Patents Assigned to Celanese International Corporation
  • Processes for maximizing ethanol formation in the hydrogenation of acetic acid
    Patent number: 9328044
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for purifying a crude ethanol product. The process comprises the step of hydrogenating acetic acid in a reactor in the presence of a catalyst to form the crude ethanol product. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude ethanol product in a purification zone. The purification zone preferably comprises a first column, which yields a first distillate comprising ethanol, water and ethyl acetate, and a first residue comprising acetic acid. The at least a portion of the crude ethanol product has a residence time from the reactor to the purification zone from 5 minutes to 5 days.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Trinity Horton Hale, Radmila Wollrab, Victor J. Johnston, Tianshu Pan, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner, Nathan Bower, Josefina T. Chapman, Gerald Grusendorf
  • PROCESS FOR PRODUCING ACETIC ACID
    Publication number: 20160102036
    Abstract: Process for producing acetic acid is disclosed in which the reaction medium is separated into a liquid recycle and a vapor product stream including acetic acid, methyl iodide, methyl acetate and water in a flash vessel. The vapor product stream is condensed into a liquid stream that is enriched in acetic acid and this liquid stream is further sent to the distillation columns to recover acetic acid. The process advantageously improves the capacity of the acetic acid production while reducing the amount of acetic acid that is recycled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald David Shaver
  • Hydrogenation catalysts with cobalt-modified supports
    Patent number: 9308523
    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 that comprises cobalt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhenhua Zhou, Heiko Weiner, Radmila Wollrab
  • Process for producing acetic acid
    Patent number: 9302974
    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 a recycle rate of the light liquid phase maintains the hydrogen iodide concentration in the side stream to be up to 50 wppm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ronald D. Shaver, Yaw-Haw Liu, Mark O. Scates
  • Process for flashing a reaction medium
    Patent number: 9302975
    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. % methyl iodide, 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 up to 300 wppm hydrogen iodide and/or from 0.1 to 6 wt. % methyl iodide and an overhead stream comprising methyl iodide, water and methyl acetate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald D. Shaver, Yaw-Hwa Liu, Mark O. Scates
  • Processes for producing acetic acid by introducing a lithium compound
    Patent number: 9302969
    Abstract: Process for producing acetic acid is disclosed in which a lithium compound is added to the reaction medium to maintain a concentration of lithium acetate from 0.3 to 0.7 wt. %. The concentration of the rhodium catalyst is maintained from 300 to 3000 wppm in the reaction medium, the concentration of water is maintained from 0.1 to 4.1 wt. % in the reaction medium, and the concentration of methyl acetate is maintained from 0.6 to 4.1 wt. % in the reaction medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark O. Scates, Yaw-Hwa Liu
  • Hydrogenolysis of ethyl acetate in alcohol separation processes
    Patent number: 9272970
    Abstract: Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid and by reacting a portion of the crude ethanol product or one or more derivative streams containing ethyl acetate obtained therefrom in the presence of hydrogen, via hydrogenolyzis. The one or more derivative streams comprise ethyl acetate that are reacted via hydrogenolyzis to form additional ethanol that may be directly or indirectly fed to the separation zone or the hydrogenation reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: R. Jay Warner, Trinity Horton, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, David Lee, Adam Orosco, Lincoln Sarager
  • Hydrogenation catalysts with cobalt and alkaline-earth metal modified supports
    Patent number: 9266095
    Abstract: A process for selective formation of ethanol from acetic acid by hydrogenating acetic acid in the presence of a catalyst comprising a modified support having cobalt and an alkaline earth support modifier. The active metals may include a first metal of palladium, platinum, and combinations thereof and a second metal of copper, iron, nickel, zinc, silver, chromium, tin, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Heiko Weiner, Zhenhua Zhou, Dick Nagaki
  • Processes for producing acetic acid product having low butyl acetate content
    Patent number: 9260369
    Abstract: A process for producing an acetic acid product having low butyl acetate content via a carbonylation reaction. The carbonylation reaction is carried out at a temperature from 100 to 300° C., a hydrogen partial pressure from 0.3 to 2 atm, and a metal catalyst concentration from 100 to 3000 wppm, based on the weight of the reaction medium. The butyl acetate concentration in the acetic acid product may be controlled by removing acetaldehyde from a stream derived from the reaction medium and/or by adjusting at least one of reaction temperature, hydrogen partial pressure, and metal catalyst concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yaw-Hwa Liu, Mark O. Scates
  • Processes for the production of acrylic acids and acrylates
    Patent number: 9249081
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of dehydrating a crude alkylenating agent stream to form a dehydrated alkylenating agent stream and a water stream. The process further comprises reacting acetic acid with at least a portion of the dehydrated alkylenating agent stream to form a crude acrylate product stream comprising acrylate product and alkylenating agent stream. The dehydrating of the crude alkylenating stream is accomplished using at least one evaporator or at least one distillation column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Ilias S. Kotsianis, Sean Mueller, Dick Nagaki, Tianshu Pan, Craig J. Peterson, Josefina T. Chapman
  • Hydrogenation catalysts having an amorphous support
    Patent number: 9233899
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst having an amorphous support and one or more active metals. The amorphous support may comprise a support material and an amorphous support modifier, which adjusts the acidity of the support material. In preparing the amorphous catalyst, post-synthesis treatment, i.e. calcination, may be used to adjust the catalyst performance while converting acetic acid to ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Heiko Weiner, Zhenhua Zhou, Victor J. Johnston
  • Reducing hydrogen iodide content in carbonylation processes
    Patent number: 9233907
    Abstract: Processes for producing acetic acid wherein at least one process vent stream is treated in an absorber column that utilizes multiple scrubber solvents, e.g., a first absorbent comprising acetic acid and a second absorbent comprising methanol and/or methyl acetate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald D. Shaver, Yaw-Hwa Liu, Mark O. Scates
  • Process for recovering halogen promoters and removing permanganate reducing compounds
    Patent number: 9216936
    Abstract: This invention relates to processes for producing acetic acid and, in particular, to improved processes for recovering C2+ alkyl halides and removing permanganate reducing compounds formed during the carbonylation of methanol in the presence of a Group VIII metal carbonylation catalyst to produce acetic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: G. Paull Torrence, Raymond Zinobile, Oyeyemi Oyerinde
  • Catalyst for aldol condensation
    Patent number: 9205408
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a catalyst composition comprising lime and cement. Preferably, the catalyst composition comprises the lime and the cement in a weight ratio of at least 3.5:1 respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Gustavo Angel Robelo Grajales, Ricardo Alderete Delgadillo
  • Processes for producing acrylic acids and acrylates
    Patent number: 9193661
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of providing a crude product stream comprising the acrylate product and an alkylenating agent. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude product stream to form an alkylenating agent stream and an intermediate product stream. The alkylenating agent stream comprises at least 1 wt % alkylenating agent and the intermediate product stream comprises acrylate product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Craig J. Peterson, Josefina T. Chapman, Ilias S. Kotsianis, Sean Mueller, Dick Nagaki, Tianshu Pan
  • Catalyst stability in carbonylation processes
    Patent number: 9193657
    Abstract: A method for stabilizing a carbonylation catalyst with carbon monoxide recovered from a gaseous stream derived from a carbonylation reaction. The carbon monoxide enriched stream is fed downstream of the carbonylation reactor, preferably to a flasher or light ends column, to enhance catalyst stability throughout the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Mark O. Scates, Ronald D. Shaver, Gregory Blanchard
  • Methods for producing a vinyl acetate composition having a low impurity content
    Patent number: 9193663
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a method for producing a vinyl acetate composition. The method comprises the step of contacting acetic acid, oxygen, and ethylene under conditions effective to form a crude vinyl acetate composition comprising vinyl acetate, acetic acid, residual oxygen, and water. The method further comprises the step of contacting the crude vinyl acetate composition or a derivative thereof with at least one scavenger to form a treated crude vinyl acetate composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Jessica Freeman, Qiang Yao, Lauren Moore, Ilias Kotsianis, Victor Johnston, Kevin Hanks
  • Hydrogenation Catalysts Comprising a Mixed Oxide Comprising a Promoter Metal
    Publication number: 20150307421
    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: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Zhenhua Zhou, Victor J. Johnston, Heiko Weiner
  • Process to recover alcohol with reduced water from overhead of acid column
    Patent number: 9156754
    Abstract: A process for recovering ethanol obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. The crude ethanol product is separated in a column to produce a distillate stream comprising acetaldehyde and ethyl acetate and a residue stream comprising ethanol, acetic acid, ethyl acetate and water. The ethanol product is recovered from the residue stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: David Lee, Adam Orosco, Claudio Ribeiro, R. Jay Warner, Robert Alan Deck, Emily Duff, Victor J. Johnston
  • Process to recover alcohol from an ethyl acetate residue stream
    Patent number: 9150478
    Abstract: Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid using a low energy process. The crude ethanol product is separated in a column to produce a distillate stream comprising acetaldehyde and a residue stream comprising ethanol, acetic acid, ethyl acetate and water. The ethanol product is recovered from the residue stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: David Lee, Fred Ronald Olsson, Adam Orosco, Nathan Kirk Powell, Manuel Salado, Lincoln Sarager, R. Jay Warner, Radmila Wollrab, Victor J. Johnston