Patents Assigned to Celanese International Corporation
  • Processes for producing acetic acid
    Patent number: 9409848
    Abstract: Processes for the reduction and/or removal of permanganate reducing compounds (PRC'S) formed by the carbonylation of methanol in the presence of a Group VIII metal carbonylation catalyst to produce acetic acid are disclosed. More specifically, processes for reducing and/or removing PRC's or their precursors from intermediate streams during the formation of acetic acid by said carbonylation processes are disclosed. In particular, processes in which a low boiling overhead vapor stream from a light ends column is subjected to a distillation to obtain an overhead that is subjected to an extraction to selectively remove and/or reduce PRC's from the process is disclosed. The processes include steps of recycling one or more return streams derived from the distillation step and/or the extraction step to a light ends column and/or a drying column in order to improve water control in the overall reaction system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ronald D. Shaver, Mark O. Scates, Raymond J. Zinobile
  • Process for separating product gas using carbonylation processes
    Patent number: 9409846
    Abstract: The present invention is related to separating product gas using a carbonylation reactor in which the carbon monoxide is consumed to produce acetic acid, and hydrogen and carbon dioxide are recovered. The recovered hydrogen may be further purified to reduce the concentration of carbon oxides. The present invention provides improved methods for converting product gas or syngas to ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: G. Paull Torrence
  • Purification of acetic acid product streams
    Patent number: 9409163
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to an ion exchange resin composition comprising a metal-functionalized exchange resin comprising from 3% to 94% metal-functionalized active sites; and a non-metal-functionalized exchange resin comprising non-metal-functionalized active sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ronald D. Shaver, Greg Blanchard, Brian W. Hokkanen, G. Paull Torrence
  • Process to Control HI Concentration in Residuum Stream
    Publication number: 20160221919
    Abstract: A process directed to acetic acid production comprising providing a feed stream having a first density comprising water, acetic acid, methyl acetate, at least one PRC, and greater than about 30 wt % methyl iodide to a distillation column comprising a distillation zone and a bottom sump zone; and distilling the feed stream at a pressure and a temperature sufficient to produce an overhead stream having a second density and comprising greater than about 40 wt % methyl iodide and at least one PRC; wherein a percent decrease between the first density and the second density is from 20% to 35%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Mark O. Scates, Ronald David Shaver, Yaw-Haw Liu
  • Process to Control HI Concentration in Residuum Stream
    Publication number: 20160221918
    Abstract: A process directed to acetic acid production comprising providing a feed stream comprising methyl iodide, water, acetic acid, methyl acetate, and at least one PRC to a distillation column comprising a distillation zone and a bottom sump zone and distilling the feed stream at a pressure and a temperature sufficient to produce an overhead stream comprising methyl iodide and at least one PRC, and a residuum stream flowing from the bottom sump zone comprising water and greater than or equal to about 0.11 weight percent HI is disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark O. Scates, Ronald David Shaver, Yaw-Haw Liu
  • Process to Control HI Concentration in Residuum Stream
    Publication number: 20160221917
    Abstract: A process directed to acetic acid production comprising providing a feed stream comprising methyl iodide, water, acetic acid, methyl acetate, and at least one PRC to a distillation column comprising a distillation zone and a bottom sump zone and distilling the feed stream at a pressure and a temperature sufficient to produce an overhead stream comprising methyl iodide and at least one PRC, and a residuum stream flowing from the bottom sump zone comprising water and greater than or equal to about 0.11 weight percent HI is disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark O Scates, Ronald David Shaver, Yaw-Haw Liu
  • PROCESSES FOR PRODUCING ACETIC ACID
    Publication number: 20160221910
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a carbonylation process for producing acetic acid which includes separating a vapor product stream from a carbonylation reactor to produce a crude acid product comprising acetic acid comprising lithium cations and contacting the crude acetic acid product with a cationic exchanger in the acid form within a first treatment device to produce an intermediate acid product; and contacting the intermediate acetic acid product with a metal-exchanged ion exchange resin having acid cation exchange sites within a second treatment device to produce a purified acetic acid. Embodiments directed to operation of a treatment device comprising a plurality of sampling ports are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ronald David SHAVER, Yaw-Haw LIU, Mark O SCATES, Sarah Lane ABREGO
  • PROCESSES FOR PRODUCING ACETIC ACID
    Publication number: 20160221909
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a carbonylation process for producing acetic acid which includes separating a vapor product stream from a carbonylation reactor to produce a crude acid product comprising acetic acid comprising lithium cations and contacting the crude acetic acid product with a cationic exchanger in the acid form within a first treatment device to produce an intermediate acid product; and contacting the intermediate acetic acid product with a metal-exchanged ion exchange resin having acid cation exchange sites within a second treatment device to produce a purified acetic acid. Embodiments directed to a treatment device comprising a plurality of sampling ports having a first open flow path and a second flow path comprising a porous element are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ronald David SHAVER, Yaw-Haw LIU, Mark O SCATES, Sarah Lane ABREGO
  • Process for producing acetic acid
    Patent number: 9382186
    Abstract: A process for producing acetic acid is disclosed in which the water concentration is controlled in the side stream between two columns. Controlling the water concentration by the liquid light phase recycle controls the hydrogen iodide concentration in the side stream to be less than or equal to 50 wppm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ronald D. Shaver, Yaw-Hwa Liu, Mark O. Scates
  • Process for flashing a reaction medium
    Patent number: 9382183
    Abstract: A process for producing acetic acid is disclosed in which the methyl iodide concentration is maintained in the vapor product stream formed in a flashing step. The methyl iodide concentration in the vapor product stream ranges from 24 to less than 36 wt. %, based on the weight of the vapor product stream. In addition, the acetaldehyde concentration is maintained within the range from 0.005 to 1 wt. % in the vapor product stream. The vapor product stream is distilled in a first column to obtain an acetic acid product stream comprising acetic acid and hydrogen iodide in an amount of less than or equal to 300 wppm and/or methyl iodide in an amount from 0.1 to 6 wt. %, and an overhead stream comprising methyl iodide, water and methyl acetate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ronald D. Shaver, Yaw-Hwa Liu, Mark O. Scates
  • Hydrogenation catalysts comprising a mixed oxide comprising a promoter metal
    Patent number: 9382177
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing ethanol, comprising contacting hydrogen and a feed stream comprising acetic acid in a reactor in the presence of a catalyst comprising a binder and a mixed oxide comprising a promoter metal and tin, and preferably also comprising cobalt. The promoter metal is selected from the group consisting of rhenium, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, platinum, and combinations thereof. The feed stream may comprises pure acetic acid or may comprise a mixture of 50 to 95 wt. % acetic acid and 5 to 50 wt. % ethyl acetate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhenhua Zhou, Victor J. Johnston, Heiko Weiner
  • Process for producing ethanol using hydrogenation catalysts
    Patent number: 9381500
    Abstract: The present invention relates to catalysts, to processes for making catalysts and to chemical processes employing such catalysts. The catalysts are preferably used for converting acetic acid to ethanol. The catalyst comprises a precious metal and one or more active metals on a modified support. The modified support may comprise cobalt tungstate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhenhua Zhou, Victor J. Johnston, Dheeraj Kumar, Xiaoyan Tu, Heiko Weiner, Radmila Wollrab
  • Process for producing ethanol with zonal catalysts
    Patent number: 9353035
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing ethanol comprising contacting reactants comprising acetic acid and hydrogen in a reactor in the presence of a first catalyst in a first zone and a second catalyst in a second zone. The first catalyst is a mixed oxide comprising tin and at least one of cobalt or nickel. The second catalyst may be either: i) a supported Group VIII hydrogenation catalyst; ii) a copper-based catalyst; and iii) a secondary mixed oxide catalyst, wherein the secondary mixed oxide catalyst is different than the mixed oxide catalyst of the first zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Heiko Weiner, Zhenhua Zhou, Victor J. Johnson
  • Hydrogenation process with reduced residence time for vapor phase reactants
    Patent number: 9353034
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the separation of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the vaporization and hydrogenation of acetic acid using reduced residence time for the vapor phase reactants between exiting the vaporizer and entering the reactor. The crude ethanol product is separated in at least one column to recover an ethanol product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, David Lee, Heiko Weiner, Zhenhua Zhou
  • Eductor-based reactor and high flow pump around loops for production of acetic acid
    Patent number: 9346733
    Abstract: Eductor mixers are used to mix the reaction medium in a carbonylation reactor. A portion of the reaction solution withdrawn from the reactor and directed through a pump around loop. The pump around loop is fed back to the reactor through the eductor mixers. In addition, a pump around loop may pass through one or more steam generators and/or heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Raymond J. Zinobile, Michael Lakin, Ashok Rakhe, Ronald D. Shaver
  • Removal of aromatics from carbonylation process
    Patent number: 9346734
    Abstract: The invention relates to processes for removing aromatics from the reactants that are fed to a carbonylation reactor. The aromatics are removed using a guard bed that comprises an adsorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: G. Paull Torrence, Ronald David Shaver, Yaw-Hwa Liu
  • Reduction of organic phosphorus acids
    Patent number: 9346692
    Abstract: The present invention is to a process for reducing and removing organic phosphorus acid from waste stream. The process involves adding a multivalent metal salt to the waste stream and adjusting the pH level of the waste stream to an optimum level to maximize the removal of organic phosphorus acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Combs, Denis Fallon
  • PROCESSES FOR IMPROVING ACETIC ACID YIELD BY REMOVING IRON
    Publication number: 20160137578
    Abstract: In a process for improving a carbonylation process, iron is removed to maintain an effective Space Time Yield (STY) of the rhodium catalyst of at least 80% of the maximum STY. The process comprises carbonylating methanol in a reactor in a reaction medium comprising water, a rhodium catalyst, methyl iodide and a halide salt, separating a portion of the reaction medium in a flash vessel to form a less volatile stream and a vapor product stream comprising acetic acid, recycling a liquid stream to the reactor, wherein the liquid stream comprises a portion of the less volatile stream and wherein the liquid stream comprises iron, and removing a portion of the iron from the liquid stream to maintain an effective STY of the rhodium catalyst of at least 80% of the maximum STY.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yaw-Hwa LIU, Mark O. Scates
  • Process for flashing a reaction medium comprising lithium acetate
    Patent number: 9340481
    Abstract: A process for producing acetic acid is disclosed, in which the methyl iodide concentration is maintained in the vapor product stream formed in a flashing step. The process includes introducing a lithium compound into the reactor and maintaining a concentration of lithium acetate in the reaction medium is in an amount from 0.3 to 0.7 wt. %. The reaction medium is fed forward to the flashing step. The methyl iodide concentration in the vapor product stream ranges from 24 to less than 36 wt. %, based on the weight of the vapor product stream. The vapor product stream is distilled in a first column to obtain an acetic acid product stream comprising acetic acid and hydrogen iodide in an amount of less than or equal to 300 wppm and/or methyl iodide in an amount from 0.1 to 6 wt. %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ronald D. Shaver, Yaw-Hwa Liu, Mark O. Scates
  • Cobalt/tin catalyst for producing ethanol
    Patent number: 9333496
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the formation of alcohols from alkanoic acids, the steps of the process comprising: contacting a feed stream containing the alkanoic acid and hydrogen at an elevated temperature with a hydrogenating catalyst comprising from 3 to 25 wt. % of active metals on a support, wherein the active metals comprise cobalt and tin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Heiko Weiner, Zhenhua Zhou, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston