Patents by Inventor R. Jay Warner

R. Jay Warner 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).

  • Esterifying acetic acid to produce ester feed for hydrogenolysis
    Patent number: 8859827
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for alcohol production by reducing an esterification product, such as ethyl acetate. The processes comprise esterifying an excess molar ratio of acetic acid with an alcohol, such as ethanol, to produce the esterification product. The esterification product is reduced with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a crude reaction mixture comprising the alcohol, in particular ethanol, which may be separated from the crude reaction mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: R. Jay Warner, Wei Qi, Tatiana H. Sonnenberg
  • Processes for producing denatured ethanol
    Patent number: 8858659
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing a denatured ethanol composition comprising the steps of hydrogenating an acetic acid feed in the presence of a catalyst to form a crude ethanol product comprising ethanol, and at least one denaturant and separating the crude ethanol product in one or more separation units into a denatured ethanol composition and one or more derivative streams. The denatured ethanol composition comprises from 0.01 wt. % to 40 wt % denaturant, based on the total weight of the denatured ethanol composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Victor J. Johnston, Lincoln Sarager, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner, Trinity Horton, Radmila Jevtic
  • Vapor esterification method to produce ester feed for hydrogenolysis
    Patent number: 8853468
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for alcohol production by reducing an esterification product, such as ethyl acetate. The processes comprise esterifying, in the vapor phase, acetic acid and an alcohol such as ethanol to produce the esterification product. The esterification product is reduced with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a crude reaction mixture comprising the alcohol, in particular ethanol, which may be separated from the crude reaction mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: R. Jay Warner, Wei Qi, Tatiana H. Sonnenberg
  • Esterifying an ethanol and acetic acid mixture to produce an ester feed for hydrogenolysis
    Patent number: 8853470
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for alcohol production by hydrogenating acetic acid to obtain a mixture of ethanol and acetic acid, esterifying the mixture to produce an esterification product and reducing the esterification product. The mixture may provide a sufficient amount of ethanol and acetic acid for esterification and reduces the need for additional acetic acid and/or ethanol. This may reduce the recycle of ethanol in the hydrogenolysis process and improve ethanol productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Victor J. Johnston, David Lee, Adam Orosco, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner, Radmila Wollrab, Zhenhua Zhou, Emily Duff, Iva Franjkic
  • Combined column for separating products of different hydrogenation reactors
    Patent number: 8853469
    Abstract: Recovery of ethanol from a crude product comprising ethyl acetate obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. The crude product is separated to form an organic stream that may be subjected to hydrogenolysis to form ethanol. The organic phase may comprise ethyl acetate is reacted via hydrogenolysis form ethanol that may be directly or indirectly fed to the separation zone or the hydrogenation reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Victor J. Johnston, David Lee, Mark O. Scates, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner, Radmila Wollrab, Zhenhua Zhou, Emily Duff, Andrew Shuff
  • Water separation from crude alcohol product
    Patent number: 8846986
    Abstract: Recovery of alcohol, in particular ethanol, from a crude product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid using various combinations of membranes and/or distillation columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: David Lee, Adam Orosco, Lincoln Sarager, R. Jay Warner, Trinity Horton, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston
  • Liquid esterification for the production of alcohols
    Patent number: 8846988
    Abstract: Purifying and/or recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. Separation and purification processes of crude ethanol mixture are employed to allow recovery of ethanol and remove impurities. In addition, the process involves returning acetaldehyde separated from the crude ethanol product to the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Radmila Jevtic, Victor Johnston, Lincoln Sarager, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner, Trinity Horton
  • Ethanol separation process having stripping section for reducing acetals
    Patent number: 8846987
    Abstract: To reduce acetal concentrations when separating ethanol from a crude product in one or more distillation column, at least one of the columns has a stripping section that comprises at least 40 stages to favor hydrolysis of the acetal. The crude product may comprise ethanol, acetaldehyde, water and one or more acetals, such as diethyl acetal. The acetal concentration may be reduced thus reducing the need to separate acetal from the crude product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: David Lee, Adam Orosco, Lincoln Sarager, R. Jay Warner, Victor J. Johnston
  • SINGLE PHASE ESTER FEED FOR HYDROGENOLYSIS
    Publication number: 20140275640
    Abstract: The process involves esterifying ethanol and acetic acid to produce an esterification product that is in a single phase that is directly reduced, by hydrogenolysis, to produce ethanol. The single phase is not capable of separating. Feeding a single phase feed stream reduces the separation of the esterification product. Hydrogen may be fed to the esterification reactor that operates at a high pressure that is substantially similar to or greater than the hydrogenolysis reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatiana H. Sonnenberg, Wei Qi, R. Jay Warner
  • THERMOCHEMICALLY PRODUCED ETHANOL COMPOSITIONS
    Publication number: 20140275637
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is to an ethanol composition comprising at least 92 wt. % ethanol and from 20 wppm to 94 wppm isopropanol. The composition may be free of methanol and acetaldehyde.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatiana H. Sonnenberg, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner
  • Integrated esterification and hydrogenolysis process for producing ethanol
    Patent number: 8829249
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for alcohol production by reducing an esterification product, such as ethyl acetate. The processes comprise esterifying acetic acid and an alcohol such as ethanol to produce an esterification product. The esterification product is reduced with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a crude reaction mixture comprising the alcohol, in particular ethanol, which may be separated from the crude reaction mixture. The crude reaction mixture may be further purified to recover ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: R. Jay Warner, Wei Qi, Tatiana Sonnenberg
  • Finishing reactor for purifying ethanol
    Patent number: 8829250
    Abstract: A process for purifying ethanol by using a finishing reactor to remove impurities, such as ethyl acetate, acetaldehyde, acetic acid, and diethyl acetal, present in ethanol after distilling a crude product from a hydrogenation reactor. The finishing reactor may reduce the impurities in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst or may hydrolyze the impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Lincoln Sarager, R. Jay Warner, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, David Lee
  • Liquid esterification method to produce ester feed for hydrogenolysis
    Patent number: 8829251
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for alcohol production by reducing an esterification product, such as ethyl acetate. The processes comprise esterifying, in the liquid phase, acetic acid and an alcohol such as ethanol to produce an esterification product. The esterification product is reduced with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a crude reaction mixture comprising the alcohol, in particular ethanol, which may be separated from the crude reaction mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: R. Jay Warner, Wei Qi, Tatiana H. Sonnenberg
  • Pressure driven distillation for ethanol production and recovery from hydrogenation process
    Patent number: 8802902
    Abstract: Recovery of alcohols, in particular ethanol, from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid using pressure driven distillation to separate the crude ethanol product. The crude ethanol product may be fed to a distillations column in which a substantial portion of the water is removed with the acetic acid in the residue. A second column is at higher pressure than a first column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: R. Jay Warner, David Lee, Adam Orosco
  • Continuous ethyl acetate production and hydrogenolysis thereof
    Patent number: 8802901
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for alcohol production by reducing an esterification product, such as ethyl acetate. The processes comprise esterifying acetic acid and an alcohol such as ethanol to produce an esterification product. The esterification product is reduced with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a crude reaction mixture comprising the alcohol, in particular ethanol, which may be separated from the crude reaction mixture. Ethyl acetate from the crude reaction mixture may be recovered as returned to assist in recovering the esterification product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: R. Jay Warner, Wei Qi, Tatiana Sonnenberg
  • Processes for purifying acetic anhydride
    Patent number: 8759576
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for purifying acetic anhydride. The process includes the steps of feeding a liquid crude acetic anhydride stream directly to a distillation column and separating the liquid crude acetic anhydride stream to produce a light ends stream, a sidedraw and a residue stream. The sidedraw comprises substantially pure acetic anhydride product. The distillation column is operated at a pressure less than 101 kPa. The substantially pure acetic anhydride product comprises greater than 98 wt. % acetic anhydride, has a permanganate time of greater than 10 minutes, and has an APHA color of less than 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: R. Jay Warner, Melchoir Meilchen, Nathan Kirk Powell
  • Process for removing water from alcohol mixtures
    Patent number: 8754268
    Abstract: A process for removing water from an alcohol mixture, such as an ethanol mixture in the production of ethanol by hydrogenating acetic acid. The water is removed from a distillate of a first column using an adsorption unit, membrane, extractive column distillation, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: David Lee, Adam Orosco, Nathan Powell, Manuel Salado, Lincoln Sarager, R. Jay Warner, Trinity Horton, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston
  • Process for separating acetaldehyde from ethanol-containing mixtures
    Patent number: 8754267
    Abstract: Purifying and/or recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. Separation and purification processes of crude ethanol mixture are employed to allow recovery of ethanol and remove impurities. In particular, light ends are separated in an acetaldehyde removal column operating at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure to recover acetaldehyde that may be returned to the reactor and reduce acetaldehyde concentrations in an ethyl acetate stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner, Nathan Bower, Josefina T. Chapman, Gerald Grusendorf, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston
  • Separation process having an alcohol sidestream
    Patent number: 8748674
    Abstract: Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. The crude ethanol product is fed to a distillation column to yield an ethanol sidestream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: David Lee, Adam Orosco, Lincoln Sarager, R. Jay Warner, Radmila Wollrab, Trinity Horton Hale, Victor J. Johnston
  • Ethanol/fuel blends for use as motor fuels
    Patent number: 8747492
    Abstract: An ethanol/fuel blend composition. The ethanol/fuel blend composition includes an ethanol composition including at least 92 wt. % ethanol, and from 95 wppm to 1,000 wppm isopropanol and a fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Trinity Horton, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, Lincoln Sarager, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner, Gerald Grusendorf