Patents by Inventor Joseph Broun Powell

Joseph Broun Powell 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: 9404217
    Abstract: A selective removal of metal and its anion species that are detrimental to subsequent hydrothermal hydrocatalytic conversion from the biomass feed prior to carrying out catalytic hydrogenation/hydrogenolysis/hydrodeoxygenation of the biomass in a manner that does not reduce the effectiveness of the hydrothermal hydrocatalytic treatment while minimizing the amount of water used in the process is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Joseph Broun Powell, Juben Nemchand Chheda
  • Patent number: 9399837
    Abstract: A selective removal of metal and its anion species that are detrimental to subsequent hydrothermal hydrocatalytic conversion from the biomass feed prior to carrying out catalytic hydrogenation/hydrogenolyzis/hydrodeoxygenation of the biomass in a manner that does not reduce the effectiveness of the hydrothermal hydrocatalytic treatment while minimizing the amount of water used in the process is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Joseph Broun Powell, Juben Nemchand Chheda
  • Patent number: 9399836
    Abstract: A selective removal chlorine and phosphorus that are detrimental to subsequent hydrothermal hydrocatalytic conversion from the biomass feed prior to carrying out catalytic hydrogenation/hydrogenolyzis/hydrodeoxygenation of the biomass in a manner that does not reduce the effectiveness of the hydrothermal hydrocatalytic treatment while minimizing the amount of water used in the process is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Joseph Broun Powell, Juben Nemchand Chheda
  • Patent number: 9394486
    Abstract: A selective removal of metal and its anion species that are detrimental to subsequent hydrothermal hydrocatalytic conversion from the biomass feed prior to carrying out catalytic hydrogenation/hydrogenolysis/hydrodeoxygenation of the biomass in a manner that does not reduce the effectiveness of the hydrothermal hydrocatalytic treatment while minimizing the amount of water used in the process is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Joseph Broun Powell, Juben Nemchand Chheda
  • Patent number: 9394485
    Abstract: A method to produce biofuels from biomass is provide by contacting the biomass with an aqueous media to form an extracted biomass, separating at least a portion of an aqueous liquor from the extracted biomass thereby providing the aqueous liquor stream comprising soluble carbohydrates; contacting the aqueous liquor stream with a purification substrate effective to remove sulfur compounds and nitrogen compounds thereby producing a treated carbohydrate stream having less than 35% of the sulfur content and less than 35% of the nitrogen content of the untreated aqueous liquor feed, based on the untreated aqueous liquor stream, then contacting the treated carbohydrate stream with an aqueous phase reforming catalyst to form a plurality of oxygenated intermediates; and processing at least a portion of the oxygenated intermediates to form a liquid fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Joseph Broun Powell, Juben Nemchand Chheda
  • Patent number: 9388344
    Abstract: A method comprising providing a carbohydrate feed; contacting at least a portion of the carbohydrate feed directly with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenolysis catalyst to produce a first reaction product comprising a stable hydroxyl intermediate; contacting at least a portion of the first reaction product comprising the stably hydroxyl intermediates with a dehydrogenation catalyst to form a second reaction product; and contacting at least a portion of the second reaction product with a condensation catalyst comprising a base functionality to form a fuel blend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Juben Nemchand Chheda, Lorna Beatriz Ortiz-Soto, Joseph Broun Powell
  • Publication number: 20160184796
    Abstract: Separation of a product of digestion of cellulosic biomass solids may be challenging due to the various components contained therein. Methods and systems for processing cellulosic biomass, particularly a reaction product of a hydrothermal reaction containing lignin-derived products, such as phenolics, comprise providing the reaction product to a separation zone comprising a liquid-liquid extraction or phase separation unit. The liquid-liquid extraction or phase separation unit can provide an aqueous portion and a non-aqueous portion, where these portions can be separated into various fractions individually. For example, desirable compounds in the aqueous portion and non-aqueous portion can be recovered from the portions individually and optionally combined to be further processed into a fuels product. Heavier components in the aqueous portion and non-aqueous portion can be recovered from the portions individually and used in the process, such as phenolics that can be used as a digestion solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph Broun POWELL, Glenn Charles KOMPLIN, Juben Nemchand CHHEDA
  • Publication number: 20160184734
    Abstract: Separation of a product of digestion of cellulosic biomass solids may be challenging due to the various components contained therein. Methods and systems for processing cellulosic biomass, particularly a reaction product of a hydrothermal reaction containing lignin-derived products, such as phenolics, comprise providing the reaction product to a separation zone comprising a liquid-liquid extraction unit. The liquid-liquid extraction unit can provide an aqueous portion and a non-aqueous portion, where these portions can be separated into various fractions individually. For example, desirable compounds in the aqueous portion and non-aqueous portion can be recovered from the portions individually and optionally combined to be further processed into a fuels product. Heavier components in the aqueous portion and non-aqueous portion can be recovered from the portions individually and used in the process, such as phenolics that can be used as a digestion solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph Broun Powell, Glenn Charles Komplin, Juben Nemchand Chheda
  • Publication number: 20160186066
    Abstract: Separation of a product of digestion of cellulosic biomass solids may be challenging due to the various components contained therein. Methods and systems for processing cellulosic biomass, particularly a reaction product of a hydrothermal reaction containing lignin-derived products, such as phenolics, comprise providing the reaction product of a further processing (such as condensation reaction) comprising a liquid-liquid extraction unit. The liquid-liquid extraction unit can provide an aqueous portion and a non-aqueous portion, where these portions can be separated into various fractions individually. For example, desirable compounds in the aqueous portion and non-aqueous portion can be recovered from the portions individually and optionally combined to be further processed into a fuels product. Heavier components in the aqueous portion and non-aqueous portion can be recovered from the portions individually and used in the process, such as phenolics that can be used as a digestion solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: JOSEPH BROUN POWELL, GLENN CHARLES KOMPLIN, JUBEN NEMCHAND CHHEDA
  • Publication number: 20160186068
    Abstract: Separation of a product of digestion of cellulosic biomass solids may be challenging due to the various components contained therein. Methods and systems for processing cellulosic biomass, particularly a reaction product of a hydrothermal reaction containing lignin-derived products, such as phenolics, comprise providing the reaction product to a separation zone comprising a liquid-liquid extraction unit. The liquid-liquid extraction unit can provide an aqueous portion and a non-aqueous portion, where these portions can be separated into various fractions individually. For example, desirable compounds in the aqueous portion and non-aqueous portion can be recovered from the portions individually and optionally combined to be further processed into a fuels product. Heavier components in the aqueous portion and non-aqueous portion can be recovered from the portions individually and used in the process, such as phenolics that can be used as a digestion solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph Broun Powell, Glenn Charles Komplin, Juben Nemchand Chheda
  • Publication number: 20160186073
    Abstract: Separation of a product of digestion of cellulosic biomass solids may be challenging due to the various components contained therein. Methods and systems for processing cellulosic biomass, particularly a reaction product of a hydrothermal reaction containing lignin-derived products, such as phenolics, and organic salts, comprise providing acid solution to the organic salt containing process stream to convert the organic acid salts to acids to for further processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph Broun POWELL, Glenn Charles KOMPLIN, Juben Nemchand CHHEDA
  • Publication number: 20160184795
    Abstract: Separation of a product of digestion of cellulosic biomass solids may be challenging due to the various components contained therein. Methods and systems for processing cellulosic biomass, particularly a reaction product of a hydrothermal reaction containing lignin-derived products, such as phenolics, comprise providing the reaction product to a separation zone comprising a liquid-liquid phase separation unit. The liquid-liquid phase separation unit can provide an aqueous portion and a non-aqueous portion, where these portions can be separated into various fractions individually. For example, desirable compounds in the aqueous portion and non-aqueous portion can be recovered from the portions individually and optionally combined to be further processed into a fuels product. Heavier components in the aqueous portion and non-aqueous portion can be recovered from the portions individually and used in the process, such as phenolics that can be used as a digestion solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph Broun POWELL, Glenn Charles KOMPLIN, Juben Nemchand CHHEDA
  • Publication number: 20160184797
    Abstract: Separation of a product of digestion of cellulosic biomass solids may be challenging due to the various components contained therein. Methods and systems for processing cellulosic biomass, particularly a reaction product of a hydrothermal reaction containing lignin-derived products, such as phenolics, comprise providing the reaction product to a separation zone comprising a liquid-liquid extraction unit. The liquid-liquid extraction unit can provide an aqueous portion and a non-aqueous portion, where these portions can be separated into various fractions individually. For example, desirable compounds in the aqueous portion and non-aqueous portion can be recovered from the portions individually and optionally combined to be further processed into a fuels product. Heavier components in the aqueous portion and non-aqueous portion can be recovered from the portions individually and used in the process, such as phenolics that can be used as a digestion solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph Broun POWELL, Glenn Charles KOMPLIN, Juben Nemchand CHHEDA
  • Patent number: 9376355
    Abstract: Digestion of cellulosic biomass solids may be complicated by release of lignin therefrom. Methods for digesting cellulosic biomass solids may comprise: providing cellulosic biomass solids in the presence of a digestion solvent, molecular hydrogen, and a slurry catalyst capable of activating molecular hydrogen; at least partially converting the cellulosic biomass solids into a phenolics liquid phase comprising lignin, an aqueous phase comprising a glycol derived from the cellulosic biomass solids, and an optional light organics phase; wherein at least a portion of the slurry catalyst accumulates in the phenolics liquid phase as it forms; combining the glycol with the phenolics liquid phase, thereby forming a combined phase; and heating the combined phase in the presence of molecular hydrogen; wherein heating the combined phase reduces the viscosity of the phenolics liquid phase and transforms at least a portion of the glycol into a monohydric alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Joseph Broun Powell, Kimberly Ann Johnson
  • Patent number: 9376501
    Abstract: Digestion of cellulosic biomass solids can be enhanced in the presence of a phenolic solvent. Methods for digesting cellulosic biomass solids can comprise providing cellulosic biomass solids in a digestion medium comprising water and an organic solvent; heating the cellulosic biomass solids and the digestion medium in a digestion unit in the presence of molecular hydrogen and a slurry catalyst capable of activating molecular hydrogen, thereby forming an alcoholic component and liberating lignin, the lignin forming a phenolics liquid phase partitioned from the digestion medium and at least a portion of the slurry catalyst accumulating in the phenolics liquid phase; removing at least a portion of the phenolics liquid phase and accumulated slurry catalyst from the digestion unit; converting at least a portion of the phenolics liquid phase into a phenolic solvent; and returning at least a portion of the phenolic solvent and the slurry catalyst to the digestion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Joseph Broun Powell
  • Publication number: 20160177200
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a process for hydroprocessing a hydrocarbon feedstock. The process utilizes a horizontal bubble reactor for slurry hydroprocessing of a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock having an API Gravity of less than 20, where the reactor is fitted with one or more vapor-only outlets to provide intrinsic separation of catalyst from product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph Broun POWELL, Kuochen TSAI, Ryan Anthony SOTHEN, Ryan Mark STEPHENS, Shyamal K. BEJ, Nihar PHALAK, Vikramaditya CHIKYALA, Alouisius Nicolaas Renée BOS
  • Patent number: 9371488
    Abstract: A method for thermo-catalytically producing C4+ hydrocarbons from lignocellulosic biomass solids is provided by reducing the water content of the biomass feed prior to biomass hydrothermal hydrocatalytic conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Joseph Broun Powell, Kimberly Ann Johnson
  • Patent number: 9353478
    Abstract: A selective removal of chlorine and phosphorus that are detrimental to subsequent hydrothermal hydrocatalytic conversion from the biomass feed prior to carrying out catalytic hydrogenation/hydrogenolysis/hydrodeoxygenation of the biomass in a manner that does not reduce the effectiveness of the hydrothermal hydrocatalytic treatment while minimizing the amount of water used in the process is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Joseph Broun Powell, Juben Nemchand Chheda
  • Patent number: 9353031
    Abstract: Hydrothermal digestion of cellulosic biomass solids may be conducted such that a glycol reaction product is formed for subsequent processing. Processing of a glycol reaction product may include a drying operation conducted prior to condensation of the glycol reaction product into higher molecular weight compounds. Methods for digesting cellulosic biomass solids to form a glycol reaction product can comprise: providing cellulosic biomass solids and a slurry catalyst in a hydrothermal digestion unit, the slurry catalyst being capable of activating molecular hydrogen; heating the cellulosic biomass solids in the hydrothermal digestion unit in the presence of the slurry catalyst, a digestion solvent, and molecular hydrogen, thereby forming a liquor phase comprising soluble carbohydrates; and performing a first catalytic reduction reaction on the soluble carbohydrates within the hydrothermal digestion unit, thereby at least partially converting the soluble carbohydrates into a reaction product comprising a glycol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Joseph Broun Powell, Kimberly Ann Johnson
  • Patent number: 9347178
    Abstract: A selective removal of chlorine and phosphorus that are detrimental to subsequent hydrothermal hydrocatalytic conversion from the biomass feed prior to carrying out catalytic hydrogenation/hydrogenolyzis/hydrodeoxygenation of the biomass in a manner that does not reduce the effectiveness of the hydrothermal hydrocatalytic treatment while minimizing the amount of water used in the process is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Joseph Broun Powell, Juben Nemchand Chheda