Patents by Inventor Victor J. Johnston

Victor J. Johnston 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).

  • Process for production of ethanol using a mixed feed using copper containing catalyst
    Patent number: 8664454
    Abstract: The present invention produces ethanol in a reactor that comprises a catalyst comprising from 40 to 70 wt. % copper and 15 to 40 wt. % zinc and a support material. The crude ethanol product may be separated and ethanol recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Heiko Weiner, Zhenhua Zhou, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston
  • Process for Heat Integration for Ethanol Production and Purification Process
    Publication number: 20140058139
    Abstract: Ethanol production from the hydrogenation of acetic acid requires energy to drive the hydrogenation reaction and the purification of the crude ethanol product. Heat integration process to recover heat from one part of the production process to be used within the process improves efficiencies and reduces costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan Kirk Powell, Samuel Roundy, Lincoln Sarager, Murray Viard, R. Jay Warner, Gerald Grusendorf, Radmila Wollrab, Victor J. Johnston, Fred Ronald Olsson
  • Process for utilizing a water stream in a hydrolysis reaction to form ethanol
    Patent number: 8653308
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing a water stream comprising the steps of hydrogenating acetic acid to form a crude ethanol product and separating at least a portion of the crude ethanol product in at least one column of a plurality of columns into a distillate comprising ethanol and a residue comprising the water stream. The water stream preferably is essentially free of organic impurities other than acetic acid and ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Trinity Horton Hale, Radmila Wollrab, Victor J. Johnston, Lincoln Sarager, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner
  • Processes for Maximizing Ethanol Formation In the Hydrogenation of Acetic Acid
    Publication number: 20140046100
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for purifying a crude ethanol product. The process comprises the step of hydrogenating acetic acid in a reactor in the presence of a catalyst to form the crude ethanol product. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude ethanol product in a purification zone. The purification zone preferably comprises a first column, which yields a first distillate comprising ethanol, water and ethyl acetate, and a first residue comprising acetic acid. The at least a portion of the crude ethanol product has a residence time from the reactor to the purification zone from 5 minutes to 5 days.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Trinity Horton Hale, Radmila Wollrab, Victor J. Johnston, Tianshu Pan, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner, Nathan Bower, Josefina T. Chapman, Gerald Grusendorf
  • Process for producing ethanol using a crude vinyl acetate feed
    Patent number: 8648220
    Abstract: Converting a crude vinyl acetate feed to ethanol by hydrogenating the acetic acid and ethyl acetate in the crude vinyl acetate feed. The crude vinyl acetate feed may comprise acetic acid and/or ethyl acetate, as well as vinyl acetate and minor amounts of vinyl propionate. The crude vinyl acetate feed may be obtained from an azeotrope column as either a sidestream or a bottom stream in a vinyl acetate production process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Trinity Hale Horton, Victor J. Johnston
  • Process for producing ethanol over catalysts containing platinum and palladium
    Patent number: 8637714
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing product comprising ethanol which comprises contacting a feedstock comprising acetic acid and hydrogen in a reaction zone at hydrogenation conditions with a catalyst composition comprising platinum, palladium and tin on a support, wherein the catalyst has an excess amount of platinum relative to the amount of palladium based on weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Zhenhua Zhou, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, Heiko Weiner
  • Process for Making Ethanol from Acetic Acid Using Acidic Catalysts
    Publication number: 20130345478
    Abstract: A process for selective formation of ethanol from acetic acid by hydrogenating acetic acid in the presence of a catalyst comprises a first metal on an acidic support. The acidic support may comprise an acidic support material or may comprise an support having an acidic support modifier. The catalyst may be used alone to produced ethanol via hydrogenation or in combination with another catalyst. In addition, the crude ethanol product is separated to obtain ethanol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Radmila Wollrab, Victor J. Johnston, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner
  • Processes for Producing Anhydrous Ethanol Compositions
    Publication number: 20130331619
    Abstract: The present invention is to a process for producing a anhydrous ethanol composition comprising hydrogenating acetic acid in the presence of a catalyst to form a crude ethanol product; separating in a first column at least a portion of the crude ethanol product into a first distillate comprising ethanol, water and ethyl acetate, and a first residue comprising acetic acid; separating in a second column at least a portion of the first distillate into a second distillate comprising ethyl acetate and a second residue comprising ethanol and water; separating in a third column at least a portion of the second residue into a third distillate comprising ethanol and residual water and a third residue comprising separated water; and dehydrating at least a portion of the third distillate to form the anhydrous ethanol composition. The anhydrous ethanol composition, as formed, comprises less than 1 wt. % water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Trinity Horton Hale, Radmila Wollrab, Victor J. Johnston, Lincoln Sarager, Gerald Grusendorf
  • Process for recovering ethanol with sidedraws to regulate Calcohols concentrations
    Patent number: 8604255
    Abstract: Purification and/or recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. Separation and purification processes of a crude ethanol mixture are employed to allow recovery of ethanol and remove impurities. In particular, the process involves one or more sidedraws to regulate C3+ alcohols concentration in the recovered ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Lincoln Sarager, Al Amleh, Trinity Horton, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston
  • CATALYSTS FOR MAKING ETHANOL FROM ACETIC ACID
    Publication number: 20130296164
    Abstract: Catalysts and processes for forming catalysts for use in hydrogenating acetic acid to form ethanol. In one embodiment, the catalyst comprises a first metal, a silicaceous support, and at least one metasilicate support modifier. Preferably, the first metal is selected from the group consisting of copper, iron, cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, platinum, titanium, zinc, chromium, rhenium, molybdenum, and tungsten. In addition the catalyst may comprise a second metal preferably selected from the group consisting of copper, molybdenum, tin, chromium, iron, cobalt, vanadium, tungsten, palladium, platinum, lanthanum, cerium, manganese, ruthenium, rhenium, gold, and nickel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Victor J. Johnston, Barbara F. Kimmich, John L. Potts, Heiko Weiner, Radmila Wollrab, James H. Zink, Josefina T. Chapman, Laiyuan Chen
  • Reducing acetals during ethanol separation process
    Patent number: 8575405
    Abstract: To reduce acetal concentrations when separating ethanol from a crude product in one or more distillation column, at least one of the columns is operated at a higher pressure to increase the equilibrium constant that favors 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: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: David Lee, Adam Orosco, Lincoln Sarager, R. Jay Warner, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston
  • Hydrolysis of ethyl acetate in ethanol separation process
    Patent number: 8575403
    Abstract: Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid by hydrolyzing a portion of the crude ethanol product or one or more derivative streams obtained therefrom. The one or more derivative streams comprise ethyl acetate and the hydrolyzed stream is directly or indirectly fed to the distillation zone or the hydrogenation reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Victor J. Johnston, Lincoln Sarager, R. Jay Warner, Trinity Horton, Radmila Jevtic
  • Process for recycling gas from acetic acid hydrogenation
    Patent number: 8575404
    Abstract: Monitoring and recycling gases from acetic acid hydrogenation reaction to maintain a constant pressure in the hydrogenation reaction system. Purging of the vapor stream comprising hydrogen may be limited or reduced. Further purging of the by-product may be from the dissolved by-product gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, R. Jay Warner, John Potts, Stephen Kerlegon
  • Alcohol production process integrating acetic acid feed stream comprising water from carbonylation process
    Patent number: 8569551
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing ethanol, comprising the step of providing from a distillation column in a carbonylation process a purified acetic acid stream comprising up to 25 wt. % water. The process further comprises the step of hydrogenating acetic acid of the purified acetic acid stream in the presence of a catalyst and under conditions effective to form a crude ethanol product comprising ethanol and water. Ethanol is recovered from the crude ethanol product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, Tianshu Pan, Mark O. Scates, Ronald David Shaver, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner, Josefina T. Chapman
  • Catalyst supports having crystalline support modifiers
    Patent number: 8569549
    Abstract: A catalyst comprising a first metal, a silicaceous support, and at least one metasilicate support modifier, wherein at least 1 wt. % of the at least one metasilicate support modifier is crystalline in phase, as determined by x-ray diffraction. The invention also relates to processes for forming such catalysts, to supports used therein, and to processes for hydrogenating acetic acid in the presence of such catalysts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Heiko Weiner, Victor J. Johnston
  • Reducing acetals during ethanol separation process using high pressure distillation column
    Patent number: 8558034
    Abstract: To reduce acetal concentrations when separating ethanol from a crude product in one or more distillation column, at least one of the columns is operated at a higher pressure to increase the equilibrium constant that favors 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: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: David Lee, Adam Orosco, Lincoln Sarager, R. Jay Warner, Victor J. Johnston
  • Processes for maximizing ethanol formation in the hydrogenation of acetic acid
    Patent number: 8552224
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for purifying a crude ethanol product. The process comprises the step of hydrogenating acetic acid in a reactor in the presence of a catalyst to form the crude ethanol product. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude ethanol product in a purification zone. The purification zone preferably comprises a first column, which yields a first distillate comprising ethanol, water and ethyl acetate, and a first residue comprising acetic acid. The at least a portion of the crude ethanol product has a residence time from the reactor to the purification zone from 5 minutes to 5 days.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Trinity Horton, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, Tianshu Pan, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner, Nathan Bower, Josefina T. Chapman, Gerald Grusendorf
  • Process for vaporizing acetic acid for hydrogenation processes to produce ethanol
    Patent number: 8552225
    Abstract: Vaporizing acetic acid in the presence of hydrogen to provide a vapor feed stream for a hydrogenation process that produces ethanol. The vaporizer forms a vapor feed stream and a blowdown stream having a weight ratio of the vapor feed stream to the blowdown stream of at least 2:1. The acetic acid may vaporized at a temperature below acetic acid's boiling point at the operating pressure of the reactor. The hydrogenation process produces a crude ethanol product and ethanol is separated from the crude product. In addition, at least one recycle stream comprising acetic acid and less than 1.0 wt. % compounds having a boiling point higher than acetic acid, may also be separated. The recycle streams may be introduced to the vaporizer along with acetic acid to form the vapor feed stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Trinity Horton, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner, Al Amleh, Gerald Gruesendorf
  • Process for heat integration for ethanol production and purification process
    Patent number: 8552226
    Abstract: Ethanol production from the hydrogenation of acetic acid requires energy to drive the hydrogenation reaction and the purification of the crude ethanol product. Heat integration process to recover heat from one part of the production process to be used within the process improves efficiencies and reduces costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan Kirk Powell, Samuel Roundy, Lincoln Sarager, Murray Viard, R. Jay Warner, Gerald Gruesendorf, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, Fred Ronald Olsson
  • Process for making ethanol from acetic acid using acidic catalysts
    Patent number: 8546622
    Abstract: A process for selective formation of ethanol from acetic acid by hydrogenating acetic acid in the presence of a catalyst comprises a first metal on an acidic support. The acidic support may comprise an acidic support material or may comprise an support having an acidic support modifier. The catalyst may be used alone to produced ethanol via hydrogenation or in combination with another catalyst. In addition, the crude ethanol product is separated to obtain ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner