Patents by Inventor David S. Lafyatis
David S. Lafyatis 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).
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Patent number: 11066345Abstract: Processes for increasing an octane value of a gasoline component by dehydrogenating a stream comprising C7 hydrocarbons and methylcyclohexane in a first dehydrogenation zone to form an intermediate dehydrogenation effluent, and then dehydrogenating the intermediate dehydrogenation effluent in a second dehydrogenation zone to form a C7 dehydrogenation effluent. The C7 dehydrogenation effluent has an increased olefins content compared to an olefins content of the intermediate dehydrogenation effluent. The first dehydrogenation zone is operated under conditions to convert methylcyclohexane to toluene and minimize cracking reactions. The intermediate dehydrogenation effluent may be heated before being passed to the second dehydrogenation zone.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2019Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: UOP LLCInventors: Michael W. Penninger, Mark P. Lapinski, Gregory R. Werba, David S. Lafyatis
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Publication number: 20200407655Abstract: Processes for increasing an octane value of a gasoline component by dehydrogenating a stream comprising C7 hydrocarbons and methylcyclohexane in a first dehydrogenation zone to form an intermediate dehydrogenation effluent, and then dehydrogenating the intermediate dehydrogenation effluent in a second dehydrogenation zone to form a C7 dehydrogenation effluent. The C7 dehydrogenation effluent has an increased olefins content compared to an olefins content of the intermediate dehydrogenation effluent. The first dehydrogenation zone is operated under conditions to convert methylcyclohexane to toluene and minimize cracking reactions. The intermediate dehydrogenation effluent may be heated before being passed to the second dehydrogenation zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2019Publication date: December 31, 2020Inventors: Michael W. Penninger, Mark P. Lapinski, Gregory R. Werba, David S. Lafyatis
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Patent number: 10722861Abstract: Reactor systems for use with ionic liquid catalyst. The reactor systems include one or more stages, which include a reactor and a heat exchanger, and a separation zone. The reactor and the heat exchanger may have a vertical orientation. Additionally, a separation vessel may also include a vertical orientation. The heat exchanger may allow for linear flow of process fluid to control residence time.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2018Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: UOP LLCInventors: Eric Leeton, Kurt Detrick, Christian D. Freet, David S. Lafyatis, Robert Mehlberg, Sean G. Mueller, Gregory J. Schrad, Zhanping Xu
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Patent number: 10702798Abstract: A process for treating an ionic liquid containing waste stream is described. If there is a liquid waste stream, the liquid waste stream is introduced into a liquid treatment zone. The ionic liquid in the liquid waste stream is neutralized. The concentration of the ionic liquid in the liquid waste stream is determined, and the allowed concentration of the ionic liquid in the liquid waste stream is determined. The concentration of the ionic liquid in the neutralized liquid waste stream is reduced to the allowed concentration, and the liquid waste stream having the allowed concentration is released. If there is a vapor waste stream, the vapor waste stream is introduced into a vapor treatment zone. The vapor waste stream is treated to form a treated vapor waste stream, and the treated vapor waste stream is released to a plant vapor treatment zone.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2015Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: UOP LLCInventors: Eric Leeton, Gregory J. Schrad, David S. Lafyatis, Matthew Lippmann, Douglas A. Nafis
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Publication number: 20190002771Abstract: The invention provides a process for the catalytic reforming of hydrocarbons comprising contacting the hydrocarbon feed in two or more sequential catalyst zones. The initial catalyst zone is a fixed-bed system and contains an initial catalytic composition comprising a platinum component, a germanium or rhenium component, a refractory inorganic oxide, potassium and a halogen component and then there is a terminal catalyst zone with a terminal catalyst composition that has a similar composition but with an essential lack of potassium. The addition of potassium was found to improve the yield of C5+ hydrocarbons.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2018Publication date: January 3, 2019Inventors: David S. Lafyatis, Gary A. Marr, Bryan K. Glover
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Publication number: 20180273463Abstract: Impure aromatic carboxylic acids such as are obtained by liquid phase oxidation of feed materials comprising aromatic compounds with substituent groups oxidizable to carboxylic acid groups, or comprising aromatic carboxylic acid and one or more aromatic carbonyl impurities that form hydrogenated species more soluble in aqueous solvents or with less color or color-forming tendencies than the aromatic carbonyl impurity, are purified to an aromatic carboxylic acid product with lower levels of impurities by a process comprising contacting an aqueous solution comprising the impure aromatic carboxylic acid with hydrogen at elevated temperature and pressure with an attrition-resistance, acid stable catalyst composition comprising at least one hydrogenation catalyst metal and a support comprising relatively high surface area of high porosity silicon carbide with low levels of iron and alkali metal impurities. The support may further contain titanium or rare earth metals.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2018Publication date: September 27, 2018Inventors: Raelynn M. Miller, Alakananda Bhattacharyya, David S. Lafyatis, Amanda L. Stolarski, Rodrigo Lobo, Madan Bhasin
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Publication number: 20180272327Abstract: A process removing ionic liquid from a process stream is described. The process stream is introduced into a coalescer to form an ionic liquid stream and a first treated process stream which has less ionic liquid than the process stream. The first treated process stream is introduced into a separator to form a second treated process stream. The second treated process stream has less ionic liquid than the first treated process stream. The separator is selected from a filtration zone comprising sand or carbon, an adsorption zone, a scrubbing zone, an electrostatic separation zone, or combinations thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2018Publication date: September 27, 2018Inventors: Matthew Lippmann, David S. Lafyatis, Douglas A. Nafis, Kurt Detrick
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Publication number: 20180264431Abstract: Reactor systems for use with ionic liquid catalyst. The reactor systems include one or more stages, which include a reactor and a heat exchanger, and a separation zone. The reactor and the heat exchanger may have a vertical orientation. Additionally, a separation vessel may also include a vertical orientation. The heat exchanger may allow for linear flow of process fluid to control residence time.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2018Publication date: September 20, 2018Inventors: Eric Leeton, Kurt Detrick, Christian D. Freet, David S. Lafyatis, Robert Mehlberg, Sean G. Mueller, Gregory J. Schrad, Zhanping Xu
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Patent number: 9815049Abstract: A method of controlling a hydrocarbon conversion process is described. The method involves introducing a reactant into a reaction zone containing an ionic liquid catalyst. The reaction zone has at least two zones. The mass transfer resistance in the second zone is greater than the mass transfer resistance in the first zone.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2016Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: UOP LLCInventors: David S. Lafyatis, Sean G. Mueller, Zhanping Xu, Douglas A. Nafis, Robert Mehlberg, Kurt Detrick, Avram M. Buchbinder
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Publication number: 20170144141Abstract: A method of controlling a hydrocarbon conversion process is described. The method involves introducing a reactant into a reaction zone containing an ionic liquid catalyst. The reaction zone has at least two zones. The mass transfer resistance in the second zone is greater than the mass transfer resistance in the first zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2016Publication date: May 25, 2017Inventors: David S. Lafyatis, Sean G. Mueller, Zhanping Xu, Douglas A. Nafis, Robert Mehlberg, Kurt Detrick, Avram M. Buchbinder
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Publication number: 20170113162Abstract: A process for treating an ionic liquid containing waste stream is described. If there is a liquid waste stream, the liquid waste stream is introduced into a liquid treatment zone. The ionic liquid in the liquid waste stream is neutralized. The concentration of the ionic liquid in the liquid waste stream is determined, and the allowed concentration of the ionic liquid in the liquid waste stream is determined. The concentration of the ionic liquid in the neutralized liquid waste stream is reduced to the allowed concentration, and the liquid waste stream having the allowed concentration is released. If there is a vapor waste stream, the vapor waste stream is introduced into a vapor treatment zone. The vapor waste stream is treated to form a treated vapor waste stream, and the treated vapor waste stream is released to a plant vapor treatment zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2015Publication date: April 27, 2017Inventors: Eric Leeton, Gregory J. Schrad, David S. Lafyatis, Matthew Lippmann, Douglas A. Nafis
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Patent number: 9365469Abstract: The present invention is a process for transalkylating aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, the process comprising introducing an aromatic hydrocarbon feed stream into a transalkylation zone to yield high-purity benzene as a byproduct while meeting transalkylation objectives. The feed stream contacts a catalyst in the transalkylation zone under conditions adjusted to control benzene purity as well as transalkylation performance.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2011Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: UOP LLCInventors: David S. Lafyatis, Edwin P. Boldingh, Eric J. Baker, James A. Johnson, Robert B. Larson
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Publication number: 20140100403Abstract: A process for transalkylation is described. The process operates at a lower pressure than a typical transalkylation processes, and provides higher benzene purity with comparable or lower ring loss compared to the typical transalkylation process. The xylene selectivity is comparable to or higher than the standard process, and the ethyl benzene selectivity is comparable to or lower than the standard process.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2012Publication date: April 10, 2014Applicant: UOP LLCInventors: Naiyl A. Rashid, Edwin P. Boldingh, Raymond Shih, Marc R. Schreier, David S. Lafyatis
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Publication number: 20130066123Abstract: The present invention is a process for transalkylating aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, the process comprising introducing an aromatic hydrocarbon feed stream into a transalkylation zone to yield high-purity benzene as a byproduct while meeting transalkylation objectives. The feed stream contacts a catalyst in the transalkylation zone under conditions adjusted to control benzene purity as well as transalkylation performance.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2011Publication date: March 14, 2013Applicant: UOP LLCInventors: David S. Lafyatis, Edwin P. Boldingh, Eric J. Baker, James A. Johnson, Robert B. Larson
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Patent number: 7626064Abstract: This invention embodies a catalyst and a process for transalkylation of C7, C9, and C10 aromatics to obtain a high yield of xylenes. The catalyst comprises a novel UZM-14 catalytic material comprising globular aggregates of crystallites having a MOR framework type with a mean crystallite length parallel to the direction of the 12-ring channels of about 60 nm or less and a mesopore volume of at least about 0.10 cc/gram. The UZM-14 catalyst is particularly active and stable in a transalkylation process.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2008Date of Patent: December 1, 2009Assignee: UOP LLCInventors: Edwin P. Boldingh, Michael G. Gatter, Susan C. Koster, David S. Lafyatis, Terrence E. Deak, Eric J. Baker, Robert W. Broach, Deng-Yang Jan, Jaime G. Moscoso
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Patent number: 7605295Abstract: The subject invention comprises an aromatics complex to improve yields from a mixed aromatics feed. Through the use of a novel catalyst having higher activity and stability in a transalkylation unit in the complex, a higher xylene yield is obtained.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2008Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: UOP LLCInventors: David S. Lafyatis, Edwin P. Boldingh, Antoine Negiz, Edward M. Casey
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Patent number: 5939028Abstract: The hydrocarbon light-off time in engine exhaust is reduced by employing a hydrogen oxidation catalyst, a CO oxidation catalyst of light-off temperature for CO and/or hydrogen below ambient temperature, and sufficient oxygen and sufficient CO and/or hydrogen in the exhaust that the exothermic reaction of the oxygen with the CO and/or hydrogen over the CO oxidation catalyst generates enough heat to raise the temperature of the CO oxidation catalyst to at least the light-off temperature of the hydrocarbon oxidation catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 1997Date of Patent: August 17, 1999Assignee: Johnson Matthey PLCInventors: Stephen C Bennett, Jonathan C Frost, David S Lafyatis, Andrew P Walker
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Patent number: 5776417Abstract: Substantial improvements in the control of pollutants from internal combustion engines may be obtained by pre-drying a catalyst/hydrocarbon trap system and preferably incorporating a water trap in a catalyst/hydrocarbon trap system. A pre-drying system dries the water trap, HC trap and catalyst, eg upon engine switch-off.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 1996Date of Patent: July 7, 1998Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited CompanyInventors: Johnathan C. Frost, Stephen C. Bennett, David S. Lafyatis, Andrew P. Walker
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Patent number: 5470814Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved catalyst for the selective synthesis of monomethylamine (MMA) and dimethylamine (DMA) at the expense of trimethylamine (TMA) for a starting feed of methanol and/or dimethyl ether and ammonia. The current industrial catalyst for this process is a standard SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 material. The present invention combines this standard catalyst with microporous carbon molecular sieves (CMS) to form a composite material (i.e., a CMS/SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 material) with higher selectivity for the desired products MMA and DMA. The invention also relates to methods of making the improved catalyst and a process of using the improved catalyst material in the production of MMA and DMA.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 1994Date of Patent: November 28, 1995Assignees: University of Delaware, E. I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc.Inventors: Henry C. Foley, George C. Sonnichsen, Loren D. Brake, Ravindra K. Mariwala, David S. Lafyatis
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Patent number: 5354893Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved catalyst for the selective synthesis of monomethylamine (MMA) and dimethylamine (DMA) at the expense of trimethylamine (TMA) for a starting feed of methanol and/or dimethyl ether and ammonia. The current industrial catalyst for this process is a standard SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 material. The present invention combines this standard catalyst with microporous carbon molecular sieves (CMS) to form a composite material (i.e., a CMS/SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 material) with higher selectivity for the desired products MMA and DMA. The invention also relates to methods of making the improved catalyst and a process of using the improved catalyst material in the production of MMA and DMA.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 1993Date of Patent: October 11, 1994Assignees: The University of Delaware, E. I. Du Pont de Nemours Company, Inc.Inventors: Henry C. Foley, George C. Sonnichsen, Loren D. Brake, Ravindra K. Mariwala, David S. Lafyatis