Patents by Inventor Richard L. Fergin

Richard L. Fergin 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: 5177300
    Abstract: The separation of naphthalene in high purity from coal tar or petroleum fractions by an adsorptive chromatographic process and liquid phase with lithium-exchanged X zeolite as the adsorbent and aromatic desorbents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Santi Kulprathipanja, Kenneth Kuhnle, Marjorie S. Patton, Richard L. Fergin
  • Patent number: 4940830
    Abstract: A process for the separation of the para-isomer from a hydrocarbon feed mixture comprising at least two bi-alkyl substituted monocyclic aromatic isomers, including the para-isomer, said isomers having from 8 to about 18 carbon atoms per molecule which process employs an adsorbent comprising a sodium Y zeolite or a sodium Y zeolite which has been at least partially cation exchanged, at appropriate conditions, with an element chosen from Groups IB or VIII of the Periodic Table, such as nickel or copper, to preferentially adsorb the bi-alkyl substituted monocyclic aromatic isomers, in preference to the para-isomer. The para-isomer thereafter is removed from the process via the raffinate stream and the adsorbed isomers are removed from the adsorbent by contact with a desorbent material and are recovered as a product stream. In a preferred embodiment the process uses a simulated moving-bed countercurrent flow system and a paradiethylbenzene desorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1990
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Hermann A. Zinnen, Richard L. Fergin
  • Patent number: 4544796
    Abstract: Dialkyldisulfinyl-, dialkyldisulfonyl- or alkylsulfinylalkylsulfonylalkanes in which the alkyl portion of the compound contains from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms and the alkane portion of the radical contains from about 3 to about 30 carbon atoms may be used as extraction solvents in liquid/liquid extraction processes whereby aromatic compounds may be separated from a mixture of aromatic compounds and other hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1985
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventors: Paul R. Kurek, Dusan J. Engel, Richard L. Fergin
  • Patent number: 4533398
    Abstract: Sucrose which is found in molasses such as beet molasses or cane molasses may be selectively extracted therefrom by passing an aqueous solution of the molasses over a solid adsorbent such as activated carbon. The sucrose will be selectively adsorbed thereon and separated from the betaine and mineral salts, specifically potassium chloride, in the molasses. The sucrose is then removed from the adsorbent by treatment with a desorbent material comprising an alcohol. An essential step in the process is the flushing of the desorbent from the adsorbent with water prior to the subsequent contact of the adsorbent with the feed stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1985
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Neuzil, Richard L. Fergin
  • Patent number: 4426232
    Abstract: Sucrose which is found in molasses such as beet molasses or cane molasses may be selectively extracted therefrom by passing an aqueous solution of the molasses over a solid adsorbent such as activated carbon. The sucrose will be selectively adsorbed thereon and separated from the betaine and mineral salts, specifically potassium chloride, in the molasses. The sucrose is then removed from the adsorbent by treatment with a desorbent material comprising an alcohol. An essential step in the process is the flushing of the desorbent from the adsorbent with water prior to the subsequent contact of the adsorbent with the feed stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1984
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Neuzil, Richard L. Fergin
  • Patent number: 4333770
    Abstract: Various sugars and particularly sucrose may be separated from mixtures of sugars including glucose, fructose, raffinose, etc. by treating an aqueous solution of the sugar source containing these sugars with an adsorbent which will selectively adsorb sucrose thereon. Thereafter the sucrose may be desorbed from the adsorbent by treatment with a desorbent material. In the process of the present invention the adsorbent will comprise a shaped replicate of a particle aggregate comprising a carbonaceous pyropolymer containing recurring units of at least carbon and hydrogen atoms while the desorbent material will comprise an aqueous alcoholic solution. The preferred alcohols contain methanol and ethanol and will be present in the aqueous alcoholic solution in an amount in the range of from about 10% to about 50% by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1982
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Neuzil, Richard L. Fergin
  • Patent number: 4119678
    Abstract: A process for the separation of butene-1 from other C4 mono-olefins. A feed stream containing butene-1 is contacted with a K-X zeolite which selectively adsorbs butene-1. The butene-1 is desorbed using a mixture of hexene-1 and cyclohexene or cyclohexane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1978
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Neuzil, Richard L. Fergin