxide with electrolytic hydrogen

摘要

Prodn. of a CH4-rich gas comprises (a) electrolysing an aq. soln.; (b) reacting coal or lignite with the O2 evolved at the anode to produce CO or CO2; (c) if CO2 is produced in (b), reacting this with coal to produce CO2; and (d) reacting the CO from (b) or (c) with the H2 evolved at the cathode according to teh reaction CO + 3H2 right arrow CH4 + H2O. The electricity used is generated from a nuclear power plant. The reaction in step (d) gives higher CH4 yields under given temp. and pressure conditions (800 degrees C, 20 bar) than the reaction CO + 2H2 right arrow CH4 + 1/2 O2 described in the Parent Patent.