Method of and apparatus for manufacturing methanol
AssigneeGRT, Inc.
InventorJeffrey H. Sherman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a method of and apparatus for manufacturing methanol and higher alcohols from natural gas a catalytic area is formed on the exterior of a gas permeable partition. Natural gas is maintained on the interior of the gas permeable partition at predetermined pressure. Relative movement between the gas permeable partition and the water forms sub-micron sized bubbles of natural gas. Electromagnetic radiation is directed onto the catalytic surface to form hydroxyl radicals from the water. Methyl, ethyl, and propyl ions from the natural gas combine with the hydroxyl ions to form methanol, ethanol, and propanol.
Claims34
An apparatus for manufacturing methanol and higher alcohols from natural gas and water comprising:
- a hollow chamber positioned in the water and including a gas permeable partition engaging the water;
- a solid gas permeable electromagnetic radiation-activated catalytic layer comprising at least the exterior of the gas permeable partition;
- means for continuously causing relative movement between the exterior surface of the solid gas permeable catalytic layer and the water;
- means for maintaining natural gas within the interior of the hollow chamber at a predetermined pressure sufficient to cause gas flow through the gas permeable partition/solid gas permeable catalytic layer for entrainment in the water as sub-micron size bubbles while preventing water flow therethrough;
- means for directing electromagnetic radiation energy onto the catalytic layer thereby forming hydroxyl radicals from the water;
- methyl, ethyl, and propyl radicals from the natural gas combining with the hydroxyl radicals to form methanol, ethanol, and propanol.
An apparatus for manufacturing methanol from methane and water comprising:
- a hollow chamber including a gas permeable partition positioned in the water;
- a solid gas permeable catalytic layer comprising at least the exterior of the gas permeable partition;
- means for continuously causing relative movement between the exterior surface of the solid gas permeable photocatalytic layer and the water;
- means for maintaining methane within the interior of the hollow chamber at a predetermined pressure sufficient to cause methane to flow through the gas permeable partition/solid gas permeable catalytic layer for entrainment as sub-micron size bubbles in the water while preventing water flow therethrough;
- means for directing energy onto the catalytic layer thereby forming hydroxyl radicals from the water;
- methyl radicals from the methane combining with the hydroxyl radicals to form methanol.
An apparatus for manufacturing methane and higher alcohols from natural gas and water comprising:
- a hollow chamber having a sintered partition positioned in the water;
- a solid gas permeable catalytic layer formed on the exterior of the sintered partition;
- means for continuously causing relative movement between the exterior surface of the solid gas permeable photocatalytic layer and the water;
- means for maintaining natural gas within the interior of the chamber at a predetermined pressure sufficient to cause natural gas to flow through the sintered partition and the solid gas permeable catalytic layer for entrainment as sub-micron size bubbles in the water while preventing water flow therethrough;
- means for directing energy onto the solid gas permeable catalytic layer on the exterior of the sintered partition thereby forming hydroxyl radicals in the water;
- methyl, ethyl, and propyl radicals from the natural gas combining with the hydroxyl radicals to form methanol, ethanol and propanol.
An apparatus for manufacturing methanol and methane from carbon dioxide comprising:
- a quantity of water;
- a hollow chamber positioned in the water and including a gas permeable partition engaging in the water;
- a solid gas permeable catalytic layer comprising at least the exterior of the gas permeable partition;
- means for continuously causing relative movement between the exterior surface of the solid gas permeable photocatalytic layer and the water;
- means for maintaining carbon dioxide within the interior of the hollow chamber at a predetermined pressure sufficient to cause carbon dioxide to flow through the gas permeable partition and the solid gas permeable catalytic layer for entrainment as sub-micron size bubbles in the water while preventing water flow therethrough;
- means for directing energy onto the catalytic layer thereby forming hydroxyl and hydrogen radicals from the water;
- the hydroxyl and hydrogen radicals from the water combining with carbon radicals from the carbon dioxide to form methanol and methane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.