Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm E. E. Spielman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6528665
    Abstract: Epoxyalkanes are subjected to at least one of the following washing operations: (1) washing with aqueous inorganic base, and then with aqueous borohydride, or vice versa; or (2) washing with an aqueous solution of both inorganic base and borohydride. Undesirable odor is reduced or eliminated from alkanediol(s), if produced from the treated epoxyalkane(s) by hydrolysis. Use of such washing procedures in the production of alkanediols is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventors: Chi Hung Cheng, Gerald M. Sulzer, John F. Balhoff
  • Patent number: 6448410
    Abstract: A shape-retentive compacted article is produced from 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin particulate solids by (a) granulating the particulate solids without use of a binder, and (b) pressure compacting granulated 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin granules formed in (a) that have a U.S. standard mesh size in the range of about 80 mesh to about 3 mesh, again without use of a binder. So far as is known, never before have 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin particulate solids been converted into a compacted form by any method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan N. Howarth, Bruce C. Peters
  • Patent number: 6432380
    Abstract: Synthetic zeolite is produced by force feeding separate aqueous streams of sodium silicate and of an alkali metal aluminate into coaxial alignment with each other. The coaxially aligned solutions are then introduced into in an open space in coaxial fashion with one of the streams being injected from a nozzle. The open space constitutes a mixing zone in which the two streams come together and are thoroughly mixed to produce a precrystallized mixture. This mixture then passes in unimpeded fashion through an entrance port and into a crystallization reactor or vessel. The system used for conducting this operation thus serves the dual function of being a feeding system and a mixing system whereby the silicate and aluminate streams interact with each other before entering the crystallization reactor or zone. Intimate mixing is assured by virtue of the relatively small volume of the mixing zone and the higher velocity of the stream emanating from the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph E. Coury, Wylie A. Barrow, Yongzhuo Su, George W. Cook, Jr., Robert F. Pierpoline
  • Patent number: 6432294
    Abstract: Electrochemical oxidation of organic disulfides is conducted in an electrolytic solution containing an arene (e.g., anthracene, acenaphthylene, phenanthrene), and depending on the arene used and/or the product desired, an organic base (e.g., pyridine) to effect the synthesis of organothiated products in good yields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: The University of Arizona
    Inventors: Richard S. Glass, Viatcheslav V. Jouikov, Nina V. Bojkova
  • Patent number: 6420617
    Abstract: This invention relates to the production of an hexabromocyclododecane product, which process comprises brominating cyclododecatriene in the presence of a 1,4-dioxane and water based solvent and from about 0.5 to about 30 wt % bromide ion in the liquid phase of the reaction mass. Optional post-reaction heat treatment in a finishing step increases process yields if needed. The hexabromocyclododecane product is unrecrystallized and contains no more than about 1.5 wt % tetrabromocyclododecene impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventors: John K. Kendall, Jeffrey T. Aplin
  • Patent number: 6414060
    Abstract: Thermoplastic polycarbonate-ABS resin is rendered flame retardant by blending with the resin an O,O-diaryl-N-arylphosphoramidate, an arylene-N,N′-bis(O,O-diarylphosphoramidate) in which the nitrogen atoms are in the 1,3 or 1,4 positions on an arylene ring, or an N,N′-piperazinediylbis(O,O-diarylphosphoramidate). These flame retardants are halogen-free. They provide molded objects having high heat distortion temperatures, and high softening temperatures. Flame retardants of these types have been found to be thermally stable at temperatures of at least 260° C., and they did not discolor the polymer composition during exposure to molding temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventors: John M. McEuen, Mark W. Beltz, Govindarajulu Kumar
  • 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: 6375991
    Abstract: The production process comprises A) forming acidic aqueous solution comprising alkali metal cations, bromide anions, and sulfamate anions; B) feeding into said aqueous solution a source of alkali metal cations and chlorine-containing bromide oxidant proportioned to keep the resultant aqueous medium acidic and to form an acidic product solution containing at least about 5 wt % of active bromine; and C) raising the pH of the aqueous product solution with water-soluble base to at least about 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventor: Robert M. Moore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6369017
    Abstract: When certain weight ratios of certain flammable additive components (an ether and an epoxyalkane) are blended in n-propyl bromide, the components can actually function as flame retardants or flame suppressants when the resulting cleaning composition is used in aerosol applications. The proportions of the additives used are small; yet suitably effective stabilization against metallic corrosion is achieved even at mildly elevated temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald L. Shubkin, Eric W. Liimatta
  • Patent number: 6352725
    Abstract: The process involves (a) continuously forming bromine chloride from separate feed streams of bromine and chlorine by maintaining said streams under automatic feed rate control whereby the streams are continuously proportioned to come together in equimolar amounts to form bromine chloride; (b) continuously forming an aqueous product having an active bromine content of at least 100,000 ppm (wt/wt), a pH of at least 7, and an atom ratio of nitrogen to active bromine greater than 0.93:1 by continuously feeding into mixing apparatus separate feed streams of (1) bromine chloride formed in (a), and (2) an aqueous solution of alkali metal salt of sulfamic acid, under automatic feed rate control whereby the feed streams are continuously proportioned to come together in amounts that produce an aqueous product having an active bromine content of at least 100,000 ppm (wt/wt), a pH of at least 7, and an atom ratio of nitrogen to active bromine from (1) and (2) greater than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventors: James E. Torres, Robert M. Moore, Jr., R. Woodrow Wilson, Jr., Gary D. Focht
  • Patent number: 6348219
    Abstract: The process involves (a) continuously forming bromine chloride from separate feed streams of bromine and chlorine by maintaining said streams under automatic feed rate control whereby the streams are continuously proportioned to come together to form bromine chloride; (b) continuously forming an aqueous product having an active bromine content of at least 100,000 ppm (wt/wt), a pH of at least 7, and an atom ratio of nitrogen to active bromine greater than 0.93:1 by continuously or intermittently feeding into mixing apparatus separate feed streams of (1) bromine chloride formed in (a), and (2) an aqueous solution of alkali metal salt of sulfamic acid, under automatic feed rate control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventors: James E. Torres, Robert M. Moore, Jr., R. Woodrow Wilson, Jr., Gary D. Focht
  • Patent number: 6326439
    Abstract: This invention relates to a thermally stable brominated polystyrene having less than 100 ppm total Cl−, above about 68 wt % bromine and less than about 6,000 ppm hydrolyzable halide. The brominated polystyrene exhibits little or no polymer cross-linking or chain cleavage relative to the starting polystyrene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventors: Billie B. Dadgar, Donald E. Balhoff, Charles H. Kolich, Meng-Sheng Ao, Homer C. Lin
  • Patent number: 6322822
    Abstract: Methods for disinfecting surfaces and for sanitizing bodies of water using a single-feed, bromine-based biocide are described. These methods use concentrated liquid biocide compositions comprising biocidally active bromine as the biocide. Also described is a process of producing the concentrated liquid biocide composition: mixed together are (a) bromine chloride and (b) an aqueous solution of alkali metal salt of sulfamic acid having a pH of at least about 7, in amounts such that (i) the active bromine content of the composition is at least about 100,000 ppm (wt/wt), and (ii) the atom ratio of nitrogen to active bromine in the composition is greater than 0.93. Use of bromine chloride as the source of the active bromine in the process is advantageous because in the resulting aqueous compositions, all of the bromine of the bromine chloride is made available as active bromine in solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Moore, Jr., Christopher J. Nalepa
  • 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: 6306441
    Abstract: A concentrated liquid biocide composition is produced by a continuous process. The process comprises continuously feeding into mixing apparatus (i) bromine chloride and (ii) an aqueous solution of alkali metal salt of sulfamic acid. These are proportioned to produce an aqueous product having an active bromine content of at least 100,000 ppm (wt/wt), and an atom ratio of nitrogen to active bromine from (i) and (ii) greater than 0.93:1. The desired product is withdrawn from the mixing apparatus at a rate sufficient to enable the continuous feeding to be maintained. Thus, the withdrawal of the product can be continuous or intermittent, depending upon the type of mixing apparatus being used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Moore, Jr., R. Woodrow Wilson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6307113
    Abstract: Aromatic substrates such as fluorobenzene can be selectively brominated in high yield and conversion in short reaction periods by reacting the substrate with a brominating agent in a liquid reaction medium and in the presence of a catalyst composition formed by including in the medium a combination of (i) a shape selective HY or HM or zeolite catalyst, and (ii) at least one Lewis acid in a ratio of from 0.005 to 0.5 part by weight of (ii) per part by weight of (i). The bromination is performed at one or more temperatures in the range of 30 to 70° C., and the amount of the zeolite is no more than about 10 grams per mole of aromatic substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventor: Mahmood Sabahi
  • Patent number: 6303038
    Abstract: A water soluble dialkylhydantoin and a source of bromide ion are added to a body of water needing sanitization. This is followed by contacting the body of water with an oxidizing agent, which creates biocidal species in situ in the body of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Sanders, Christopher J. Nalepa
  • Patent number: 6299909
    Abstract: A concentrated liquid biocide composition is produced by a process which comprises continuously or intermittently feeding (i) bromine chloride into mixing apparatus where the bromine chloride contacts (ii) an aqueous solution of alkali metal salt of sulfamic acid. An aqueous product is produced having an active bromine content of at least 100,000 ppm (wt/wt), and an atom ratio of nitrogen to active bromine from (i) and (ii) greater than 0.93:1. The desired product can be withdrawn from the mixing apparatus continuously or intermittently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Moore, Jr., R. Woodrow Wilson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6300527
    Abstract: This invention relates, inter alia, to a process for the production of tetrabromobisphenol-A by the bromination of bisphenol-A and/or underbrominated bisphenol-A, which process features: a water and water-miscible organic solvent reaction medium; a relatively high reaction temperature; and the presence, in the reaction medium, of both (i) excess unreacted Br2 during the feed of bisphenol-A to the reactor, and (ii) sufficient HBr to protect the tetrabromobisphenol-A produced against undesirable color formation. Tetrabromobisphenol-A precipitates from the reaction mass and is easily recovered. Product of high purity (97% or more) and very low color (APHA of 50 or less) can be produced, even when using large excesses of bromine in the reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventors: Thanikavelu Manimaran, Hassan Y. Elnagar, Richard A. Holub, Alvin E. Harkins, Jr., Bonnie G. McKinnie
  • Patent number: 6284935
    Abstract: This invention relates to the production of an hexabromocyclododecane product, which process comprises brominating cyclododecatriene in the presence of a 1,4-dioxane and water based solvent and from about 0.5 to about 30 wt % bromide ion in the liquid phase of the reaction mass. Optional post-reaction heat treatment in a finishing step increases process yields if needed. The hexabromocyclododecane product is unrecrystallized and contains no more than about 1.5 wt % tetrabromocyclododecene impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventors: John K. Kendall, Jeffrey T. Aplin