Patents by Inventor Valerie S. Monical

Valerie S. Monical 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: 11680038
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to fluid bed processes that utilize silica particles as a fluidization aid. The process comprises reacting one or more reactants in a reactor comprising a fluid bed to form a product. The fluid bed comprises a catalyst composition comprising a catalyst and an inert additive composition comprising silica particles from 0.5 wt % to 30 wt %, based on the total weight of the catalyst composition. The silica particles are discrete, inert particles that are mixed with the catalyst in the fluid bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Ascend Performance Materials Operations LLC
    Inventors: Yawu T. Chi, James Sutton, Ali Akhavan, Celia L. Kniepmann, Matthew D. Cox, Valerie S. Monical
  • Publication number: 20210300862
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to fluid bed processes that utilize silica particles as a fluidization aid. The process comprises reacting one or more reactants in a reactor comprising a fluid bed to form a product. The fluid bed comprises a catalyst composition comprising a catalyst and an inert additive composition comprising silica particles from 0.5 wt % to 30 wt %, based on the total weight of the catalyst composition. The silica particles are discrete, inert particles that are mixed with the catalyst in the fluid bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: Ascend Performance Materials Operations LLC
    Inventors: Yawu T. CHI, James Sutton, Ali Akhavan, Celia L. Kniepmann, Matthew D. Cox, Valerie S. Monical
  • Patent number: 11059774
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to fluid bed processes that utilize silica particles as a fluidization aid. The process comprises reacting one or more reactants in a reactor comprising a fluid bed to form a product. The fluid bed comprises a catalyst composition comprising a catalyst and an inert additive composition comprising silica particles from 0.5 wt % to 30 wt %, based on the total weight of the catalyst composition. The silica particles are discrete, inert particles that are mixed with the catalyst in the fluid bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Ascend Performance Materials Operations LLC
    Inventors: Yawu T. Chi, James Sutton, Ali Akhavan, Celia L. Kniepmann, Matthew D. Cox, Valerie S. Monical
  • Publication number: 20200002271
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to fluid bed processes that utilize silica particles as a fluidization aid. The process comprises reacting one or more reactants in a reactor comprising a fluid bed to form a product. The fluid bed comprises a catalyst composition comprising a catalyst and an inert additive composition comprising silica particles from 0.5 wt % to 30 wt %, based on the total weight of the catalyst composition. The silica particles are discrete, inert particles that are mixed with the catalyst in the fluid bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: Ascend Performance Materials Operations LLC
    Inventors: Yawu T. CHI, James Sutton, Ali Akhavan, Celia L. Kniepmann, Matthew D. Cox, Valerie S. Monical
  • Publication number: 20090299087
    Abstract: The process for manufacturing unsaturated mononitriles, such as acrylonitrile and methacrylonitrile, has been modified to add a partially condensed quench effluent stripper column to remove high boiling organic compounds from the reactor effluent prior to introduction into the extractive distillation recovery column. The high boiling organic compounds are preferably removed after the ammonia in the reactor effluent has been neutralized and the neutralization products have been removed. The targeted high boiling organic compounds are associated with fouling in the recovery section of the plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: Solutia, Inc.
    Inventors: Valerie S. Monical, Michael Joseph Heniff, JR., Scott Gordon Moffatt, Richard D. Murphy, Gregory Ward
  • Patent number: 7432404
    Abstract: Acrolein is removed from a process stream such as a process stream generated in the manufacture of acrylonitrile. The process includes reacting the acrolein with a compound containing a reactable thiol or hydroxyl moiety in the presence of an acid catalyst. The present process provides for a refined process stream that contains no more than 5 ppm by weight unreacted acrolein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Solutia, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Ward, Bryan C. Blanchard, Scott G. Moffatt, Valerie S. Monical, Richard D. Murphy, Balshekar Ramchandran
  • Patent number: 7196231
    Abstract: Acrolein is removed from a process stream such as a process stream generated in the manufacture of acrylonitrile. The process includes reacting the acrolein with a compound containing a reactable thiol or hydroxyl moiety in the presence of an acid catalyst. The present process provides for a refined process stream that contains no more than 5 ppm by weight unreacted acrolein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Solutia, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Ward, Bryan C. Blanchard, Scott G. Moffatt, Valerie S. Monical, Richard D. Murphy, Balshekar Ramchandran
  • Patent number: 6953558
    Abstract: A non-catalytic process for reducing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in the combustion effluent of a stationary combustion apparatus is provided comprising contacting, in the combustion zone of the combustion apparatus, an effective amount of at least one nitrile compound with a waste stream, an auxiliary fuel stream, and air at a temperature sufficient to reduce the NOx emissions in the combustion effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Solutia, Inc.
    Inventor: Valerie S. Monical
  • Patent number: 6860971
    Abstract: A process is described for the recovery of acrylonitrile from an ammoxidation reactor effluent stream containing acrylonitrile, water, and organic impurities. The process includes the steps of (a) quenching an ammoxidation reactor effluent stream that includes acrylonitrile, water, and organic impurities with an aqueous quench stream, thereby producing a cooled reactor effluent stream; (b) passing the cooled reactor effluent stream through an absorption column, thereby generating an absorber bottoms stream that includes water, acrylonitrile, and organic impurities; and (c) passing the absorber bottoms stream through a single recovery/stripper column, generating an acrylonitrile-rich overhead stream, a lean water side stream, and a recovery/stripper bottoms stream that includes organic impurities. The acrylonitrile-rich overhead stream can be passed through a decanter to separate water from acrylonitrile. The lean water side stream can be recycled for use in the absorption column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Inventors: Gregory J. Ward, Valerie S. Monical
  • Publication number: 20040267054
    Abstract: Acrolein is removed from a process stream such as a process stream generated in the manufacture of acrylonitrile. The process includes reacting the acrolein with a compound containing a reactable thiol or hydroxyl moiety in the presence of an acid catalyst. The present process provides for a refined process stream that contains no more than 5 ppm by weight unreacted acrolein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Gregory J. Ward, Bryan C. Blanchard, Scott G. Moffatt, Valerie S. Monical, Richard D. Murphy, Balshekar Ramchandran
  • Publication number: 20040222078
    Abstract: An overhead stream from the quench system in a process for purifying acrylonitrile is condensed and recycled directly to the quench system as part of the quench liquid. The stream can be condensed in a column or in a partial condenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventors: Valerie S. Monical, Richard D. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20040048210
    Abstract: A non-catalytic process for reducing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in the combustion effluent of a stationary combustion apparatus is provided comprising contacting, in the combustion zone of the combustion apparatus, an effective amount of at least one nitrile compound with a waste stream, an auxiliary fuel stream, and air at a temperature sufficient to reduce the NOx emissions in the combustion effluent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventor: Valerie S. Monical
  • Publication number: 20020143131
    Abstract: A process is described for the recovery of acrylonitrile from an ammoxidation reactor effluent stream containing acrylonitrile, water, and organic impurities. The process includes the steps of (a) quenching an ammoxidation reactor effluent stream that includes acrylonitrile, water, and organic impurities with an aqueous quench stream, thereby producing a cooled reactor effluent stream; (b) passing the cooled reactor effluent stream through an absorption column, thereby generating an absorber bottoms stream that includes water, acrylonitrile, and organic impurities; and (c) passing the absorber bottoms stream through a single recovery/stripper column, generating an acrylonitrile-rich overhead stream, a lean water side stream, and a recovery/stripper bottoms stream that includes organic impurities. The acrylonitrile-rich overhead stream can be passed through a decanter to separate water from acrylonitrile. The lean water side stream can be recycled for use in the absorption column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventors: Gregory J. Ward, Valerie S. Monical
  • Patent number: 5895822
    Abstract: The fouling rate of quench systems in acrylonitrile manufacturing processes is reduced by maintaining a low level of highboiling organic compounds in aqueous recycle streams to the quench systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Solutia Inc.
    Inventors: Valerie S. Monical, Daniel E. Steinmeyer, Gregory J. Ward