Patents Assigned to Hydrocarbon Technologies, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6919065
    Abstract: A particulate supported noble metal phase-controlled catalyst material having 5-1000 ?m surface area of 50?500 m2/gm is provided for use in direct catalytic production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) product from hydrogen and oxygen-containing feedstreams. The catalyst is made by depositing phase controlled crystals of a noble metal such as palladium on a suitable particulate support material such as carbon black, by utilizing a precursor solution of the metal and a suitable control ionic polymer having molecular weight of 300-8000 such as sodium polyacrylate in a selected metal to polymer molar ratio of 1:0.1 to 1:10, which procedure provides desired phase control of the noble metal atoms to form widely dispersed minute noble metal crystals on the support material. The invention includes methods for making the catalyst, and also a process for utilizing the catalyst to directly produce high yields of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) product from hydrogen and oxygen-containing gaseous feedstreams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Hydrocarbon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bing Zhou, Lap-Keung Lee
  • Patent number: 6906000
    Abstract: Stable carbonous catalyst particles composed of an inorganic catalytic metal/metal oxide powder and a carbonaceous binder material are formed having a basic inner substantially uniform-porous carbon coating of the catalytic powder, and may include an outer porous carbon coating layer. Suitable inorganic catalytic powders include zinc-chromite (ZnO/Cr2 03) and suitable carbonaceous liquid binders having molecular weight of 200-700 include partially polymerized furfuryl alcohol, which are mixed together, shaped and carbonized and partially oxidized at elevated temperature. Such stable carbonous catalyst particles such as 0.020-0.100 inch (0.51-2.54 mm) diameter extrudates, have total carbon content of 2-25 wt. % and improved crush strength of 1.0-5 1b/mn, 50-300 m2/g surface area, and can be advantageously utilized in fixed bed or ebullated/fluidized bed reactor operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Hydrocarbon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Partha S. Ganguli, Alfred G. Comolli
  • Patent number: 6903141
    Abstract: A continuous process is disclosed for the production of hydrocarbon liquids and wax by Fischer-Tropsch conversion of synthesis gas in contact with promoted skeletal iron catalyst particles in a slurry reactor. Wax product is readily separated from the skeletal iron catalyst in a catalyst settling drum and concentrated catalyst particles in wax slurry are recycled from the settling drum to the slurry reactor, while essentially solid-free wax is recovered as a product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Hydrocarbon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peizheng Zhou, Larry Abrams, Christine Marie Long, Lu Yijun
  • Patent number: 6875409
    Abstract: A bi-functional oxidation catalyst and process for catalytic oxidation and removal of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from combustion gases derived from combustion of carbonaceous fuels such as coal, oil, or natural gas. The bi-functional catalyst includes adsorption and oxidation function metal oxides provided in adjacent close intimate contact by utilizing a binding agent, such as carboxylic acid and calcining to provide a metal oxide complex having a crystalline form. Such nitrogen oxides (NOx) contained in the combustion gases are initially catalytically oxidized to at least about 50 vol % NO2 and some higher oxides by contact with the bi-functional catalyst at 170-550° F. temperature. The combustion gas containing the partially oxidized NOx is then preferably further chemically oxidized by being mixed with a chemical oxidant such as ozone (O3) in a molar ratio of the chemical oxidant3 to NOx in the range of 0.5:1-1.2:1 to produce higher oxides of nitrogen such as substantially N2O5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Hydrocarbon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bing Zhou, Lap-Keung Lee, Naresh J. Suchak
  • Patent number: 6746597
    Abstract: A noble metal nanometer-sized catalyst composition is described along with the method for preparation of the composition. The crystal face of the catalyst contains a preponderance of (111) type crystal phase exposure. The crystal phase exposure is controlled by sequestering the noble metal cation before deposition on a catalyst support. Controlled catalyst face exposition combined with the nanometer scale of the catalyst increases the catalyst selectivity and activity, particularly for hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Hydrocarbon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bing Zhou, Michael Rueter
  • Patent number: 6740615
    Abstract: A method for regenerating used supported noble metal catalysts, which method includes solvent cleaning the used catalyst by contact with a suitable organic liquid cleaning solvent such as alcohols, ketones and such to remove organic deposits from the catalyst, followed by drying and calcining at elevated temperature to remove any remaining organic deposits from the catalyst, then treating the catalyst with an organo-metallic complex forming agent having ionization constant pK1 greater than about 2.5, such as glycolic acid and the like. The organic-metallic complex forming agent acts to break down large clusters of noble metal particles such as palladium (Pd) and redistributes the metal particles on the catalyst support such as alumina (Al2O3) in the same or other larger pores, so as to increase catalyst surface area and catalytic activity to provide a catalytic activity level at least 80% or even exceeding that of the fresh catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Hydrocarbon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Bing Zhou
  • Publication number: 20040018143
    Abstract: A process for catalytically producing hydrogen peroxide from hydrogen and oxygen feeds by contacting them with a supported noble metal catalyst and a suitable organic liquid solvent having a Solvent Selection Parameter (SSP) between 0.14×10−4 and 5.0×10−4 at reaction condition of 0-100° C. temperature and 100-3,000 psig pressure. The catalyst comprises supported noble metal particles having an exposed crystal face atomic surface structure comprising atoms exhibiting a controlled coordination number of two (2). The nearest neighbors of each top-layer atom are two other top-layer atoms, also having a controlled coordination number of two (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Applicant: Hydrocarbon Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Bing Zhou, Michael Rueter
  • Publication number: 20030232721
    Abstract: A noble metal nanometer-sized catalyst composition is described along with the method for preparation of the composition. The crystal face of the catalyst contains a preponderance of (111) type crystal phase exposure. The crystal phase exposure is controlled by sequestering the noble metal cation before deposition on a catalyst support. Controlled catalyst face exposition combined with the nanometer scale of the catalyst increases the catalyst selectivity and activity, particularly for hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Applicant: Hydrocarbon Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Bing Zhou, Michael Rueter
  • Patent number: 6586480
    Abstract: Process and economic advantages are achieved by the integration of a Fischer Tropsch process for hydrocarbon liquids production as a retrofit in an installation for the production of ammonia fertilizer from fossil fuel derived syngas. Utilization of most of the CO and part of the H2 in the syngas stream during Fischer-Tropsch synthesis as the first step in the integrated process produces hydrocarbon products while the F-T effluent containing unreacted hydrogen gas at the necessary ratio of H2/N2 is used in the second step of ammonia synthesis. The overall product slate as appropriate for maximum economic performance of the installation is thus achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Hydrocarbon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peizheng Zhou, Yijun Lu, Michael Rueter
  • Publication number: 20030109591
    Abstract: A continuous process is disclosed for the production of hydrocarbon liquids and wax by Fischer-Tropsch conversion of synthesis gas in contact with promoted skeletal iron catalyst particles in a slurry reactor. Wax product is readily separated from the skeletal iron catalyst in a catalyst settling drum and concentrated catalyst particles in wax slurry are recycled from the settling drum to the slurry reactor, while essentially solid-free wax is recovered as a product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Hydrocarbon Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Peizheng Zhou, Larry Abrams, Christine Marie Long, Lu Yijun
  • Patent number: 6576214
    Abstract: A process for catalytically directly producing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) product from hydrogen and oxygen-containing feeds by contacting them with a supported noble metal phase-controlled catalyst and a suitable organic liquid solvent having a Solvent Selection Parameter (SSP) between 0.14×10−4 and 5.0×10−4 at reaction condition of 0-100° C. temperature and 100-3,000 psig pressure. Unconverted feed gas and organic liquid solvent solution are usually recovered and recycled back to the reactor along with any recovered catalyst. If desired, the hydrogen peroxide product can be fed together with an organic chemical feedstock such as propylene and with the organic liquid solvent solution into a second catalytic reaction step which oxidizes the feedstock to produce a desired crude oxidized organic product such as propylene oxide, which may be purified by distillation steps and recovered from the solvent solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Hydrocarbon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bing Zhou, Michael A. Rueter, Lap-Keung Lee, Bruce P. Pelrine
  • Patent number: 6534661
    Abstract: The invention discloses a dual-functional catalyst composition and an integrated process for production of olefin epoxides including propylene oxide by catalytic reaction of hydrogen peroxide from hydrogen and oxygen with olefin feeds such as propylene. The epoxides and hydrogen peroxide are preferably produced simultaneously in situ. The dual-functional catalyst comprises noble metal crystallites with dimensions on the nanometer scale (on the order of <1 nm to 10 nm), specially dispersed on titanium silicalite substrate particles. The dual functional catalyst catalyzes both the direct reaction of hydrogen and oxygen to generate hydrogen peroxide intermediate on the noble metal catalyst surface and the reaction of the hydrogen peroxide intermediate with the propylene feed to generate propylene oxide product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Hydrocarbon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bing Zhou, Michael Rueter
  • Patent number: 6500968
    Abstract: A process for producing oxidized organic chemical products such as propylene oxide from various organic chemical feedstocks utilizing as oxidant directly produced hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) intermediate oxidizing agent. The hydrogen peroxide intermediate is directly produced from hydrogen and oxygen feeds plus a suitable solvent in a first catalytic reaction step utilizing an active supported phase-controlled noble metal catalyst at reaction conditions of 0-100° C. temperature and 300-3,000 psig pressure. An organic chemical feedstock such as propylene together with the hydrogen peroxide intermediate and solvent solution are fed into a second catalytic reactor maintained at 0-150° C. temperature and 15-1,500 psig pressure and oxidized to produce a desired crude oxidized organic product such as propylene oxide, which is purified by distillation steps and recovered from the solvent solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Hydrocarbon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bing Zhou, Michael A. Rueter
  • Patent number: 6500969
    Abstract: A process for producing oxidized organic chemical products from various organic chemical feedstocks utilizing as oxidant hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) produced by noble metal nanocatalysis with high selectivity at low hydrogen concentration. The organic chemical oxidation process step can optionally be carried out in situ concurrent with the production of hydrogen peroxide or in a two stage process. In the two stage process, the hydrogen peroxide intermediate is directly produced by noble metal nanocatalysis from hydrogen and oxygen feeds plus a suitable solvent in a first catalytic reaction step. An organic chemical feedstock and the hydrogen peroxide intermediate and solvent solution are fed into a second catalytic reactor to produce an oxidized organic chemical product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Hydrocarbon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bing Zhou, Michael Rueter
  • Patent number: 6476086
    Abstract: Fine iron-based catalyst particles from. Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) synthesis processes are effectively separated from catalyst/liquid/wax slurry by contacting and/or mixing the slurry with a coalescence enhancing treating solution to facilitate gravity separation and settling of such catalyst, and thereby yield a substantially clean hydrocarbon liquid/wax product. The treating solution includes a surface tension reducing agent, an agglutinating agent, and a coalescing agent each in selected proportions in aqueous solution. Useful mixing and settling conditions are 10-250° C. temperature, 0-500 psig pressure and treating solution to slurry volume ratio of 0.5-5:1, with the settling time for at least about 90% and preferably substantially all of the catalyst fines after the mixing step being less than about 15 minutes. The treating solution can be desirably recovered and reused in the F-T synthesis process, and the recovered catalyst either recycled or disposed as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Hydrocarbon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Peizheng Zhou
  • Publication number: 20020156137
    Abstract: Promoted skeletal iron catalysts are provided which contain 70-90 wt % iron together with promoters 0-5.0 wt. % copper, 0.1-10.0 wt. % manganese, and 0.1-3.0 wt. % potassium, with the balance being aluminum. The catalysts are prepared by mixing the metal chips or powders uniformly together, then melting and rapidly quenching the molten metals to form a solid metal alloy precursor including the promotor metals except potassium, removing most of the aluminum by caustic extraction/leaching to provide a base skeletal iron form, then loading the potassium promoter from a suitable potassium alcohol solution promoter. After evaporation of the solvent, the promoted skeletal iron catalyst is activated by contact with hydrogen. The promoted skeletal iron catalysts are utilized for F-T synthesis processes at 10-30 wt % catalyst concentration, 200-350° C. temperature, 1.0-3.0 Mpa pressure and gas hourly space velocity of 0.5-5.0 L/gcat-h to produce desired hydrocarbon liquid products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: Hydrocarbon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peizheng Zhou, Yijun Lu
  • Publication number: 20020115554
    Abstract: A method for regenerating used supported noble metal catalysts, which method includes solvent cleaning the used catalyst by contact with a suitable organic liquid cleaning solvent such as alcohols, ketones and such to remove organic deposits from the catalyst, followed by drying and calcining at elevated temperature to remove any remaining organic deposits from the catalyst, then treating the catalyst with an organo-metallic complex forming agent having ionization constant pK1 greater than about 2.5, such as glycolic acid and the like. The organic-metallic complex forming agent acts to break down large clusters of noble metal particles such as palladium (Pd) and redistributes the metal particles on the catalyst support such as alumina (Al2O3) in the same or other larger pores, so as to increase catalyst surface area and catalytic activity to provide a catalytic activity level at least 80% or even exceeding that of the fresh catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Applicant: Hydrocarbon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Bing Zhou
  • Publication number: 20020052423
    Abstract: Particulate skeletal iron catalyst is provided which contain at least about 50 wt. % iron with the remainder being a minor portion of a suitable non-ferrous metal and having characteristics of 0.062-1.0 mm particle size (62-1000 micron), 20-100 m2/g surface area, and 10-40 nm average pore diameter. Such skeletal iron catalysts are prepared and utilized for producing synthetic hydrocarbon products from CO and H2 feeds by Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process. Iron powder is mixed with non-ferrous metal powder selected from aluminum, antimony, silicon, tin or zinc powder to provide 20-80 wt. % initial iron content and melted together to form an iron alloy, then cooled to room temperature and pulverized to provide 0.1-10 mm iron alloy catalyst precursor particles. The iron alloy precursor particles are treated with NaOH or KOH caustic solution at 30-95° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Applicant: Hydrocarbon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peizheng Zhou, Lap-Keung Lee, Jinglai Zhou, Yijun Lu, Guohui Li
  • Publication number: 20010016187
    Abstract: A process for producing oxidized organic chemical products such as propylene oxide from various organic chemical feedstocks utilizing as oxidant directly produced hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) intermediate oxidizing agent. The hydrogen peroxide intermediate is directly produced from hydrogen and oxygen feeds plus a suitable solvent in a first catalytic reaction step utilizing an active supported phase-controlled noble metal catalyst at reaction conditions of 0-100° C. temperature and 300-3,000 psig pressure. An organic chemical feedstock such as propylene together with the hydrogen peroxide intermediate and solvent solution are fed into a second catalytic reactor maintained at 0-150° C. temperature and 15-1,500 psig pressure and oxidized to produce a desired crude oxidized organic product such as propylene oxide, which is purified by distillation steps and recovered from the solvent solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Applicant: Hydrocarbon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bing Zhou, Michael A. Rueter
  • Patent number: 6277895
    Abstract: Particulate skeletal iron catalyst is provided which contain at least about 50 wt. % iron with the remainder being a minor portion of a suitable non-ferrous metal and having characteristics of 0.062-1.0 mm particle size, 20-100 m2/g surface area, and 10-40 nm average pore diameter. Such skeletal iron catalysts are prepared and utilized for producing synthetic hydrocarbon products from CO and H2 feeds by Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process. Iron powder is mixed with non-ferrous powder selected from aluminum, antimony, silicon, tin or zinc powder to provide 20-80 wt. % iron content and melted together to form an iron alloy, then cooled to room temperature and pulverized to provide 0.1-10 mm iron alloy catalyst precursor particles. The iron alloy pulverized particles are treated with NaOH or KOH caustic solution at 30-95° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Hydrocarbon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peizheng Zhou, Lap-Keung Lee, Jinglai Zhou, Yijun Lu, Guohui Li