3121.     SCHROEDER, W. C., AND FIELDNER, A. C.  American Advances in the Manufacture of Synthetic Liquid Fuels.  Internat. Chem. Eng., vol. 31, 1950, pp. 503-506.

        Paper read at the 4^th World Power Conference, London, 1950.  A review of developments in coal hydrogenation, the Fischer-Tropsch process, and oil-shale processing in the United States is presented.  The improved relative cost position between the products of synthesis and of petroleum is discussed; the trend is growing in favor of the synthetic product, and it is probable that a large synthetic fuel industry based on coal and oil shale will develop.  An estimate has been made of the initial and the operating costs of a 30,000-bbl.-per-day coal-hydrogenation plant using Wyoming bituminous coal.  From a consumption of 11,830 short tons of coal per day, 21,660 bbl. gasoline, 7,100 bbl. L. P. G. and 1,240 bbl. phenols would be produced.  The cost of the gasoline with L. P. G. and phenols credited at $0.08 per gal. and $0.10 per lb., respectively, would be $0.101 per gal.  The total plant cost would be 243 million dollars or $8,100 per bbl. per day.  At present, cost estimates for commercial Fischer-Tropsch plants operating on coal are in a preliminary stage; estimates are awaited from the demonstration plant being erected at Louisiana, Mo.  It appears at present that the initial cost of a 10,000-bbl.-per-day plant will be about $7,500 per bbl. per day.  The cost of producing gasoline and other products appears to be about the same as for coal hydrogenation.  Estimates have been made for an oil-shale plant to produce about 100,000 bbl. of oil per day.  The initial investment for the entire plant from mining to refining would approximate 409 million dollars or $4,090 per bbl. of oil per day.  Operating costs for shale-oil production are about $1.43 per metric ton of shale or $2.00 per bbl. of crude shale oil.  Assuming a 75% recovery in the refinery, the final products will cost about $3.50 per bbl. or $0.084 per United States gal.  A breakdown of mining costs totaling $0.65 per metric ton is given.