Patents by Inventor Raymond J. Zinobile
Raymond J. Zinobile 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: 8461379Abstract: This invention relates to processes for producing acetic acid from carbon monoxide and, in particular, to improved processes, wherein at least one reactant is fed upstream of a reactor recycle pump and/or to a pump-around loop.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2010Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: Celanese International CorporationInventors: G. Paull Torrence, Raymond J. Zinobile
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Publication number: 20130140722Abstract: A distillation column is provided with a downcomer having an enlarged upper region to increase a processing rate for the removal of permanganate reducing compounds (PRCs) formed by the carbonylation of methanol in the presence of a catalyst to produce acetic acid. The distillation column includes a vertically extending distillation housing; and a plurality of tray assemblies, at least one of which includes a horizontally extending tray panel and a downcomer having, in a downward direction, an enlarged, funnel-shaped upper region defined by a top downcomer panel oriented at an angle to the vertical, and a lower region of substantially constant cross-sectional area defined by a vertically-oriented bottom downcomer panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2011Publication date: June 6, 2013Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONInventors: Raymond J. Zinobile, Ashok Rakhe
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Publication number: 20130116476Abstract: An integrated process for producing ethanol, comprising the step of reacting carbon monoxide with at least one reactant in a reactor containing a reaction medium to produce a liquid reaction product comprising acetic acid. The reaction medium comprises water, acetic acid, methyl acetate, a halogen promoter, and a first catalyst. The process further comprises the steps of directly feeding the liquid reaction product from the reactor to a distillation column and withdrawing from it an overhead stream comprising methyl acetate, and/or halogen promoter, a bottoms stream comprising a solution of the first catalyst, and a liquid acetic acid sidestream; and hydrogenating acetic acid of the liquid acetic acid sidestream in the presence of a second catalyst and under conditions effective to form a crude ethanol product comprising ethanol and water. No flashing vessel is used to purify the liquid reaction product. Ethanol is recovered from the crude ethanol product.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2011Publication date: May 9, 2013Applicant: Celanese International CorporationInventors: David Lee, Lincoln Sarager, Mark O. Scates, Ronald D. Shaver, James H. Zink, Raymond J. Zinobile
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Publication number: 20130116477Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing ethanol, comprising the step of reacting carbon monoxide with at least one reactant in a reactor containing a reaction medium to produce a liquid reaction product comprising acetic acid. The process further comprises the step of separating the reaction product in a flasher into a liquid recycle stream and a vapor stream. The vapor stream is then distilled in a rectification tower and an overhead stream and an acetic acid stream are withdrawn therefrom, wherein the acetic acid is substantially free of halogen promoters. The process further comprises the step of hydrogenating acetic acid of the acetic acid stream in the presence of a second catalyst and under conditions effective to form a crude ethanol product comprising ethanol and water. Ethanol is recovered from the crude ethanol product.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2011Publication date: May 9, 2013Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONInventors: MARK O. SCATES, RONALD D. SHAVER, JAMES H. ZINK, RAYMOND J. ZINOBILE
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Publication number: 20130116480Abstract: Described is an integrated process for producing ethanol from acetic acid in which the water from ethanol production is used to control water balance in the acetic acid production. In one embodiment, the invention comprises carbonylating methanol in a carbonylation system in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst under conditions effective to form acetic acid, hydrogenating the acetic acid in a hydrogenation system in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to form a crude ethanol product comprising ethanol and water, separating the ethanol from the water to form an ethanol stream and a water stream, and directing at least a portion of the water stream to the carbonylation system, e.g., for use in the carbonylation reaction medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2011Publication date: May 9, 2013Applicant: Celanese International CorporationInventors: Victor J. Johnston, Mark O. Scates, Ronald D. Shaver, Raymond J. Zinobile
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Patent number: 8378141Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of heating a light ends column through directing one or more vapor side streams from a drying column to the light ends column. The present invention is also directed to a carbonylation process for producing acetic acid, wherein one or more vapor streams from a drying column provide the external energy required to drive separation in the light ends column.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2010Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: Celanese International CorporationInventors: Raymond J. Zinobile, Ronald David Shaver
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Patent number: 8318977Abstract: A methanol carbonylation system 10 includes an absorber tower 75 adapted for receiving a vent gas stream and removing methyl iodide therefrom with a scrubber solvent, the absorber tower being coupled to first and second scrubber solvent sources 16, 56 which are capable of supplying different first and second scrubber solvents. A switching system including valves 90, 92, 94, 96, 98 alternatively provides first or second scrubber solvents to the absorber tower and returns the used solvent and sorbed material to the carbonylation system to accommodate different operating modes.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2009Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Celanese International CorporationInventors: Raymond J. Zinobile, Tommy W. Doggett, Lun-kuang Liu
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Publication number: 20120277489Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing ethanol and recovering methyl iodide, the process comprising the steps of carbonylating methanol in a carbonylation system in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst under conditions effective to form acetic acid; hydrogenating the acetic acid in a hydrogenation system in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to form a crude ethanol product comprising ethanol and water; and separating the crude ethanol product to form an ethanol stream and a water stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2011Publication date: November 1, 2012Applicant: Celanese International CorporationInventors: Mark O. Scates, Ronald D. Shaver, James H. Zink, Raymond J. Zinobile, Oyeyemi Oyerinde
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Publication number: 20120264974Abstract: A process for the reduction and/or removal of permanganate reducing compounds formed by the carbonylation of methanol in the presence of a Group VIII metal carbonylation catalyst to produce acetic acid is disclosed. More specifically, a process for reducing and/or removing permanganate reducing compounds or their precursors from intermediate streams during the formation of acetic acid by said carbonylation processes is disclosed. In particular, a process in which a low boiling overhead vapor stream from a light ends column is subjected to a single distillation to obtain an overhead that is subjected to an extraction to selectively remove and/or reduce PRC's from the process is disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2012Publication date: October 18, 2012Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONInventors: Raymond J. Zinobile, Mark O. Scates, Jonathan A. Makelki, Manuel Salado
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Patent number: 8207377Abstract: A process for the reduction and/or removal of permanganate reducing compounds formed by the carbonylation of methanol in the presence of a Group VIII metal carbonylation catalyst to produce acetic acid is disclosed. More specifically, a process for reducing and/or removing permanganate reducing compounds or their precursors from intermediate streams during the formation of acetic acid by said carbonylation processes is disclosed. In particular, a process in which a low boiling overhead vapor stream from a light ends column is subjected to a single distillation to obtain an overhead that is subjected to an extraction to selectively remove and/or reduce PRC's from the process is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2010Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: Celanese International CorporationInventors: Raymond J. Zinobile, Mark O. Scates, Jonathan A. Makelki, Manuel Salado
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Publication number: 20120130123Abstract: A method for producing acetic acid at increased production rates. The method may include a heat transfer system for generating a steam product from the heat of the reaction. In addition, the method may include multiple drying columns. The steam product may be integrated with at least one of the multiple drying columns.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2010Publication date: May 24, 2012Applicant: Celanese International CorporationInventor: Raymond J. Zinobile
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Publication number: 20120088929Abstract: This invention relates to processes for producing acetic acid from carbon monoxide and, in particular, to improved processes, wherein at least one reactant is fed upstream of a reactor recycle pump and/or to a pump-around loop.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2010Publication date: April 12, 2012Applicant: Celanese International CorporationInventors: G. Paull Torrence, Raymond J. Zinobile
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Publication number: 20120078011Abstract: The present invention relates to improved processes for the manufacture of acetic acid. A pump around reactor is used to produce additional heat for the production of steam. The pump around reactor receives a portion of the reaction solution produced by the carbonylation reactor and further reacts that portion with additional carbon monoxide and/or reactants.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2010Publication date: March 29, 2012Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONInventor: Raymond J. Zinobile
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Publication number: 20120041230Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of heating a light ends column through directing one or more vapor side streams from a drying column to the light ends column. The present invention is also directed to a carbonylation process for producing acetic acid, wherein one or more vapor streams from a drying column provide the external energy required to drive separation in the light ends column.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2010Publication date: February 16, 2012Applicant: Celanese International CorporationInventors: Raymond J. Zinobile, Ronald David Shaver
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Patent number: 8076507Abstract: An improvement of the methanol carbonylation process for manufacturing acetic acid is disclosed. Specifically disclosed is a method for reducing the formation of alkyl iodides and C3-8 carboxylic acids by removing permanganate reducing compounds (“PRC's”) from the light phase of the condensed light ends overhead stream, including (a) distilling the light phase to yield a PRC enriched overhead stream; and (b) extracting the third overhead stream with water in at least two consecutive stages and separating therefrom one or more aqueous streams containing PRC?s.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2007Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Celanese International CorporationInventors: Mark O. Scates, David A. Trueba, Raymond J. Zinobile
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Publication number: 20110077428Abstract: A process for the reduction and/or removal of permanganate reducing compounds formed by the carbonylation of methanol in the presence of a Group VIII metal carbonylation catalyst to produce acetic acid is disclosed. More specifically, a process for reducing and/or removing permanganate reducing compounds or their precursors from intermediate streams during the formation of acetic acid by said carbonylation processes is disclosed. In particular, a process in which a low boiling overhead vapor stream from a light ends column is subjected to a single distillation to obtain an overhead that is subjected to an extraction to selectively remove and/or reduce PRC's from the process is disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2010Publication date: March 31, 2011Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONInventors: Raymond J. Zinobile, Mark O. Scates, Jonathan A. Makelki, Manuel Salado
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Patent number: 7855306Abstract: A process for the reduction and/or removal of permanganate reducing compounds formed by the carbonylation of methanol in the presence of a Group VIII metal carbonylation catalyst to produce acetic acid is disclosed. More specifically, a process for reducing and/or removing permanganate reducing compounds or their precursors from intermediate streams during the formation of acetic acid by said carbonylation processes is disclosed. In particular, a process in which a low boiling overhead vapor stream from a light ends column is subjected to a single distillation to obtain an overhead that is subjected to an extraction to selectively remove and/or reduce PRC's from the process is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2005Date of Patent: December 21, 2010Assignee: Celanese International CorporationInventors: Raymond J. Zinobile, Mark O. Scates, Jonathan A. Makelki, Manuel Salado
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Publication number: 20090270651Abstract: A methanol carbonylation system 10 includes an absorber tower 75 adapted for receiving a vent gas stream and removing methyl iodide therefrom with a scrubber solvent, the absorber tower being coupled to first and second scrubber solvent sources 16, 56 which are capable of supplying different first and second scrubber solvents. A switching system including valves 90, 92, 94, 96, 98 alternatively provides first or second scrubber solvents to the absorber tower and returns the used solvent and sorbed material to the carbonylation system to accommodate different operating modes.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2009Publication date: October 29, 2009Inventors: Raymond J. Zinobile, Tommy W. Doggett, Lun-kuang Liu
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Patent number: 7223886Abstract: An improvement of the methanol carbonylation process for manufacturing acetic acid is disclosed. Specifically disclosed is a method for reducing the formation of alkyl iodides and C3-8 carboxylic acids by removing permanganate reducing compounds (“PRC's”) from the light phase of the condensed light ends overhead stream, including (a) distilling the light phase to yield a PRC enriched overhead stream; and (b) extracting the third overhead stream with water in at least two consecutive stages and separating therefrom one or more aqueous streams containing PRC's.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2004Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignee: Celanese International CorporationInventors: Mark O. Scates, David A. Trueba, Raymond J. Zinobile
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Patent number: 7223883Abstract: An improvement of the methanol carbonylation process for manufacturing acetic acid is disclosed. Specifically disclosed is a method for removing permanganate reducing compounds (“PRC's”) from the condensed light ends overhead stream, including (a) distilling at least a portion of the condensed light ends overhead to yield a PRC enriched second overhead stream; (b) extracting the second overhead stream with water and separating therefrom an aqueous stream containing PRC's; and (c) returning at least a portion of the extracted second overhead to the second distiller.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2004Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignee: Celanese International CorporationInventors: Wayne D. Picard, Jose J. Arturo Talancon, David A. Trueba, Mark O. Scates, Raymond J. Zinobile