Patents by Inventor William E. Choate

William E. Choate 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).

  • Continuous process for the preparation of 2-ethyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)hexanal and 2-butyl-2-ethyl-1, 3-propanediol
    Patent number: 5235118
    Abstract: Disclosed is a continuous process for the manufacture of 2-ethyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)hexanal wherein 2-ethylhexanal, formaldehyde and a tertiary amine are continuously fed to a reaction zone and crude product comprising an aqueous phase and an organic phase containing 2-ethyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)hexanal and 2-ethylhexanal is continuously removed from the reaction zone Also disclosed are processes for (1) the azeotropic distillation of the organic phase of the crude product whereby unreacted 2-ethylhexanal is recovered and (2) the catalytic hydrogenation of the refined, organic phase of the crude product to produce 2-butyl-2-ethyl-1,3-propanediol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Don L. Morris, William A. Beavers, William E. Choate
  • Isomerization of dimethylcyclohexanedicarboxylate
    Patent number: 5231218
    Abstract: Provided is a fixed bed heterogeneous catalyst that promotes the isomerization of cis/trans-DMCD to trans-DMCD in economical fashion with short reaction times and in high purity. The catalyst is preferably H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 on a metal oxide, said metal oxide selected from a group consisting of ZrO.sub.2, TiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, and HfO.sub.2, or a tungsten-modified ZrO.sub.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Charles E. Sumner, Jr., William E. Choate
  • Continuous process for the recovery of 2 ethylhexanal and a tertiary amine from a mixture comprising 2-ethyl-2-(hydroxymethyl) hexanal, 2-ethylhexanal, tertiary amine and water
    Patent number: 5177267
    Abstract: Disclosed is a continuous process for the manufacture of 2-ethyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)hexanal wherein 2-ethylhexanal, formaldehyde and a tertiary amine are continuously fed to a reaction zone and crude product comprising an aqueous phase and an organic phase containing 2-ethyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)hexanal and 2-ethylhexanal is continuously removed from the reaction zone. Also disclosed are processes for (1) the azeotropic distillation of the organic phase of the crude product whereby unreacted 2-ethylhexanal is recovered and (2) the catalytic hydrogenation of the refined, organic phase of the crude product to produce 2-butyl-2-ethyl-1,3-propanediol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Don L. Morris, William A. Beavers, William E. Choate
  • Continuous process for the preparation of 2-ethyl-2-(hydroxymethyl) hexanal and 2-butyl-2-theyl-1,3-propanediol
    Patent number: 5146004
    Abstract: Disclosed is a continuous process for the manufacture of 2-ethyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)hexanal wherein 2-ethylhexanal, formaldehyde and a tertiary amine are continuously fed to a reaction zone and crude product comprising an aqueous phase and an organic phase containing 2-ethyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)hexanal and 2-ethylhexanal is continuously removed from the reaction zone. Also disclosed are processes for (1) the azeotropic distillation of the organic phase of the crude product whereby unreacted 2-ethylhexanal is recovered and (2) the catalytic hydrogenation of the refined, organic phase of the crude product to produce 2-butyl-2-ethyl-1,3-propanediol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Don L. Morris, William A. Beavers, William E. Choate