Patents Examined by Thuan Dinh Dang
  • Patent number: 8431759
    Abstract: A process for increasing the production of monoalkylbenzenes is presented. The process includes utilizing a transalkylation process to convert dialkylbenzenes to monoalkylbenzenes. The transalkylation process recycles a portion of the effluent stream from the transalkylation reactor back to the feed of the transalkylation reactor. The recycled dialkylbenzenes and a portion of the recycled benzene are converted to monoalkylbenzenes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Stephen W. Sohn, Mark G. Riley
  • Patent number: 8288603
    Abstract: A method of extending the life of an aromatization catalyst comprising identifying a rapid deactivation threshold (RDT) of the catalyst, and oxidizing the catalyst prior to reaching the RDT. A method of aromatizing a hydrocarbon comprising identifying a rapid deactivation threshold (RDT) for an aromatization catalyst, and operating an aromatization reactor comprising the catalyst to extend the Time on Stream of the reactor prior to reaching the RDT. A method of characterizing an aromatization catalyst comprising identifying a rapid deactivation threshold (RDT) of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Scott H. Brown, Tin-Tack Peter Cheung, Daniel P. Hagewiesche, Baiyi Zhao
  • Patent number: 8273935
    Abstract: This invention is drawn to a process for isomerizing a non-equilibrium mixture of xylenes and ethylbenzene using a catalyst comprising a zeolite having specific particle-size characteristics, a platinum-group metal and a silica binder. A relatively minimal amount of hydrogen is supplied to the process on a once-through basis, resulting in low saturation of aromatics while achieving effective xylene isomerization with reduced processing costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: James E Rekoske, Patrick C Whitchurch, Robert B Larson
  • Patent number: 8269053
    Abstract: A process for making ethylbenzene and/or styrene by reacting toluene with methane in one or more microreactors is disclosed. In one embodiment a method of revamping an existing styrene production facility by adding one or more microreactors capable of reacting toluene with methane to produce a product stream comprising ethylbenzene and/or styrene is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Butler
  • Patent number: 8258357
    Abstract: This invention relates to an integrated process for the efficient production of olefins from C4 feedstocks comprising butane and more particularly to a method of producing propylene and butadiene. The process combines a dehydrogenation unit with an olefin conversion unit to convert butane feedstock to propylene and butadiene products. The combined catadiene-OCT process produces yields of propylene from normal butane in excess of 70%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Lummus Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Kerman Dukandar, David Spence, Sunil Panditrao
  • Patent number: 8258359
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for making styrene and/or ethylbenzene by reacting toluene with a C1 source over a catalyst in one or more reactors to form a product stream comprising styrene and/or ethylbenzene where the catalyst time on stream prior to regeneration is less than 1 hour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Thorman, James Butler, Sivadinarayana Chinta
  • Patent number: 8258360
    Abstract: A process for producing a monoalkylated aromatic product in a reactor by reacting a mixed phase mixture of an alkylatable aromatic compound feedstock with another feedstock comprising alkene component in a reaction zone containing an alkylation catalyst. An effluent comprising the monoalkylated aromatic product and polyalkylated aromatic compounds exits from the reaction zone in liquid phase. The polyalkylated aromatic compounds can be separated as feed stream for transalkylation reaction in a transalkylation reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignees: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc., Stone & Webster, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Clark, Vijay Nanda, Brian Maerz
  • Patent number: 8258358
    Abstract: A process for the production of propylene, the process including: fractionating a hydrocarbon stream comprising n-butenes, isobutylene, and paraffins into at least two fractions including a light C4 fraction comprising isobutylene and a heavy C4 fraction comprising n-butenes and paraffins; contacting at least a portion of the heavy C4 fraction with a metathesis catalyst to form a metathesis product comprising ethylene, propylene, C4+ olefins, and paraffins; fractionating the metathesis product into at least four fractions including an ethylene fraction, a propylene fraction, a C4 fraction comprising C4 olefins and paraffins, and a C5+ fraction; cracking the light C4 fraction and the C5+ fraction to produce a cracking product comprising ethylene, propylene, and heavier hydrocarbons; and fractionating the cracking product into at least two fractions including a light fraction comprising propylene and a fraction comprising C5 to C6 hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Lummus Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Gartside, Bala Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 8252967
    Abstract: The proposed process uses crystallization technology to purify paraxylene simultaneously of large concentrations of C8 aromatics and also small concentrations of oxygenated species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Exxonmobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Paul Hagemeister, David Lee Johnson, John Joseph Monson
  • Patent number: 8252968
    Abstract: A process for producing a low volatility gasoline blending component and a middle distillate, comprising alkylating a hydrocarbon stream comprising at least one olefin having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms and at least one paraffin having from 4 to 6 carbon atoms with an ionic liquid catalyst and an unsupported halide containing additive, and separating the alkylate into at least the low volatility gasoline blending component and the middle distillate, wherein the middle distillate is a fuel suitable for use as a jet fuel or jet fuel blending component. Also, a process for producing a gasoline blending component and a middle distillate, comprising adjusting a level of a halide containing additive provided to an ionic liquid alkylation reactor to shift selectivity towards heavier products, and recovering a low volatility gasoline blending component and the middle distillate. Also, processes comprising alkylating isobutane with butene over specific chloroaluminate ionic liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Sven Ivar Hommeltoft, Stephen J. Miller, Ajit Ramchandra Pradhan
  • Patent number: 8247628
    Abstract: A process for reacting an iso-alkane, comprising: a) partially converting one or more olefins in an olefinic feedstock with an ionic liquid catalyst to make a converted olefinic feedstock; and b) alkylating the iso-alkane with the converted olefinic feedstock, wherein a reaction heat that is evolved during the alkylating is at least 20% less than if the alkylating step is done with the iso-alkane and the olefinic feedstock without the partially converting step. Also, a process for reacting an iso-alkane, comprising: a) partially converting one or more olefins in an olefinic feedstock to make a converted olefinic feedstock, wherein the converting is different from isomerization; b) isolating from the converted olefinic feedstock: i. an enriched feed that has linear internal olefins, and ii. products having a boiling point of 150° C. or higher; and c) alkylating the iso-alkane with the enriched feed to make an alkylate gasoline blending component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Sven Ivar Hommeltoft, Hye-Kyung C. Timken, Steve S. Mathur
  • Patent number: 8247630
    Abstract: A process for isomerizing ethylbenzene into xylenes such as para-xylene using a zeolitic catalyst system based on low Si/Al2 MTW-type zeolite that preferably is substantially free of mordenite. The catalyst may be bimetallic where the two metals are platinum and tin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paula L. Bogdan, John E. Bauer, E. Alejandro Leon-Escamilla, Gregory F. Maher, Robert B. Larson
  • Patent number: 8247627
    Abstract: In a process for producing phenol and/or cyclohexanone, benzene and hydrogen are contacted with a first catalyst in a hydroalkylation step to produce a first effluent stream comprising cyclohexylbenzene, cyclohexane, and unreacted benzene. At least part of the first effluent stream is supplied to a first separation system to divide the first effluent stream part into a cyclohexylbenzene-rich stream and a C6 product stream comprising unreacted benzene and cyclohexane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Jihad M. Dakka, J. Scott Buchanan, Jane C. Cheng, Tan-Jen Chen, Lorenzo C. DeCaul, Terry E. Helton, Jon E. Stanat, Francisco M. Benitez
  • Patent number: 8247629
    Abstract: A process for producing a monoalkylated aromatic compound in an alkylation reaction zone, said process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first catalytic particulate material having a ratio of surface area over volume ratio greater than about 79 cm?1, (b) providing said alkylation reaction zone with an alkylatable aromatic compound, an alkylating agent, and said first catalytic particulate material; and (c) contacting said alkylatable aromatic compound and said alkylating agent with said catalytic particulate material in said alkylation reaction zone maintained under alkylation conditions, to form a product comprised of said monoalkylated aromatic compound and polyalkylated aromatic compound(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Clark, Christine N. Elia, Frederick Y. Lo, Yun-Feng Chang
  • Patent number: 8242319
    Abstract: A process from converting alcohol feedstock to diesel/turbine fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Benjamin G. Harvey, Michael E. Wright
  • Patent number: 8242320
    Abstract: Cumene production methods are disclosed, based on the alkylation of benzene with propylene, in which byproducts of the alkylation reaction are advantageously reduced to achieve a high cumene selectivity. This may be attained by (i) reducing the portion of the total alkylation effluent that is recycled, after cooling, to the alkylation reaction zone for quenching or direct heat exchange and/or (ii) reducing the benzene:propylene molar ratio of the alkylation feedstock. To manage the temperature differential across catalyst bed(s) in the alkylation reaction zone, indirect heat exchange may be used to remove heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Robert J. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8242322
    Abstract: A process for transalkylating aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, the process comprising introducing an aromatic hydrocarbon feed stream and a sulfur source to a transalkylation zone. The feed stream contacts a catalyst in the transalkylation zone in the presence of sulfur, and produces a reaction product stream comprising benzene and xylene. The invention includes methods to control the transalkylation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Edwin P. Boldingh
  • Patent number: 8242321
    Abstract: A process for transalkylating aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, the process comprising introducing an aromatic hydrocarbon feed stream and a water source to a transalkylation zone. The feed stream contacts a catalyst in the transalkylation zone in the presence of water, and produces a reaction product stream comprising benzene and xylene. The invention includes methods to control the transalkylation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Edwin P. Boldingh, Antoine Negiz
  • Patent number: 8237002
    Abstract: A method for producing an unsaturated organic compound represented by the formula (3): (Y1)m-1—R1—R2—(Y2)n-1??(3) wherein Y1 represents R2 or X1, and Y2 represents R1 or B(X2)2, which comprises reacting a compound represented by the formula (1): R1(X1)m??(1) wherein R1 represents an aromatic group or the like, X1 represents a leaving group and m represents 1 or 2, with a compound represented by the formula (2): R2{B(X2)2}n??(2) wherein R2 represents an aromatic group or the like, X2 represents a hydroxyl group or the like, and n represents 1 or 2, in the presence of (a) a nickel compound selected from a nickel carboxylate, nickel nitrate and a nickel halide, (b) a phosphine compound such as 1,4-bis(dicyclohexylphosphino) butane, (c) an amine selected from a primary amine and a diamine such as N,N,N?,N?-tetramethyl-1,2-ethanediamine, and (d) an inorganic base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Taku Asaumi, Takashi Kamikawa
  • Patent number: 8237001
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a procedure for obtaining a linear monoalkylaromatic compound, with adjustable 2-phenyl isomer content and an extremely low sulphonation color, in which a catalytic system is used based on highly stable and active solid catalysts and with a high selectivity for linear monoalkylaromatic compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Cepsa Quimica, S.A.
    Inventors: José Luis Berna Tejero, José Luis Goncalvez De Almeida