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.

The invention relates to a method for converting a gas into methane (CH.sub.4) which includes: a step of activating a catalytic material including praseodymium oxide (Pr.sub.6O.sub.11) associated with nickel oxide (NiO) and alumina (Al.sub.2O.sub.3), the respective proportions of which are, relative to the total mass of these three compounds: Pr.sub.6O.sub.11: 1 wt % to 20 wt %, NiO: 1 wt % to 20 wt %, and Al.sub.2O.sub.3: 60 to 98 wt %; and a step of passing a gas including at least one carbon monoxide (CO) over the activated catalytic material.

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 combined anaerobic digester system and gas-to-liquid system is disclosed. The anaerobic digester requires heat, and produces methane. The gas-to-liquid system produces heat, and converts methane to higher-value products, including methanol and formaldehyde. As such, the combination of the two systems results in significant savings in terms of capital and operating expenses. A process for producing bio-formaldehyde and bio-formalin from biogas is also disclosed.

The invention relates to an arrangement for preparing a gas in a closable reactor by supplying the reactor with carbon-based biomass or chopped wood material, such as chips, in substantially oxygen-free conditions, by allowing the biomass or wood material to gasify at a high temperature, and by recovering the gas generated in a gasification reaction. In that the arrangement the reactor has its interior defined by a feed pipe whose inlet end is closable with a shut-off valve, especially with a ball valve, and whose outlet end adjoins a heatable gasification dome, biomass or chopped wood material is delivered from the feed pipe's inlet end into the reactor's interior, the reactor's interior is supplied with free water/water vapor in its supercritical state, which is optionally prepared catalytically by splitting water/water vapor, the biomass or wood material is conveyed into a gasification space of the reactor's interior, which is in connection with the heated gasification dome and which is adapted to have existing conditions selected in a manner such that the water present in said gasification space is present in its supercritical state, and the gas generated in the gasification reaction is recovered.

A process and an apparatus for converting carbon dioxide CO.sub.2 into carbon monoxide CO using hydrocarbons are described. In further embodiments, processes and apparatuses for generating synthesis gas and processes and apparatuses for converting synthesis gas into synthetic functionalised and/or non-functionalised hydrocarbons using CO.sub.2 and hydrocarbons are described. The processes and apparatuses are adapted to convert CO.sub.2 emitted by industrial processes, and thus the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere may be reduced.

A hydrocarbon production apparatus includes a reverse shift reaction unit obtaining a synthesis gas by using carbon dioxide and hydrogen, a hydrocarbon production unit producing a hydrocarbon by using the synthesis gas, a gas-liquid separation unit separating a gas component containing hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and a light hydrocarbon and a liquid component containing a hydrocarbon from an effluent from the hydrocarbon production unit, a first separation unit separating hydrogen and carbon dioxide, and a light hydrocarbon from the gas component, and a catalytic reaction unit generating hydrogen and carbon monoxide by using the light hydrocarbon separated by the first separation unit. The reverse shift reaction unit also uses the hydrogen and carbon dioxide separated by the first separation unit. The hydrocarbon production unit also uses the hydrogen and carbon monoxide generated by the catalytic reaction unit.

An end surface of each first side wall, an end surface of each first middle wall, and an end surface of each first end wall are joined to an adjacent second structure by diffusion bonding, an end surface of each second side wall, an end surface of each second middle wall, and an end surface of each second end wall are joined to an adjacent first structure or a lid structure by diffusion bonding, a thickness of each first side wall is greater than or equal to a thickness of each first middle wall, and a thickness of each second side wall is greater than or equal to a thickness of each second middle wall.

The present invention concerns a reactor for the conversion of carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide into hydrocarbon and/or alcohol comprising a support made from an electrically and thermally conductive material, forming the wall or walls of at least one longitudinal channel that passes through the support and also acting as the cathode of the reactor, at least one wire electrode forming an anode of the reactor, and extending within each longitudinal channel, and being arranged at a distance from the wall or walls of the longitudinal channel, each wire electrode optionally being covered with an electrically insulating layer along the part of the wire electrode extending within the longitudinal channel, a catalyst capable of catalysing a conversion reaction for the conversion of carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide into hydrocarbon and/or alcohol, the catalyst being situated between the wire electrode and the wall or walls of each longitudinal channel.

Fuel cell arrangement having an improved efficiency. The arrangement comprises one or more fuel cell units 110 and a methanation unit 200 and a control unit 300. The fuel cell unit comprises a water inlet 111, a hydrogen outlet 112 and an oxygen outlet 113. The methanation unit comprises a catalyst 222, a hydrogen inlet 213, a carbon oxide inlet 214 having a first controllable valve 215 and a methane outlet 216, wherein the hydrogen outlet of the first fuel cell unit is coupled to the hydrogen inlet of the methanation unit, and the methanation unit is adapted to convert hydrogen and carbon oxide into methane, wherein the control unit is adapted to control the first controllable valve so as to obtain an optimum converting process to convert hydrogen and carbon oxide into methane.