Methods and apparatus for liquefaction of organic solids

Abstract

Methods of liquefying solid organic materials, such as coal, biomass and shale are described. Also described are apparatus useful to effect such changes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for making one or more non-solid hydrocarbons, the process comprising subjecting a reaction mixture comprising a solid organic material in the presence of a magnetite-type composition to electromagnetic radiation to form reaction conditions that cause said reaction mixture to form reaction products comprising one or more non-solid hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said reaction conditions are selected from one or more of the group consisting of liquefaction conditions and gasification conditions. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the reaction mixture further comprises one or more further reactants selected from the group consisting of water and oxygen. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said reaction conditions comprise gasification conditions and liquefaction conditions. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the liquefaction conditions comprise Fischer-Tropsch synthetic conditions. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the reaction mixture comprising of solid organic material in the presence of magnetite is subjected to electromagnetic radiation prior to the liquefaction stage. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the solid organic matter is selected from the group consisting of coal, shale, peat, biomass, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the magnetite-type composition comprises magnetite. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8  wherein said magnetite-type composition further comprises one or more metals selected from the group nickel, cobalt, copper, silver, gallium, indium, manganese, zinc, platinum, palladium, gold, ruthenium, rhodium, iridium, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1  wherein no solvent is added during the process. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the electromagnetic radiation is microwave radiation. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the electromagnetic radiation is radio frequency radiation. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said magnetite-type composition is dispersed in said reaction mixture. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for making one or more non-solid hydrocarbons comprising:
 a.) at least one vessel having at least one opening for receiving reactants and discharging a non-solid hydrocarbon, said reactants comprising solid organic material, water and oxygen, said at least one vessel containing magnetite-type composition as a mixture with said reactants or as a immobilized matrix;   b.) electromagnetic radiation means in communication with said at least one vessel for placing electromagnetic radiation into said vessel to create reaction conditions to cause said reaction mixture to form one or more non-solid hydrocarbons.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said reaction conditions are selected from the group consisting of gasification and liquefaction. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said reaction conditions are Fischer-Tropsch synthetic conditions. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said vessel has at least one input opening for receiving said solid organic material, water and oxygen and at least one output opening for discharging said at least one non-solid hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said electromagnetic radiation means is a microwave radiation emitter. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said electromagnetic radiation means is a radio frequency radiation emitter. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said at least one vessel comprises a electromagnetic zone vessel and a reaction vessel, said electromagnetic radiation vessel having said at least one opening for receiving said reactants and further in fluid communication with said reaction vessel, said electromagnetic zone vessel in communication with said electromagnetic radiation means, and said reaction vessel receiving said reactants from said electromagnetic zone vessel and completing said reactions to form one or more non-solid hydrocarbons.