Patents Represented by Attorney Joseph J. Allocca
  • Patent number: 4961836
    Abstract: This invention relates to a novel transition metal crystalline alumino-silicate, a method for its preparation and its use, and to a transition metal extracted crystalline alumino-silicate, a method for its preparation from the aforesaid transition metal crystalline alumino-silicate and its use as a catalyst, especially for selective dewaxing of hydrocarbon oils. The transition metal crystalline alumino-silicate and the transition metal extracted crystalline alumino-silicate are characterized by XRD patterns set forth in Table I.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1990
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventor: William J. Murphy
  • Patent number: 4962271
    Abstract: Membrane separation under perstraction conditions of a lube oil distillate is disclosed which produces a retentate rich in non-aromatics hydrocarbons and alkyl aromatic and a permeate rich in multi-ring aromatics. The recovered retentate is similar to a solvent extracted raffinate but possesses a higher concentration of alkyl-single ring aromatics. The membrane separation process is highly selective for removing multi-ring aromatics from the lube distillate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1990
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Laura E. Black, Robert C. Schucker
  • Patent number: 4959337
    Abstract: A wax isomerization catalyst is described which comprises a Group VIII hydrogenation metal component on fluorided alumina or material containing alumina which catalyst possesses a surface nitrogen content N/Al ratio of about 0.01 or less determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, a bulk fluorine content of between about 2 to 10 wt %, a surface fluorine content defined as the amount of fluorine in a layer extending from the outer surface to a depth of about 1/100 of an inch of less than about 3 wt % provided that the surface fluoride concentration is less than the bulk fluoride concentration and an aluminum fluoride hydroxide hydrate peak height of 60 or less determined as the relative amount of hydrate represented by a peak in the X-ray diffraction pattern at 2.theta.=5.66 .ANG. when a hydrate level of 100 corresponds to the XRD peak height exhibited by a standard material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1990
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Ian A. Cody, Hamner, deceased Glen P., Willard H. Sawyer, Willard H. Sawyer, Davis S. Mark
  • Patent number: 4950382
    Abstract: Dewaxed oils can have their low temperature performance improved by the removal of residual wax by adsorption of said residual wax onto a hydrophobic molecular sieve. The wax-laden hydrophobic molecular sieve is regenerated by use of dewaxing solvents, such as ketones.The dewaxed oils, which have residual wax removed by the present invention, are oils which have been dewaxed by means of solvent dewaxing procedures or by catalytic dewaxing processes. These oils, produced by the combination of conventional-adsorptive trim dewaxing, exhibit superior formulated oils low temperature performance as compared to formulated oils made from oils dewaxed to the same pour point solely by conventional dewaxing by either solvent or catalytic processes practiced under severe conditions (deep dewaxing).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: Exxon Research & Engineering Company
    Inventors: Kieth C. Yao, Michael A. Fefer
  • Patent number: 4937399
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the catalytic isomerization of waxes to liquid products, particularly to the production of high yields of liquid products boiling in the 370.degree. C..sup.+ range suitable for use as lube oil base stocks or blending stocks, said process employing as the catalyst a material made by depositing a hydrogenation metal component on a refractory metal oxide base, preferably alumina, fluoriding said metal loaded base using aqueous HF and subsequently crushing the fluorided metal loaded base to produce a sized material of 1/32 inch and less its largest cross-sectional dimension. Alternately the catalyst can be made by depositing a hydrogenation metal component on a refractory metal oxide base of 1/32 inch and less across its largest cross-sectional dimension and subsequently fluoriding said sized material using aqueous HF. In either case the catalyst is activated before being used by heating in a hydrogen atmosphere to from 350.degree. C. to 500.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: William A. Wachter, Ian A. Cody, Glen P. Hamner, deceased, Biddanda U. Achia
  • Patent number: 4929358
    Abstract: Aromatics are separated from non-aromatics by permeation of the aromatic through a polyurethane-imide membrane. Permeation is conducted under pervaporation, perstraction, reverse osmosis, or dialysis conditions. The membrane is a polyurethane-imide membrane made using polyurethane-imide copolymers which are made by end capping a polyol with a polyisocyanate and then chain extending by reaction with an anhydride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1990
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventor: Bernd A. Koenitzer
  • Patent number: 4929357
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to non-porous isocyanurate-crosslinked polyurethane membranes. These membranes are useful for the separation of aromatic hydrocarbons from non-aromatic hydrocarbons. The separation can be performed using any commonly accepted membrane separation technique, e.g. reverse osmosis, dialysis, pervaporation or perstraction but is preferably performed under pervaporation or prestraction conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1990
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventor: Robert C. Schucker
  • Patent number: 4929795
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for the production of lube oil base stocks or blending stocks by the isomerization of waxes over isomerization catalysts containing a hydrogenating metal component on a fluorided alumina or material containing alumina.The present invention is also directed to a wax isomerization process which process employs a catalyst prepared by a process involving depositing a hydrogenation metal on alumina or material containing alumina support, calcining said metal loaded support and fluoriding said metal loaded support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1990
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Ian A. Cody, Glen P. Hamner, deceased, James T. Schorfheide
  • Patent number: 4923588
    Abstract: Waxes, for example waxes obtained from dewaxing hydrocarbon oils, called slack waxes, and synthetic waxes such as those obtained by Fischer-Tropsch processes, are isomerized into oils boiling in the lube oil boiling range, e.g., 370.degree. C.+, by contacting the wax under isomerization conditions and in the presence of hydrogen with an isomerization catalyst comprising a noble Group VIII metal on a small particle size refractory metal oxide support having a low total fluoride content catalyst wherein the total fluoride content is in the range of 0.1 to up to but less than 2 wt % fluoride and the support has a particle diameter of less than 1/16 inch. The small particle size refractory metal oxide support is preferably alumina or material containing alumina, preferably predominantly (i.e., >50%) alumina, more preferably an alumina such as gamma or eta. The most preferred alumina is 1/20 inch alumina trilobes. Noble metal content ranges from 0.1 to 2.0 wt %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1990
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Ian A. Cody, David L. Brown
  • Patent number: 4914064
    Abstract: A new membrane for the separation of aromatic hydrocarbons from mixtures of said aromatic hydrocarbons and non-aromatic hydrocarbons has been prepared comprising a highly aromatic polyurea/urethane membrane. These highly aromatic polyurea/urethane membranes are symmetric, dense film membranes made from the corresponding polyurea/urethane copolymers by standard membrane casting techniques. The polyurea/urethane copolymers are produced by reacting dihydroxy or polyhydroxy compounds, such as polyethers or polyesters having molecular weights in the range of about 500 to 5000 with aliphatic, alkylaromatic or aromatic diisocyanates or polyisocyanates and low molecular weight chain extenders, such as diamines, polyamines or amino alcohols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventor: Robert C. Schucker
  • Patent number: 4909927
    Abstract: Hydrocarbon oils, particularly petroleum oils, more particularly lube, transformer, white oil and other specialty oils can be extracted to remove aromatic hydrocarbon components therefrom using a combination polar extraction solvent, such as n-methyl pyrrolidone phenol or furfural, preferably NMP in combination with aliphatic-aromatics, polar naphthenes or morpholine, preferably alkylbenzene, mixed extraction solvent.The combination of polar extraction solvent and aliphatic-aromatic, polar naphthene or morpholine extraction solvent mixture contains and from 1 to up to but not including 10 LV % aliphatic-aromatic, polar naphthene or morpholine and mixtures thereof, preferably from 2.5 to less than 10% aliphatic-aromatic, polar naphthene or morpholine and from 0 to 10 LV % water, the amount of polar extraction solvent being suitably adjusted to reflect the presence of the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventor: James D. Bell
  • Patent number: 4908134
    Abstract: Polyimide ultrafiltration membranes made using a single solvent and containing a pore forming agent have been produced and have been found to be useful for recovering dewaxing aid used in dewaxing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventor: Bryce P. Anderson
  • Patent number: 4908082
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for the in-situ repair of damaged filter cloths in solvent dewaxing filters. The damage that can be repaired can be either or both of tears or holes. The method comprises thoroughly washing the filter cloth in the area of the damage to remove wax and oil, applying a quantity of solvent resistant adhesive to the damaged area such that the area of treatment extends beyond the hole or tear and adhesive overlays onto undamaged cloth, inserting pre-cut portions of filter cloth into the damage so as to completely fill the hole or tear but not create a bulge or cloth buildup in the face of the filter cloth where required and, finally, and optimally applying a final coating of adhesive over the repaired area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Patrick C. Ewener, Duncan J. Bristow, Scott W. Armstrong, Louis C. Dallaire, John A. Thompson
  • Patent number: 4906601
    Abstract: A noble Group VIII metal on low fluoride content small particle size refractory metal oxide isomerization catalyst is disclosed. The catalyst is characterized by having a fluoride content in the range of 0.1 to up to but less than 2 wt %, preferably 0.1 to 1.5 wt %, more preferably 0.2 to 1.0 wt %, a particle diameter of less than 1/16 inch and a preferred noble Group VIII metal loading in the range of 0.1 to 2.0 wt %. The preferred small particle support is 1/20 inch trilobe alumina.The catalyst has been found to be useful for wax isomerization demonstrating excellent selectivity to oil boiling in the lube oil range while also having acceptable activity. The catalyst is also useful for waxy distillate and waxy raffinate isomerization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Ian A. Cody, David L. Brown
  • Patent number: 4900707
    Abstract: An improved wax isomerization catalyst is described which is a hydrogenation metal on halogenated refractory metal oxide support catalyst characterized in that the catalyst is prepared by depositing the hydrogenation metal on the refractory metal oxide support followed by fluoriding using a low pH fluorine source such as aqueous HF. Thereafter the catalyst is crushed to expose inner surfaces, the crushed catalyst being sieved to remove fines, the catalyst charge having an average particle diameter of 1/32 inch and smaller across the longest continuous cross sectional dimension, preferably between 1/64 to 1/32". Alternatively, the catalyst is made by depositing a hydrogenation metal on a refractory metal support, crushing the material to a particle size of 1/32 inch and smaller across the longest continuous cross-sectional dimension and fluoriding said material using acidic fluorine source such as HF. Following sizing the sized catalyst is activated by heating in a hydrogen atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Ian A. Cody, Glen P. Hamner, deceased, Willard H. Sawyer, James J. Schorfheide
  • Patent number: 4898659
    Abstract: Solvent dewaxing of waxy hydrocarbon oils using scraped surface chillers is improved by injecting cold solvent into the scraped surface chillers at multiple points to augment the indirect chilling occurring in said scraped surface chillers. In utilizing this multi-point cold solvent injecting process it is important to control the .DELTA.T occurring at each injection point within each chiller bank across the entire chiller train.The .DELTA.T at each injection point attributable only to cold solvent injection must be equal if one is to secure the benefit of the present invention which is an improved liquids/solids ratio without deterioration of the feed filter rate.Preferably, to avoid any possible deterioration of filter rate and/or liquids solids, the cold solvent injection should be completed prior to the slurry in the scraped surface chiller train experiences any shock chilling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventor: Thomas E. Broadhurst
  • Patent number: 4892660
    Abstract: Surfactants present in water/oil/surfactant emulsions can be selectively separated from the emulsions by practicing an ultrafiltration process under specific conditions of pressure and ultrafiltration membrane pore size. It has been discovered that increasing the applied pressure results in an increase in the permeability of the surfactant without a commensurate increase in the permeability of the water or oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventor: James R. Sweet
  • Patent number: 4885096
    Abstract: Aromatic hydrocarbons are separated from mixtures of same with non-aromatics by permeation through a membrane of thermally crosslinked polyconjugated diene rubber containing from 15 to 50 wt % nitrile groups. Thermal crosslinking increases selectivity far beyond the level obtained when crosslinking is caused by other techniques. The separations are conducted under pervaporation or perstraction conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1989
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventor: Laura E. Black
  • Patent number: 4879044
    Abstract: An anisotropic elastomeric membrane preferably made from polyurea/urethane has been prepared. These anisotropic membranes are made from the corresponding polymeric material by preparing the polymeric material in a good solvent containing less than 5 vol % non-solvent, producing a film of the polymer solution on a support with a maximum pore size less than 20 microns, subjecting the film to conditions such that the solvent vapor pressure-time factor is 1000 mm Hg-min. or less, preferably 200 mm Hg-min or less, most preferably approaching 0 mm Hg-min and quenching the membrane film in a non-solvent yielding a three-layered anisotropic membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Joseph L. Feimer, Bernd A. Koenitzer, Robert C. Schucker
  • Patent number: 4874523
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for reducing the cloud point of materials comprising the steps of chilling the waxy oil so as to achieve submicron crystallization followed by ultrafiltration thereby effecting separation of a permeate of reduced cloud point from a retentate. Chilling to produce submicron crystallization is to a temperature about 3.degree. C. or less above the cloud point of the material, preferably from 0.5.degree. to 2.degree. C. above the cloud point of the material, most preferably between 1.degree. to 2.degree. C. above the cloud point of the material. In general any mixture, solution or melt containing components which crystallize at different temperatures can be separated by this procedure. The method is especially useful for reducing the cloud point of waxy hydrocarbon oils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventor: Lucie Y. LaFreniere