Purification Or Recovery Patents (Class 560/248)
  • Publication number: 20090131711
    Abstract: A process for producing alkyl esters useful as bio-fuels and/or lubricants. An alkyl ester product produced by the process. The process comprises a single-stage reaction for esterifying a de-watered glyceride-containing feedstock with an anhydrous short chain alcohol in the presence of a basic esterification catalyst to produce a reaction product comprising alkyl esters and a reaction by-product comprising glycerol-containing substances and the catalyst-containing alcohol. The single-stage esterification reaction is conducted within a temperature and negative-pressure controllable vessel. The alkyl ester product is separated from the re-action by-product and may be further de-watered and/or purified. The catalyst-containing alcohol may be separated from the reaction by-product, de-watered and reused. The glycerol-containing substances may be separated from the reaction by-product and further purified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: POS PILOT PLANT CORP.
    Inventor: Udaya Wanasundara
  • Publication number: 20090076298
    Abstract: Integrated processes and systems for producing acetic acid and vinyl acetate are provided. In the processes and systems, a portion of the heat produced during the production of the acetic acid is transferred to the vinyl acetate production and/or purification process and system to facilitate production and/or purification of the vinyl acetate product. The process and systems described herein are useful in conjunction with any of the various known processes for the production of acetic acid and vinyl acetate. The heat of the acetic acid production reaction may be transferred to the vinyl acetate production system by any suitable heat transfer processes and systems. The heat may be provided to the purification section at a variety of locations in the vinyl acetate production and purification systems, depending on the specific configuration of the system to which the processes and systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Subramanian Bhaskaran, Angadu Krishnamoorthy (A.K.) Sekar
  • Patent number: 7465823
    Abstract: Integrated processes and systems for producing acetic acid and vinyl acetate are provided. In the processes and systems, a portion of the heat produced during the production of the acetic acid is transferred to the vinyl acetate production and/or purification process and system to facilitate production and/or purification of the vinyl acetate product. The process and systems described herein are useful in conjunction with any of the various known processes for the production of acetic acid and vinyl acetate. The heat of the acetic acid production reaction may be transferred to the vinyl acetate production system by any suitable heat transfer processes and systems. The heat may be provided to the purification section at a variety of locations in the vinyl acetate production and purification systems, depending on the specific configuration of the system to which the processes and systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Subramanian Bhaskaran, Angadu Krishnamoorthy (A. K.) Sekar
  • Publication number: 20080275267
    Abstract: Esters produced by the catalyzed reaction of alcohols and acids or anhydrides are neutralized by treatment with an aqueous alkaline alkali metal salt solution in an amount that provides less than a stoichiometric amount of alkali metal salt in relation to the acidity of the crude ester and the amount of water present during the treatment is from 0.8 to 1.4 wt % of water based on the weight of crude ester. When using titanium as the esterification catalyst, the ester resulting from this process contains less than 0.01 ppm by weight of titanium residue, so that it is storage stable when stored in the presence of an antioxidant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Brady Compton, John Lyford, Nicolaas Anthony De Munck, Aad Gerrit Oskam, Allen David Godwin, Leendert Johannes Van Dop
  • Patent number: 7390919
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for removing aldehyde impurities from a methyl acetate supply. The method comprises reacting the methyl acetate supply with a polyol and converting the aldehyde impurities to cyclic acetals. The acetals are subsequently removed from the methyl acetate supply by, e.g., distillation. The purified methyl acetate supply is used for carbonylation to produce acetic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Lyondell Chemical Technology, L.P.
    Inventors: Brian A. Salisbury, Ronnie M. Hanes, Noel C. Hallinan
  • Patent number: 7390918
    Abstract: An integrated process for the production of an alkenyl carboxylate, such as vinyl acetate which process comprises the steps of (a) contacting in an oxidation reaction zone a C2 to C4 alkane, such as ethane, a molecular oxygen-containing gas, optionally the corresponding alkene and optionally water, in the presence of a catalyst to produce a stream comprising alkene, carboxylic acid and water; (b) separating at least a portion of the stream from step (a) into a fraction comprising the alkene and a fraction comprising the carboxylic acid and water; (c) contacting in a second reaction zone at least a portion of said alkene fraction produced in step (b), a carboxylic acid and a molecular oxygen-containing gas, in the presence of a catalyst to produce a product stream comprising an alkenyl carboxylate, water and carboxylic acid; (d) separating at least a portion of the product stream from step (c) and at least a portion of the carboxylic acid and water fraction produced in step (b) by azeotropic distillation into
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: BB Chemicals Limited
    Inventors: Robert William Clarke, Mark Stephen Roberts
  • Patent number: 7371890
    Abstract: A process for continuously preparing a compound which bears at least two functional groups which are each independently selected from the group consisting of nitrile group, carboxylic acid group, carboxylic ester group and carboxamide group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfram Stüer, Jens Scheidel, Hartwig Voβ, Peter Baβler, Michael Röper
  • Patent number: 7355066
    Abstract: A process for making terpene esters is disclosed. Reaction of a terpene alcohol with acetic anhydride in the presence of a high-boiling amine provides a terpene ester. Acetic acid, which is distilled from the reaction mixture as it forms can be recovered. The terpene ester is distilled from the high-boiling amine to provide a product that is substantially free of nitrogen-containing impurities. The reaction mixture can be reused for subsequent acylations. The simple, economical process gives high-quality terpene esters while avoiding waste-disposal issues of other common acylation procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Millenium Specialty Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter E. Johnson, C. Rodney Gorman
  • Patent number: 7342142
    Abstract: A process comprising contacting PO3G having color with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, wherein the PO3G, after hydrogenation, has a APHA color of less than about 50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Hari Babu Sunkara, Mayis Seapan, George Francis Diffendall, Francis Glenn Gallagher
  • Patent number: 7332092
    Abstract: E and Z isomers of alkene alcohols and/or alkene alcohol derivatives are separated by substantially continuously contacting an ion exchange medium which is ion exchanged with silver and/or copper ions with the feed stream comprising the E and Z isomers of at least one alkene alcohol and/or at least one alkene alcohol derivative, then removing a product stream having a higher concentration of the E or Z isomer of at least one alkene alcohol or derivative of the alkene alcohol relative to the concentration of the E or Z isomer of the alkene alcohol or derivative of the alkene alcohol in the feed stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignees: Calgon Carbon Corporation, InnovaAroma SA
    Inventors: Chen-Chou Chiang, Elad Shabtai
  • Patent number: 7301048
    Abstract: A process for isolating vinyl acetate from the gas mixture formed in the reaction of ethylene with acetic acid and oxygen in the gas phase over catalysts comprising palladium or palladium compounds, with recirculation of the acetic-acid solution obtained in the circulating gas scrubber to the first distillation column (predewatering column).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Celanese Chemicals Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Stamm, Bernd Rinne, Stefan Hess, Hans-Jochen Sachs, Michael Sehr, Michael J. Bayer, Berthold Nuber, Martin Wagner
  • Patent number: 7160524
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the production of butylacetate by esterification of acetic acid with butanol in the presence of a solid acidic catalyst in which distillatory separation of components runs simultaneously with esterification. Thus, acetic acid and butanol are introduced in defined amounts and in the molar ratio 1:1 to 1:10 into a system, in which the reaction and the distillatory separation proceeds in three zones. The reaction together with distillatory separation of the components with different boiling points run in the reaction zone, while only distillation takes place in lower and upper separation zones. A volatile mixture is separated in the upper separation zone, from which, after being cooled at 5 to 80° C., water and organic phases are separated, the latest being refluxed into the system. The ratio of the feed amount to the organic phase reflux amount is 1:1 to 1:20, the reflux amount representing 60 to 100% of the whole amount of the organic phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignees: Sulzer Chemtech AG, Chemopetrol, a.s.
    Inventors: Jaromír Lederer, Jirí Kolena, Jirí Hanika, Pavel Morávek, Quido Smejkal, Vladimír Macek, Willem Levering, Oliver Bailer
  • Patent number: 7115773
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the coupled production of two esters by reacting a mixture of aliphatic alcohols with an aliphatic carboxylic acid and then treating the resulting mixture by distillation. During the distillation process, a side flow that is taken from the distillation column that is connected downstream of the esterification reactor is fed back into said esterification reactor. The pure ester compounds are obtained from the bottom of the distillation columns that are connected downstream of the esterification reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Celanese Chemicals Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Eckhard Schulz, Helmut Bauer, Klaus Dieter Merscher
  • Patent number: 7115772
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to using methyl acetate from a vinyl acetate-based or a vinyl-or ethylene-alcohol based polymer or copolymer process directly for use in a methanol carbonylation production process to produce acetic acid, acetic anhydride, or a coproduction of each. Methyl acetate is a by-product of commercial polyvinyl-alcohol or alkene vinyl alcohol copolymer-based processes. Generally, this material is processed to recover methanol and acetic acid. Discussed herein is a cost-saving scheme to by-pass the methyl acetate processing at production or plant facilities and utilize the methyl acetate in an integrated methanol carbonylation unit. The scheme discussed eliminates an expensive hydrolysis step often associated with the polymer process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne David Picard, Mark O. Scates, Stephen Charles Webb, Duane Lyle Usrey
  • Patent number: 7001919
    Abstract: New polymorphic forms of pravastatin sodium are provided. Each of the new forms is selectively obtained by crystallization from different solvent systems, each solvent system having a protic component, and by controlling the rate of crystallization through temperature. The new polymorphic forms are suitable for use as active substances of pharmaceutical dosage forms for reduction of serum cholesterol levels in the bloodstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Teva Gyogyszergyar Reszvenytarsasag
    Inventors: Vilmos Keri, Csaba Szabo, Edit Nagyne Arvai, Judith Aronhime
  • Patent number: 6992213
    Abstract: Trifluoroethanol can be isolated from organic liquids that are contaminated by trifluoroethanol by bringing the contaminated liquid into contact with a molecular sieve having a pore size ranging between 0.5 and 1.0 nm, e.g., with molecular sieve 13X. This enables, for example, trifluoroacetic acid trifluoroethyl esters, bis(trifluoroethyl)carbonate or trifluoroethyl esters of phosphoric, phosphonic or phosphinic acid to be purified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Solvay Fluor und Derivate GmbH
    Inventors: Olaf Boese, Katja Peterkord
  • Patent number: 6946570
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the production of lower aliphatic esters by reacting a lower olefin with a saturated lower aliphatic mono-carboxylic acid in the vapor phase in the presence of a heteropolyacid catalyst in a plurality of reactors set up in series such that the reactant gases exiting from a first reactor are fed as the feed gas to a second reactor and those exiting from the second reactor are fed as the feed gas to a third reactor and so on for the subsequent reactors. An aliquot of the reactant monocarboxylic acid is introduced into the feed gas to the second and subsequent reactors so as to maintain the olefin to monocarboxylic acid ratio in the feed gas to each of the second and subsequent reactors within a pre-determined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: BP Chemicals Limited
    Inventors: Stanley John Becker, Geoffrey Bryne, Simon Frederick Thomas Froom, Stephen Robert Hodge
  • Patent number: 6838566
    Abstract: Lovastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin, mevastatin, atorvastatin, and derivatives and analogs thereof are known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and are used as antihypercholesterolemic agents. The majority of them are produced by fermentation using microorganisms of different species identified as species belonging to Aspergillus, Monascus, Nocardia, Amycolatopsis, Mucor or Penicillium genus, some are obtained by treating the fermentation products using the methods of chemical synthesis or they are the products of total chemical synthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: LEK Pharmaceuticals d.d.
    Inventor: Zlatko Pflaum
  • Patent number: 6794535
    Abstract: Process for the production of lower aliphatic esters comprising reacting a lower olefin with a saturated lower aliphatic monocarboxylic acid in the vapor phase in the presence of a heteropolyacid catalyst. The reaction is carried out in a plurality of reactors set up in series, and the feedstock is rendered substantially free of metallic or metal compound impurities prior to being brought into contact with the heteropolyacid catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: BP Chemicals Limited
    Inventors: Simon Frederick Thomas Froom, Stephen Robert Hodge, Witold Franciszek Pacynko
  • Patent number: 6765110
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the simultaneous coproduction of ethyl acetate and isopropyl acetate. The esterification reaction comprises contacting acetic acid with a mixed alcohol stream of ethanol and isopropanol. Exemplified is a purified, Fischer Tropsch derived mixture of ethanol and isopropanol. The esterification reaction occurs in the presence of an acidic catalyst in a liquid phase reaction system. The resultant crude reaction step product is separated and purified by distillation to produce acetate ester products having greater than 99.5 wt % purity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: R. Jay Warner, Carl David Murphy, Gustavo Angel Robelo Grajales, Francisco Javier Sanchez Santiago, Fernando Alejo Solorzano, Jose Alfonso Torres
  • Patent number: 6710204
    Abstract: There is provided a superior decreasing method of an N-oxyl compound contained in an easily polymerizable material, according to which the N-oxyl compound contained in an easily polymerizable material can be sufficiently decreased and loss of the easily polymerizable material is little. The easily polymerizable material containing an N-oxyl compound and an acid are contacted with each other. In addition, not only the N-oxyl compound but also an organic titanium group compound contained in the easily polymerizable material can be sufficiently decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Tokuda, Yasukazu Yoshida, Junichi Doi, Motomu Oh-Kita
  • Patent number: 6663692
    Abstract: A process for removing at least one compound selected from acetic acid, acetate esters and aldehydes from a gaseous fraction comprising carbon dioxide and such a compound. The process includes the steps of (a) scrubbing in a scrubber at least part of the gaseous fraction with water and acetic acid to remove the acetic acid, acetate esters and/or aldehydes and (b) removing carbon dioxide from the scrubbed product of step (a) by absorption in aqueous potassium carbonate. The process may be used to remove acetate esters such as vinyl acetate and ethyl acetate and aldehydes such as acetaldehyde. The process may be employed in the manufacture of vinyl acetate by the reaction of ethylene, acetic acid and an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst, or in the catalytic oxidation of (a) ethane and/or (b) ethylene to produce respectively (a) acetic acid and/or ethylene and (b) acetic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: BP Chemicals Limited
    Inventors: Keith de Poitiers, Sean Anthony Hennigan
  • Patent number: 6635775
    Abstract: An improved process for preparing reduced-odor or odorless esters, preferably benzoate esters, octanoate esters, aliphatic emollient esters and glycol dibenzoate esters. The improved process comprises, in part, removing the esterification catalyst from the crude ester after the esterification reaction is substantially complete, before neutralization of acidity. The resultant ester compositions are odorless or have substantially reduced odor as compared to commercially available esters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Finetex, Inc.
    Inventors: Ismail Walele, Samad A. Syed
  • Patent number: 6632959
    Abstract: A base catalyst, obtained by formulating at least one alkali metal compound selected from the group consisting of alkoxides, hydroxides and oxides of alkali metals and an alkaline-earth metal oxide in a ratio of “the weight of alkaline metal compound/the weight of alkaline-earth metal oxide”=0.005 to 1, is used in a reaction of an aldehyde to produce a glycol monoester, thereby providing a base catalyst with an improved efficiency which can be applied to aldol reaction or the like and which has high activity to give target product in a high selectivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Chisso Corporation
    Inventors: Kan-ichiro Inui, Shunji Oshima, Toru Kurabayashi, Sakae Kawamura, Masahiro Yokota
  • Patent number: 6632330
    Abstract: A process for the recovery of substantially pure alkyl alkanoate, such as ethyl acetate, from an impure feedstock. The impure feedstock is contacted with a selective hydrogenation catalyst in the presence of hydrogen in a selective hydrogenation zone maintained under selective hydrogenation conditions effective for selective hydrogenation of impurities containing reactive carbonyl groups thereby to hydrogenate the impurities to the corresponding alcohols. After recovery from the selective hydrogenation zone of a selectively hydrogenated reaction product mixture including the alkyl alkanoate and the corresponding alcohols, this is distilled in one or more distillation zones so as to produce substantially pure alkyl alkanoate therefrom which is recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Davy Process Technology Limited
    Inventors: Stephen William Colley, Norman Harris, Colin Rathmell
  • Publication number: 20030176728
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the coupled production of two esters by reacting a mixture of aliphatic alcohols with an aliphatic carboxylic acid and then treating the resulting mixture by distillation. During the distillation process, a side flow that is taken from the distillation column that is connected downstream of the esterification reactor is fed back into said esterification reactor. The pure ester compounds are obtained from the bottom of the distillation columns that are connected downstream of the esterification reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Eckhard Schulz, Helmut Bauer, Klaus Dieter Merscher
  • Patent number: 6586609
    Abstract: Process for the esterification of organic acids with alcohols in a reactor of the chromatographic type in which the heterogeneous solid phase is capable of acting both as an esterification catalyst and as a means exhibiting preferential adsorption towards one of the reaction products (typically water). The process to which the present invention relates is particularly improved compared with conventional technology owing to the use, as the means for regenerating the catalyst, of a desorbent to which has been added a second compound, generally the anhydride of the acid used in the esterification reaction, which, by chemical reaction, completes the removal of the adsorbed water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: La Chemical SpA
    Inventors: Roberto Ruggieri, Giovanni Ranghino, Gianni Carvoli, Agostino Tricella, Davino Gelosa, Massimo Morbidelli
  • Patent number: 6583295
    Abstract: Lovastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin, mevastatin, atorvastatin, and derivatives and analogs thereof are known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and are used as antihypercholesterolemic agents. The majority of them are produced by fermentation using microorganisms of different species identified as species belonging to Aspergillus, Monascus, Nocardia, Amycolatopsis, Mucor or Penicillium genus, some are obtained by treating the fermentation products using the methods of chemical synthesis or they are the products of total chemical synthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: LEK Pharmaceuticals d.d.
    Inventor: Zlatko Pflaum
  • Patent number: 6538164
    Abstract: Volatile compounds may be economically recovered from solids present in aqueous solution by subjecting the solution to rapid separation where the volatilization occurs in a flash, spray, or fluid bed, or mechanically agitated dryers. Rapidly separating the solids from the volatile compound greatly simplifies the isolation of the volatile compounds from water. The methods have utility for fermentation processes, solids management, and recycling processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: F. Glenn Gallagher, George Schurr
  • Patent number: 6458992
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process of butylacetate production by esterification of acetic acid with butanol in the presence of a solid acidic catalyst in which distillatory separation of components runs simultaneously with esterification. Thus, acetic acid and butanol are introduced in defined amounts and in the molar ratio 1:1 to 1:10 into a system, in which the reaction and the distillatory separation proceeds in three zones. The reaction together with distillatory separation of the components with different boiling points run in the reaction zone, while only distillation takes place in lower and upper separation zones. A volatile mixture is separated in the upper separation zone, from which, after being cooled at 5 to 80° C., water and organic phases are separated, the latest being refluxed into the system. The ratio of the feed amount to the organic phase reflux amount is 1:1 to 1:20, the reflux amount representing 60 to 100% of the whole amount of the organic phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignees: Sulzer Chemtech AG, Chemopetrol, A.S.
    Inventors: Jaromír Lederer, Ji{haeck over (r)}í Kolena, Ji{haeck over (r)}í Hanika, Willem Wiekert Levering, Oliver Bailer, Pavel Morävek, Quido Smejkal, Vladimír Macek
  • Patent number: 6399812
    Abstract: Aliphatic esters, R'COOR are produced by reacting the corresponding alcohol, ROH having carbon numbers of the alkyl groups, R′ and R, between 0 and 9 and 1 and 10, respectively, with molecular oxygen in the presence of a dual functional catalyst comprising metal on acidic solid support. In particular, the process is used advantageously for production of ethyl acetate by conversion of ethanol. The reaction mixture from the reactor is separated through azeotropic distillation to recover the ethyl acetate as product and the by-product, acetaldehyde and acetic acid which could be recycled for further reaction. The process is characterized by high conversion of ethanol, high selectivity and high yield for ethyl acetate and low waste stream generation. The preferred catalyst is Pd on zeolites which is active, selective, stable and regenerable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Inventors: Tsoung Y. Yan, Jen-Ray Chang
  • Patent number: 6383343
    Abstract: A method of separating methanol and acetone, and methanol and methyl acetate involves distilling a mixture of the components by an extractive distillation process in the presence of an extractive distillation solvent. The extractive distillation solvent may be an amine, a chlorinated hydrocarbon, a brominated hydrocarbon, a paraffin, and an alkylated thiopene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Inventors: Izak Nieuwoudt, Braam van Dyk
  • Patent number: 6375807
    Abstract: A method of separating ethanol and ethyl acetate, and ethanol and water involves distilling a mixture of the components by an extractive distillation process in the presence of an extractive distillation solvent. The extractive distillation solvent may be an amine, an alkylated thiopene, and paraffins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Inventors: Izak Nieuwoudt, Braam Van Dyk
  • Patent number: 6375804
    Abstract: The present invention provides a distillation separation method whereby tertiary butyl acetate is separated by distillation as an overhead stream from a bottoms acetic acid stream with the proviso that water is incorporated in the system such that the bottoms acetic acid stream contains water in amount of 0.1 to 5 wt %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: ARCO Chemical Technology, L.P.
    Inventor: Vijai P. Gupta
  • Patent number: 6258978
    Abstract: In a process for the production of vinyl acetate by reacting ethylene, acetic acid and an oxygen-containing gas in a reactor to produce a process stream which is removed from the reactor as an outlet stream, the process is improved by maintaining the oxygen concentration of the outlet stream at or near its flammability limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: BP Chemicals Limited
    Inventors: Simon James Kitchen, Alasdair Iain Thomson, Bruce Leo Williams
  • Patent number: 6232491
    Abstract: This invention is a process for the removal of acetaldehyde impurities from ethyl acetate formed by reacting acetic acid with ethylene over a catalyst by refining a crude mixture of ethyl acetate, diethyl ether, acetaldehye and water in a column (C) so as to remove (a) refined ethyl acetate as a base product to be further purified, and (b) light ends mixture comprising diethyl ether and acetaldehyde overhead to be fed to an aldehyde removal column; a purge comprising acetaldehyde is removed at or near the top of the aldehyde removal column. The process is a very important step in the commercial manufacture of ethyl acetate because the presence of acetaldehyde is detrimental to the esterification catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: BP Chemicals Limited
    Inventors: Malcolm J. Cunnington, Mohammed Hussain Khan, Witold Franciszek Pacynko
  • Patent number: 6228226
    Abstract: A process for working up crude, liquid vinyl acetate feed containing acetic acid, water and ethyl acetate and optionally smaller amounts of other impurities by distillation, wherein there is introduced into the distillation column, above the feed point of the crude, liquid vinyl acetate, 0.1 to 5% by weight of water, based on the crude, liquid vinyl acetate feed, and 0.1 to 60% by weight of acetic acid, based on the crude, liquid vinyl acetate feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Celanese GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Hess, Michael Mark, Melchior A. Meilchen, Johann Stamm, Thomas Vernaleken, Martin Wagner
  • Patent number: 6222076
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel process for the preparation of hydroxyalkyl- and acyloxyalkyl-substituted cycloketones by free-radical addition of hydroxyalkenes and acyloxyalkenes respectively to cyclic ketones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Haarmann & Reimer GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred Krempel, Oskar Koch, Harry Erfurt
  • Patent number: 6150553
    Abstract: A method for recovering methyl acetate and residual acetic acid in a two-stage process for producing pure terephthalic acid having a first oxidation stage and a second purification stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: William David Parten
  • Patent number: 6093845
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the simultaneous co-production of ethyl acetate and n-butyl acetate. The process involves reacting a reaction mixture of ethanol, n-butanol and acetic acid in the liquid phase, in the presence of an acidic catalyst. The process is carried out in a series of reactor and distillation columns. The process is capable of using relatively impure reactants and provides for removing some of the aldehyde type impurities by the use of resin guard beds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: BP Chemicals Limited
    Inventors: Patrick Eduard van Acker, Olivier Mathieu, Russell James Milner, Witold Franciszek Pacynko
  • Patent number: 5993610
    Abstract: Ethyl acetate cannot be separated from ethanol by distillation or rectification because of the closeness of their boiling points. Ethyl acetate is readily separated from ethanol by azeotropic distillation. Effective agents are ethyl ether, methyl formate and cyclohexane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Inventor: Lloyd Berg
  • Patent number: 5952458
    Abstract: Synthesis of a vinyl terminated polymer by reacting a cationically polymerizable monomer in the form of a cyclic ether with an acid chloride in a suitable solvent and in the presence of a Lewis acid. The vinyl-terminated polymers can be polymerized with other appropriate monomers resulting in thermoplastic elastomers having suitable properties for use as binders for explosives and propellants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: The Government of the United States as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Mostafa A. H. Talukder
  • Patent number: 5777157
    Abstract: A method for producing and purifying triacetin. The method includes an initial separation of triacetin from a crude composition of triacetin and impurities. The separated triacetin is then contacted with an aqueous solution containing an oxidant, and results in an odorless and colorless purified triacetin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Industrias Monfel S.A. de C.V.
    Inventor: Mikhail Khramov
  • Patent number: 5763645
    Abstract: A process for recovering and reusing a solvent and optical isomers, characterized by using a simulated moving packed bed which comprises an inlet for an eluent, an outlet for an extract containing an optical isomer strongly adsorbable on the packing, an inlet for a liquid containing an optical isomer mixture and an outlet for a raffinate containing an optical isomer weakly adsorbable on the packing in this order in a packed bed containing packings for optical resolution and arranged in a solvent circulation passage, and in which the inlets and the outlets are intermittently and successively moved in the direction of liquid flow in the packed bed; recovering the solvent and the optical isomer(s) from the resultant extract and/or raffinate; returning the recovered solvent into the solvent circulation passage; or when the solvent is not recovered, heating the extract or raffinate to racemize an undesired optical isomer and reusing the resultant solution containing a racemic modification for the separation of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Negawa, Fumihiko Shoji
  • Patent number: 5726345
    Abstract: We describe a process for perfuming fabrics washed in the presence of a lipase-containing detergent and, optionally, subsequently treated with a fabric softener, said process being characterized in that said detergent and/or said fabric softener contains a compound of formula ##STR1## wherein a. R represents a radical derived from an fragrant alcohol of formula ROH and Y represents a C.sub.7 to C.sub.24 linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl radical, or a --(CH.sub.2).sub.n COOR group wherein R is defined as above and n is an integer from 0 to 6; or p1 b. Y represents a C.sub.7 to C.sub.24 linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl radical and R represents a group of formula ##STR2## wherein, either R.sup.1 represents hydrogen and R.sup.2 represents an alkylidene radical derived from a fragrant aldehyde of formula ##STR3## or R.sup.2 represents an alkylidene radical and R.sup.1 an alkyl radical, R.sup.1 and R.sup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Firmenich S.A.
    Inventors: Walter Paget, Daniel Reichlin, Roger Leslie Snowden, Eric C. Walborsky, Christian Vial
  • Patent number: 5672735
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a Process for the preparation of S-(-)-5-??2-(acetyloxy)-1-oxopropyl!amino!-2,4,6-triiodo-1,3-benzenedicarb oxylic acid dichloride of formula (I) comprising the reaction between S-(-)-?2-(acetyloxy)!propionic acid chloride and 5-amino-2,4,6-triiodo-, 1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid dichloride, in an aprotic dipolar solvent and in presence of a halogenhydric acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Fructamine S.p.A.
    Inventors: Marina Mauro, Carlo Felice Viscardi, Massimo Gatti, Nicola Desantis
  • Patent number: 5670663
    Abstract: The present invention provides new sources of taxanes and other metabolites from members of the order Coniferales that are not in the genus Taxus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Don J. Durzan, Frank Ventimiglia
  • Patent number: 5527949
    Abstract: A method for making an amine includes the steps of heating a reaction mixture including a nitrile, an acid, water and a substrate compound capable of generating a carbonium ion by reaction with the acid to generate a first reaction intermediate; treating the first reaction intermediate with an acid in the presence of a primary alkanol to form a second reaction intermediate and an alkyl ester; separating the alkyl ester from the second reaction intermediate; and treating the second reaction intermediate with a base to form the amine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Company
    Inventors: Sudhir K. Agarwal, Rajiv M. Banavali, Bharati D. Chheda, Samuel F. Reed, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5519162
    Abstract: A method for removing hydrogen cyanide from a hydrogen cyanide-contaminated organic liquid includes the steps of contacting the hydrogen cyanide-contaminated organic liquid with a metal alkoxide to generate a metal cyanide salt and an alkanol and then separating the organic liquid from the metal cyanide salt and the alkanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Company
    Inventors: Sudhir K. Agarwal, Rajiv M. Banavali, Bharati D. Chheda, Samuel F. Reed, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5504239
    Abstract: A first alkanol having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms can be separated off from other organic compounds of higher carbon number from the group comprising other alcohols, polyalcohols, ethers, oxo compounds, esters of carboxylic acids and of carbonic acid, haloaliphatics, amines, amides, hydrocarbons, carboxylic acids and nitriles, which in each case have at least 1 carbon atom more than the first alkanol, where in the case of halogenoaliphatics, halogen substituents are counted as further carbon atoms, by permeation on membranes, if a water content from 1 to 30% by weight, preferably from 5 to 15% by weight, based on the amount of mixture and water, is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolf Mehl, Wolfgang Scheinert, Ingo Janisch, Andreas Groschl