Patents Assigned to Merichem Company
  • Patent number: 8372365
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Merichem Company
    Inventor: Gary J. Nagl
  • Publication number: 20130026086
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: MERICHEM COMPANY
    Inventor: MERICHEM COMPANY
  • Publication number: 20130020239
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: MERICHEM COMPANY
    Inventor: MERICHEM COMPANY
  • Patent number: 8308957
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Merichem Company
    Inventors: Tiejun Zhang, V. Keith Turner
  • Publication number: 20120273405
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: MERICHEM COMPANY
    Inventors: Tom Varadi, Marie-Cecile Medine, Arturo Ramon Puigbo
  • Patent number: 8298429
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Merichem Company
    Inventors: Tom Varadi, Marie-Cecile Medine, Arturo Ramon Puigbo, Ramiro G. Vazquez
  • Publication number: 20120107205
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: MERICHEM COMPANY
    Inventor: Gary J. Nagl
  • Publication number: 20120048779
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: MERICHEM COMPANY
    Inventors: Tiejun Zhang, Nachiketa Anand, Theodore Sidney Hoover
  • Publication number: 20110163008
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: MERICHEM COMPANY
    Inventors: Tiejun Zhang, K. Michael Hardy, V. Keith Turner, Ignacio C. Bincaz, Tom Varadi
  • Publication number: 20110142747
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: MERICHEM COMPANY
    Inventors: Gary J. Nagl, Anthony A. Barnette, Myron Reicher
  • Patent number: 7951353
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of contacting a liquid with different gases sequentially in separate mass transfer zones within a single vessel, the mass transfer zones operatively in fluid communication with each other, including intimately contacting the liquid with a process gas in co-current flow in a downstream mass transfer zone to effect mass transfer between the liquid and the process gas, and introducing the liquid into an upstream mass transfer zone with a second gas, different from the process gas, thereby effecting mass transfer between the liquid and the second gas. The rate of flow of the liquid from the upstream mass transfer zone to downstream mass transfer zone is controlled by the controlled addition of a third gas into one or more downcomers separating each mass transfer zone such that the specific density of the liquid in the downcomers provides a driving force that controls flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Merichem Company
    Inventor: David Alan Hobson
  • Patent number: 7875185
    Abstract: A process for the removal of residual sulfur compounds from a liquid caustic stream is disclosed. One embodiment of my invention adsorbs disulfides from a caustic stream using an activated carbon adsorbent while another combines both oxidation and adsorption in single step to remove residual sulfur compounds from a rich caustic stream using metal phthalocyanine supported on a solid adsorbent. This process is especially useful as a polishing step in a caustic regeneration process flow scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Merichem Company
    Inventor: Tiejun Zhang
  • Publication number: 20100320124
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: MERICHEM COMPANY
    Inventors: Tiejun Zhang, V. Keith Turner
  • Patent number: 7833499
    Abstract: A separation process for separating two or more immiscible liquids using fiber-film technology 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: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Merichem Company
    Inventors: Tiejun Zang, V. Kenneth Turner
  • Patent number: 7828962
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Merichem Company
    Inventors: Tom Varadi, Marie-Cecile Medine, Arturo Ramon Puigbo, Ramiro G. Vazquez
  • Publication number: 20100200477
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: MERICHEM COMPANY
    Inventors: Tom Varadi, Marie-Cecile Medine, Arturo Ramon Puigbo, Ramiro G. Vazauez
  • Patent number: 7344682
    Abstract: An improved oxidizer for liquid reduction-oxidation desulphurization processes uses a hollow fiber membrane contactor. A pressurized, oxygen containing gas stream is introduced into the interior of the hollow fiber membrane while a liquid reduction-oxidation catalyst solution contacts the exterior of the membrane. Oxygen diffuses through the membrane into the liquid reduction-oxidation catalyst solution whereby the solution is oxidized and can be recycled for further us in a desulphurization process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Merichem Company
    Inventors: Gary J. Nagl, Myron Reicher, Derek McManus
  • Patent number: 7279148
    Abstract: An improved oxidizer for liquid reduction-oxidation desulphurization processes uses a hollow fiber membrane contactor. A pressurized, oxygen containing gas stream is introduced into the interior of the hollow fiber membrane while a liquid reduction-oxidation catalyst solution contacts the exterior of the membrane. Oxygen diffuses through the membrane into the liquid reduction-oxidation catalyst solution whereby the solution is oxidized and can be recycled for further use in a desulphurization process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Merichem Company
    Inventors: Gary J. Nagl, Myron Reicher, Derek McManus
  • Patent number: 7029573
    Abstract: The invention relates to a composition and method for treating liquid hydrocarbons in order to remove acidic impurities, such as mercaptans, particularly mercaptans having a molecular weight of about C4 (C4H10S=90 g/mole) and higher, such as recombinant mercaptans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignees: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, Merichem Company
    Inventors: Mark A. Greaney, Binh N. Le, Daniel P. Leta, John N. Begasse, Charles T. Huang, Verlin Keith Turner
  • Patent number: 7014751
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating and upgrading a hydrocarbon containing acidic species such as mercaptans, comprising: (a) contacting the hydrocarbon, in the essential absence of oxygen, with a first phase of a treatment composition containing water, dissolved alkali metal hydroxide, cobalt phthalocyanine sulfonate, and dissolved alkylphenylates and having at least two phases, (i) the first phase containing water, alkali metal alkylphenylate, dissolved alkali metal hydroxide, and dissolved sulfonated cobalt phthalocyanine, and (ii) the second phase containing water and dissolved alkali metal hydroxide; and then (b) separating an upgraded hydrocarbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignees: Exxonmobil Research and Engineering Co., Merichem Company
    Inventors: Mark A. Greaney, Binh N. Le, Daniel P. Leta, John N. Begasse, Charles T. Huang, Verlin Keith Turner