Patents Assigned to Gulf Research and Development Company
  • Catalytic production of octahydrophenanthrene-enriched solvent
    Patent number: 4312746
    Abstract: The OHP content of an OHP- and THP-containing solvent is enriched by contacting the solvent with hydrogen in the presence of a supported catalyst comprising Group VIB and Group VIII metals under conditions to increase the OHP/THP ratio in the solvent to a level greater than 0.4 and preferably greater than 1. The preferred catalyst contains tungsten where it is desired to provide an OHP/THP ratio greater than 1 in the OHP-enriched solvent, and also contains titanium to improve the hydrogen selectivity of the catalyst so as to enhance the preservation of aromatics in the hydrogenated solvent. The OHP-enriched solvent provides increased solvation of coal and improved yields of liquid fuel product in a coal liquefaction process which utilizes the solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1982
    Assignee: Gulf Research & Development Company
    Inventors: Shirley C. Tsai, Howard G. McIlvried, III
  • Catalyst prepared from tungsten hexafluoride and a branched-chain alcohol
    Patent number: 4311613
    Abstract: A catalyst is prepared by reacting tungsten hexafluoride with a branched-chain aliphatic alcohol in a molar ratio of 2:1 to 20:1. This catalyst can be used to oligomerize 1-butene to produce synthetic hydrocarbon oils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1982
    Assignee: Gulf Research & Development Company
    Inventors: John P. Pellegrini, Jr., Richard G. Austin, David L. Beach
  • Method for preparing synthetic hydrocarbon fluids
    Patent number: 4311864
    Abstract: A synthetic hydrocarbon fluid is prepared by oligomerizing an olefin reactant in the presence of a catalyst prepared by reacting tungsten hexafluoride and hydrogen fluoride at a moderate temperature. For example, 1-butene is oligomerized at a temperature of about 40.degree. C. in the presence of a catalyst obtained by reacting tungsten hexafluoride and hydrogen fluoride in a four to one mol ratio. The liquid oligomer product is then hydrogenated to remove residual unsaturation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1982
    Assignee: Gulf Research & Development Company
    Inventors: John P. Pellegrini, Jr., David L. Beach, Thaddeus P. Kobylinski
  • Process for the oligomerization of ethylene in methanol
    Patent number: 4310716
    Abstract: Ethylene is oligomerized by reacting ethylene in methanol under oligomerization conditions in contact with a nickel ylide defined by the following Formula I: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5, R.sub.6, R.sub.7 and R.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1982
    Assignee: Gulf Research & Development Company
    Inventors: David L. Beach, James J. Harrison
  • Preparation of propylene glycol from propylene
    Patent number: 4308409
    Abstract: Propylene is converted to propylene glycol at high selectivity in a process in which ethylbenzene hydroperoxide and water are reacted with propylene in the presence of osmium tetroxide catalyst and a base at a pH of about 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1981
    Assignee: Gulf Research & Development Company
    Inventors: Ching-Yong Wu, Thaddeus P. Kobylinski, John E. Bozik
  • Oligomerizing alpha-olefins with a heterogeneous catalyst
    Patent number: 4308414
    Abstract: An alpha-olefin is oligomerized in the presence of a three-component catalyst comprising a particulate solid adsorbent having boron trifluoride and water adsorbed on the solid adsorbent. For example, 1-decene is oligomerized to a product predominating in the trimer and tetramer using silica as the solid adsorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1981
    Assignee: Gulf Research & Development Company
    Inventors: Ajay M. Madgavkar, Harold E. Swift
  • Coal suspensions and process for preparing same
    Patent number: 4305728
    Abstract: A suspension containing (A) water and (B) the product resulting from the reaction of (1) coal having a neutral equivalent of about 150 to about 485 with (2) a base. The process for preparing such suspension is also claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1981
    Assignee: Gulf Research & Development Company
    Inventors: Johann G. Schulz, John A. Cobler
  • Multistage clean-up of product gas from underground coal gasification
    Patent number: 4303127
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multistage process for the removal of tar, water and particulate contaminants from a hot product gas resulting from the in-situ gasification of an underground coal deposit, which comprises passing the hot product gas through a first heat exchange zone in indirect heat exchange relationship with a gasification gas to thereby sufficiently reduce the temperature of the product gas so as to separate the tar present in the product gas and provide a substantially tar-free product gas. Thereafter, the tar-free product gas is withdrawn from the first heat exchange zone and passed through at least one subsequent heat exchange zone in indirect or direct heat exchange relationship with a heat exchange material which has a lower temperature than the product gas. A major portion of the water originally present in the hot product gas is removed in the subsequent heat exchange zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1981
    Assignee: Gulf Research & Development Company
    Inventors: John Freel, John C. Montagna, Seh M. Ryu
  • Novel single cell protein substrate
    Patent number: 4302539
    Abstract: An acetone-insoluble organic acid product from the nitric oxidation of lignite is useful in growing single cell protein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1981
    Assignee: Gulf Research & Development Company
    Inventors: J. Gustav Schulz, Pamela M. Bunting
  • Process for recovering oligomerization product
    Patent number: 4301318
    Abstract: Ammonium hydroxide is used to remove nickel ylide residue from an oligomerization reaction product obtained by contacting ethylene with a nickel ylide catalyst under oligomerization conditions. The oligomerization reaction product is contacted with ammonium hydroxide to obtain a product composed of two layers, an upper layer containing normal alpha olefins and a lower layer containing nickel ylide residue. The two layers are then separated from each other to recover the desired normal alpha olefins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1981
    Assignee: Gulf Research & Development Company
    Inventors: David L. Beach, James J. Harrison
  • Underground gasification of bituminous coal
    Patent number: 4299285
    Abstract: In the underground gasification of a swelling coal the high gas-flow link between the injection and the production wells is produced by introducing hot air into the injection well at a pressure sufficient to fracture the coal. The bulk permeability of the coal proximate to the link is increased and the plugging of the link during the subsequent in situ combustion and gasification procedure is suppressed by continuing the injection of the hot air, heated to a temperature below the softening point of the coal, into the injection well, through the link to the production well without combustion of the coal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1981
    Assignee: Gulf Research & Development Company
    Inventors: Shirley C. Tsai, Richard H. Graham, Robin R. Oder
  • Utilization of energy obtained by substoichiometric combustion of low heating value gases
    Patent number: 4299086
    Abstract: The combustible component of a gas stream of low heating value is combusted using less than a stoichiometric amount of oxygen in the presence of an oxygenation catalyst and the heat energy in the combusted gas is utilized, for example, by expansion in a gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1981
    Assignee: Gulf Research & Development Company
    Inventors: Ajay M. Madgavkar, Roger F. Vogel, Harold E. Swift
  • In situ gasification of bituminous coal
    Patent number: 4296809
    Abstract: In the underground gasification of a swelling coal the bulk permeability of the coal proximate to the linkage between the injection and the production holes is increased and the plugging of the linkage during the in situ combustion and gasification procedure is suppressed by subjecting this coal proximate to the linkage between the injection and production holes to a stream of air heated to a temperature below the softening point of the coal prior to the in situ combustion and gasification procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1981
    Assignee: Gulf Research & Development Company
    Inventors: Shirley C. Tsai, Richard H. Graham, Robin R. Oder
  • Decomposition of cumene hydroperoxide with a homogeneous catalyst
    Patent number: 4297518
    Abstract: Cumene hydroperoxide in a solvent comprising phenol and acetone is decomposed to phenol and acetone using a soluble rhenium compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1981
    Assignee: Gulf Research & Development Company
    Inventors: Ching-Yong Wu, Wayne R. Pretzer, Thaddeus P. Kobylinski
  • Process for the manufacture of acrylonitrile
    Patent number: 4296046
    Abstract: A process for the manufacture of acrylonitrile wherein a gaseous feed comprising propylene, ammonia and oxygen is passed over a novel catalyst containing critical amounts of (1) uranium, (2) antimony, (3) an element from Group IV B of the Periodic Table and (4) molybdenum and/or vanadium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1981
    Assignee: Gulf Research & Development Company
    Inventors: Robert A. Innes, William L. Kehl
  • Alkylation of aromatics with propylene and higher olefins
    Patent number: 4293724
    Abstract: An aromatic hydrocarbon is alkylated with an alpha olefin containing three to 10 carbon atoms, or more, by intimately contacting the alpha olefin and the aromatic hydrocarbon with a catalyst produced by contacting (a) a refractory metal oxide/silica support such as alumina/silica wherein the silica content of the support is from two to 95 weight percent and the metal oxide content of the support is from five to 98 percent with (b) a tris(cyclopentadienyl)trinickel dicarbonyl. This process results in the production of significant quantities of alkylated aromatic hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1981
    Assignee: Gulf Research & Development Company
    Inventors: David L. Beach, Thaddeus P. Kobylinski
  • Use of metal modified refractory metal oxide/silica supported nickel cluster catalyst to oligomerize ethylene
    Patent number: 4293725
    Abstract: Ethylene is oligomerized by intimately contacting ethylene with a metal modified catalyst. The catalyst is produced by contacting (a) a refractory metal oxide/silica support, such as alumina/silica wherein the silica content of the support is from about 2 to about 95 weight percent and the metal oxide content of the support is from about 5 to about 98 percent with (b) a solution of a basic metal and then (c) contacting the resulting metal modified support with a tris(cyclopentadienyl)trinickel dicarbonyl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1981
    Assignee: Gulf Research & Development Company
    Inventors: David L. Beach, Thaddeus P. Kobylinski
  • Process for the oligomerization of ethylene
    Patent number: 4293727
    Abstract: Ethylene is oligomerized by contacting ethylene under oligomerization conditions with a nickel ylide defined by the following Formula I: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5, R.sub.6, R.sub.7 and R.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1981
    Assignee: Gulf Research & Development Company
    Inventors: David L. Beach, James J. Harrison
  • Process for the oligomerization of propylene and higher olefins
    Patent number: 4293726
    Abstract: An alpha olefin containing three to 10 carbon atoms, or higher, is oligomerized by intimately contacting the alpha olefin, e.g., in a non-aromatic solvent, with a catalyst produced by contacting (a) a refractory metal oxide/silica support such as alumina/silica wherein the silica content of the support is from about 2 to about 95 weight percent and the metal oxide content of the support is from about 5 to about 98 percent with (b) a tris(cyclopentadienyl)trinickel dicarbonyl. This process is characterized by a relatively high reaction rate at moderate temperatures and pressures and results in the production of significant quantities of dimers, trimers and tetramers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1981
    Assignee: Gulf Research & Development Company
    Inventors: David L. Beach, Thaddeus P. Kobylinski
  • Nickel ylides
    Patent number: 4293502
    Abstract: A new group of nickel ylides is provided that is highly active at relatively low operating temperatures and pressures in the oligomerization of ethylene. The compounds can be defined by the following Formula I: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5, R.sub.6, R.sub.7 and R.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1981
    Assignee: Gulf Research & Development Company
    Inventors: David L. Beach, James J. Harrison