Patents by Inventor Stephen N. Vaughn

Stephen N. Vaughn 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).

  • Publication number: 20100022722
    Abstract: In a method of synthesizing a silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve having 90+% CHA framework-type character, a reaction mixture is prepared comprising sources of water, silicon, aluminum, and phosphorus, as well as an organic template. In one aspect, the reaction mixture is heated at more than 10° C./hour to a crystallization temperature and is retained at the crystallization temperature or within the crystallization temperature range for a crystallization time from 16 hours to 350 hours to produce the silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve. In another aspect, the reaction mixture is heated at less than 10° C./hour to a crystallization temperature from about 150° C. to about 225° C. and is then retained there for less than 10 hours to produce the silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve. The molecular sieve can then be recovered from the reaction mixture and, preferably, used in a hydrocarbon conversion process, such as oxygenates to olefins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Machteld M. Mertens, Stephen N. Vaughn
  • Publication number: 20100022729
    Abstract: In a method of synthesizing a silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve having 90%+CHA framework type character, a reaction mixture is prepared comprising first combining a reactive source of aluminum with a reactive source of phosphorus to form a primary mixture that is aged. A reactive source of silicon and a template for directing the formation of the molecular sieve can then be added to form a synthesis mixture. Crystallization is then induced in the synthesis mixture. Advantageously, (i) the source of silicon comprises an organosilicate, (ii) the source of phosphorus optionally comprises an organophosphate, and (iii) the crystallized silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve has a crystal size distribution such that its average crystal size is not greater than 5 ?m. The molecular sieve can then preferably be used in a hydrocarbon (oxygenates-to-olefins) conversion process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: MACHTELD M. MERTENS, STEPHEN N. VAUGHN, GUANG CAO, LUC R.M. MARTENS, MOBAE AFEWORKI
  • Publication number: 20090192276
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to a method for formulating a molecular sieve catalyst composition, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a synthesized molecular sieve having been recovered in the presence of a flocculant; (b) thermally treating the synthesized molecular sieve at a temperature from about 50° C. to about 250° C. and under other conditions sufficient to form a thermally treated synthesized molecular sieve having a first LOI less than 26% and a first micropore surface area; (c) aging the thermally treated synthesized molecular sieve for at least one year; (d) analyzing the aged, thermally treated molecular sieve to determine a second micropore surface area, wherein the second micropore surface area is 3% or less lower than the first micropore surface area; and (e) combining the aged, thermally treated synthesized molecular sieve, a binder, and optionally a matrix material to produce an aged, formulated molecular sieve catalyst composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: Yun-Feng Chang, Luc R.M. Martens, Machteld Maria Mertens, Stephen N. Vaughn
  • Patent number: 7557256
    Abstract: This invention provides methods of making molecular sieve catalyst particles, molecular sieve slurries that can be used in such methods, molecular sieve catalyst compositions and their use in catalytic hydrocarbon conversion processes. In one of its aspects, the invention provides a method of making molecular sieve catalyst particles, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a solution or suspension of an aluminum-containing inorganic oxide precursor in a liquid medium; b) combining the solution or suspension of aluminum-containing inorganic oxide precursor with a molecular sieve, and optionally other formulating agents, to form a catalyst formulation slurry; c) aging the catalyst formulation slurry to generate in said slurry a percentage, or increase in said slurry the existing percentage, of aluminum atoms of the aluminum-containing precursor in the form of oligomers having a sharp 27 Al NMR peak at 62-63 ppm; and d) forming molecular sieve catalyst particles from the catalyst formulation slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Yun-Feng Chang, Stephen N. Vaughn, Kenneth R. Clem, Luc R. Martens, Weiguo Hu
  • Patent number: 7541508
    Abstract: The invention relates to a molecular sieve catalyst composition, to a method of making or forming the molecular sieve catalyst composition, and to a conversion process using the catalyst composition. In particular, the invention is directed to making a formulated molecular sieve catalyst composition from a slurry of formulation composition of a synthesized molecular sieve that has not been fully dried, a binder and an optional matrix material. In a more preferred embodiment, the weight ratio of the binder to the molecular sieve and/or the solid content of the slurry is controlled to provide an improved attrition resistant catalyst composition, particularly useful in a conversion process for producing olefin(s), preferably ethylene and/or propylene, from a feedstock, preferably an oxygenate containing feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: ExxonMobile Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen N. Vaughn, Yun-feng Chang, Luc R. M. Martens, Kenneth R. Clem, Machteld M. Mertens, Albert E. Schweizer
  • Patent number: 7518026
    Abstract: A catalyst composition for use in the conversion of oxygenates to olefins comprises a first crystalline silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve comprising at least one intergrown form of an AEI structure type material and a CHA structure type material, and a second crystalline material different from said first molecular sieve and resulting from dehydration of an aluminophosphate or silicoaluminophosphate hydrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Machteld M. Mertens, Marcel J. Janssen, Yun-feng Chang, Stephen N. Vaughn
  • Patent number: 7511184
    Abstract: The invention relates to a molecular sieve catalyst composition, to a method of making or forming the molecular sieve catalyst composition, and to a conversion process using the catalyst composition. In particular, the invention is directed to a molecular sieve catalyst composition of a molecular sieve, a binder and a matrix material, wherein the weight ratio of the binder to the molecular sieve is controlled to provide an improved attrition resistant catalyst composition, particularly useful in a conversion process for producing olefin(s), preferably ethylene and/or propylene, from a feedstock, preferably an oxygenate containing feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Yun-feng Chang, Stephen N. Vaughn, Luc R. M. Martens, Kenneth R. Clem
  • Publication number: 20090082545
    Abstract: This invention provides a method of making a molecular sieve catalyst composition comprising the steps of: a) combining molecular sieve crystals with binder and liquid to form a binder-sieve mixture; b) combining the binder-sieve mixture with matrix material to form a binder-sieve-matrix mixture; c) mixing the binder-sieve-matrix mixture under conditions sufficient to form a slurry having a solids content of at least 40 wt %, based on total weight of the slurry; d) progressing the mixing until slurry viscosity decreases without significant additional dilution of the slurry, so that the slurry solids content does not significantly decrease; and e) drying the decreased viscosity slurry to produce a dried molecular sieve catalyst composition having an attrition rate index of not greater than 1 wt %/hr. The aforementioned catalyst compositions can be used in processes for making olefin product from oxygenate feedstock, which olefin products can be further used for making (co)polymer products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Yun-feng Chang, Stephen N. Vaughn
  • Patent number: 7501375
    Abstract: This invention provides methods of making molecular sieve catalyst particles, molecular sieve slurries that can be used in such methods, molecular sieve catalyst compositions and their use in catalytic hydrocarbon conversion processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Yun-Feng Chang, Stephen N. Vaughn, Kenneth R. Clem, Luc R. Martens, Weiguo Hu
  • Publication number: 20090018378
    Abstract: This invention, in one embodiment, is drawn to a process for forming olefin product by contacting an oxygenate with an olefin-forming catalyst under supercritical conditions to form an olefin product. This invention also relates to methods for activating molecular sieve catalyst, regenerating molecular sieve catalyst, and forming and/or disposing a co-catalyst within a molecular sieve catalyst, each under supercritical conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Luc R. M. Martens, Stephen N. Vaughn, John R. Shutt
  • Patent number: 7453019
    Abstract: The invention relates to a conversion process for making olefin(s) using a molecular sieve catalyst composition. More specifically, the invention is directed to a process for converting a feedstock comprising an oxygenate in the presence of a molecular sieve catalyst composition, wherein the feedstock is free of or substantially free of metal salts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Marcel J. G. Janssen, Teng Xu, Cor F. Van Egmond, Keith F. Kuechler, Stephen N. Vaughn
  • Publication number: 20080269436
    Abstract: The invention relates to a molecular sieve catalyst composition, to a method of making or forming the molecular sieve catalyst composition, and to a conversion process using the catalyst composition. In particular, the invention is directed to making a formulated molecular sieve catalyst composition from a slurry of formulation composition of a synthesized molecular sieve that has not been fully dried, a binder and an optional matrix material. In a more preferred embodiment, the weight ratio of the binder to the molecular sieve and/or the solid content of the slurry is controlled to provide an improved attrition resistant catalyst composition, particularly useful in a conversion process for producing olefin(s), preferably ethylene and/or propylene, from a feedstock, preferably an oxygenate containing feedstock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Stephen N. Vaughn, Yun-feng Chang, Luc R.M. Martens, Kenneth R. Clem, Machteld M. Mertens, Albert E. Schweizer
  • Patent number: 7435598
    Abstract: An apparatus and process are described in which a plurality of preloaded catalyst samples tubes can be serially and automatically moved from a support to a reaction zone where each catalyst sample can be heated and a preheated reagent feed contacted with the sample and the effluent fed to a product collection and analysis system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Exxonmobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen N. Vaughn, John K. Pierce, Douglas B. King, Christopher G. Lington
  • Patent number: 7411106
    Abstract: The invention relates to a catalyst composition, a method of making the same and its use in the conversion of a feedstock, preferably an oxygenated feedstock, into one or more olefin(s), preferably ethylene and/or propylene The catalyst composition comprises a molecular sieve and at least one metal oxide, such as a magnesium oxide that, when saturated with acetone and contacted with said acetone for 1 hour at 25° C., converts more than 80% of the acetone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Teng Xu, Stephen N. Vaughn, Richard B. Hall, Doron Levin, James Clark Vartuli
  • Patent number: 7402718
    Abstract: The invention relates to a conversion process for making olefin(s) using a molecular sieve catalyst composition. More specifically, the invention is directed to a process for converting a feedstock comprising an oxygenate in the presence of a molecular sieve catalyst composition, wherein the feedstock is free of or substantially free of metal salts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Marcel J. G. Janssen, Teng Xu, Cor F. Van Egmond, Keith H. Kuechler, Stephen N. Vaughn, James Harding Beech, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7384887
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a hardened molecular sieve catalyst composition, a method of making the composition and a method of using the composition. The catalyst composition is made by mixing together molecular sieve, liquid, and an effective hardening amount of a dried molecular sieve catalyst to form a slurry. The slurry is dried, and then calcined to form the hardened molecular sieve catalyst composition. The hardened molecular sieve catalyst is highly attrition resistant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Yun-Feng Chang, Stephen N. Vaughn, Luc R. M. Martens, Kenneth R. Clem
  • Patent number: 7358412
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making molecular sieve catalyst particles. Dried molecular sieve catalyst particles are used to make the catalyst. The dried molecular sieve catalyst particles are put into an aqueous solution and stirred to make a slurry. The slurry is dried to make the molecular sieve catalyst particles. Optionally, the dried molecular sieve catalyst particles made from the slurry are calcined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Yun-Feng Chang, Stephen N. Vaughn, Jeffery W. Sprinkle, Fran A. Shipley, Kenneth R. Clem
  • Patent number: 7345213
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of making an olefin product from an oxygenate feedstock and a method of protecting catalytic activity of a silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve. The methods comprise providing a silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve having catalytic sites within the molecular sieve; shielding the catalytic sites to protect from loss of catalytic activity; and contacting the protected sieve in its activated state with an oxygenate feedstock under conditions effective to produce an olefin product before undesirable loss of catalytic activity. Undesirable loss in catalytic activity occurs when activated molecular sieve contacting the oxygenate feedstock has a methanol uptake index of at least 0.15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Marcel J. G. Janssen, Cornelius W. M. Van Oorschot, Shun C. Fung, Luc R. M. Martens, Wilfried J. Mortier, Ronald G. Searle, Machteld M. Mertens, Stephen N. Vaughn
  • Patent number: 7338645
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for reducing the formation of metal catalyzed side-reaction byproducts formed in the feed vaporization and introduction system of a methanol to olefin reactor system by forming and/or coating one or more of the heating devices, feed lines or feed introduction nozzles of/with a material that is resistant to the formation of metal catalyzed side reaction byproducts. The invention also may include monitoring and/or maintaining the temperature of at least a portion of the feed vaporization and introduction system and/or of the feedstock contained therein below about 400° C., 350° C., 300° C., 250° C., 200° C. or below about 150° C. The temperature can be maintained in the desired range by jacketing at least a portion of the feed vaporization and introduction system, such as at least a portion of the feed introduction nozzle, with a thermally insulating material or by implementing a cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Jones, Kenneth Ray Clem, Stephen N. Vaughn, Teng Xu, Jeffrey L. White
  • Patent number: 7312369
    Abstract: This invention provides an attrition resistant metalloaluminophosphate molecular sieve catalyst composition, methods of making the catalyst composition and processes for using the catalyst composition. The metalloaluminophosphate molecular sieve catalyst composition is highly attrition resistant in dried as well as fully calcined forms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Yun-Feng Chang, Stephen N. Vaughn, Kenneth R. Clem, Luc R. Martens, Alistair D. Westwood, Jeffery W. Sprinkle