Microorganism mediated liquid fuels
AssigneeJrst, LLC
InventorsJohn W. SZUHAY, Richard Troiano
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for producing a liquid fuel from a hydrocarbon source. In one embodiment, the method comprises disintegrating a hydrocarbon source, treating the disintegrated hydrocarbon source, solubilizing the disintegrated hydrocarbon source, admixing a biochemical liquor, wherein the biochemical liquor comprises at least one conversion enzyme to form liquid hydrocarbons, separating liquid hydrocarbons, and enriching the liquid hydrocarbons to form a liquid hydrocarbon product. Further, the method comprises producing a liquid fuel in-situ. In certain embodiments the method comprises modified enzymes for producing the liquid fuels.
Claims33
A method for producing liquid hydrocarbon product comprising,
- disintegrating a hydrocarbon source;
- treating the disintegrated hydrocarbon source chemically;
- solubilizing the disintegrated hydrocarbon source to form a slurry;
- admixing a biochemical liquor into the slurry, wherein the biochemical liquor comprises at least one conversion enzyme, to form liquid hydrocarbons;
- separating liquid hydrocarbons from the slurry, wherein contaminants remain in the slurry;
- and
- enriching the liquid hydrocarbons to form a liquid hydrocarbon product.
A method for in-situ coal to liquid hydrocarbon conversion, comprising:
- locating an underground coal seam;
- drilling at least one well, the well in contact with the underground coal seam and having a means to cycle liquids therethrough;
- pressurizing the underground coal seam with steam;
- cycling reactants through the underground coal seam, wherein the reactants comprise at least one enzyme, to form a slurry;
- withdrawing a portion of the slurry;
- processing the slurry to produce the liquid hydrocarbon;
- separating the liquid hydrocarbon from the slurry;
- and
- returning the slurry to the coal seam for further processing.
A method for using an enzyme to produce liquid fuels, comprising
- selecting a microorganism, the microorganism producing an enzyme;
- modifying a microorganism genetically, to increase the production of the enzyme;
- modifying the enzyme structurally, to alter the activity of the enzyme, to form a modified enzyme;
- collecting the modified enzyme, to form a biochemical liquor comprising at least one modified enzyme;
- and
- exposing a hydrocarbon source to the biochemical liquor to form a liquid fuel precursor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.