Patents by Inventor Michael D. Staley

Michael D. Staley 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).

  • Isolation of carboxylic acids from fermentation broth
    Patent number: 6777213
    Abstract: A process for recovering carboxylic acids from an aqueous mixture such as a fermentation broth using a solvent containing at least one olefin without the need for first removing the spent microorganism cells is provided. A co-solvent which increases the partition coefficient of the solvent relative to the carboxylic acid may optionally be included. The resulting carboxylic acid is hydrogenated to produce a saturated carboxylic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Cognis Corporation
    Inventor: Michael D. Staley
  • Isolation of carboxylic acids from fermentation broth
    Publication number: 20040082042
    Abstract: A process for recovering carboxylic acids from an aqueous mixture such as a fermentation broth using a solvent containing at least one olefin without the need for first removing the spent microorganism cells is provided. A co-solvent which increases the partition coefficient of the solvent relative to the carboxylic acid may optionally be included. The resulting carboxylic acid is hydrogenated to produce a saturated carboxylic acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventor: Michael D. Staley
  • Isolation of carboxylic acids from fermentation broth
    Patent number: 6660505
    Abstract: A process for recovering carboxylic acids from an aqueous mixture such as a fermentation broth using a solvent containing at least one olefin without the need for first removing the spent microorganism cells is provided. A co-solvent which increases the partition coefficient of the solvent relative to the carboxylic acid may optionally be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Cognis Corporation
    Inventor: Michael D. Staley
  • Transesterification process
    Patent number: 6489496
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process for making an alkyl ester of a carboxylic acid via transesterification comprising the steps of: (1) reacting a carboxylic acid ester with an alcohol and an effective amount of a transesterification catalyst in a reaction zone to form a reaction mixture comprised of a product ester and a product alcohol; (2) passing the reaction mixture from step (1) through a centrifugal separation zone wherein the second alcohol is separated from the second ester. The process according to the invention allows for shorter reaction times and improved product yields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Cognis Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Barnhorst, Michael D. Staley, Dean A. Oester
  • Process for purifying polycarboxylic acids
    Patent number: 6376223
    Abstract: Polycarboxylic acids are purified by contacting a crude polycarboxylic acid with a solvent to produce a substantially pure polycarboxylic acid. The solvent is chosen so that the impurities are soluble in the solvent and the polycarboxylic acid is insoluble in the solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Cognis Corporation
    Inventor: Michael D. Staley
  • Isolation of carboxylic acids from fermentation broth
    Publication number: 20020037563
    Abstract: A process for recovering carboxylic acids from an aqueous mixture such as a fermentation broth using a solvent containing at least one olefin without the need for first removing the spent microorganism cells is provided. A co-solvent which increases the partition coefficient of the solvent relative to the carboxylic acid may optionally be included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Inventor: Michael D. Staley
  • Transesterification process
    Publication number: 20020028961
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process for making an alkyl ester of a carboxylic acid via transesterification comprising the steps of: (1) reacting a carboxylic acid ester with an alcohol and an effective amount of a transesterification catalyst in a reaction zone to form a reaction mixture comprised of a product ester and a product alcohol; (2) passing the reaction mixture from step (1) through a centrifugal separation zone wherein the second alcohol is separated from the second ester. The process according to the invention allows for shorter reaction times and improved product yields.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Barnhorst, Michael D. Staley, Dean A. Oester
  • Reduction of the carbonyl value of carboxylic acids and derivatives of carboxylic acids and derivatives of carboxylic acids
    Patent number: 6245942
    Abstract: A method for reducing the carbonyl value of a composition containing carboxylic acid or carboxylic acid derivative includes contacting the composition containing carboxylic acid or carboxylic acid derivative with an amount of a catalyst and active methylene compound effective to lower the carboxyl value of the composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Henkel Corporation
    Inventor: Michael D. Staley