Date: May 15, 2013 Author: PARTHA GANGULI Source: 2013 SBIR National Conference
Energy Catalysis, Inc.(ECI) is a small R&D business with 20+ years of experience in catalysis, coal liquefaction, and petroleum residua conversion. ECI has developed a direct catalytic liquefaction process for converting low-volatile heavy hydrocarbons such as coal, petroleum residuum, vacuum gas-oil, and tar sand bitumen into clean light liquid fuels. The technology concept was based on efficient reactor system and specific nano-catalysts.
ECI process uses highly active nano-catalysts in efficient reactor system to avoid back-mixing and retrogressive reactions. Typical product yield from liquefaction of bituminous coal: 80 w% liquid mostly in the C4-650oF range, 5 w% C1-C3 gases, and no tar. Since the liquid products are already in the gasoline and diesel fuel range, no processing in a petroleum refinery is needed.
Estimated cost of liquid product is $38 to $42 per barrel. The process has very low emissions of green-house gas and air pollutants.
U.S. patent on the process was granted in January, 2012. ECI is looking for venture capitalists and industrial partners to develop the process to commercialization.
