Chicago (IL) – Rentech, a company that turns hydrocarbons such as coal and natural gas into alternative fuels, says it has begun producing an “ultra clean synthetic fuel”. The process is controversial, especially because coal, which is capable of emitting significant amounts of carbon dioxide when combusted, is involved.

Rentech defended the process, claiming that it is more environmentally friendly than petroleum fuel, and says that the process is also capable of converting biomass and municipal waste.

The company uses an advanced version of the Fischer Tropsch process and an iron-based catalyst to aid them in turning synthetic gas into fuel. During their demonstration in Colorado, Rentech said that is currently producing fuel from natural gas and has plans to produce 420 gallons per day of both synthetic diesel and jet fuels. Their demo plant will provide samples of the fuels to enable testing for environmental standards and requirements.

There are numerous options available for aiding in the environmental changes of transportation, but if this process is only used in an attempt to turn coal into fuel, we believe that there can be major issues. Julie Dawoodje, a spokesperson for Rentech, confirmed that one of the feedstocks for its synthetic fuel demo unit would potentially consist of coal.

Environmental groups such as the National Resources Defense Council are adamant that using coal and turning it into a liquid fuel is a not-so-great and detrimental choice in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. However, coal remains interesting for economic reasons: Coal is inexpensive and widely available. Utilizing coal to produce liquid fuel could reduce the U.S.’ dependence on imported oil from regions that are potentially unstable. The military has considered using coal to liquids as jet fuel and diesel for their long distance trucking needs for some time now.

They can call it ultra clean if they want

Aug 11, 2008 12:58     

but what does that mean? The real problem here, IMO, is that there is much much more carbon sequestered in coal than light crude. So if we get a process that turns coal into gas that has roughly the same environmental impact of processing light crude we still have a potentially much larger scale of pollution.
Ryan report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -1

Using rewnewables to create synth fuel

Aug 11, 2008 13:02     

I winder how difficult it would be to reduce the environmental impact of sythn fuel by using renewable energy to create the sythn fuels. Using wind and solar power to create H2 and CO (with O2 as a byproduct) then use solar thermal energy to power the Fischer Tropsch process. It seems to me that using renewable enegy to create synthetic fuels would go a long way to help reduce the achillies heel of renewable energy...predictable reliability.

Murphy report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

Carbon comes in many forms

Aug 11, 2008 13:11     

"IMO, is that there is much much more carbon sequestered in coal than light crude" It really depends on where the carbon ends up after the process - is it in the fuel, in waste gas, or locked away in solid waste material? If it's in the fuel and waste gases, then it definitely is a problem, but locked away in solid waste could make the process cleaner.
hank report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +3

less dependent on foreign oil

Aug 11, 2008 13:55     

Since coal is mined here in the USA, it could mean less of a dependency on foriegn oil. I think it should be given a chance to try it and see if it works. It might be easier to clean a non-moving power plant than many cars (the cars being electric would recharge and use the power produced from these places). :)
TomLeeM/BigWarpGuy report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

I couldn't care less about green house gasses while...

Aug 11, 2008 19:16     

I couldn't care less about green house gasses while paying $4.00 a gallon for fuel. This process in the late 80's could have produced all the fuel we wanted for $55.00 a barrel. Unfortunately, at the time, a barrel of oil cost $20. Saving the planet isn't going to be a real big concern when there are food and fuel riots because no one can afford either. Global warming is going to be last on the list of problems.

therooster report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

@therooster

Aug 11, 2008 20:56     

Fyi: A massive change in climate and the disruption it will cause to agriculture will cause far greater food riots than $4-5/gal gas.
hank report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

UK gasoline is $10 per gallon...

Aug 12, 2008 05:28     

...and it's a similar price in most of Europe - and society hasn't collapsed. Here, we think of a car that does less than 50mpg as a gas guzzler, and the price of used 4X4's has fallen through the floor, to the extent that many car dealers are no longer taking them in part exchange. Eco cars are now fashionable, and people talk about fuel consumption, not performance. While making liquid fuel from biomass is a good idea, using coal doesn't make much sense - it's more sensible to just use less of the stuff!

JohnE report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

this is not a new technology

Aug 12, 2008 13:00     

This process is not at all a novelty. Shell (Malaysia) has been producing this fuel in thousands of barrels, not tens. I think there are more refineries working with natural gas though. I read somewhere that Audi limousines used during the Olympic games in Athens were using this environment friendly diesel. Read more ;)
morduhai report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0