Patents Assigned to Merichem Company
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Patent number: 10661220Abstract: A process is presented where a feed stream containing a hydrogen sulfide and another feed component is introduced into an absorber that the feed stream flows upward from the bottom of the absorber and contacts a liquid treatment solution, where the liquid treatment solution contains a sulfur dye catalyst. The hydrogen sulfide is absorbed into the liquid treatment solution and converted into sulfide ions. The other feed component is removed from the absorber vessel substantially free of the hydrogen sulfide and a spent treatment solution is also removed from the absorber vessel and fed to an oxidation vessel where it is contacted with an oxygen containing gas causing the sulfide ions to oxidize to thiosulfate and converting the spent sulfur dye catalyst to regenerated sulfur dye catalyst. The thiosulfate is recovered, and the regenerated sulfur dye catalyst can be recycled as part of the liquid treatment solution.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2018Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: MERICHEM COMPANYInventors: David Jackson, Jeffrey Bruce Gomach, Michael Hardy
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Patent number: 10633599Abstract: An improved contactor/separator process is presented where one or more stages of contact and separation is achieved by providing one or more shroud and disengagement device combinations within a vessel, where the disengagement device is connected to the top of the shroud that contains vertically hanging fibers. A liquid admixture of immiscible fluids is directed co-currently upward through the shroud at flooding velocity or greater, where all of the admixture exits the disengagement device through a coalescing material. Tray supports are used to stack additional shroud and disengagement combinations vertically within the vessel. Each tray allows less dense liquids exiting one disengagement device from a lower shroud and disengagement device combination to enter the bottom of a shroud of a shroud and disengagement device combination position vertically above the lower shroud and disengagement device combination.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2018Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: MERICHEM COMPANYInventors: James F. McGehee, Jeffrey B. Gomach, Baisheng Zou
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Patent number: 10518194Abstract: In an improved fiber-film type contactor/separator an enhanced coalescing zone is provided by the presence of a disengagement device connected to a shroud that contains a bundle of high surface area vertical hanging fibers, where the enhanced coalescing zone diverts a portion of an admixture of immiscible liquids to flow radially in a path not parallel to the vertical axis of the hanging fibers whereby the diverted portion of liquids contacts a coalescing surface to cause at least one of the liquids to coalesce into droplets. The immiscible liquids are allowed to settle into separate phase layers and first and second outlets selectively remove the higher density liquid from the lower density liquid.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2019Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: MERICHEM COMPANYInventors: James F. McGehee, Tiejun Zhang
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Patent number: 10456711Abstract: A fiber bundle liquid-liquid contactor may comprise: a vessel comprising: a first inlet; a second inlet; a mixing zone arranged in the vessel to receive a first liquid from the first inlet and a second liquid from the second inlet, wherein the mixing zone comprises an inductor fluidically coupled to the inlet for the second liquid; and an extraction zone comprising a fiber bundle arranged in the vessel to receive the first liquid and the second liquid from the mixing zone.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2018Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: Merichem CompanyInventors: John Jagger, Chaitanya Sathaiah Vudutha, Raj Nagarajan
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Patent number: 10336949Abstract: A process for the removal of residual sulfur compounds from rich liquid caustic is disclosed where a single column containing two reaction zones catalytically oxidizes mercaptans to disulfide oils. The second reaction zone utilizes a bundle of vertical hanging fibers and is maintained as a gas continuous phase comprising from about 20% to about 100% by volume vapor. This process is especially useful as part of a hydrocarbon desulfurization process flow scheme.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2018Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: MERICHEM COMPANYInventor: Jeffrey Bruce Gomach
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Patent number: 10300407Abstract: In an improved fiber-film type contactor/separator an enhanced coalescing zone is provided by the presence of a disengagement device connected to a shroud that contains a bundle of high surface area vertical hanging fibers, where the enhanced coalescing zone diverts a portion of an admixture of immiscible liquids to flow radially in a path not parallel to the vertical axis of the hanging fibers whereby the diverted portion of liquids contacts a coalescing surface to cause at least one of the liquids to coalesce into droplets. The immiscible liquids are allowed to settle into separate phase layers and first and second outlets selectively remove the higher density liquid from the lower density liquid.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2017Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: MERICHEM COMPANYInventors: James F. McGehee, Tiejun Zhang
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Patent number: 10059889Abstract: A process for the removal of residual sulfur compounds from rich liquid caustic is disclosed where a single column containing two reaction zones catalytically oxidizes mercaptans to disulfide oils. The second reaction zone utilizes a bundle of vertical hanging fibers and is maintained as a gas continuous phase comprising from about 20% to about 100% by volume vapor. This process is especially useful as part of a hydrocarbon desulfurization process flow scheme.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2016Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: MERICHEM COMPANYInventor: Jeffrey Bruce Gomach
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Patent number: 9656185Abstract: In an improved fiber-film type contactor/separator an enhanced coalescing zone is provided by the presence of a disengagement device connected to a shroud that contains a bundle of high surface area vertical hanging fibers, where the enhanced coalescing zone diverts a portion of an admixture of immiscible liquids to flow radially in a path not parallel to the vertical axis of the hanging fibers whereby the diverted portion of liquids contacts a coalescing surface to cause at least one of the liquids to coalesce into droplets. The immiscible liquids are allowed to settle into separate phase layers and first and second outlets selectively remove the higher density liquid from the lower density liquid.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2012Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: MERICHEM COMPANYInventors: James F. McGehee, Tiejun Zhang
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Patent number: 9458392Abstract: In a catalytic treatment process, mercaptans in sour hydrocarbon are oxidized to disulfide oils using an aqueous treatment solution containing a chelated polyvalent metal catalyst, alkali metal hydroxide, and the alkali metal salt of at least one alcohol in a non-dispersive mixing apparatus wherein an upgraded hydrocarbon containing the disulfide oils is produced.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2014Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: MERICHEM COMPANYInventors: Tiejun Zhang, K. Michael Hardy, V. Keith Turner, Ignacio C. Bincaz, Tom Varadi
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Patent number: 8906230Abstract: An integrated unit operations for the treatment of a waste stream, such as spent caustic, is provided in a single vertical vessel having at least three separate zones: a mixing, a settling, and a mass transfer zone.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2012Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Merichem CompanyInventors: Tom Varadi, Marie-Cecile Medine, Arturo Ramon Puigbo, Ramiro G. Vazquez, Tiejun Zhang, James F. McGehee
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Patent number: 8900446Abstract: In a catalytic treatment process, mercaptans in sour hydrocarbon are oxidized to disulfide oils using an aqueous treatment solution containing a chelated polyvalent metal catalyst, alkali metal hydroxide, and the alkali metal salt of at least one alcohol in a non-dispersive mixing apparatus wherein an upgraded hydrocarbon containing the disulfide oils is produced.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2011Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Merichem CompanyInventors: Tiejun Zhang, K. Michael Hardy, V. Keith Turner, Ignacio C. Bincaz, Tom Varadi
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Patent number: 8815083Abstract: In a process to treat gaseous components obtained from an in situ recovery of liquid hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbonaceous deposit the mercaptans and hydrogen sulfide are separated from each other using lean oil and the hydrogen sulfide further processed to obtain a sulfur-free fuel gas product. The rich oil obtained after treating the gaseous components can be used as a diluent with the liquid hydrocarbons or processed to remove and convert the mercaptans to disulfide oils.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2012Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Merichem CompanyInventor: John Watson
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Publication number: 20140144811Abstract: In a process to treat gaseous components obtained from an in situ recovery of liquid hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbonaceous deposit the mercaptans and hydrogen sulfide are separated from each other using lean oil and the hydrogen sulfide further processed to obtain a sulfur-free fuel gas product. The rich oil obtained after treating the gaseous components can be used as a diluent with the liquid hydrocarbons or processed to remove and convert the mercaptans to disulfide oils.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2012Publication date: May 29, 2014Applicant: MERICHEM COMPANYInventor: John Watson
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Patent number: 8652435Abstract: An improved process for reduction-oxidation desulphurization uses an oxidizer operating at a pressure greater than the absorber where a liquid reduction-oxidation catalyst solution contacts a sulfur-containing gas feed stream.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2013Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Merichem CompanyInventor: Gary J. Nagl
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Publication number: 20140014593Abstract: In an improved fiber-film type contactor/separator an enhanced coalescing zone is provided by the presence of a disengagement device connected to a shroud that contains a bundle of high surface area vertical hanging fibers, where the enhanced coalescing zone diverts a portion of an admixture of immiscible liquids to flow radially in a path not parallel to the vertical axis of the hanging fibers whereby the diverted portion of liquids contacts a coalescing surface to cause at least one of the liquids to coalesce into droplets. The immiscible liquids are allowed to settle into separate phase layers and first and second outlets selectively remove the higher density liquid from the lower density liquid.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2012Publication date: January 16, 2014Applicant: Merichem CompanyInventors: James F. McGehee, Tiejun Zhang
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Patent number: 8597375Abstract: A liquid separator system having a gas phase zone, an aqueous phase zone and a denser liquid zone is used to separate mixtures of fluids. The separator can be used for separating molten sulfur from liquid redox solution or reslurry water. The system includes a vessel with a top part and a bottom part. The vessel has a larger diameter at the top part than at the bottom part. The system also includes an inlet for introducing a redox solution or reslurry water and molten sulfur, which is denser than redox solution or reslurry water, into the vessel. An outlet near the bottom part of the vessel allows a flow of the molten sulfur from the vessel. An interface control structure senses an interface level between the redox solution or reslurry water and the molten sulfur, and the interface control structure controls the flow of molten sulfur from the outlet.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2013Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Merichem CompanyInventors: Gary J. Nagl, Anthony A. Barnette, Myron Reicher
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Patent number: 8574429Abstract: A one-step process for desulfurizing an oxidized sulfone-containing fuel stream, such as a diesel stream, is disclosed where mass transfer and conversion of sulfone occurs simultaneously such that the sulfur atom in sulfone molecule is removed as sulfite to provide a low-sulfur diesel stream. The diesel stream for treatment is obtained as a result of the oxidation of a thiophene-rich diesel stream with an oxidant to provide a sulfone-containing diesel stream. The one-step process uses a single vessel having a shroud of vertical hanging fibers to affect the mass transfer of sulfones in diesel into contacting with an aqueous solution of alkali metal hydroxide where it is converted to sulfite and biphenyls. The sulfite-rich aqueous solution and low sulfur diesel are then separately removed from the vessel.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2010Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Merichem CompanyInventors: Tiejun Zhang, Nachiketa Anand, Theodore Sidney Hoover
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Publication number: 20130186839Abstract: A liquid separator system having a gas phase zone, an aqueous phase zone and a denser liquid zone is used to separate mixtures of fluids. The separator can be used for separating molten sulfur from liquid redox solution or reslurry water. The system includes a vessel with a top part and a bottom part. The vessel has a larger diameter at the top part than at the bottom part. The system also includes an inlet for introducing a redox solution or reslurry water and molten sulfur, which is denser than redox solution or reslurry water, into the vessel. An outlet near the bottom part of the vessel allows a flow of the molten sulfur from the vessel. An interface control structure senses an interface level between the redox solution or reslurry water and the molten sulfur, and the interface control structure controls the flow of molten sulfur from the outlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2013Publication date: July 25, 2013Applicant: MERICHEM COMPANYInventor: Merichem Company
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Patent number: 8454824Abstract: A separation process for separating two or more immiscible liquids using contactors utilizing high surface area vertical hanging fibers is disclosed. This separation process is especially useful in the separation of disulfide oil formed during the oxidation of spent caustic solution that was used to remove sulfur contaminates from light hydrocarbons.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2012Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Merichem CompanyInventors: Tiejun Zhang, V. Keith Turner
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Publication number: 20130123561Abstract: An improved process for reduction-oxidation desulphurization uses an oxidizer operating at a pressure greater than the absorber where a liquid reduction-oxidation catalyst solution contacts a sulfur-containing gas feed stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2013Publication date: May 16, 2013Applicant: MERICHEM COMPANYInventor: Merichem Company