Patents by Inventor Alan Macpherson Ure

Alan Macpherson Ure has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9975839
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid comprising the catalytic oxidation of a hydrocarbon precursor in an organic solvent, comprising the steps of: i) separating a vent gas from an oxidation stage into an organic solvent-rich liquid stream and a water-rich vapor stream in a distillation stage; and ii) separating an aqueous purification mother liquor comprising organic compounds from purified aromatic dicarboxylic acid crystals in a separation stage, characterized in that the process further comprises the steps of: iii) transferring the aqueous purification mother liquor from the separation stage to an extraction stage; iv) extracting said organic compounds from the aqueous purification mother liquor by contacting the aqueous purification mother liquor at a temperature of at least 90° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: INVISTA NORTH AMERICA S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Alan Macpherson Ure, Antony Peter John Limbach
  • Publication number: 20170240497
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid comprising the catalytic oxidation of a hydrocarbon precursor in an organic solvent, comprising the steps of: i) separating a vent gas from an oxidation stage into an organic solvent-rich liquid stream and a water-rich vapour stream in a distillation stage; and ii) separating an aqueous purific ation mother liquor comprising organic compounds from purified aromatic dicarboxylic acid crystals in a separation stage, characterised in that the process further comprises the steps of: iii) transferring the aqueous purification mother liquor from the separation stage to an extraction stage; iv) extracting said organic compounds from the aqueous purification mother liquor by contacting the aqueous purification mother liquor at a temperature of at least 90° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Applicant: INVISTA NORTH AMERICA S.A R.L.
    Inventors: ALAN MACPHERSON URE, ANTONY PETER JOHN LIMBACH
  • Patent number: 9149736
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the separation of water from a liquid phase medium containing an aliphatic carboxylic acid using azeotropic distillation in the presence of an entrainer. The entrainer, water, and organics are subsequently separated, wherein the entrainer is recycled back to the azeotropic distillation column and organics recycled back to the oxidation reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: INVISTA North America S.a.r.l.
    Inventor: Alan Macpherson Ure
  • Patent number: 9133091
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes and systems for the production of aromatic carboxylic acids, such as purified terephthalic acid. The processes result in reduced volatile aromatic monocarboxylic acid contamination throughout various stages of the PTA process when compared to known processes. This permits the various effluent streams to be recycled back to several stages in the production process, which allows for the efficient production of pure PTA at a lower cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: INVISTA North America S.ár.l
    Inventor: Alan Macpherson Ure
  • Publication number: 20140166469
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the separation of water from a liquid phase medium containing an aliphatic carboxylic acid using azeotropic distillation in the presence of an entrainer. The entrainer, water, and organics are subsequently separated, wherein the entrainer is recycled back to the azeotropic distillation column and organics recycled back to the oxidation reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventor: Alan Macpherson URE
  • Patent number: 8686186
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include methods or processes for purifying CTA, systems for purifying CTA, methods or processes for cooling mother liquor streams, systems for cooling mother liquor streams, methods or processes for treating mother liquor solids, systems for treating mother liquor solids, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: INVISTA North America S.ar.l.
    Inventor: Alan Macpherson Ure
  • Publication number: 20140051884
    Abstract: An applicator instrument (1600) for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing (1606) and a curved shaft (1616). Surgical fasteners are disposed within the curved shaft for being dispensed from the distal end of the curved shaft. An advancer (1466) is disposed inside the curved shaft for shifting the surgical fasteners one position closer to the distal end of the curved shaft each time the advancer moves distally. A firing element (1474) is disposed inside the curved shaft and is movable between the proximal and distal ends of the curved shaft for dispensing the surgical fasteners from the distal end of the curved shaft. A staging assembly (1521) is adapted to receive a leading one of the surgical fasteners from the advancer as the advancer moves distally to shift the leading surgical fastener into substantial alignment with the firing element when the advancer moves proximally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: INVISTA North America S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Alan Macpherson Ure, Ajay Tharakan
  • Publication number: 20130267733
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes and systems for the production of aromatic carboxylic acids, such as purified terephthalic acid. The processes result in reduced volatile aromatic monocarboxylic acid contamination throughout various stages of the PTA process when compared to known processes. This permits the various effluent streams to be recycled back to several stages in the production process, which allows for the efficient production of pure PTA at a lower cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: INVISTA North America S. a. r.l.
    Inventor: Alan Macpherson Ure
  • Publication number: 20120142962
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include methods or processes for purifying CTA, systems for purifying CTA, methods or processes for cooling mother liquor streams, systems for cooling mother liquor streams, methods or processes for treating mother liquor solids, systems for treating mother liquor solids, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: INVISTA NORTH AMERICA S.a.r.l.
    Inventor: Alan MacPherson Ure
  • Patent number: 5980696
    Abstract: An improved process for preparing an aromatic dicarboxylic acid wherein the improvement resides in dehydrating and recovering solvent from a feed stream having from 20% to 40% by weight water via azeotropic distillation with organic phase reflux using an entrainer selected from isobutyl acetate, n-propyl acetate or an entrainer with a boiling point between isobutyl acetate and n-propyl acetate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: William David Parten, Alan Macpherson Ure
  • Patent number: 5877346
    Abstract: A terephthalic acid slurry in acetic acid is produced by oxidising p-xylene in acetic acid, removing water by evaporation of a stream of water and acetic acid, and returning acetic acid to the oxidation step. The terephthalic acid is separated from the reaction medium in a first zone to leave a deposit on a band, the deposit is washed with a first aqueous medium in a second zone, removed from the band in a third zone, and admixed with a second aqueous medium. Reaction medium is passed from the first zone to the oxidation step and terephthalic acid is recovered, preferably after further purification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Eric Hindmarsh, John Arthur Turner, Alan MacPherson Ure
  • Patent number: 5679846
    Abstract: A terephthalic acid slurry in acetic acid is produced by oxidizing p-xylene in acetic acid, removing water by evaporation of a stream of water and acetic acid, and returning acetic acid to the oxidation step. The terephthalic acid is separated from the reaction medium in a first zone to leave a deposit on a band, the deposit is washed with a first aqueous medium in a second zone, removed from the band in a third zone, and admixed with a second aqueous medium. Reaction medium is passed from the first zone to the oxidation step and terephthalic acid is recovered, preferably after further purification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries PLC
    Inventors: Eric Hindmarsh, John Arthur Turner, Alan Macpherson Ure
  • Patent number: 5643468
    Abstract: A slurry is subjected to a filtration and washing process in order to separate the liquor from the solids. The filtration and washing process is carried out in a housing (101) enclosing an inert gaseous atmosphere which also passes through the filter cake and may be recycled, after treatment, to remove contaminants therefrom. To prevent recontamination of the filter cake as a result of the recycled gas entraining contaminant vapors within the housing (101), the gas is introduced into the housing (101) at a downstream location (152a, 166) relative to the direction of travel of the filter cake on a movable filter medium (100) and in such a way as to develop a contaminant concentration gradient whereby the cleanest cake is contacted by gas having the lowest contaminant level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries PLC
    Inventor: Alan Macpherson Ure