From: AlleyCat <katt@gmail.com>
Newsgroups: alt.global-warming,alt.fan.rush-limbaugh,can.politics,alt.politics.liberalism,alt.politics.democrats,alt.politics.usa.republican
Subject: Re: Professor Richard Lindzen on Climate Change: Never Take Yourself So Seriously That You Have To Invent Problems - Part 1 - The Climate Crisis Is A Fake Issue
Date: Sun, 27 Jul 2025 09:02:40 -0500
Organization: AlleyCat Computing, Inc.
On Sat, 19 Jul 2025 13:26:36 -0000 (UTC), Kenny McCormack says...
> As I've stated elsewhere, once the FF's run out (which could happen in any
> of a variety of ways), we will probably settle back down to our
> pre-industrial (c. 1830) population level of about 1B worldwide.
We had synthetics back then?
The time will come up shortly, when we'll have to start making and mass storing them.
I have no doubt that "we" will NEVER go back to life (c. 1830). We are too advanced a race for that to happen
Don't you watch Star Trek, nerd?
=====
Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis (FT Synthesis):
Inputs: This process starts with syngas, which is a mixture of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2).
Syngas Sources: Syngas itself is produced from various carbon-containing feedstocks through a process called gasification. These
feedstocks can include:
Natural Gas (Gas-to-Liquids - GTL): Methane is reformed to produce syngas.
Coal (Coal-to-Liquids - CTL): Coal is gasified.
Biomass (Biomass-to-Liquids - BTL): Organic matter like wood, agricultural waste, or even municipal solid waste is gasified.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Hydrogen (H2O electrolysis): In some experimental or future concepts, CO2 (captured from industrial
sources or direct air capture) is combined with hydrogen (produced from water electrolysis using renewable energy) to make syngas.
Process: The syngas is reacted over a metal catalyst (commonly iron or cobalt) at high temperatures and pressures to produce liquid
hydrocarbons (synthetic crude oil, diesel, gasoline, waxes, etc.) and water.
Output: Synthetic crude oil (often called syncrude), which then needs to be refined into finished fuels.
Methanol-to-Gasoline (MTG) Process:
Inputs: This process uses methanol (CH3OH) as its primary feedstock.
Methanol Sources: Methanol is typically synthesized from syngas (which, as above, can come from natural gas, coal, or biomass).
Process: Methanol is converted into gasoline-range hydrocarbons through a series of catalytic reactions, often using zeolite
catalysts (like ZSM-5).
Output: Gasoline (or gasoline-like blendstocks).
Upgrading of Bitumen and Oil Shale:
Inputs:
Bitumen: A thick, tar-like form of petroleum found in oil sands (e.g., in Canada).
Oil Shale: Sedimentary rock containing kerogen, a solid organic matter.
Process: These unconventional sources are subjected to various upgrading processes, including:
Pyrolysis: Heating the material in the absence of oxygen to break down kerogen into liquid oil (shale oil).
Hydrogenation: Adding hydrogen to the heavy hydrocarbons to make them lighter and more fluid.
Thermal Dissolution: Using solvents and heat.
Output: Synthetic crude oil (syncrude) or upgraded bitumen, which can then be refined like conventional crude.
Hydrotreating of Bio-oils (Advanced Biofuels):
Inputs: Various types of biomass (e.g., dedicated energy crops, agricultural residues, forestry waste) are converted into a liquid
"bio-oil" through fast pyrolysis.
Process: This raw bio-oil is then subjected to hydrotreating (adding hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst) to remove oxygen and
other impurities, producing stable, hydrocarbon-rich liquids that resemble petroleum.
Output: Renewable diesel, gasoline, or jet fuel.
Waste-to-Fuel (Pyrolysis of Plastics/MSW):
Inputs: Various types of plastic waste or other municipal solid waste (MSW).
Process:
Pyrolysis: Heating the waste in the absence of oxygen to break down polymers into liquid (pyrolysis oil) and gaseous hydrocarbons.
Gasification: Converting waste into syngas, which can then be used in Fischer-Tropsch.
Output: Pyrolysis oil (a crude-like liquid), which can be further refined into fuels.