Patents Represented by Attorney Thomas K. McBride
  • Patent number: 6007724
    Abstract: For the removal of trace quantities of iodine-containing contaminants from corrosive liquid feed streams, an adsorbent with distinct advantages over prior-art materials is provided. The treatment method involves the use of a metal phthalocyanine compound where the metal selected from the group consisting of silver, mercury, copper, lead, thallium, palladium, or mixtures thereof. Such metals are known to be reactive with the iodine-containing contaminants in the feed stream. Furthermore, the metal phthalocyanine is deposited on a carrier material selected from the group consisting of an activated carbon, a phenolic polymer, and an inorganic refractory metal oxide. Such adsorbent materials have proven substantially insoluble even in corrosive liquid feed streams associated with the invention. Reactivation and regeneration techniques, which are generally incompatible with prior-art adsorbent materials, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Santi Kulprathipanja, Bipin V. Vora, Yan Li
  • Patent number: 6007609
    Abstract: The present invention uses a flow restrictor in the form of a tube containing multiple capillary sized passages to minimize any discharge of toxic gases from compressed gas cylinders in the unlikely event of the control valve or regulator failure. The use of this arrangement to provide a flow restriction in combination with a regulator in the form of dispensing check valve provides a virtually fail safe system for preventing hazardous discharge of fluid from a pressurized cylinder or tank. The multiple capillary passage structure provides carefully sized openings that minimize any discharge of gas. Location of the inlet to the capillary tube at the midpoint of the cylinder can also prevent the discharge of liquid from the cylinder if the control valve system fails. Limiting the accidental discharge of fluid from the cylinder to gas phase fluids greatly reduces the uncontrolled mass flow rate at which fluid can escape from the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Roy V. Semerdjian, David A. Le Febre, Thomas B. Martin, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6007790
    Abstract: A new family of crystalline and microporous compositions having indium and silicon as essential framework elements have been synthesized. These compositions are characterized by unique x-ray diffraction patterns and an empirical formula of:A.sub.p (In.sub.1-n M.sub.n).sub.y Si.sub.1-z Ge.sub.z O.sub.xwhere A is a cation such as sodium or potassium and M is a metal having a valence of +3, +4 or +5 such as iron (+3), titanium (+4) and niobium (+5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Robert L. Bedard, Lisa M. King, David S. Bem, Jana L. Gisselquist, Susan C. Koster
  • Patent number: 6008424
    Abstract: A process for the transalkylation of benzene, toluene and alkylaromatic hydrocarbons containing nine and ten carbon atoms form alkylaromatic hydrocarbons containing eight carbon atoms has been developed. The fixed bed reaction and adsorption zone contains a transalkylation catalyst and an adsorbent effective to selectively adsorb C.sub.9 and C.sub.10 alkylaromatic hydrocarbon reactants relative to the C.sub.8 alkylaromatic hydrocarbon products. Hydrogen and a desorbent are introduced to a first portion of the zone and an effluent containing at least one C.sub.8 alkylaromatic hydrocarbon product is withdrawn from a second portion of the zone. After a period of time, the desorbent is redirected to the second portion of the zone and concurrently the effluent containing at least one C.sub.8 alkylaromatic hydrocarbon product is withdrawn from the first portion of the zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Herman A. Zinnen, Maureen L. Bricker, Charles P. McGonegal
  • Patent number: 6005153
    Abstract: A process for producing at least one C.sub.8 alkylaromatic hydrocarbon product from a feedstock containing at least one C.sub.9 or C.sub.10 alkylaromatic hydrocarbon reactant using simulated moving bed reactive chromatography has been developed. At least a portion of the reactants are transalkylated to form at least one product in a zone of the simulated moving bed with concurrent separation of at least one alkylaromatic hydrocarbon using the adsorbent. The adsorbed alkylaromatic hydrocarbon is desorbed from the adsorbent in a subsequent zone of the simulated moving bed and the transalkylation of the reactants with concurrent separation of at least one alkylaromatic hydrocarbon using the adsorbent is continued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Herman A. Zinnen, Maureen L. Bricker, Charles P. McGonegal
  • Patent number: 6005150
    Abstract: A simplified process for jointly producing butene-1 and ether in a catalytic distillation zone which comprises an upper catalytic zone for etherification and a lower catalytic zone for isomerization of C.sub.4 plus olefins. The process is especially usefull when combined with a process for the production of light olefins including ethylene and propylene from methanol. According to the invention, the produced butene-1 stream is combined with ethylene to produce polyethylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Bipin V. Vora
  • Patent number: 6004518
    Abstract: Improved product purity is provided in a simulated moving bed adsorptive separation apparatus by flushing the stagnant volume of the feed valve and the transfer line connecting the feed valve to the rest of the apparatus. The invention adds another line for delivering recycle fluid as the flush stream to an additional inlet port on the feed valve. The apparatus comprises a number of serially connected adsorbent-containing chambers. The chambers are linked together with valving necessary to simulate the continuous countercurrent flow of the adsorbent and liquid phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: J. Dennis Green
  • Patent number: 6001241
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon feedstock is catalytically reformed in a sequence comprising a zeolitic-reforming zone containing a catalyst comprising a platinum-group metal and a nonacidic L-zeolite and an aromatics-isomerization zone containing a catalyst comprising a medium-pore molecular sieve, a platinum-group metal and a refractory inorganic oxide. Optionally, the zeolitic-reforming zone is preceded by a continuous-reforming zone associated with continuous catalyst regeneration, The process combination features high selectivity in producing a high-purity BTX product from naphtha.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Christopher D. Gosling, Robert S. Haizmann, Bryan K. Glover
  • Patent number: 5998684
    Abstract: A separation arrangement for a cumene process that operates with a relatively wet feed to an alkylation zone and relatively dry feed to a transalkylation zone reduces utilities and capital expenses for the separation and recycle of distinct wet and dry components by using an arrangement that first separates effluent from the trans alkylation and alkylation reaction zone in a benzene column before performing light ends and drying in a downstream depropanizer column. The arrangement uses a portion of the net overhead stream from the benzene column as a wet recycle stream for return to the alkylation reaction zone and sends another portion of the benzene net overhead to the depropanizer to supply a dry benzene recycle for the trans alkylation reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Perry K. Ho, Russell C. Schulz
  • Patent number: 5998687
    Abstract: Benzene is catalytically alkylated with ethylene in a process which comprises at least two catalyst zones. Benzene and ethylene contact a catalyst comprising zeolite beta in a first catalyst zone. Ethylene and the effluent from the first catalyst zone contact a catalyst comprising zeolite Y to produce an alkylate containing ethylbenzene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Guy B. Woodle, Alan E. Cepla
  • Patent number: 5990367
    Abstract: A process for the production of C.sub.8 and higher olefins by the oligomerization of light olefins to heavier olefins is improved by the addition of heavy paraffins to the oligomerization zone. The recycle of the heavy paraffins extends the catalyst activity and improves the catalyst life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Laurence O. Stine, Brian S. Muldoon, Steven C. Gimre, Robert R. Frame
  • Patent number: 5989518
    Abstract: Applicants have developed a continuous process for synthesizing various molecular sieves. The process enables one to control both the particle size and particle size distribution. Any of the molecular sieves represented by the empirical formula on an anhydrous basis: rR.sub.2 O:(Si.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2, where R is at least one templating agent, "r" "x" "y" and "z" are the mole fractions of R, Si, Al and P respectively, can be prepared using this process. The process involves continuously adding reactive sources of the desired components along with a structure directing agent into a continuous crystallization reactor. Either interstage backmixing is introduced or the number of stages is adjusted in order to control particle size. Finally, one way to control particle size distribution is to split the product stream into at least two streams and flowing each stream to a wet miller operated at different severity and then reblending to obtain at least a bimodal distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Medhat Khalil Tannous, Sonu Marchioretto, Lyle Edward Monson
  • Patent number: 5990369
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of light olefins comprising olefins having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms per molecule from an oxygenate feedstock. The process comprises passing the oxygenate feedstock to an oxygenate conversion zone containing a metal alumninophosphate catalyst to produce a light olefin stream. The light olefin stream is fractionated and a portion of the products are metathesized to enhance the yield of the ethylene, propylene, and/or butylene products. Propylene can be metathesized to produce more ethylene, or a combination of ethylene and butene can be metathesized to produce more propylene. This combination of light olefin production and metathesis, or disproportionation provides flexibility to overcome the equilibrium limitations of the metal aluminophosphate catalyst in the oxygenate conversion zone. In addition, the invention provides the advantage of extended catalyst life and greater catalyst stability in the oxygenate conversion zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paul T. Barger, R. Joe Lawson, Bipin V. Vora
  • Patent number: 5990361
    Abstract: A low pressure catalytic distillation process for producing high purity ethyl tertiary butyl ether that contains less than 0.6 weight percent ethanol, and preferably less than 0.07 weight percent ethanol, has been developed. The high purity ethyl tertiary butyl ether is withdrawn directly from a catalytic distillation column. No downstream processing is necessary to remove excess ethanol from the ether product. A stream containing a significant amount of one or more inert azeotropic agents such as normal butane, isopentane, and isobutane is introduced along with the isobutylene and ethanol reactants into an etherification zone containing a catalytic distillation column. The catalytic distillation column is operated under low pressure conditions which result in the reaction of the ethanol with the isobutylene to form ethyl tertiary butyl ether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Stanley J. Frey, Scott P. Davis, Steven L. Krupa, Paul R. Cottrell
  • Patent number: 5989506
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for removing and recovering mercury, an impurity, from a hydrocarbon feedstream. The process comprises separating the hydrocarbon feedstream into a gaseous portion and a liquid hydrocarbon portion and separately treating the gaseous and liquid portions by adsorption in separate purifier beds. The gas and liquid purifier beds are regenerated sequentially with a heated regenerant stream that following desorption and recovery of mercury is further purified in a secondary regenerable adsorption bed. The sequential regeneration of the two separate purifier beds and the secondary adsorbent bed significantly reduces the capital and operating cost for the process and serves to concentrate the mercury in the secondary adsorbent bed where it can be removed at a lower cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: John Markovs
  • Patent number: 5983476
    Abstract: A method of converting an HF alkylation process into a solid catalyst alkylation process is disclosed. In this method, an HF alkylation unit having an HF stripper downstream of the HF alkylation reactor is modified to a benzene rectifier. By modifying the HF stripper, this invention not only makes use of the existing HF stripper but also allows the entire downstream product recovery section, which comprises four fractionation columns, to be used in the modified process with only relatively minor modifications. Thus this invention maximizes the use of existing equipment and minimizes the investment necessary to eliminate the use of HF in detergent alkylation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Steven F. Eshelman, Dennis E. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 5985132
    Abstract: A process for the simultaneous production of lubricating blending stocks by means of hydrocracking a hydrocarbon feedstock in a first hydrocracking zone to convert at least a portion of the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock to produce an effluent stream containing lube oil boiling range hydrocarbons. One portion of the effluent stream is directly removed from the first hydrocracking zone to produce high quality lube oil blending stocks. Another portion of the effluent stream from the first hydrocracking zone is directly introduced into a second hydrocracking zone without intermediate separation. The second hydrocracking zone is utilized to further crack the feed to produce motor fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Richard K. Hoehn, Vasant P. Thakkar
  • Patent number: 5980729
    Abstract: A hydrocracking process wherein a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock and a hot hydrocracking zone effluent containing hydrogen is passed to a denitrification and desulfurization reaction zone to produce hydrogen sulfide and ammonia to thereby clean up the fresh feedstock. The resulting hot, uncooled effluent from the denitrification and desulfurization zone is hydrogen stripped in a stripping zone maintained at essentially the same pressure as the preceding reaction zone with a hydrogen-rich gaseous stream to produce a vapor stream comprising hydrogen, hydrocarbonaceous compounds boiling at a temperature below the boiling range of the fresh feedstock, hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, and a liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Tom N. Kalnes, Vasant P. Thakkar
  • Patent number: 5980859
    Abstract: This invention relates to a novel zeolite which has the crystal structure of zeolite beta. The novel zeolite SN-beta has a unique infrared absorbance spectrum, shows enhanced activity for transalkylation of di-isopropyl-benzene and shows less deactivation for cumene synthesis. The zeolite beta is prepared by taking an as-synthesized zeolite beta, steam treating it and then ammonium ion treating it to give a zeolite SN-beta with enhanced catalytic properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Gregory J. Gajda, Richard T. Gajek
  • Patent number: 5980599
    Abstract: A displaceable purifier body improves the delivery of high purity gases from gas tanks or cylinders by providing a large flow area for filling the cylinder or tank with gas while preventing contamination of gases during the filling procedure and by automatically engaging the purifier for purification when withdrawing gas from the tank or cylinder. The purifier body or a separate seal body has an arrangement for reciprocal movement between a filling position wherein the gas entering the cylinder by-passes the purifier body and an engaged position wherein the purifier body moves towards the cylinder head assembly to prevent by-passing of exiting gases around the purifier. This arrangement offers little restriction to gas flow entering the cylinder and allows rapid filling of cylinders to make gas delivery more economical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Chris, David A. Le Febre