Patents Examined by N. Bhat
  • Patent number: 8524044
    Abstract: Processes and systems for purifying silane-containing streams are disclosed with relatively less silane being lost in impurity streams by use of distillation and/or condensation operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhihui Gu, Timothy D. Truong, Puneet Gupta
  • Patent number: 8524048
    Abstract: Processes and systems for purifying silane-containing streams are disclosed with relatively less silane being lost in impurity streams by use of distillation and/or condensation operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhihui Gu, Timothy D. Truong, Puneet Gupta
  • Patent number: 8053615
    Abstract: Processes and reactor systems are provided for the conversion of oxygenated hydrocarbons to hydrocarbons, ketones and alcohols useful as liquid fuels, such as gasoline, jet fuel or diesel fuel, and industrial chemicals. The process involves the conversion of mono-oxygenated hydrocarbons, such as alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, furans, carboxylic acids, diols, triols, and/or other polyols, to C4+ hydrocarbons, alcohols and/or ketones, by condensation. The oxygenated hydrocarbons may originate from any source, but are preferably derived from biomass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Virent Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy D. Cortright, Paul G. Blommel
  • Patent number: 8017818
    Abstract: Processes and reactor systems are provided for the conversion of oxygenated hydrocarbons to hydrocarbons, ketones and alcohols useful as liquid fuels, such as gasoline, jet fuel or diesel fuel, and industrial chemicals. The process involves the conversion of mono-oxygenated hydrocarbons, such as alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, furans, carboxylic acids, diols, triols, and/or other polyols, to C4+ hydrocarbons, alcohols and/or ketones, by condensation. The oxygenated hydrocarbons may originate from any source, but are preferably derived from biomass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Virent Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy D. Cortright, Paul G. Blommel
  • Patent number: 8013195
    Abstract: A method for preparing biomass for slurry processing. The method includes solubilizing the solid material into either a dissolved state or a suspended solid in a liquid phase, and processing the liquid phase to produce chemicals and fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. McCall, Robert J. Allen, David E. Mackowiak
  • Patent number: 8002857
    Abstract: A process for preparation of biomass mixed with a heavy hydrocarbon fraction yields a feedstock for the purpose of supplying a gasification unit. The process comprises a first mixing stage followed by a grinding stage and makes it possible to deliver a suspension of biomass particles less than 500 microns in size that are dispersed in the heavy hydrocarbon fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: IEP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventor: Matthieu Rolland
  • Patent number: 8003836
    Abstract: A process has been developed for producing diesel boiling range fuel from renewable feedstocks such as plant oils, animal fats and oils, and greases. The process involves treating a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating to provide a diesel boiling range fuel hydrocarbon product. If desired, the hydrocarbon product can be isomerized to improve cold flow properties. A portion of the hydrocarbon product is recycled to the treatment zone to increase the hydrogen solubility of the reaction mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Terry L. Marker, Peter Kokayeff, Suheil F. Abdo, Tom N. Kalnes
  • Patent number: 8003834
    Abstract: An integrated process has been developed for producing diesel boiling range fuel from renewable feedstocks such as animal and plant oils and using a byproduct naphtha as an extraction solvent in the generation of the renewable feedstock. The process involves treating a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating to provide a hydrocarbon fraction useful as a diesel fuel or diesel boiling range fuel blending component. A byproduct naphtha stream is used as an extraction solvent in a process for the generation of the renewable feedstock. If desired, the hydrocarbon fraction can be isomerized to improve cold flow properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Terry L. Marker, Graham D. Ellis, Christopher D. Gosling
  • Patent number: 8003835
    Abstract: A method for converting solid biomass into hydrocarbons includes contacting the solid biomass with a catalyst in a first riser operated at a temperature in the range of from about 50° C. to about 200° C. to thereby produce a first biomass-catalyst mixture and a first product comprising hydrocarbons; a) separating the first product from the first biomass-catalyst mixture; c) charging the first biomass-catalyst mixture to a second riser operated at a temperature in the range of from about 200° C. to about 400° C. to thereby produce a second biomass-catalyst mixture and a second product comprising hydrocarbons; d) separating the second product from the second biomass-catalyst mixture; e) charging the second biomass-catalyst mixture to a third riser operated at a temperature greater than about 450° C. to thereby produce a spent catalyst and a third product comprising hydrocarbons; and f) separating the third effluent from the spent catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Kior Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Yanik, Robert Bartek, Paul O'Connor, Dennis Stamires, Michael Brady
  • Patent number: 7999143
    Abstract: A process has been developed for producing diesel boiling range fuel from renewable feedstocks such as plant and animal fats and oils. The process involves treating a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating to provide a hydrocarbon fraction useful as a diesel boiling range fuel. Water is added to the deoxygenation reaction to drive carbon monoxide and water to react to form hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The hydrogen is then consumed by the reactions. If desired, the hydrocarbon fraction can be isomerized to improve cold flow properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignees: UOP LLC, ENI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Terry L. Marker, Peter Kokayeff, Giovanni Faraci, Franco Baldiraghi
  • Patent number: 7998438
    Abstract: An improved process and a zone reactor for converting a hydrocarbon feedstock into higher hydrocarbons is provided. A first zone in the reactor contains both a material capable of releasing hydrogen halide (HX) and a carbon-carbon coupling catalyst; a second zone is initially empty or contains a halogenation and/or oxyhalogenation catalyst; and a third zone contains both a carbon-carbon coupling catalyst and a material capable of capturing HX. Air or oxygen is introduced into the first zone, a feedstock is introduced into the second zone, and products are produced in the third zone. HX produced during the reaction is reversibly captured and released in zones 1 and 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: GRT, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Joseph Weiss
  • Patent number: 7999142
    Abstract: A process has been developed for producing diesel boiling range fuel from renewable feedstocks such as plant oils and animal oils, fats, and greases. The process involves treating a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating i.e. decarboxylating, decarbonylating, and/or hydrodeoxygenating to provide a hydrocarbon fraction useful as a diesel boiling range fuel or diesel boiling range fuel blending component. If desired, the hydrocarbon fraction can be isomerized to improve cold flow properties. A portion of the hydrogenated and deoxygenated feedstock is selectively separated and then recycled to the treatment zone to increase the hydrogen solubility of the reaction mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Tom N. Kalnes, Terry L. Marker, John P. Brady, Peter Kokayeff
  • Patent number: 7993598
    Abstract: It is suggested to apply mechanical vibratory motions to the interface area between catalyst and the reacting substances in a catalytic reactor in order to intensify flow intensity as well as reaction intensity between the reacting substances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Inventor: Evgeny I. Rivin
  • Patent number: 7994375
    Abstract: A process for the conversion of biomass to a liquid fuel is presented. The process includes the production of diesel and naphtha boiling point range fuels by hydrotreating and hydrocracking of lignin in the biomass in a one step process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Terry L. Marker, John A. Petri
  • Patent number: 7988921
    Abstract: A hexagonal-cell honeycomb catalyzer is for purifying an exhaust gas. The catalyzer comprising a support that has a plurality of cells and a purification layer that has an HC absorption layer and a three-way catalyst layer. The HC absorption layer is formed on the honeycomb-formed surface of each wall of the support. The three-way catalyst layer is formed on the surface of the HC absorption layer. Provided that the HC absorption layer has a thickness a1 and the three-way catalyst layer has a thickness b1 at a thin portion of the purification layer of which thickness is minimum and the HC absorption layer has a thickness a2 and the three-way catalyst layer has a thickness b2 at a thick portion of the purification layer of which thickness is maximum, a ratio of a1/b1 and a ratio of a2/b2 are both within a range of 1/20 to 5/1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Cataler Corporation
    Inventors: Masakazu Murata, Yoshiyasu Andoh, Shingo Nakata, Tomoaki Nakano, Akimasa Hirai, Kenichi Taki, Yuji Yabuzaki
  • Patent number: 7988830
    Abstract: Waste processing system, for performing a waste processing process, the system including a shredder, a grinder and a steam explosion device such as a cooking extruder. The waste processing system is used to process raw waste, such as consumer waste, into an end product such as pellets. The waste processing includes an acid treatment step to sanitize, purify and/or increase a cellulose content of the waste. The acid is preferably a weak acid and/or an organic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Inventor: Warren Vanderpool
  • Patent number: 7982079
    Abstract: An integrated process has been developed for producing diesel boiling range fuel from renewable feedstocks such as plant and animal fats and oils and using a byproduct naphtha as a denaturant for ethanol. The process involves treating a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating i.e. decarboxylating, decarbonylating, and/or hydrodeoxygenating to provide a hydrocarbon fraction useful as a diesel fuel or diesel boiling range fuel blending component. If desired, the hydrocarbon fraction can be isomerized to improve cold flow properties. A byproduct naphtha stream from the diesel boiling range fuel production process is used as the denaturant in an alcohol denaturing process for the generation of denaturized ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Terry L. Marker, Graham D. Ellis, Christopher D. Gosling
  • Patent number: 7982076
    Abstract: A process has been developed for producing diesel boiling range fuel from renewable feedstocks such as plant oils, animal fats and oils, and greases. The process involves treating a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating to provide a diesel boiling range fuel hydrocarbon product. If desired, the hydrocarbon product can be isomerized to improve cold flow properties. A portion of the hydrocarbon product is recycled to the treatment zone to increase the hydrogen solubility of the reaction mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Terry L. Marker, Peter Kokayeff, Suheil F. Abdo, Tom N. Kalnes
  • Patent number: 7982078
    Abstract: A process has been developed for producing diesel boiling range fuel from renewable feedstocks such as plant and animal fats and oils, the process providing for sulfur management. The process involves catalytically treating a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating to provide a hydrocarbon fraction useful as a diesel boiling range fuel. The hydrocarbon fraction is isomerized to improve cold flow properties. A selective separation such as a hot high pressure hydrogen stripper is used to remove at least the carbon oxides from the first zone effluent before entering the isomerization zone, and to provide liquid recycle to the treating zone at pressure and temperature. A vapor stream is separated from the isomerization effluent and at least carbon dioxide is removed using at least one selective or flexible amine solution absorber. The resulting hydrogen-rich stream is recycled to the deoxygenation reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: John P. Brady, Tom N. Kalnes, Terry L. Marker
  • Patent number: 7982077
    Abstract: A process has been developed for producing diesel boiling range fuel from renewable feedstocks such as fats and oils from plants and animals where the process provides for sulfur-component management. The process involves catalytically treating a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating to provide a hydrocarbon fraction useful as a diesel boiling range fuel. A selective separation such as a hot high pressure hydrogen stripper may be used to remove at least the carbon oxides from the first zone effluent and provide a liquid recycle stream at pressure and temperature. A vapor stream is separated from the net process effluent and at least carbon dioxide is removed using at least one selective or flexible amine absorber. The resulting hydrogen-rich stream is recycled to the reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Tom N. Kalnes, Terry L. Marker, John P. Brady