Patents Assigned to UOP Inc.
  • Catalyst regeneration with varying air flow to burn-off zone from drying zone through halogenation zone
    Patent number: 4701429
    Abstract: Method for effecting multiple treatment steps needed to regenerate spent hydrocarbon conversion catalyst. Catalyst is contacted with a hot oxygen-containing gas stream in order to remove coke which accumulates on the catalyst while it is in a hydrocarbon conversion zone. After the coke is burned off in a combustion zone, catalyst is passed into a halogenation zone wherein a halogen is deposited on the catalyst. Catalyst leaving the halogenation zone is passed into a drying zone for removal of water formed in the combustion zone which has remained on the catalyst instead of being carried off with combustion gases. Water removal is accomplished by passing a hot dry air stream through the catalyst in the drying zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur R. Greenwood
  • Hydrocracking and recovering polynuclear aromatic compounds in slop wax stream
    Patent number: 4698146
    Abstract: A catalytic hydrocracking process which comprises (a) introducing a reduced crude into a fractionation zone to produce a vacuum gas oil stream having a propensity to form polynuclear aromatic compounds in a hydrocracking zone and a slop wax stream; (b) contacting the vacuum gas oil stream in a hydrocracking zone with added hydrogen and a metal promoted hydrocracking catalyst at elevated temperature and pressure sufficient to gain a substantial conversion to lower boiling products; (c) partially condensing the hydrocarbon effluent from the hydrocracking zone and separating the same into a low boiling hydrocarbon product stream and an unconverted hydrocarbon stream boiling above about 650.degree. F. (343.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventor: Adrian J. Gruia
  • Xylene producing process having staged catalytic conversion of ethylbenzene
    Patent number: 4697039
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for the production of a desired xylene isomer, preferably paraxylene, and high quality benzene. The desired isomer is recovered from the feed and recycle streams in a xylene separation zone. The net effluent or raffinate from the separation zone is passed into a catalytic xylene isomerization zone. The isomerization zone effluent stream is passed into a high severity transalkylation zone. Ethylbenzene in the feed stream is subjected to staged conversion in the two catalytic reaction zones and thereby converted to both xylenes and benzene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1987
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Schmidt
  • Light paraffin dehydrogenation process
    Patent number: 4695662
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for the catalytic dehydrogenation of propane or butanes. The vapor phase reaction zone effluent stream is contacted with a heavy absorption liquid and then with a light absorption liquid. The light absorption liquid is composed of hydrocarbons recovered from the reaction zone effluent stream. This secondary contacting removes components of the heavy absorption liquid from the recycle gas, thus eliminating the deleterious effects of these compounds on the dehydrogenation catalyst. The heavy absorption liquid may be produced within the process by a catalytic olefin-consuming reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventor: Bipin V. Vora
  • Catalyst for the selective hydrogenation of diolefinic hydrocarbons
    Patent number: 4695560
    Abstract: A composition is presented for a catalyst useful in the selective hydrogenation of unconjugated diolefinic hydrocarbons to monoolefinic hydrocarbons. The catalyst comprises nickel and sulfur deposited on the surface of an alumina support. The preferred catalyst does not contain halogens, noble metals, alkaline earth metals, or alkali metals and is characterized by having only a very low percentage of the total pore volume being provided by pores having an average pore diameter less than 150 angstroms. The great majority of the pore volume is present in the form of macropores having diameters of 500 to 1500 angstroms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Gattuso, Daniel L. Ellig
  • Phosphorus-containing alumina catalyst for the isomerization of aromatics
    Patent number: 4695666
    Abstract: An improved process for the isomerization of non-equilibrium C.sub.8 aromatics is presented which utilizes a novel catalytic composition. This catalyst comprises phosphorus-containing alumina, a gallium component, and crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite having a silica to alumina ratio of at least 12. The isomerization process has a particular utility for the conversion of ethylbenzene without the deleterious loss of xylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventors: Tai-Hsiang Chao, J. W. Adriaan Sachtler
  • Process for alkylation of hydrocarbons
    Patent number: 4695665
    Abstract: A process flow is presented for a hydrocarbon conversion process in which a relatively volatile hydrocarbon is separated from less volatile feed and product hydrocarbons present in a reaction zone effluent stream. The preferred usage is in the alkylation of benzene with propylene. The reaction zone effluent stream is passed into a lower portion of a rectified separation zone. Recycle aromatic hydrocarbon is passed into a contact exchanger/absorber present in the top portion of the rectified separation zone. The liquid collected at the bottom of the contact exchanger is removed as a sidecut stream and passed into the reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventor: Richard R. De Graff
  • Process for separating ketoses from alkaline- or pyridine-catalyzed isomerization products
    Patent number: 4692514
    Abstract: A process for the liquid phase adsorptive separation of psicose from an aqueous feed mixture of monosaccharides containing psicose along with other aldoses and ketoses. The feed is contacted with a calcium-Y type zeolite in two stages. In the first, psicose and fructose are selectively adsorbed to the substantial exclusion of other aldoses and ketoses. In the second, psicose is adsorbed to the substantial exclusion of fructose, which is recovered in high purity in the raffinate. The process can be carried out on a commercial scale by means of a simulated moving bed flow scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventor: Chin-Hsiung Chang
  • Dehydrogenation of dehydrogenatable hydrocarbons
    Patent number: 4691071
    Abstract: Dehydrogenatable hydrocarbons may be subjected to a dehydrogenation reaction by treating the hydrocarbons in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst comprising an alkaline metal-promoted iron compound. The effluent is then subjected to a selective oxidation step in which the hydrogenation produced from the first reaction is oxidized in preference to the dehydrogenated and unconverted hydrocarbons. The catalyst which is used to effect this selective oxidation comprises a Group VIII noble metal, a Group IVA metal and a Group IA or IIA metal composited on a metal oxide support. The present invention is concerned with the use of a cerium-containing alumina as a support for this selective oxidation catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffery C. Bricker
  • Isomerization of cresols
    Patent number: 4691063
    Abstract: An improvement in a process for the isomerization of cresols may be obtained by effecting the isomerization reaction of a cresol in the presence of a phosphorous containing crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite catalyst. The added phosphorous provides stability and longer life to the catalyst as well as more stable selectivity to the desired isomers. The isomerization reaction is effected at temperatures ranging from about 350.degree. C. to about 500.degree. C., pressures ranging from about 1 to about 60 atmospheres, a Liquid Hourly Space Velocity that ranges from 1 to about 5 hours.sup.-1, with the abovementioned catalyst containing from about 1% to about 8% by weight phosphorous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventors: Dusan J. Engel, Jean-Pierre Gilson
  • Gas detection apparatus and method with novel electrolyte membrane
    Patent number: 4689122
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for detecting and measuring hydrogen and gaseous compounds capable of dissociating into or combining with hydrogen ions using a solid electrolyte concentration cell. A novel solid electrolyte membrane is used which comprises an organic polymer-inorganic compound blend prepared by admixing an organic polymer such as poly(vinyl alcohol) with a heteropoly acid or salt thereof such as dodecamolybdophosphoric acid in a mutually miscible solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Polak, Allyson J. Beuhler
  • Catalyst regeneration apparatus
    Patent number: 4687637
    Abstract: Apparatus for effecting multiple treatment steps needed to regenerate spent hydrocarbon conversion catalyst. Catalyst is contacted with a hot oxygen-containing gas stream in order to remove coke which accumulates on the catalyst while it is in a hydrocarbon conversion zone. After the coke is burned off in a combustion zone, catalyst is passed into a halogenation zone wherein a halogen is deposited on the catalyst. Catalyst leaving the halogenation zone is passed into a drying zone for removal of water formed in the combustion zone which has remained on the catalyst instead of being carried off with combustion gases. Water removal is accomplished by passing a hot dry air stream through the catalyst in the drying zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1987
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur R. Greenwood
  • Increased glucose levels in starch saccharification using immobilized amyloglucosidase
    Patent number: 4681845
    Abstract: Using an aged IMAG in series with fresh IMAG affords a saccharification product containing increased yields of glucose. In particular, using such a combination it is possible to obtain a product containing glucose at levels of at least about 94.0%. Such a process is readily adaptable to present industrial processes requiring glucose levels of at least 94.0%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventor: William H. Mueller
  • Dehydrogenation catalyst compositions
    Patent number: 4677237
    Abstract: A novel dehydrogenation process is disclosed. This process comprises contacting dehydrogenatable hydrocarbons with a catalytic composite comprising a platinum component, a tin component, a potassium component, a lithium component, and an alumina support, wherein the lithium to potassium atomic ratio of said catalytic composite is in the range of from 3:1 to 5:1. The process of the invention has particular utility for the dehydrogenation of C.sub.3 -C.sub.30 paraffins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Imai, Hayim Abrevaya
  • Trimetallic reforming catalyst
    Patent number: 4677094
    Abstract: A novel trimetallic catalytic composite, a method of manufacture and process use thereof is disclosed. The composite comprises a refractory support having a nominal diameter of at least 650 microns and having deposited thereon a uniformly dispersed platinum component, a uniformly dispersed tin component and a surface-impregnated metal component selected from the group consisting of rhodium, ruthenium, cobalt, nickel, iridium and mixtures thereof. When this catalytic composite is used in the reforming of hydrocarbons at low pressures significant improvements in activity stability is observed compared to catalysts of the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. Moser, Randy J. Lawson
  • Production of aromatic hydrocarbons from natural gas
    Patent number: 4677235
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for the conversion of at least a portion of the light hydrocarbons, such as propane, present in a natural gas feed stream into C.sub.6 -plus hydrocarbons including benzene. Noncondensibles such as hydrogen and nitrogen are separated from both the natural gas feed stream and from a reaction zone effluent stream in a common vapor-liquid separation vessel. The liquid stream produced in this initial separation is subjected to fractional distillation which recovers the C.sub.6 -plus product hydrocarbons and a stream of lighter hydrocarbons, which is passed into a dehydrocyclodimerization reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Mowry
  • Novel motor fuel alkylation process
    Patent number: 4677245
    Abstract: A novel hydrocarbon alkylation process is disclosed wherein the feed hydrocarbons are dried to maintain the water content of the alkylation catalyst at less than 2.0 wt. %, where said alkylation catalyst is comprised of a mineral acid and an ether component selected from the group consisting of tert-butyl ether, methylphenyl ether, tert amylmethyl ether (TAME), or methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). This process also incorporates a method of regenerating at least a portion of the alkylation catalyst to prevent build-up of more than 15 wt. % of polymer products therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Kocal, Tamotsu Imai
  • Hydrocarbon-conversion process with fractionator overhead vapor recycle
    Patent number: 4673488
    Abstract: An improved method for processing the effluent of a hydrocarbon conversion zone. The invention is particularly useful in a catalytic reforming reaction, wherein practice of the invention results in an increased recovery of butane and propane. The effluent is separated into vapor and liquid components, which are then recontacted at a higher pressure. Several recontacting steps may be employed. Liquid product is then subjected to fractionation. Overhead vapor from the fractionation zone is recycled back to a recontacting step in order to recover a portion of the hydrocarbons contained therein, instead of routing the vapor to the plant fuel gas system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Turner, Kenneth D. Peters, Richard W. Bennett
  • Dehydrogenation catalyst compositions and its use in dehydrogenation
    Patent number: 4672146
    Abstract: A novel catalytic composite is disclosed. Also disclosed is a use for the novel composite and a method for preparing the same. The catalytic composite comprises a Group VIII, noble metal component, a co-formed IVA metal component, an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal component and an alumina support having a surface area of from 5 to 150 m.sup.2 /g. Additionally the alumina support is such that less than about 18% of the total pore volume of the support is associated with pores having mean diameters of about 300 Angstroms or less and more than about 55% of the total pore volume of the support is associated with pores having mean diameters of about 600 Angstroms or more. The novel catalytic composite has particular utility as a paraffin dehydrogenation catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventors: Hayim Abrevaya, Tamotsu Imai
  • Mixing device for vertical flow fluid-solid contacting
    Patent number: 4669890
    Abstract: A fluid mixing apparatus which is used in a vertical flow fluid-solid contacting column having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet at opposite ends, two or more distinct beds of particulate material, and single or dual phase fluid flow. The mixing apparatus comprises a vertical flow barrier, positioned intermediate two adjacent beds of particulate material, having a substantially imperforate outer area and at least one central opening for passing fluid between beds and a fluid impingement compartment located at the center of the barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventor: Claude F. Peyrot