Patents by Inventor William B. Harrod

William B. Harrod 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: 9475697
    Abstract: Processes of and systems for removing free bromine from gaseous anhydrous HBr contaminated with free bromine are described. In one type of process the gaseous contaminated HBr is fed into countercurrent contact with at least one liquid alkylaromatic hydrocarbon within a packed section of a column while maintaining the packed section under free radical bromination conditions so that one or more than one liquid a-bromoalkylaromatic compound is produced along with one mole of gaseous HBr per mole of a-bromoalkylaromatic compound produced. In another type of process the gaseous anhydrous HBr is fed into countercurrent contact through at least two scrubbers so that the gaseous anhydrous HBr is scrubbed substantially free of bromine by passage through these at least two scrubbers, each of which contains a different specified type of scrubbing liquid. In one embodiment the liquid alkylaromatic hydrocarbon comprises 1,2-diphenylethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventors: William B. Harrod, John M. Harden, Rhett P. Heeb, Steven G. Karseboom, Gary L. Sharp, Robert E. Williams
  • Publication number: 20150147265
    Abstract: Processes of and systems for removing free bromine from gaseous anhydrous HBr contaminated with free bromine are described. In one type of process the gaseous contaminated HBr is fed into countercurrent contact with at least one liquid alkylaromatic hydrocarbon within a packed section of a column while maintaining the packed section under free radical bromination conditions so that one or more than one liquid a-bromoalkylaromatic compound is produced along with one mole of gaseous HBr per mole of a-bromoalkylaromatic compound produced. In another type of process the gaseous anhydrous HBr is fed into countercurrent contact through at least two scrubbers so that the gaseous anhydrous HBr is scrubbed substantially free of bromine by passage through these at least two scrubbers, each of which contains a different specified type of scrubbing liquid. In one embodiment the liquid alkylaromatic hydrocarbon comprises 1,2-diphenylethane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: William B. Harrod, John M. Harden, Rhett P. Heeb, Steven G. Karseboom, Gary L. Sharp, Robert E. Williams
  • Publication number: 20130287675
    Abstract: A new, highly selective way of removing bromine contamination from a gaseous stream comprised of hydrogen bromide and bromine is described. Such process technology involves non-catalyzed free radical (benzylic) bromination of an alkylene-bridged aromatic hydrocarbon and/or certain alkyl-substituted aromatic hydrocarbons and recovering the purified gaseous HBr. Because of the high selectivity of the bromination on the aliphatic bridges or side-chains, virtually no ring bromination occurs, and this enables recovery of the bromine values in the form of HBr. Thus preferably, the bromine is recovered as HBr from the scrubbing liquid by subjecting the scrubbing liquid to thermal or catalytic dehyrobromination. In plant operations, the gaseous HBr purified in the process can then be introduced into a compressor to produce either liquid or gaseous HBr for storage under pressure. Alternatively, the purified gaseous HBr can be fed directly into one or more reactions in which HBr is used as a reactant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventors: William B. Harrod, John M. Harden, Gary L. Sharp, Robert E. Williams
  • Patent number: 8492598
    Abstract: Methods are provided for removing impurities from compositions comprising alkyl bromide. Such methods comprise combining such composition with at least one nonvolatile epoxide during distillation to purify the alkyl bromide. Ultra pure alkyl bromide compositions are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventors: William B. Harrod, Dru J. Manuel, Keith G. Anderson, Aaron C. Williams, Kimberly A. Maxwell
  • Patent number: 8193398
    Abstract: A process for oxygen-initiated hydrobromination of propene to form a crude reaction mixture of 95 GC area % n-propyl bromide. The process includes feeding an oxygen-containing gas, propene and hydrogen bromide into a liquid phase mixture comprised of n-propyl bromide and hydrogen bromide. At least the oxygen-containing gas and the propene of the feed are fed subsurface to the liquid phase mixture and either (a) the oxygen-containing gas and the propene do not come together in the absence of hydrogen bromide or (b) the oxygen-containing gas and the propene come together only in a propene:oxygen molar ratio in the range of 145:1 to 180:1. Purification processes provide a propyl bromide product containing at least 99.7 GC area % n-propyl bromide. Also provided is a novel composition of enhanced thermal stability which comprises a mixture of n-propyl bromide and isopropyl bromide. The mixture has an n-propyl bromide content of at least 99.7 GC area %, and an isopropyl bromide content of no more than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventors: William B. Harrod, Bonnie G. McKinnie, Alireza M. Dadgar, Tyson J. Hall
  • Publication number: 20110112342
    Abstract: Methods are provided for removing impurities from compositions comprising alkyl bromide. Such methods comprise combining such composition with at least one nonvolatile epoxide during distillation to purify the alkyl bromide. Ultra pure alkyl bromide compositions are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventors: William B. Harrod, Dru J. Manuel, Keith G. Anderson, Aaron C. Williams, Kimberly A. Maxwell
  • Patent number: 7713510
    Abstract: Methods are provided for producing bromine wherein an aqueous solution is formed from at least a bromide source, an oxidant, and a catalyst comprising a Group 1 cation and an oxide of a transition metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventors: William B. Harrod, Danielle Kristen Garrett
  • Publication number: 20080318829
    Abstract: A process for oxygen-initiated hydrobromination of propene to form a crude reaction mixture of 95 GC area % n-propyl bromide. The process includes feeding an oxygen-containing gas, propene and hydrogen bromide into a liquid phase mixture comprised of n-propyl bromide and hydrogen bromide. At least the oxygen-containing gas and the propene of the feed are fed subsurface to the liquid phase mixture and either (a) the oxygen-containing gas and the propene do not come together in the absence of hydrogen bromide or (b) the oxygen-containing gas and the propene come together only in a propene:oxygen molar ratio in the range of 145:1 to 180:1. Purification processes provide a propyl bromide product containing at least 99.7 GC area % n-propyl bromide. Also provided is a novel composition of enhanced thermal stability which comprises a mixture of n-propyl bromide and isopropyl bromide. The mixture has an n-propyl bromide content of at least 99.7 GC area %, and an isopropyl bromide content of no more than 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: ALBEMARLE CORPORATION
    Inventors: William B. Harrod, Bonnie G. McKinnie, Alireza M. Dadgar, Tyson J. Hall
  • Publication number: 20080085235
    Abstract: Methods are provided for producing bromine wherein an aqueous solution is formed from at least a bromide source, an oxidant, and a catalyst comprising a Group 1 cation and an oxide of a transition metal
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Applicant: ALBEMARLE CORPORATION
    Inventors: William B. Harrod, Danielle Kristen Garrett
  • Patent number: 6399685
    Abstract: Emulsion formation is minimized or prevented and hydrolytic product degradation is suppressed during purification of impure bisphenol-A bis(diphenylphosphate). This is accomplished by forming a hydrocarbon solution of bisphenol-A bis(diphenylphosphate) plus impurities in a solvent comprising at least one aromatic hydrocarbon and at least one paraffinic hydrocarbon. Optionally, but preferably, this solution is washed with water or an aqueous buffer solution. Next, the hydrocarbon solution is washed one or more times with an aqueous alkaline washing solution that has a specific gravity that differs from the specific gravity of the hydrocarbon solution by at least about 0.05 gram per cubic centimeter. After each washing the mixture settles into a purified organic phase and a separate aqueous phase, and these phases are separated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventors: W. Dirk Klobucar, William B. Harrod, Billie B. Dadgar, Joseph D. McLean, Gary D. Heidebrecht, Hao V. Phan, Thomas R. Nicholas, Jeffrey L. Broeker
  • Patent number: 6319432
    Abstract: Disclosed is a flame retardant comprising bisphenol A bis(diphenyl phosphate) and its dimer, the former having an HPLC determined 78 to 87 area % and an 85 to less than 90 normalized area %, the normalized area % being based on the total HPLC area % of the bisphenol A bis(diphenyl phosphate) and the dimer. The flame retardant also has a low isopropenylphenyl diphenyl phosphate and a low triphenylphosphate content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventors: William B. Harrod, W. Dirk Klobucar
  • Patent number: 6018067
    Abstract: Crude dihydrocarbylchlorothiophosphate product contaminated with dihydrocarbylpolysulfide and/or dihydrocarbylchlorophosphate is upgraded by treating the crude product with an aqueous hypochlorite solution, and separating an aqueous phase from the organic, then drying to obtain the resultant product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventors: William B. Harrod, David Edward Raposa, Dean Allen Raucstadt, Donald S. Vash
  • Patent number: 5955626
    Abstract: Crude dihydrocarbylchlorothiophosphate product contaminated with dihydrocarbylpolysulfide and/or dihydrocarbylchlorophosphate is upgraded by treating the crude product with chlorine followed by an aqueous solution of reducing agent, separating an aqueous phase from the organic, then drying to obtain the resultant product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventors: William B. Harrod, Thomas J. Callender, David Edward Raposa
  • Patent number: 5773672
    Abstract: 1-Bromopropane is produced from hydrogen bromide, propene and a catalytically effective amount of an ozonide catalyst and/or one or more active catalytic species formed in situ therefrom. In addition to being highly efficient and highly suitable for use on an industrial scale, the process has the additional advantages of being environmentally friendly, operationally safe, and conservationally beneficial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventors: William B. Harrod, Alireza M. Dadgar, Phillip R. Beaver