Patents Assigned to Celanese International Corporation
  • Processes for producing acetic acid
    Patent number: 9149735
    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 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald D. Shaver, Mark O. Scates, Raymond J. Zinobile
  • Reduction of acid within column through esterification during the production of alcohols
    Patent number: 9150474
    Abstract: Purifying and/or recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. Separation and purification processes of crude ethanol mixture are employed to allow recovery of ethanol and remove impurities. In addition, the process involves the esterification of acetic acid in a column used for recovering the ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Zhenhua Zhou, Victor J. Johnston, David Lee, Heiko Weiner
  • Process for producing ethanol by hydrogenation with carbon monoxide controls
    Patent number: 9150475
    Abstract: A process for produce ethanol by hydrogenation acetic acid and/or esters thereof is disclosed. The process involves reacting hydrogen feed stream with an acetic acid feed stream in a reactor operated in the presence of a catalyst to form an ethanol mixture and monitoring carbon monoxide concentration of the fresh hydrogen feed stream and adjusting temperature in the reactor in response to the carbon monoxide concentration of the fresh hydrogen feed stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Radmila Wollrab, Iva Franjkic, Victor J. Johnston, Heiko Weiner
  • Acetylation of cellulose in densified gas
    Patent number: 9139660
    Abstract: Cellulose acetates and processes for producing same. The process involves esterifying a cellulose containing material in the presence of a densified gas such as supercritical carbon dioxide to form a cellulose acetate product having a degree of substitution less than 3. The cellulose acetate preferably is sulfate-free.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Michael T. Combs, Raymond M. Robertson
  • Catalyst having support containing tin and process for manufacturing ethanol
    Patent number: 9126194
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst composition having a support that contains tin. The catalyst is used for converting acetic acid to ethanol. The catalyst may also comprise one or more active metals and a support modifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Heiko Weiner, Zhenhua Zhou, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston
  • Reduced energy alcohol separation process having water removal
    Patent number: 9126125
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the recovery of alcohols, in particular ethanol, from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid using a reduced energy process. The crude ethanol product may be fed to a distillation column in which a substantial portion of the water is removed with the acetic acid in the residue. Additional water may be removed by using a pressure swing adsorption unit, molecular sieve, and/or membrane. Ethanol extraction may also be used to reduce the ethanol concentration in the recycle streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Victor J. Johnston, Radmila Jevtic, David Lee, Adam Orosco, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner, Zhenhua Zhou, Emily Duff
  • Integrated process for the production of acrylic acids and acrylates
    Patent number: 9120743
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing an acrylate product comprising the step of reacting a reaction gas mixture A comprising methanol and oxygen to form a product gas mixture A. The process may further comprise the step of combining at least a portion of the product gas mixture A and acetic acid to form a reaction gas mixture B. The process may further comprise the step of reacting at least a portion of the acetic acid in the reaction gas input mixture B with at least a portion of the formaldehyde in the reaction gas input mixture B to form a product gas mixture B. The process may further comprise the step of separating at least a portion of the product gas mixture B to form an alkylenating agent stream comprising at least 1 wt % alkylenating agent and an intermediate acrylate product stream comprising acrylate product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Craig J. Peterson, Elizabeth Bowden, Josefina T. Chapman, Sean Mueller, Dick Nagaki, Tianshu Pan, Himanshu Lodha
  • Catalyst for producing acrylic acids and acrylates
    Patent number: 9108184
    Abstract: The invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process includes the steps of contacting an alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent over a catalyst composition under conditions effective to produce the acrylate product. The catalyst composition comprises vanadium, bismuth and titanium. Preferably, the catalyst comprises 0.3 wt % to 30 wt % vanadium, 0.1 wt % to 69 wt % bismuth and 0.1 wt % to 61 wt % tungsten, in an active phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Dick Nagaki, Tianshu Pan, Craig J. Peterson, Elizabeth Bowden, Josefina T. Chapman, Sean Mueller
  • Process for producing ethanol using an extractive distillation column
    Patent number: 9102581
    Abstract: Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. Separation and purification processes of crude ethanol product are employed to allow recovery of ethanol and remove impurities. In addition, the process involves separating the crude ethanol product using an extractive distillation column that employs an extraction agent, such as a recycled stream comprising water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: R. Jay Warner, Radmila Wollrab, Wael Amleh, Gerald Grusendorf, Trinity Horton Hale, Victor J. Johnston, Fred Ronaold Olsson, Nathan Kirk Powell, Manuel Salado, Lincoln Sarager
  • Hydrogenation Catalysts with Cobalt and Alkaline-Earth Metal Modified Supports
    Publication number: 20150209762
    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: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Applicant: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Heiko Weiner, Zhenhou Zhou, Dick Nagaki
  • Aqueous latex coating compositions
    Patent number: 9090793
    Abstract: Disclosed are aqueous latex-based coating compositions which comprise a blend of an ethylene-vinyl acetate emulsion copolymer component and a selected type of acrylic emulsion copolymer component. The acrylic copolymer component comprises primarily acrylate ester co-monomers or acrylic ester co-monomers and vinyl aromatic, e.g., styrene, co-monomers. The blend of these two emulsion copolymer types also contains a specific type of hydrazine-based, water-soluble cross-linking agent which can eventually react with the acrylic emulsion copolymer component. The acrylic emulsion copolymer is one which contains minor amounts of both 1) carboxy functional co-monomers such as itaconic and/or (meth)acrylic acids, and 2) keto- or aldehyde-containing co-monomers such as diacetone acrylamide. Such latex-based coating compositions can be formulated in the form of water-based paint compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marc Theodorus Ratering, Rajeev Farwaha, Tara Joy Hansen
  • Promoters for cobalt-tin catalysts for reducing alkanoic acids
    Patent number: 9079172
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the formation of an alcohol from an alkanoic acid, 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 comprising tin and cobalt and a metal promoter selected from the group consisting of noble metals or first metal, the first metal selected from the group of barium, cesium and potassium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Heiko Weiner, Zhenhua Zhou, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston
  • Distillation column having enlarged downcomers and method of downcomer enlargement
    Patent number: 9079121
    Abstract: A distillation column is provided with a downcomer having an enlarged upper region to increase a processing rate for the removal of permanganate reducing compounds (PRCs) formed by the carbonylation of methanol in the presence of a catalyst to produce acetic acid. The distillation column includes a vertically extending distillation housing; and a plurality of tray assemblies, at least one of which includes a horizontally extending tray panel and a downcomer having, in a downward direction, an enlarged, funnel-shaped upper region defined by a top downcomer panel oriented at an angle to the vertical, and a lower region of substantially constant cross-sectional area defined by a vertically-oriented bottom downcomer panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond J. Zinobile, Ashok Rakhe
  • Process for heat integration for ethanol production and purification process
    Patent number: 9073814
    Abstract: Ethanol production from the hydrogenation of acetic acid requires energy to drive the hydrogenation reaction and the purification of the crude ethanol product. Heat integration process to recover heat from one part of the production process to be used within the process improves efficiencies and reduces costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan Kirk Powell, Samuel Roundy, Lincoln Sarager, Murray Viard, R. Jay Warner, Gerald Grusendorf, Radmila Wollrab, Victor J. Johnston, Fred Ronald Olsson
  • Hydrogenation catalysts comprising a mixed oxide and processes for producing ethanol
    Patent number: 9073815
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing ethanol, comprising contacting acetic acid and hydrogen in a reactor in the presence of a catalyst comprising a binder and a mixed oxide comprising cobalt and preferably tin, wherein the mixed oxide is present in an amount from 60 to 90 wt. %, based on the total weight of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Heiko Weiner, Zhenhua Zhou, Victor J. Johnston
  • Integrated process for the production of acrylic acids and acrylates
    Patent number: 9073846
    Abstract: A process for producing a crude product stream including an acrylate product and an alkylenating agent and separating at least a portion of the crude product stream to form alkylenating agent and intermediate product streams. The alkylenating agent stream comprises at least 1 wt % alkylenating agent and the intermediate product stream comprises acrylate products in high concentration. The crude product stream is formed by contacting acetic acid and formaldehyde in the presence of at least one aldol condensation catalyst under conditions effective to form the stream. Catalysts which are particularly useful are multielement oxide active materials of the general formula V1PbFecX1dX2eOn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Dick Nagaki, Craig J. Peterson, Josefina T. Chapman, Sean Mueller, Himanshu Lodha
  • Acetic acid hydrogenation over a group VIII metal calcined catalyst having a secondary promoter
    Patent number: 9073042
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for hydrogenating feedstock comprising acetic acid in the presence of hydrogen to product comprising ethanol in a reaction zone under hydrogenation conditions over a catalyst composition promoted with cobalt, rhodium, cesium or a combination thereof on a previously calcined composition comprising at least one Group VIII metal and tin on a support material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Zhenhua Zhou, Victor J. Johnston, Heiko Weiner
  • Reducing ethyl acetate concentration in recycle streams for ethanol production processes
    Patent number: 9073816
    Abstract: Recycle streams in an ethanol production process are hydrolyzed to reduce ethyl acetate concentration. In the process, acetic acid is hydrogenated to form a crude ethanol product, which undergoes a separation or purification process. Ethyl acetate is formed as a byproduct of the hydrogenation of acetic acid. The hydrolysis of recycle steams from the separation process can reduce the concentration of ethyl acetate, converting some or all of the ethyl acetate to acetic acid and ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner, Zhenhua Zhou, Emily Duff, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, David Lee, Adam Orosco
  • Hydrogenation Catalysts with Cobalt-Modified Supports
    Publication number: 20150165419
    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: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhenhua Zhou, Heiko Weiner, Radmila Wollrab
  • Process for recovering halogen promoters and removing permanganate reducing compounds
    Patent number: 9056825
    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: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: G. Paull Torrence, Raymond Zinobile, Oyeyemi Oyerinde