Patents Examined by Howard T. Mars
  • Patent number: 5386065
    Abstract: Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) is formed by reaction of methanol with tertiary butyl ether in two catalyst beds. A feedstock mixture comprising methanol and tertiary butyl alcohol in a molar ratio of 2 to 3 moles of methanol per mole of tertiary butyl alcohol is reacted in a first etherification reaction zone at a liquid hourly space velocity of 1 to 10 volumes of feedstock mixture per volume of catalyst per hour. A first reaction product mixture is fractionated to remove MTBE as an overhead fraction. The bottoms fraction comprising unreacted methanol and tertiary butyl alcohol is passed to a second etherification reaction zone at a liquid hourly space velocity of 0.5 to 4. A second reaction product mixture is fractionated to recover additional MTBE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Charles J. Kruse, Kyle L. Preston, Brian L. Benac
  • Patent number: 5384335
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel route for the synthesis of methanol, and more specifically to the production of methanol by contacting synthesis gas under relatively mild conditions in a slurry phase with a catalyst combination comprising reduced copper chromite and basic alkali salts or alkaline earth salts. The present invention allows the synthesis of methanol to occur in the temperature range of approximately 100.degree.-160.degree. C. and the pressure range of 40-65 atm. The process produces methanol with up to 90% syngas conversion per pass and up to 95% methanol selectivity. The only major by-product is a small amount of easily separated methyl formate. Very small amounts of water, carbon dioxide and dimethyl ether are also produced. The present catalyst combination also is capable of tolerating fluctuations in the H.sub.2 /CO ratio without major deleterious effect on the reaction rate. Furthermore, carbon dioxide and water are also tolerated without substantial catalyst deactivation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh
    Inventors: John W. Tierney, Irving Wender, Vishwesh M. Palekar
  • Patent number: 5384336
    Abstract: A reactor housing having a plurality of reaction tubes vertically disposed therein for conducting slurry phase hydrocarbon synthesis reactions under substantially plug flow conditions, and wherein provision is made for uniformly distributing gas bubbles in slurry liquid into the reaction tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: Exxon Research & Engineering Co.
    Inventor: Robert M. Koros
  • Patent number: 5382705
    Abstract: A process for upgrading a light olefin feed by converting the 1-olefins to higher molecular weight oligomers and the iso-oleins to fuel ethers or alcohols. The process provides substantial improvements in the production of lower alkyl tertiary alkyl ethers or tertiary alkyl alcohol, such as methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), methyl tertiary amyl ether (TAME) or tertiary butyl alcohol. The 1-olefin component of the hydrocarbon feedstream is separated by selective oligomerization in contact with a reduced chromium oxide catalyst to form an olefin oligomer of higher molecular weight, such as gasoline, distillate and lube range hydrocarbons. The iso-olefins are separated by etherification with a lower alcohol such as methanol or by hydration to form an alcohol such as tertiary butanol. The oligomerization process can be integrated either upstream or downstream of the etherification step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Harold S. Chung, Andrew Jackson, Margaret M. Wu
  • Patent number: 5382704
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing a fluorinated ether of the formula R.sub.2 CHOCF.sub.2 A, where A is Cl or F, and each R is H, (CF.sub.2).sub.n Cl, (CF.sub.2).sub.n F or (CF.sub.2).sub.n H (n is an integer from 1 to 10) by reacting a first reactant of the formula R.sub.2 CHOY where Y is H, COF, COCl or COOCHR.sub.2 (R is as defined above), a second reactant selected of the formula CZ.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 or COZ.sub.2 where each Z is independently Cl or F (provided that when A is Cl, the second reactant is CZ.sub.2 Cl.sub.2), and HF; and recovering the fluorinated ether from the reaction products. Also disclosed are bis-ethers of the formula (CF.sub.3 (CF.sub.2).sub.m).sub.2 CHOCF.sub.2 OCH(CF.sub.2).sub.m CF.sub.3).sub.2, where m is an integer of 0 to 3, which can also be produced by the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Carl G. Krespan, V. N. Mallikarjuna Rao
  • Patent number: 5382727
    Abstract: 1,1,1-Trichloroethane (viz., methylchloroform) and 1,1,2-trichloroethane are produced in the same reactor by feeding molecular chlorine and chloroethene (viz., vinyl chloride) as well as 1,1-dichloroethane to the reactor. The ratios at which the two trichloroethanes are produced can be easily controlled by controlling the relative ratios of 1,1-dichloroethane and chloroethene introduced to the reactor. The reactions are conducted in the liquid phase in the presence of free radical initiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tommy G. Taylor, J. Douglas Mansell, John P. Shamburger, Mark E. Woodyear
  • Patent number: 5382707
    Abstract: There is provided a novel integrated process for producing methyl tertiary butyl ether from a C.sub.4 containing hydrocarbon feedstock comprising passing the feedstock through zones of butadiene hydrogenation, MTBE synthesis, paraffin/olefin separation and skeletal isomerization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: Jacob N. Rubin, Johannes C. Norenburg
  • Patent number: 5382706
    Abstract: A process for preparing alkyl tert alkyl ethers includes the steps of providing a liquid olefinic hydrocarbon feedstock having a sulfur content, providing an ion exchange resin containing an amount of palladium selected based upon the sulfur content of the liquid olefinic hydrocarbon feedstock, mixing the liquid olefinic hydrocarbon feedstock with alcohol and hydrogen so as to obtain a reaction feedstock and treating the reaction feedstock with the ion exchange resin under etherification conditions so as to obtain an alkyl tert alkyl ether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Intevep, S.A.
    Inventors: Jose C. Gonzalez, Leonardo Escalante, Raicelina Ramos
  • Patent number: 5380720
    Abstract: Biologically active 1.alpha.-hydroxy-22-iodinated vitamin D.sub.3 compounds and a process for the preparation of 1.alpha.-hydroxy-22-iodinated vitamin D.sub.3 compounds are disclosed. The 22-iodo-vitamin D.sub.3 compounds show relatively high binding affinity for the vitamin D receptor demonstrating their potential for high in vivo biological activity. Further, these compounds induce relatively high differentiation of malignant cells. Also, these 22-iodo compounds show high in vivo calcium transport activity with little or no bone calcium mobilization activity. These compounds thus show promise in the treatment of osteoporosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Hector F. DeLuca, Rafal R. Sicinski
  • Patent number: 5380888
    Abstract: The invention provides compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and W are defined in the specification. These compounds are useful as antibiotic agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: American Cyanamid Company
    Inventors: Phaik-Eng Sum, Ving J. Lee, Raymond T. Testa
  • Patent number: 5371301
    Abstract: In a single stage process for producing diisopropyl ether, SO.sub.3 from a DIPE reactor effluent is transferred to an aqueous phase in a liquid extraction zone and removed from the aqueous phase using a basic ion exchange resin disposed in an SO.sub.3 removal zone. As a consequence, DIPE reactor effluent can be returned to the DIPE reactor to serve as a solvent and to assist in providing cooling to the DIPE reactor without causing catalyst deactivation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Terry L. Marker, Laura E. Kempf
  • Patent number: 5371300
    Abstract: The present invention relates to novel chloro-(2-halogeno-1-fluoromethyl-ethoxy)-methanes and to their preparation. The novel compounds can be used as intermediates for the preparation of biologically active substituted benzimidazoles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Bohm, Albrecht Marhold
  • Patent number: 5367105
    Abstract: A process for the production of allyl chloride, which comprises introducing propylene and chlorine into a reactor having at least one propylene-injection opening and at least one chlorine-injection opening, these openings being independent of each other, through the respective injection openings, and reacting them in a vapor phase, wherein propylene and chlorine are introduced into the reactor by injecting them in almost the same direction from the propylene-injection opening and the chlorine-injection opening which is closest to said propylene-injection opening, with a linear velocity in the propylene-injection opening, calculated as a value of at 300.degree. C. and 1 kg/cm.sup.2.G, of 100 m/sec or higher and a linear velocity of the chlorine-injection opening, calculated as a value of at 100.degree. C. and 1 kg/cm.sup.2.G, of 70 m/sec or higher, and the propylene-injection opening and the chlorine-injection opening are situated to meet the following expression (1),0.5.ltoreq.L/(dp+dc).ltoreq.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignees: Tokuyama Corporation, Nippon Furnace Kogyo Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetaka Miyazaki, Toshiaki Hasegawa, Yoshihiko Kajimoto, Susumu Mochida
  • Patent number: 5364887
    Abstract: Methanol is catalytically produced from a synthesis gas which contains H.sub.2, CO and CO.sub.2 in a synthesis reactor at temperatures from 220.degree. to 300.degree. C. and under a pressure in the range from 20 to 120 bars. A product mixture which contains methyl formate is withdrawn from the synthesis reactor and is cooled to temperatures in the range from 20.degree. to 60.degree. to provide a condensate which contains methanol, water and methylformate. A gas mixture which contains H.sub.2, CO and CO.sub.2 is formed at the same time. A fraction which comprises 10 to 100% by weight methyl formate is separated from the condensate and is admixed with the synthesis gas which is fed to the synthesis reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Metallgesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Konig, Friedrich-Wilhelm Moller, Emil Supp
  • Patent number: 5364981
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved process for preparing alkyl tertiary alkyl ethers, especially methyl t-butyl ether, in one step which comprises reacting tertiary butanol and methanol in the presence of a catalyst comprising .beta.-zeolite modified with one or more metals selected from Group VIII of the Periodic Table, and optionally further modified with a halogen or a Group IB metal, with an alumina binder, at a temperature of about 20.degree. C. to 250.degree. C. and atmospheric pressure to about 1000 psig, wherein when the temperature is in the operating range above about 140.degree. C., the product comprises a two-phase mix of an MTBE-isobutylene and, optionally, diisobutylene product-rich phase and a heavier aqueous ethanol-rich phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Company
    Inventors: John F. Knifton, Pei-Shing E. Dai
  • Patent number: 5364980
    Abstract: A method for preparing unsymmetrical dialkyl ethers and derivatives thereof. The ethers are prepared by reacting a C.sub.1 to C.sub.3 aliphatic alcohol with a tertiary alcohol in the presence of a novel catalyst comprised of a transition metal pillared interlayered clay having generally separated layers wherein the interlayer distances are substantially greater than a precursor of the same but non-separated clay and wherein the product includes multimetallic pillars comprised of a cationic polymeric complex of the formula:Al.sup.iv (Al.sub.12-x M.sub.x).sup.vi O.sub.4 (OH).sub.24.sup.a+where x is a number from 1 to 6; a depends on the selection of M and N; N is selected from Al.sup.3+, Si.sup.4+, Ga.sup.3+, Ge.sup.4+, As.sup.5+, P.sup.5+, Cr.sup.3+, Fe.sup.3+, V.sup.5+, Ru.sup.3+, Ru.sup.4+, N.sup.3+ ; and M is selected from a metal from Groups 5B, 6B, 7B and 8 of the 4th, 5th and 6th Periods of the Periodic Table of the Elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Exxon Research & Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Michael C. Kerby, David E. W. Vaughan
  • Patent number: 5364973
    Abstract: A productive process for making conventional and low-unsaturation polyether polyols is disclosed. The process involves continuous removal of allyl alcohol and lower allyl alcohol propoxylates from the polyol during manufacture. The process can be performed at high temperatures and/or low catalyst concentrations. Polyether polyols with exceptionally low monol contents can be prepared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Arco Chemical Technology
    Inventor: Jose F. Pazos
  • Patent number: 5364979
    Abstract: A catalyzed, continuous vapor phase process to convert a C.sub.2 or higher alcohol and, optionally, one or more C.sub.1 or higher alcohols, for example methanol and ethanol, to a mixture containing at least one higher molecular weight alcohol, for example, isobutanol, over a catalyst which is essentially magnesium oxide. The process also may have a lower aldehyde and/or ketone in the feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventors: Cecelia A. Radlowski, Gary P. Hagen, Lewis E. Grimes, David F. Tatterson
  • Patent number: 5364975
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of a tertiary alkyl ether, in particular methyl tert. amyl ether (MTAE), is described which comprises reacting, in a reaction section, a charge constituted by a mixture of C.sub.5 hydrocarbons, including reactive isopentenes, with an aliphatic monoalcohol in excess, such as methanol, ethanol, propanol or isopropanol, and collecting in the bottom of a fractionation section the corresponding pure tert. alkyl ether. The head effluent, after condensation, is subdivided into a liquid reflux and a distillate. The process is further characterized by providing a finishing reactor for the reflux, or for the reflux + distillate effluent prior to the subdivision thereof, or two finishing reactors are provided, one for the reflux and the other for the distillate, along with the possibility of injecting aliphatic monoalcohol upstream of each finishing reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Nocca, Phillipe Travers, Larry Mank, Alain Forestiere
  • Patent number: 5364976
    Abstract: A process for simultaneously producing C.sub.5 -C.sub.12 alkane(s) and C.sub.5 -C.sub.8 tertiary alkyl ether(s) employs a liquid feed mixture containing (a) at least one C.sub.4 -C.sub.7 isoalkane, (b) at least one second reactant which is at least one C.sub.4 -C.sub.8 isoalkane, and/or at least one C.sub.4 -C.sub.8 tertiary alkyl alcohol, and (c) at least one C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 linear alkyl alcohol, wherein the liquid feed mixture is contacted at effective reaction conditions with a catalyst consisting essentially of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid and a specific solid carrier material (preferably alumina).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventor: Lyle R. Kallenbach