Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Gerard J. Hughes
  • Patent number: 8197668
    Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for upgrading steam cracker tars from steam crackers. The invention also relates to a steam cracking process and apparatus for reducing yields of tars produced from steam cracking while increasing yields of higher value products by heating steam cracker tar, in the presence of hydrogen donor compounds, e.g., tetralin. The hydrogen donor compounds can be provided in a hydrogen donor-rich hydrocarbon stream, e.g., light cycle oils, or low sulfur vacuum tower bottoms. The treated tar can be separated into gas oil, fuel oil and tar streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Y. Ou, Glenn A. Heeter, Paul F. Keusenkothen, James N. McCoy, Judith Hey, legal representative
  • Patent number: 7872086
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a polymer composition, its manufacture and use, said composition may comprise greater than about 90 mole % propylene monomer, and having a unique combination of properties, including one or more of the following: a heat of fusion of more than about 108 J/g, a melting point of 165° C. or higher, a Melt Flow Rate so low that it is essentially not measurable and a molecular weight of greater than about 1.5×106. Further disclosed herein are blends or mixtures of the present novel polymer composition and products, such as, for example, microporous film structures and the like comprising same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Tonen Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Brant, Jeffrey L. Brinen, Zerong Lin, Koichi Kono, Kohtaro Kimishima, Hiroyuki Ozaki
  • Patent number: 7803276
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for recycling acid used to remove nitrogen contaminants from hydrocarbons using polymeric membranes to separate spent acid from the acid extraction of hydrocarbons into acid for recycle and acid for regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Bhupender S. Minhas, Dennis G. Peiffer, Jeffrey S. Beck, David L. Stern, Tomas R. Melli
  • Patent number: 7658838
    Abstract: A delayed coking process for making substantially free-flowing coke, preferably shot coke. A coker feedstock, such as a vacuum residuum, is heated in a heating zone to coking temperatures then conducted to a coking zone wherein volatiles are collected overhead and coke is formed. At least one polymeric additive is added to the feedstock prior to it being heated in the heating zone, prior to its being conducted to the coking zone, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Ramesh Varadaraj, Michael Siskin, Leo D. Brown
  • Patent number: 7537686
    Abstract: A method for upgrading heavy oils by contacting the heavy oil with an inhibitor additive and then thermally treating the inhibitor additized heavy oil. The invention also relates to the upgraded product from the inhibitor enhanced thermal treatment process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Ramesh Varadaraj, Christopher P. Eppig, Douglas W. Hissong, Robert C. Welch
  • Patent number: 7504021
    Abstract: This invention relates to a FCC process using a mesoporous catalytic cracking catalyst. The mesoporous fluidized catalytic cracking catalyst is selective for minimizing the production of coke and light gas. The catalyst comprises at least one amorphous, porous matrix, each matrix having pores ranging in diameter from about 1 ? to about 10 ? and pores ranging in diameter from about 40 ? to about 500 ?, wherein in the pore range from 50 ? to 250 ?, there is a single maximum in differential pore volume distribution over the 50 ? to 250 ? range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: William A. Wachter, Stephen J. McCarthy, Jeffrey S. Beck, David L. Stern
  • Patent number: 7435335
    Abstract: A process for hydroprocessing a distillate stream to produce a stream exceptionally low in sulfur, with total aromatics and polynuclear aromatics being moderately reduced. A distillate stream is hydrodesulfurized in a first hydrodesulfurization stage. The product stream thereof is passed to a first separation stage wherein a vapor phase product stream and a liquid product stream are produced. The liquid phase product stream is passed to a second hydrodesulfurization stage and the product stream thereof is passed to a second separation stage wherein a vapor phase product stream and a liquid product stream low in sulfur are produced. At least a portion of the vapor product stream from said second separation stage can be cascaded to the first hydrodesulfurization stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Edward S. Ellis, William E. Lewis, Larry L. Iaccino, Michele S. Touvelle, Gordon F. Stuntz
  • Patent number: 7429318
    Abstract: A process for preparing high VI lubricating oil basestocks comprising hydrotreating, hydrodewaxing and optionally hydrofinishing. The hydrotreated feedstock is hydrodewaxed using a dewaxing catalyst that has been selectively activated by oxygenate treatment. The hydrodewaxed product may then be hydrofinished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Ian A. Cody, William J. Murphy, Sylvain Hantzer, David W. Larkin, John E. Gallagher, Jr., Jeenok T. Kim
  • Patent number: 7423192
    Abstract: A method and system for blending components obtained from a feed stock. The method includes flowing a first stream through a membrane member, with the membrane member having a first wafer assembly comprising a first thin film polymer membrane, a first permeate zone, and heat transfer means for transferring heat from the first permeate zone to the polymer membrane. The method includes exposing the first stream to the polymer membrane and providing a heated fluid to the heat transfer means in order to heat the permeate zone and the polymer membrane as the first stream is being flown through the first wafer assembly. The method further includes removing a permeate stream from the permeate zone. The permeate stream may be conducted to at least one refinery process unit for further processing. In the preferred embodiment, the feed stock is a naphtha.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Craig Y. Sabottke, John G. Matragrano
  • Patent number: 7407572
    Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and process for atomizing a petroleum feed. More particularly, a liquid petroleum feed is atomized with an atomization apparatus in which the apparatus has an orifice that produces a generally flat spray pattern of finely dispersed feed prior to contacting catalyst in a fluid catalytic cracking zone. The orifice has a general aspect ratio greater than 1.0 and a ratio of perimeter length-to-cross-sectional area greater than 1.5 relative to a perimeter-to-cross-sectional area ratio of a circular orifice of equivalent area. The apparatus can be used to atomize feed injected into the cracking zone of a fluid catalytic cracker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Todd R. Steffens, Thomas E. Hewitt, Rathna P. Davuluri, Enrique Feliz
  • Patent number: 7318898
    Abstract: A method for separating aromatic hydrocarbons from a feed stream. The method includes flowing the feed stream through a first channel within a first wafer assembly that may contain an underflow distribution weir. Next, the feed stream is exposed to a first thin film polymer membrane. A stream permeates through the first thin film polymer membrane, and the permeate is produced from the first wafer assembly. The retentate is directed via a redistribution tube to a second wafer assembly that may contain an underflow distribution weir. This retentate is exposed to a second thin film polymer membrane. A second permeate stream is created that permeates through the second thin film polymer membrane. The second permeate stream is flown into the permeate zone and ultimately produced from the second wafer assembly. An apparatus for separating aromatic components from a feed stream is also disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a series of tandem wafer assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventor: Craig Y. Sabottke
  • Patent number: 7314565
    Abstract: An isothermal method is provided for separating aromatic hydrocarbons from a feed stream. The method includes flowing the feed stream through a first channel within a first wafer assembly that contains a rib member. Next, the feed stream is exposed to a first thin film polymer membrane. A stream permeates through the first thin film polymer membrane into a permeate zone. The permeate zone is heated via a heated fluid contained within the rib member. The permeate is produced from the first wafer assembly. The method may include having a plurality of tandem wafer assemblies arranged in series. An apparatus for separating aromatic components from a feed stream is also disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a series of tandem wafer assemblies specifically adapted for blending a transportation fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Exxonmobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Craig Y. Sabottke, John G. Matragrano
  • Patent number: 7303681
    Abstract: A method for separating aromatic hydrocarbons from a feed stream. The method includes flowing the feed stream through a first channel within a first wafer assembly that may contain an underflow distribution weir. Next, the feed stream is exposed to a first thin film polymer membrane. A stream permeates through the first thin film polymer membrane, and the permeate is produced from the first wafer assembly. The retentate is directed via a redistribution channel (such as a tube) to a second wafer assembly that may contain an underflow distribution weir. This retentate is exposed to a second thin film polymer membrane. A second permeate stream is created that permeates through the second thin film polymer membrane. The second permeate stream is conducted into the permeate zone and ultimately produced from the second wafer assembly. An apparatus for separating aromatic components from a feed stream is also disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a series of tandem wafer assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Craig Y. Sabottke, Bal K. Kaul
  • Patent number: 7220352
    Abstract: A process for the selective hydrodesulfurization of naphtha streams containing sulfur and olefins. A substantially olefins-free naphtha stream is blended with an olefins/sulfur-containing naphtha stream and hydrodesulfurized resulting in the substantial removal of sulfur without excessive olefin saturation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Exxonmobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Thomas R. Halbert, John P. Greeley, Brij N. Gupta, Garland B. Brignac, Chu Siang Loo
  • Patent number: 7125818
    Abstract: A dewaxing catalyst is selectively activated by treatment with an oxygenate. Selective activation is accomplished by treated the dewaxing catalyst with a carrier feed containing oxygenate. The selectively activated dewaxing catalyst when used to dewax waxy hydrocarbons results in improved yield of isomerate at equivalent pour point over a dewaxing catalyst which has not been oxygenate treated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Exxonmobil Research & Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Ian A. Cody, William J. Murphy, Sylvain Hantzer
  • Patent number: 7074735
    Abstract: The hydrogenation activity of a heteroatom removal catalyst, having activity for both heteroatom removal and hydrogenation, is selectively suppressed by a treatment which comprises contacting the catalyst with (i) hydrogen, (ii) a selectively deactivating agent that suppresses the catalyst's hydrogenation activity, and (iii) a protective agent, such as CO, that preserves and protects the heteroatom removal activity during the treatment. This may be achieved in a reactor while it is on-line and removing heteroatoms from a hydrocarbon feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Garland B. Brignac, Michele S. Touvelle, William C. Baird, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7049259
    Abstract: Layers comprising a molecular sieve layer on a porous or non-porous support, having uniform properties and allowing high flux are prepared from colloidal solutions of zeolite or other molecular sieve precursors (particle size less than 100 nm), by deposition, e.g., by spin or dip-coating, or by in situ crystallization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Harry William Deckman, Allan Joseph Jacobson, James Alexander McHenry, Klaas Keizer, Zeger Alexander Eduard Pieter Vroon, Lothar Ruediger Czarnetzki, Frank Wenyih Lai, Antonie Jan Bons, Anthonie Jan Burggraaf, Jannetje Maatje van den Berge, legal representative, Edward William Corcoran, Jr., Wilfred Jozef Mortier, Johannes Petrus Verduijn, deceased
  • Patent number: 7029573
    Abstract: The invention relates to a composition and method for treating liquid hydrocarbons in order to remove acidic impurities, such as mercaptans, particularly mercaptans having a molecular weight of about C4 (C4H10S=90 g/mole) and higher, such as recombinant mercaptans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignees: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, Merichem Company
    Inventors: Mark A. Greaney, Binh N. Le, Daniel P. Leta, John N. Begasse, Charles T. Huang, Verlin Keith Turner
  • Patent number: 6960291
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for desulfurizing naphtha boiling-range hydrocarbons such as cracked naphtha. More particularly, the invention relates to hydrotreating the naphtha under selective hydrotreating conditions, and then removing mercaptans from the hydrotreater effluent using a caustic extractant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignees: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, Merichem Company
    Inventors: Mark A. Greaney, Binh N. Le, Daniel P. Leta, John N. Begasse, Charles T. Huang, Verlin Keith Turner
  • Patent number: 6929738
    Abstract: A two stage hydrodesulfurizing process for producing low sulfur distillates. A distillate boiling range feedstock containing in excess of about 3,000 wppm sulfur is hydrodesulfurized in a first hydrodesulfurizing stage containing one or more reaction zones in the presence of hydrogen and a hydrodesulfurizing catalyst. The liquid product stream thereof is passed to a first separation stage wherein a vapor phase product stream and a liquid product stream are produced. The liquid product stream, which has a substantially lower sulfur and nitrogen content then the original feedstream is passed to a second hydrodesulfurizing stage also containing one or more reaction zones where it is reacted in the presence of hydrogen and a second hydrodesulfurizing catalyst at hydrodesulfurizing conditions. The catalyst in any one or more reaction zones is a bulk multimetallic catalyst comprised of at least one Group VIII non-noble metal and at least two Group VIB metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Llyod Riley, Darryl Patrick Klein, Zhiguo Hou, Stuart Leon Soled, Michael Charles Kerby, Gary Brice McVicker, Edward Stanley Ellis, Michele Sue Touvelle, Sabato Miseo