New coal chemistry

摘要

I greatly enjoyed Duncan Seddon's 'New coal chemistry' (July, p. 36). He gives interesting perspectives on the production of chemicals from synthesis gas and related issues, including greenhouse gas emissions. Duncan mentions the release of carbon dioxide from the production of hydrocarbons from coal. This of course is due to the water gas shift reaction, to which he refers and for which he gives the chemical equation. Carbon dioxide from gasification can be sequestrated, as is currently happening on a trial basis in Alberta, Canada. There, synthesis gas is made by underground gasification of coal and nearby geological sites for sequestration are being identified (Olateju B., Kumar A. Appl. Energ. 2013, vol. 111, pp. 428-40).