This invention is directed to novel mixed transition metal iron (II/III) catalysts for the extraction of oxygen from CO.sub.2 and the selective reaction with organic compounds.

A method for producing an American Petroleum Institute Standards Group III Base Stock from vacuum gas oil, by injecting hydrogen, heating, saturating the mixture through hydrogen reactors connected in series with a liquid hourly space velocity (LHSV).sup.1 from 0.5 to 2.5, forming a saturated heated base oil, and coproduct. The method fractionates the saturated heated base oil while simultaneously refluxing a cooled light oil fraction forming an American Petroleum Institute Standards Group III Base Stock with less than 0.03% sulfur, with greater than 90% saturates and a viscosity index greater than 120 as defined by ASTM D-2270, a viscosity from 2 to 10 centistokes as defined by ASTM D-445 a boiling point range from 600 degrees F. to 1050 degrees F. as defined by ASTM D-86, and a cold crank viscosity (CCS) between 1200 and 5000 centipoise at minus 25 degrees C. and as defined by ASTM D-5293.

According to the present invention, organic material is converted to biogas through anaerobic digestion and the biogas is purified to yield a combustible fluid feedstock comprising methane. A fuel production facility utilizes or arranges to utilize combustible fluid feedstock to generate renewable hydrogen that is used to hydrogenate crude oil derived hydrocarbons in a process to make transportation or heating fuel. The renewable hydrogen is combined with crude oil derived hydrocarbons that have been desulfurized under conditions to hydrogenate the liquid hydrocarbon with the renewable hydrogen or alternatively, the renewable hydrogen can be added to a reactor operated so as to simultaneously desulfurize and hydrogenate the hydrocarbons. The present invention enables a party to receive a renewable fuel credit for the transportation or heating fuel.

The invention relates to an installation (1) and a method allowing the near total recovery and space-saving storage of carbon in the form of liquid carbon dioxide (19), from a substance (9) of the group consisting of hydrocarbons/ethers/alcohols, without the use of gas compression. To achieve this, a superheated gas (12) at a pressure of over 5.18 bar is generated from the substance (9) of the group consisting of hydrocarbons/ethers/alcohols and water (10), and this gas is delivered, by means of steam reforming and hydrogen liberation, into a retentate mass flow (15) containing carbon dioxide. Liquid carbon dioxide (19) is obtained therefrom by means of condensation, and is stored in a storage tank (7) while the liberated hydrogen is oxidised to provide mechanical and/or electrical as well as thermal energy. The use of membranes with low hydrogen/carbon dioxide permeation selectivity is permitted by forming a permeate mass flow circuit that is closed in respect of carbon dioxide. Operation at low pressures is permitted by the condensation and storage at temperatures below the ambient temperature, for which purpose cold (17) is generated from said thermal energy in a sorption method.

A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system including a steam reformer, a hydrogen purification system, a pre-reformer, and a solid oxide fuel cell.

In one aspect, the invention provides a method for the capture of at least one acid gas in a composition, the release of said gas from said composition, and the subsequent regeneration of said composition for re-use, said method comprising performing, in order, the steps of: (a) capturing the at least one acid gas by contacting said at least one gas with a capture composition comprising at least one salt of a carboxylic acid and at least one water-miscible non-aqueous solvent; (b) releasing said at least one acid gas by adding at least one protic solvent or agent to said composition; and (c) regenerating the capture composition by partial or complete removal of said added protic solvent or agent from said composition. Optionally, said capture composition comprising at least one salt of a carboxylic acid and at least one water-miscible non-aqueous solvent additionally comprises water or another protic solvent. In another aspect, the invention envisages a composition which additionally comprises at least one protic solvent or agent and release of the at least one acid gas is achieved solely by subjecting the composition to the application of heat or stripping with a stream of air. The method is typically applied to the capture and subsequent release of carbon dioxide, and offers a convenient and simple process which uses inexpensive consumables and offers significant advantages over the methods of the prior art.

A system and method for processing unconditioned syngas first removes solids and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC), then removes volatile organic compounds (VOC), and then removes at least one sulfur containing compound from the syngas. Additional processing may be performed depending on such factors as the source of syngas being processed, the products, byproducts and intermediate products desired to be formed, captured or recycled and environmental considerations.

A method and apparatus for the oxy-combustion of fuel in an internal combustion engine (ICE) used to power a vehicle includes one or more air separation devices that separate oxygen from the atmospheric air to mix with the fuel and return the nitrogen to the atmosphere and converts the free energy available in the form of waste heat from the engine exhaust gas stream and coolant system on board the vehicle into electrical and/or mechanical energy, which energy is used to separate oxygen from air to eliminate or significantly reduce the volume of nitrogen entering the ICE's combustion chamber, and thereby reduce NO.sub.x pollutants released into the atmosphere and increase the concentration of CO.sub.2 in the engine exhaust stream for capture using an integrated system to compress and increase the density of the captured CO.sub.2 for temporary on-board storage until it is discharged at a recovery station, e.g., during vehicle refueling.

Systems and methods are provided for incorporating molten carbonate fuel cells into a heat recovery steam generation system (HRSG) for production of electrical power while also reducing or minimizing the amount of CO.sub.2 present in the flue gas exiting the HRSG. An optionally multi-layer screen or wall of molten carbonate fuel cells can be inserted into the HRSG so that the screen of molten carbonate fuel cells substantially fills the cross-sectional area. By using the walls of the HRSG and the screen of molten carbonate fuel cells to form a cathode input manifold, the overall amount of duct or flow passages associated with the MCFCs can be reduced.

A method for converting renewable energy source electricity and a hydrocarbon feedstock into a liquid fuel by providing a source of renewable electrical energy in communication with a synthesis gas generation unit and an air separation unit. Oxygen from the air separation unit and a hydrocarbon feedstock is provided to the synthesis gas generation unit, thereby causing partial oxidation reactions in the synthesis gas generation unit in a process that converts the hydrocarbon feedstock into synthesis gas. The synthesis gas is then converted into a liquid fuel.