Patents by Inventor Christopher L. Becker

Christopher L. Becker 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).

  • Publication number: 20180319721
    Abstract: This invention relates to processes and systems for converting acyclic hydrocarbons to alkenes, cyclic hydrocarbons and/or aromatics, for example converting acyclic C5 hydrocarbons to cyclopentadiene in a reactor system. The process includes contacting a feedstock comprising acyclic hydrocarbons with a catalyst material in at least one reaction zone to convert at least a portion of the acyclic hydrocarbons to a first effluent comprising alkenes, cyclic hydrocarbons and/or aromatics. A co-feed comprising H2, C1-C4 alkanes and/or C1-C4 alkenes may also be provided to the at least one reaction zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Neeraj Sangar, Larry L. Iaccino, Christopher L. Becker
  • Publication number: 20180319717
    Abstract: This invention relates to processes and systems for converting acyclic hydrocarbons to alkenes, cyclic hydrocarbons and/or aromatics, for example converting acyclic C5 hydrocarbons to cyclopentadiene in a reactor system. The process includes contacting a feedstock comprising acyclic hydrocarbons with a catalyst material and an inert material to convert at least a portion of the acyclic hydrocarbons to a first effluent comprising alkenes, cyclic hydrocarbons and/or aromatics. In particular, the catalyst material and the inert material have a different average diameter and/or density providing varying fluidization behavior in the reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Neeraj Sangar, Larry L. Iaccino, Christopher L. Becker
  • Publication number: 20180273457
    Abstract: Disclosed are novel processes for making cyclohexanone compositions, from a mixture comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexylbenzene. The process includes hydrogenation of a feed stream comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexylbenzene. The feed stream may be subjected to one or more pre-hydrogenation treatments, such as passing through one or more sorbents, addition of basic chemical agents, and/or addition of water, so as to improve catalyst activity, minimize undesired side reactions, and/or remove catalyst poisons from the feed stream. The feed stream may be provided to a hydrogenation reaction zone in the vapor phase, with periodic alterations to hydrogenation reaction conditions such that the feed is provided in mixed liquid and vapor phase in order to carry out liquid washing of a hydrogenation catalyst bed within the hydrogenation reaction zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Jihad M. Dakka, Ashley J. Malik, Christopher L. Becker, Jason D. Davis, Kirk C. Nadler, Jose M. Vargas, Tan-Jen Chen, Seth M. Washburn, Jörg F.W Weber
  • Patent number: 10053408
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes for making cyclohexanone from a mixture comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, cyclohexylbenzene, and an S-containing component, comprising a step of removing at least a portion of the S-containing component to reduce poisoning of a hydrogenation catalyst used for hydrogenating phenol to cyclohexanone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Keith H. Kuechler, Jörg F. W. Weber, Ashley J. Poucher, Jason D. Davis, Christopher L. Becker, Jihad M. Dakka
  • Publication number: 20180194705
    Abstract: Disclosed are novel processes for making cyclohexanone compositions, from a mixture comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexylbenzene. The process includes hydrogenation of a feed stream comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexylbenzene. The feed stream may be subjected to one or more pre-hydrogenation treatments, such as passing through one or more sorbents, addition of basic chemical agents, and/or addition of water, so as to improve catalyst activity, minimize undesired side reactions, and/or remove catalyst poisons from the feed stream. The feed stream may be provided to a hydrogenation reaction zone in the vapor phase, with periodic alterations to hydrogenation reaction conditions such that the feed is provided in mixed liquid and vapor phase in order to carry out liquid washing of a hydrogenation catalyst bed within the hydrogenation reaction zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Jihad M. Dakka, Ashley J. Malik, Christopher L. Becker, Jason D. Davis, Kirk C. Nadler, Jose M. Vargas, Tan-Jen Chen, Seth M. Washburn, Jörg F.W. Weber
  • Patent number: 9938220
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes and systems for making cyclohexanone from a mixture comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexylbenzene, comprising a step of or a device for subjecting at least a portion of the mixture to hydrogenation and a step of or a device for distilling a phenol/cyclohexanone/cyclohexylbenzene mixture to obtain an effluent rich in cyclohexanone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher L. Becker, Jason D. Davis, Jihad M. Dakka, Kirk C. Nadler
  • Patent number: 9938219
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes and systems for making cyclohexanone from a mixture comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexylbenzene, comprising a step of or a device for subjecting at least a portion of the mixture to hydrogenation and a step of or a device for distilling a phenol/cyclohexanone/cyclohexylbenzene mixture to obtain an effluent rich in cyclohexanone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher L. Becker, Jason D. Davis, Jihad M. Dakka, Kirk C. Nadler
  • Patent number: 9938218
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes and systems for making cyclohexanone from a mixture comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexylbenzene, comprising a step of or a device for subjecting at least a portion of the mixture to hydrogenation and a step of or a device for distilling a phenol/cyclohexanone/cyclohexylbenzene mixture to obtain an effluent rich in cyclohexanone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher L. Becker, Jason D. Davis, Jihad M. Dakka, Kirk C. Nadler
  • Patent number: 9926254
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes and systems for making cyclohexanone from a mixture comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexylbenzene comprising a step of or a device for subjecting at least a portion of the mixture to hydrogenation and a step of or a device for distilling a phenol/cyclohexanone/cyclohexylbenzene mixture to obtain an effluent rich in cyclohexanone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher L. Becker, Jason D. Davis, Jihad M. Dakka, Kirk C. Nadler
  • Patent number: 9908829
    Abstract: Disclosed is (i) a process of making phenol and/or cyclohexanone from cyclohexylbenzene including a step of removing methylcyclopentylbenzene from (a) the cyclohexylbenzene feed supplied to the oxidation step and/or (b) the crude phenol product (ii) a phenol composition and (iii) a cyclohexylbenzene composition that can be made using the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Jason D. Davis, Ashley J. Poucher, Jörg F. W. Weber, Jonathan J. Watts, Christopher L. Becker
  • Patent number: 9902676
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes for making cyclohexanone from a mixture comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, cyclohexylbenzene, and a catalyst poison component, comprising a step of removing at least a portion of the catalyst poison component to reduce poisoning of a hydrogenation catalyst used for hydrogenating phenol to cyclohexanone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher L. Becker, Jason D. Davis, Jihad M. Dakka, Kirk C. Nadler
  • Patent number: 9868687
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes and systems for making cyclohexanone from a mixture comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexylbenzene, comprising a step of or a device for subjecting at least a portion of the mixture to hydrogenation and a step of or a device for distilling a phenol/cyclohexanone/cyclohexylbenzene mixture to obtain an effluent rich in cyclohexanone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher L. Becker, Jason D. Davis, Jihad M. Dakka, Kirk C. Nadler
  • Patent number: 9815759
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for producing phenol. The process includes oxidizing at least a portion of a feed comprising cyclohexylbenzene to produce an oxidation composition comprising cyclohexyl-1-phenyl-1-hydroperoxide. The oxidation composition may then be cleaved in the presence of an acid catalyst to produce a cleavage reaction mixture comprising the acid catalyst, phenol and cyclohexanone. At least a portion of the cleavage reaction mixture may be neutralized with a basic material to form a treated cleavage reaction mixture. In various embodiments, the treated cleavage reaction mixture contains no greater than 50 wppm of the acid catalyst or no greater than 50 wppm of the basic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Keith H. Kuechler, Francisco M. Benitez, Kun Wang, James R. Lattner, Christopher L. Becker
  • Publication number: 20170283353
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes and systems for making cyclohexanone from a mixture comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexylbenzene, comprising a step of or a device for subjecting at least a portion of the mixture to hydrogenation and a step of or a device for distilling a phenol/cyclohexanone/cyclohexylbenzene mixture to obtain an effluent rich in cyclohexanone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher L. Becker, Jason D. Davis, Jihad M. Dakka, Kirk C. Nadler
  • Publication number: 20170275226
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes for making cyclohexanone from a mixture comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, cyclohexylbenzene, and an S-containing component, comprising a step of removing at least a portion of the S-containing component to reduce poisoning of a hydrogenation catalyst used for hydrogenating phenol to cyclohexanone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Keith H. Kuechler, Jörg F.W. Weber, Ashley J. Poucher, Jason D. Davis, Christopher L. Becker, Jihad M. Dakka
  • Publication number: 20170233323
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes and systems for making cyclohexanone from a mixture comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexylbenzene, comprising a step of or a device for subjecting at least a portion of the mixture to hydrogenation and a step of or a device for distilling a phenol/cyclohexanone/cyclohexylbenzene mixture to obtain an effluent rich in cyclohexanone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher L. Becker, Jason D. Davis, Jihad M. Dakka, Kirk C. Nadler
  • Publication number: 20170204035
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes and systems for making cyclohexanone from a mixture comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexylbenzene, comprising a step of or a device for subjecting at least a portion of the mixture to hydrogenation and a step of or a device for distilling a phenol/cyclohexanone/cyclohexylbenzene mixture to obtain an effluent rich in cyclohexanone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher L. BECKER, Jason D. DAVIS, Jihad M. DAKKA, Kirk C. NADLER
  • Publication number: 20170204033
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes and systems for making cyclohexanone from a mixture comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexylbenzene, comprising a step of or a device for subjecting at least a portion of the mixture to hydrogenation and a step of or a device for distilling a phenol/cyclohexanone/cyclohexylbenzene mixture to obtain an effluent rich in cyclohexanone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher L. BECKER, Jason D. DAVIS, Jihad M. DAKKA, Kirk C. NADLER
  • Publication number: 20170204037
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes for making cyclohexanone from a mixture comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, cyclohexylbenzene, and a catalyst poison component, comprising a step of removing at least a portion of the catalyst poison component to reduce poisoning of a hydrogenation catalyst used for hydrogenating phenol to cyclohexanone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher L. BECKER, Jason D. DAVIS, Jihad M. DAKKA, Kirk C. NADLER
  • Publication number: 20170204034
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes and systems for making cyclohexanone from a mixture comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexylbenzene, comprising a step of or a device for subjecting at least a portion of the mixture to hydrogenation and a step of or a device for distilling a phenol/cyclohexanone/cyclohexylbenzene mixture to obtain an effluent rich in cyclohexanone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher L. BECKER, Jason D. DAVIS, Jlhad M. DAKKA, Kirk C. NADLER