Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm John K. Abokhair
  • Patent number: 6310122
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing an asphalt and thermoplastic elastomer composition. The process comprises heating an asphalt cut in a stirred tank to a temperature sufficient to allow the stirring of the asphalt in the tank. A thermoplastic elastomer or rubber is added to the asphalt while continuing to stir the asphalt. The mixture is stirred at a speed and for a period of time sufficient to increase the distribution of the elastomer into the asphalt. The stirring speed is reduced and the temperature is increased to add an oil dispersion or aqueous emulsion of crosslinking agents to the tank. Stirring is continued for a period of time sufficient to improve the distribution of the crosslinking agent dispersion in the asphalt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Butler, Kevin P. Kelly
  • Patent number: 6268305
    Abstract: Ethylbenzene is produced by alkylation over monoclinic silicalite catalysts having a weak acid site concentration of less than 50 micromoles per gram. A Feed stock containing benzene and ethylene is applied to an alkylation reaction zone having at least one catalyst bed containing a monoclinic silicalite catalyst having a weak acid site concentration of less than 50 micromoles per gram. The alkylation reaction zone is operated at temperature and pressure conditions in which the benzene is in a gaseous phase to cause gas-phase alkylation of the aromatic substrate in the presence of the silicalite catalysts to produce an alkylation product. The alkylation product is then withdrawn from the reaction zone for separation and recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Butler, Ashim Kumar Ghosh
  • Patent number: 6153695
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for manufacturing coupled radial block copolymers of the S-B-Li type having improved optical properties, which process utilizes coupling agents having from about 3 to about 7 epoxy groups per mole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Fina Research, S.A.
    Inventors: Emmanuel Lanza, Jean Naveau
  • Patent number: 6090991
    Abstract: Ethylbenzene is produced by alkylation over monoclinic silicalite catalysts having a weak acid site concentration of less than 50 micromoles per gram. A feedstock containing benzene and ethylene is applied to an alkylation reaction zone having at least one catalyst bed containing a monoclinic silicalite catalyst having a weak acid site concentration of less than 50 micromoles per gram. The alkylation reaction zone is operated at temperature and pressure conditions in which the benzene is in a gaseous phase to cause gas-phase alkylation of the aromatic substrate in the presence of the silicalite catalysts to produce an alkylation product. The alkylation product is then withdrawn from the reaction zone for separation and recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Butler, Ashim Kumar Ghosh
  • Patent number: 5336609
    Abstract: Transformed yeasts comprising DNA which include at least one copy of a fragment coding for a 1,4-.beta.-N-acetylmuramidase which is expressed in the yeasts as the corresponding active protein, and a process for preparing lysozyme by growing said transformed yeasts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Labofina, S.A.
    Inventors: Jacques Oberto, John R. N. Davison
  • Patent number: 5334677
    Abstract: The invention provides a metallocene catalyst for use in preparing syndiotactic polyolefins. The catalyst comprises a bridged metallocene in which one of the cyclopentadienyl rings is substituted in a substantially different manner from the other ring. It was discovered that this type of catalyst is highly syndiospecific, and it also produces a polymer with a novel microstructure. The invention further includes the use of one or more of the catalysts in a polymerization process. The catalyst is generally described by the formulaR"(CpR.sub.n)(CpR'.sub.m)MeQ.sub.kwherein each Cp is a cyclopentadienyl or substituted cyclopentadienyl ring; each R.sub.n and R'.sub.m is the same or different and is a hydrocarbyl radicals having 1-20 carbon atoms; R" is a structural bridge between the two Cp rings imparting stereorigidity to the catalyst; Me is a group 4b, 5b, or 6b metal from the Periodic Table of Elements; each Q is a hydrocarbyl radical having 1-20 carbon atoms or is a halogen; 0.ltoreq.k.ltoreq.3; 0.ltoreq.n.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Abbas Razavi, John A. Ewen
  • Patent number: 5264493
    Abstract: Isotactic polypropylene and/or ethylene-propylene copolymers are blended with 5-65 wt % of atactic polypropylene and up to 20 wt % of the total blend of a thermosensitive agent. The process is particularly adapted for the incorporation of prodegradents used for reducing the molecular weight and its distribution, thereby producing polyethylene particularly suitable for fiber or film formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Fina Research, S.A.
    Inventors: Claude Palate, Alain M. F. Prevot, Rene Venneman
  • Patent number: 5264489
    Abstract: Coupling of block base copolymers terminated by a lithium atom of the typical formula S-B-Li, in which S is a monovinylaromatic hydrocarbon block and B is a conjugated diene block, by the use of at least one difunctional deactivating coupling agent and at least one polyfunctional deactivating coupling agent in a molar ratio such that the linear polymer obtained by coupling represents 65 to 95% by weight of the total polymer material obtained by coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Fina Research, S.A.
    Inventors: Emmanuel Lanza, Jean Naveau, Michel Daumerie
  • Patent number: 5256392
    Abstract: The modified zeolite beta has a surface area based upon the crystalline structure of the zeolite beta of at least 600 m.sup.2 /g and a sodium content in the crystalline structure of the zeolite beta of less than 0.04 wt % Na.sub.2 O.A process for modifying an alkali metal containing zeolite beta synthesized by the hydrothermal digestion of a reaction mixture containing an organic templating agent. The as synthesized zeolite beta is treated with an ion exchange medium then calcined at a temperature within the range of 400.degree.-700.degree. C. for a period of two hours or longer. The calcined zeolite beta is again treated with an ion exchange medium to protonate additional active sites by exchanging alkali metal ions. The ion exchanged zeolite from this step is mixed with a binder to produce a mulled zeolite-binder mixture pelletized by extrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Edwar S. Shamshoum
  • Patent number: 5242876
    Abstract: This invention concerns a catalyst system comprising at least one homogeneous catalyst and at least one heterogeneous catalyst, specifically, a metallocene catalyst and a conventional Ziegler-Natta catalyst, respectively. This invention is useful in the polymerization of any polymer in which separate polymerizations with a homogeneous catalyst and with a heterogeneous catalyst are possible, but preferably, polymerization of olefins, more preferably, .alpha.-olefins, and, most preferably, propylene. This invention provides a catalyst system which facilitates use of a homogeneous catalyst but eliminates the disadvantages of such a system. This invention produces a polymer with molecular weight distribution (MWD) as broad or broader than the MWD of the heterogeneous catalyst alone. Hydrogen can be used to control molecular weight distribution of a polymer produced with this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwar S. Shamshoum, Michael J. Elder, Baireddy R. Reddy, David J. Rauscher
  • Patent number: 5240851
    Abstract: A new lipase and a new protease, which can be produced by a new Pseudomonas strain, and methods of producing such lipase and protease using said strain, protease, or producing enzymatic additives for detergents whose main active component is the lipase of the invention. Further disclosed are detergent washing compositions containing the lipase and/or the protease or the enzymatic additives, and a washing process using said compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Fina Research, S.A.
    Inventors: Line Paridans, Lea Tirtiaux-Nafpliotis
  • Patent number: 5227558
    Abstract: A process for the alkylation of aromatic compounds by low molecular weight alkylating agents is provided. The process includes the use of a steam modified zeolite beta alkylation catalyst. Such steam modification of the beta zeolite is achieved by steaming the catalyst at a temperature of between about 550.degree. and 750.degree. C., thereby dealuminating the zeolite to obtain a silica to alumina mole ratio of between about 50 and 350. Either liquid or vapor phase alkylation conditions may be utilized, or intermediate conditions in which liquid and vapor phases exist. The process is particularly useful the vapor phase ethylation of benzene to produce ethylbenzene with little or no xylene make.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwar S. Shamshoum, Thomas R. Schuler, Ashim K. Ghosh
  • Patent number: 5171331
    Abstract: A process for production of gasoline comprising oligomerizing a C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 olefin containing feedstock over an intermediate pore size siliceous crystalline molecular sieve catalyst. The catalyst may take the form of silicalite, halogen stabilized silicalite, or a zeolite. Water may be supplied to the oligomerization reaction. The product from the oligomerization reaction is then subjected to an etherification reaction in the presence of methanol over an acid cation exchange catalyst to provide a gasoline product of enhanced octane number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: Fina Research, S.A.
    Inventors: Guy L. G. Debras, Raymond M. Cahen, Georges E. M. J. De Clippeleir
  • Patent number: 5158788
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing highly digestible feed that may be used among others as feed for aquaculture, by a yeast treatment characterized in that yeast cells are processed to hydrolyze at least partially the external layer of the cell wall without damaging the wall itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: Synfina-Oleofina, S.A.
    Inventors: Patrick Lavens, Peter Coutteau, Patrick Sorgeloos, Erick Vandamme
  • Patent number: 5130282
    Abstract: A spent absorbent material comprising a supported mixture of nickel oxide and metallic nickel may be reactivated a limited number of times by heating the material at 150.degree.-450.degree. C. under a flow of non-oxidizing gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: Fina Research, S.A.
    Inventors: Philippe J. G. Bodart, Guy Debras
  • Patent number: 5124256
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for releasing into aqueous medium polypeptides produced by yeasts and localized at least partially within the periplasmic space thereof without breaking the yeast cell. The process involves treating the yeasts in aqueous medium with a neutral water-soluble mineral salt and a non-ionic water-soluble polyethoxylated alkylphenol surfactant having an HLB of between 8 and 15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Labofina, S.A.
    Inventors: Jacques Crahay, Jean M. A. G. Delcour, Jacques D. V. Hanotier
  • Patent number: 5122583
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for increasing the efficiency of pre-polymerized catalysts used in the polymerization of olefins. The invention includes contacting a pre-polymerized catalyst with a cocatalyst or a mixture of cocatalyst and an electron donor prior to introducing the catalyst into a polymerization reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Ewen, Alan H. Bitzer, David L. Gressett, Herbert G. Hummel
  • Patent number: 5117020
    Abstract: A transition metal salt and powder of the solid reaction product of the ligand with an alkyllithium are reacted at room temperature in a non-polar hydrocarbon. The metallocene thus obtained has a sufficient purity for subsequent use as catalyst for the polymerization of olefins without further purification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: Fina Research, S.A.
    Inventor: Abbas Razavi
  • Patent number: 5100796
    Abstract: A new lipase and a new protease, which can be produced by a new Pseudomonas strain, and methods of producing such lipase and protease using said strain, protease, or producing enzymatic additives for detergents whose main active component is the lipase of the invention. Further disclosed are detergent washing compositions containing the lipase and/or the protease or the enzymatic additives, and a washing process using said compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignee: Synfina-Oleofina
    Inventors: Line Paridans, Lea Tirtiaux-Nafpliotis
  • Patent number: 5073653
    Abstract: Process for the alkylation of aromatic substrates with a C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkylating agent over an alkylation catalyst comprising zeolite omega at moderate temperature conditions and under pressure to provide liquid phase conditions.The liquid phase alkylation process is carried out using a plurality of series connected reaction stages operated at an average temperature of no more than 300.degree. C. with the interstage injection of the C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkylating agent in a manner to maintain at least 2 mole percent of alkylating agent solubilized in the aromatic substrate.The reaction stages of a multistage system temperature and pressure conditions effective to cause are operated at a pressure above the vapor pressure of the aromatic substrate and below the vapor pressure of the alkylating agent at the alkylation reaction conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Butler