Patents Assigned to Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
  • Carbon dioxide promoted dehydrogenation process for olefins
    Patent number: 7094942
    Abstract: A process for the dehydrogenation of alkane hydrocarbons is disclosed. The process comprises contacting the alkane with a chromium-based dehydrogenation catalyst in the presence of carbon dioxide at a temperature of from about 400° C. to about 700° C., a pressure of from about 0.1 to about 10 atmospheres, wherein the alkane to carbon dioxide molar ratio is about 1:0.0001 to 1:0.045.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Mazhar Abdulwahed, Leal G. Canelon, Adel Alshafai
  • Dehydrogenation process for olefins
    Patent number: 7091392
    Abstract: A process for the dehydrogenation of alkane hydrocarbons is disclosed. The process comprises contacting an alkane with a chromium-based dehydrogenation catalyst in the presence of molecular oxygen at a temperature of from about 400° C. to about 700° C., a pressure of from about 0.1 to about 10 atmospheres, wherein the alkane to oxygen molar ratio is between about 1:0.0001 to 1:0.04.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Mazhar Abdulwahed, Saeed M. Al-Zahrani
  • Process for the polymerization of olefins
    Patent number: 7084216
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for homopolymerization of ethylene or copolymerization of ethylene with alpha-olefins by contacting ethylene or ethylene and alpha-olefin with a catalyst composition comprising: (a) a solid catalyst precursor comprising at least one vanadium compound, at least one magnesium compound and a polymeric material or a solid catalyst precursor comprising at least one vanadium compound, at least one further transition metal compound and/or at least one alcohol, at least one magnesium compound and a polymeric material; and (b) a cocatalyst comprising an aluminum compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Akhlaq A. Moman, Khalid Al-Bahily, Atieh Abu-Raqabah, John Ledford, Orass M. Hamed, Raju Raghavan, Sameh Rizkallah
  • Toluene methylation process
    Patent number: 7084318
    Abstract: A method of preparing a xylene product is carried out in a reactor containing a phosphorus-treated ZSM-5-type zeolite catalyst. The method includes initiating a unique start-up of a toluene methylation reaction by contacting the catalyst with a toluene/methanol feed and a cofeed of hydrogen introduced into the reactor at certain start-up conditions. By utilizing the start-up conditions high selectivity for p-xylene can be achieved while providing stable catalytic activity over extended periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Ashim Kumar Ghosh, Pamela Harvey
  • Stratified flow chemical reactor
    Patent number: 7067088
    Abstract: A polymerization reactor for exothermic liquid phase reactions comprises a reaction zone which is divided into a plurality of channels by thermally conductive heat transfer fins which are conductively mounted on one or more heat pipes for the removal of heat of reaction from reactants and reaction products flowing between the heat transfer fins. The reactor of the invention is capable of maintaining essentially isothermal conditions without the use of complicated and maintenance intensive agitators. The reactor is particularly useful when viscosity of the reactants and/or reaction products is high, when the reaction conducted has a fast reaction rate and when consistent polymer properties are desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
    Inventor: Vinh N. Le
  • Supported catalyst composition for polymerization of olefins, method for preparing the same and process for polymerization using the same
    Patent number: 7060646
    Abstract: Supported catalyst composition for polymerization of olefins comprising: (i) a titanium compound, a magnesium compound and at least one electron donor compound; (ii) a chlorine containing polymer support; and (iii) a cocatalyst comprising at least one aluminum compound, wherein the magnesium loading on the final catalyst is between about 0.20 and 6% by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Mansour I. Taftaf, Serajudin F. Ahmed
  • Toluene methylation process
    Patent number: 7060864
    Abstract: A method of preparing a xylene product is carried out by providing a reactor containing a non-steamed, phosphorus-treated ZSM-5-type zeolite catalyst. The catalyst is contacted with a toluene/methanol feed and a cofeed of hydrogen under reactor conditions suitable for the methylation of toluene. Water is introducing into the reactor during the methylation reaction under conditions that provide substantially no structural aluminum loss of the catalyst from such introduction of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Ashim Kumar Ghosh, Pamela Harvey
  • Aromatic alkylation catalyst and method
    Patent number: 7060644
    Abstract: A catalyst for use in aromatic alkylation, such as toluene alkylation with methanol, is comprised of a zeolite with pore size from about 5.0 to about 7.0 ? containing a hydrogenating metal. The catalyst may be used in preparing an alkyl aromatic product by providing the catalyst within a reactor. The catalyst may be contacted with an aromatic hydrocarbon and an alkylating agent in the presence of hydrogen under reaction conditions suitable for aromatic alkylation. The catalyst may also be treated to further increase its stability. This is accomplished by heating the hydrogenating metal loaded zeolite catalyst in the presence of a reducing agent prior to use in an aromatic alkylation reaction to a temperature of from about 400° C. to about 500 ° C. for about 0.5 to about 10 hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Ashim Kumar Ghosh, Gopalakrishnan Juttu, Pamela Harvey
  • Process for making a germanium-zeolite
    Patent number: 7029650
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for making a germanium-zeolite. The zeolite is preferably a MFI-type structure, most preferably a ZSM-5 MFI zeolite. The germanium-zeolite is synthesized from an aqueous gel containing a silica source, a germanium source, an aluminum source and a structure directing agent in the presence of an acid to control the pH of the gel in the range of 6.5 to 13.5, preferably 7.5 to 11, to maximize the amount of germanium incorporated into the zeolite framework. Optionally, a sodium compound may be introduced into the reaction mixture gel either before or after the addition of the acid, preferably before.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Gopalakrishnan G. Juttu, Alla Konstantin Khanmamedova, Scott F. Mitchell
  • High heat transfer tubular reactor
    Patent number: 7018591
    Abstract: A vapor-phase tubular reactor in a shell heat exchanger for removal of the heat of reaction at essentially isothermal conditions has porous wicking surface applied to the external surface of reactor tubes. The porous wicking surface on the reactor tubes draws liquid heat transfer fluid from a reservoir at the bottom of the wicked tube section and provides enhanced evaporative cooling. The invention is particularly useful for highly exothermic reactions or when reaction selectivity is negatively affected by high temperature excursions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
    Inventor: Vinh N. Le
  • Process for the selective conversion of alkanes to unsaturated carboxylic acids
    Patent number: 7009075
    Abstract: The invention disclosed is a process for the selective conversion of an alkane to an unsaturated carboxylic acid in a one-step process with a mixed metal oxide catalyst composition having the general formula: MoVaNbbTecSbdMeOx wherein M is optional and may be one or more selected from silver, silicon, sulfur, zirconium, titanium, aluminum, copper, lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, gallium, phosphorus, iron, rhenium, cobalt, chromium, manganese, arsenic, indium, thallium, bismuth, germanium, tin, cerium or lanthanum. This catalyst may be prepared by co-precipitation of metal compounds which are calcined to form a mixed metal oxide catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
    Inventor: Paulette N. Hazin
  • Catalyst composition for polymerization of olefins and method for preparing the same
    Patent number: 7001862
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst composition for polymerization of olefins comprising: (a) a solid catalyst pre cursor comprising at least one vanadium compound, at least one magnesium compound and a polymeric material or a solid catalyst precursor comprising at least one vanadium compound, at least one further transition metal compound and/or at least one alcohol, at least one magnesium compound and a polymeric material; and (b) a cocatalyst comprising at least one aluminum compound; and to a method for preparing a catalyst composition according to the present invention, comprising the steps of: (a) combining the components of the solid catalyst precursor; and (b) activating the catalyst precursor with aluminum compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Akhlaq A. Moman, Khalid Al-Bahily, Atieh Abu-Raqabah, John Ledford, Orass M. Hamed
  • Process for preparation of catalyst composition for ethylene polymerization
    Patent number: 6992033
    Abstract: Process for preparing a catalyst composition for ethylene polymerization or copolymerization, with the steps of: (a) treating at least one magnesium alkoxide compound with the effluent waste from a process for production of a polypropylene catalyst of the Ziegler-Natta type, the effluent waste being mainly composed of about 10 to about 20 wt.-% transition metal based compounds, about 20 to about 50 wt.-% solvents, about 0 to about 2 wt.-% electron donors and impurities; (b) washing the product of step (a) with an inert hydrocarbon solvent; and (c) drying the material for use as the catalyst composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
    Inventor: Mansour Izzat Taftaf
  • Catalysts for the oxidation of unsaturated aldehydes to produce carboxylic acids and methods of making the same
    Patent number: 6989347
    Abstract: A catalyst composition for the production of carboxylic acids by the oxidation of the corresponding unsaturated aldehydes, and methods for making and using the catalyst compositions. The catalysts include compositions of the formula: MoaVbAlcXdYeOz wherein X is at least one element selected from W and Mn; Y is at least one element selected from Pd, Sb, Ca, P, Ga, Ge, Si, Mg, Nb, and K; a is 1; b is 0.01–0.9; c is 0<0.2; d is 0<0.5; e is 0<0.5; and z is an integer representing the number of oxygen atoms required to satisfy the valency of the remaining elements in the composition. Using the catalyst composition of the present invention, one may effectively oxidize the desired starting materials at relatively high levels of conversion, selectivity, and productivity, and with minimal side products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Khalid Karim, Yajnavalkya Subrai Bhat, Syed Irshad Zaheer, Asad Ahmad Khan
  • Apparatus for the controlled optimized addition of reactants in continuous flow reaction systems
    Patent number: 6977064
    Abstract: An apparatus for performing continuous flow chemical reactions such as oxidation, oxidative dehydrogenation and partial oxidation processes involving a reactor design characterized by controlled/optimized addition of a reactant with the objective of: (i) avoiding the explosion regime of the reactant mixture (e.g., hydrocarbon/oxidant mixture); (ii) maximizing the selectivity of the reaction to the desired product; (iii) limiting the reactor temperature gradient and therefore the threat of reaction runaway; and (iv) controlling the operating temperature of the reaction zone so that desirable temperature range is maintained over the entire zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Alaa Eldin M. Adris, Fahad A. Al-Sherehy, Mustafa A. Soliman, Tarique Hakeem, Shickh Kareemuddin, Abdullah A. Al-Nutaifi, Munawwar Saudagar, Shahid M. Azam
  • Preparation of mixed metal oxide catalysts for catalytic oxidation of olefins to unsaturated aldehydes
    Patent number: 6946422
    Abstract: A process for making a catalyst containing oxides of molybdenum, bismuth, iron, cesium and, optionally, other metals, such as tungsten, cobalt, nickel, antimony, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, potassium, rubidium, thallium, manganese, barium, chromium, boron, sulfur, silicon, aluminum, titanium, cerium, tellurium, tin, vanadium, zirconium, lead, cadmium, copper and niobium wherein metal compounds are dissolved and then precipitated as a catalyst precursor which is calcined to form a mixed metal oxide catalyst. The process of the present invention uses an organic acid, such as acetic acid, instead of nitric acid to dissolve the bismuth compound and, optionally, other metal compounds. The catalyst synthesized by this process may be used for the production of unsaturated aldehydes, such as methacrolein, by gas phase catalytic oxidation of olefins, such as isobutylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Scott A. Stevenson, Wugeng Liang
  • Selective zeolite catalyst modification
    Patent number: 6943131
    Abstract: A method of modifying a zeolite catalyst to increase selectivity of the catalyst is achieved by dissolving alumina in a phosphorus-containing acid solution, and treating the zeolite catalyst with the dissolved alumina solution. A method of preparing an aromatic product, such as a xylene product, is also achieved by contacting the modified zeolite catalyst with an aromatic hydrocarbon, such as toluene, and an alkylating agent, such as methanol, under reaction conditions suitable for aromatic alkylation. For xylene products the aromatic hydrocarbon may be toluene and the reaction conditions may be suitable for at least one of toluene methylation and transalkylation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Ashim Kumar Ghosh, Pamela Harvey
  • Catalyst compositions for the selective conversion of alkanes to unsaturated carboxylic acids, methods of making and methods of using thereof
    Patent number: 6919472
    Abstract: A catalyst composition for the selective conversion of an alkane to an unsaturated carboxylic acid having the general formula: MoVaNbbAgcMdOx wherein optional element M may be one or more selected from aluminum, copper, lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, gallium, phosphorus, iron, rhenium, cobalt, chromium, manganese, arsenic, indium, thallium, bismuth, germanium, tin, cerium or lanthanum; a is 0.05 to 0.99, b is 0.01 to 0.99, c is 0.01 to 0.99, d is 0 to 0.5 and x is determined by the valence requirements of the other components of the catalyst composition. This catalyst is prepared by co-precipitation of compounds of molybdenum, vanadium, niobium, silver and M to form a mixed metal oxide catalyst. This catalyst can be used for the selective conversion of an alkane to an unsaturated carboxylic acid in a one-step process or the ammoxidation of alkanes and olefins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Paulette N. Hazin, Paul E. Ellis, Jr.
  • Process using water tolerant Lewis acids in catalytic hydration of alkylene oxides to alkylene glycols
    Patent number: 6916963
    Abstract: Water tolerant Lewis acids are used in a process for the preparation of alkylene glycols by catalytic hydration of the corresponding alkylene oxide. The water tolerant Lewis acids can be a metal salt of a non-coordinating or weakly coordinating anion and a Group IIIB, rare earth or lanthanide, actinide or Group IVB cation. Optionally, carbon oxide may also be present. Examples of such water tolerant Lewis acids are scandium triflate, europium triflate, hafnium triflate, yttrium triflate, lanthanum triflate and ytterbium triflate. The catalyst may contain a coordinating anion instead, examples of which are scandium sulfate [Sc2(SO4)3], scandium chloride [ScCl3], scandium acetate [Sc(OAc)3] and scandium nitrate [Sc(NO3)3].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Jaap W. van Hal, Dorai Ramprasad
  • Supported metallocene catalyst system for olefin polymerization, method for making and using the same
    Patent number: 6908876
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a supported catalyst system for olefin polymerization which comprises at least one metallocene component and a support of an inorganic oxide of silica, aluminum or a polymer containing hydroxyl groups. The support is modified with an organogermane and/or organotin compound. The inventive catalyst system produces minimal reactor fouling, has excellent productivity and good hydrogen responsiveness. The present invention also relates to a process for preparing the catalyst system and to the slurry/suspension or gas-phase polymerization of olefins using the catalytic system, optionally with a small amount of aluminoxane cocatalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Muhammad Atiqullah, Akhlaq Moman, Muhammad Naseem Akhtar, Atieh Abu-Raqabah, Syriac J. Palackal, Muhammad A. Al-Saleh, Faizur Rahman, Muhammad Ibrahim, Javaid H. Khan