Patents by Inventor Gunter Wiesgickl

Gunter Wiesgickl 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).

  • Process for producing gamma-butyrolactone
    Patent number: 5536849
    Abstract: Gamma-butyrolactone is produced by catalytic hydrogenation of maleic anhydride in the vapor phase in the presence of copper chromite based catalysts in reduced form. The reaction is carried out using a substantially uniform catalyst derived substantially from the three components cupric oxide, chromic oxide, and silicon dioxide. The ratio of CuO to Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 to SiO.sub.2 is preferably about 78:20:2. It can prove advantageous to use an inert gas such as nitrogen as a diluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Akzo Nobel N.V.
    Inventors: Manfred Bergfeld, Gunter Wiesgickl
  • Process for producing pyrrolidone and N-alkyl pyrrolidones
    Patent number: 5478950
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing pyrrolidone and N-alkyl pyrrolidones from saturated or unsaturated 1,4-dicarboxylic acids or their anhydrides, hydrogen, and a primary amine, characterized in that the dicarboxylic acid or its anhydride is allowed to react in an appropriate reactor with hydrogen or ammonia via a first catalyst bed and the unisolated intermediate product is subsequently reacted with the primary amine or ammonia directly via a second, downstream catalyst bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Akzo Nobel N.V.
    Inventors: Manfred Bergfeld, Gunter Wiesgickl