Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a hydrogen-rich stream from a hydrogen-depleted stream. More particularly, the invention relates to a hydrocarbon synthesis process, by way of example, a Fischer Tropsch process, from which both hydrocarbons and high purity hydrogen are obtained. The process comprises contacting the hydrogen-depleted stream with a reverse-selective membrane to provide a CO2-enriched permeate and a hydrogen-containing retentate. The high purity hydrogen is produced from the hydrogen-containing retentate. The high purity hydrogen thus obtained may be used in a process selected from the group consisting of upgrading hydrocarbons produced from the hydrocarbon synthesis process, hydrotreating a natural gas stream, recycling to the hydrocarbon synthesis reaction unit, high purity hydrogen production, catalyst rejuvenation, and combinations thereof.
Abstract: A gemini surfactant represented by the formula: wherein: each Rf independently represents perfluorobutyl or perfluoropropyl; each R1 independently represents alkyl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; L1 and L2 represent alkylene having from 2 to 18 carbon atoms; each R represents alkyl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; Z represents an organic divalent linking group; and nXm? represents an anion or anions having a charge m, wherein m and n are independently 1 or 2, and wherein the product of n and m is 2. Aqueous compositions containing the gemini surfactant are also disclosed.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 17, 2005
Date of Patent:
January 16, 2007
Assignee:
3M Innovative Properties Company
Inventors:
George G. I. Moore, Michael S. Terrazas
Abstract: The invention provides compounds of formula I: which are inhibitors of ?-secretase and hence useful in the treatment or prevention of Alzheimer's disease.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 25, 2003
Date of Patent:
January 9, 2007
Assignee:
Merck Sharp & Dohme Limited
Inventors:
James Michael Crawforth, Jason Matthew Elliott, Andrew Pate Owens, Francine Sternfeld
Abstract: Methanol is produced from bacterially oxidized waste methane by reaction with Pd+2, Cu+2, air, and molten phthalic anhydride in an entrained oxidizer generating half ester of methyl phthalate which is reaction distilled to produce methanol and recycle phthalic anhydride containing the Pd+2, Cu+2 phthalate catalyst.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 11, 2006
Date of Patent:
January 9, 2007
Assignee:
Rinnovi, L.L.C.
Inventors:
Carol Knox, legal representative, Walter R. Knox, deceased
Abstract: A process of producing propylene chlorohydrin using a reactor having a one-way flow reaction area and a circulating flow reaction area which are connected in series. In this process, a propylene-containing gas is supplied to an aqueous solution of chlorine in the one-way flow reaction area to carry out at least part of a propylene chlorohydrin forming reaction so as to form a reaction mixture fluid containing propylene chlorohydrin and propylene and/or chlorine. The above reaction mixture fluid discharged from this reaction area is supplied to the circulating flow reaction area as at least part of a make-up medium, a propylene-containing gas and/or chlorine are/is supplied as required to continue the reaction in the circulating flow reaction area so as to obtain a reaction solution having a desired content of propylene chlorohydrin, and part of the reaction solution is extracted.
Abstract: Fischer-Tropsch process for the conversion of carbon monoxide and hydrogen to C5+ hydrocarbon mixtures in which process use is made of Fischer-Tropsch catalyst particles and fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst particles. The FCC catalyst can be a fresh FCC catalyst, or an equilibrium catalysts (E-cat).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 30, 2003
Date of Patent:
January 2, 2007
Assignee:
Albemarle Netherlands B.V.
Inventors:
Edgar Evert Steenwinkel, Marieke Paulyne Renate Spee, Johannes Petrus Jozef Verlaan, Eelco Titus Carel Vogt
Abstract: A process for producing methanol is described in which a hydrocarbon is steam reformed in a reforming zone, and during the reforming stage, of a cyclic steam reformer having a reforming stage and a regeneration stage, the steam reforming being conducted under conditions effective to produce a first effluent stream containing synthesis gas. Fuel and an oxygen-containing gas are combusted in the regeneration stage of the reformer so as to reheat the reforming zone to a temperature sufficient for the reforming stage and generate a flue gas. At least part of the first effluent stream is contacted with a methanol synthesis catalyst under conditions effective to convert synthesis gas to methanol and form a methanol-containing stream and a tail gas stream comprising unreacted carbon monoxide and hydrogen. At least part of the tail gas stream is recycled as fuel for the regeneration stage of the cyclic steam reformer.
Abstract: The invention concerns organosilicon compounds, their method of preparation and their use as coupling agents for deposition, at the surface of a solid support, an organized self-assembled monolayer. The invention also concerns a method for obtaining solid supports whereof the surface is modified by an organized self-assembled monolayer comprising a system of said organosilicon compounds, and the use of said solid supports for biomolecular synthesis or immobilization.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 17, 2001
Date of Patent:
December 12, 2006
Assignee:
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
Inventors:
Bernard Benneteau, Jamal Bousbaa, Franck Choplin
Abstract: A device having a plurality of chambers for carrying out a solid-catalyzed reaction includes a common evaporation unit for evaporating liquid starting materials. The evaporation unit is in thermally conductive contact with a plurality of chambers. An area of the evaporation unit in which the evaporation substantially takes place is at least partially surrounded by the plurality of chambers.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 2, 2005
Date of Patent:
December 12, 2006
Assignee:
NuCellSys GmbH
Inventors:
Andreas Ebert, Oskar Lamla, Martin Schuessler, Tomas Stefanovski
Abstract: Hydrocarbons are prepared, liquid at the reaction temperature, by feeding synthesis gas into three-phase turbulent reactors in which the solid phase, consisting of the catalyst in the form of particles, is kept in suspension in the liquid phase by the rising synthesis gas. The reaction product is separated/filtered in continuous from the catalyst dispersed therein by means of at least one filtration device consisting of a hydrocyclone over which there is a first hollow metal element in which a second hollow element is situated, coaxial with the first, made of a material having a porous structure, with an average pore diameter ranging from 0.002 to 0.1 micrometers, suitable for micro/ultrafiltration.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 18, 2004
Date of Patent:
December 5, 2006
Assignees:
ENI S.p.A., Institut Francais du Petrole, Enitechnologie S.p.A.
Inventors:
Gabriele Carlo Ettore Clerici, Giuseppe Belmonte
Abstract: Methanol is synthesized from pre-heated methanol synthesis gas in one or more adiabatic synthesis stages with cooling of the resultant gas after each stage. Further methanol synthesis is then effected on the resultant partially reacted synthesis gas in a bed of synthesis catalyst cooled by means of a coolant flowing co-currently through tubes disposed in the catalyst bed. After cooling methanol is separated from the unreacted gas. Part of the unreacted gas is combined with make-up gas and used as the coolant fed to the aforesaid tubes, thus producing the pre-heated synthesis gas to be fed to the adiabatic synthesis stages.
Abstract: A method for the synthesis of cyclobuta aromatic compounds by cyclizing two ortho dibromoalkyl substituents is described. Using a mediator, such as nickel metal, and continuous removal of product from contact with the mediator, high product yields are achieved. A method for bromination of ortho alkyl substituents of aromatic compounds is also described.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 12, 2002
Date of Patent:
November 21, 2006
Assignee:
Technion Research and Development Foundation
Abstract: Process for converting synthesis gas to higher hydrocarbons, at an elevated temperature and pressure. The process comprises continuously introducing a synthesis gas feed stream comprising 0.1 to 50% by volume of carbon dioxide into a continuous stirred reactor system comprising a reactor vessel containing a suspension of a solid particulate Fischer-Tropsch catalyst suspended in a liquid medium, wherein the solid particulate Fischer-Tropsch catalyst is stable in the presence of carbon dioxide.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 17, 2002
Date of Patent:
November 21, 2006
Assignees:
BP Exploration Operating Company Limited, Davy Process Technology Limited
Abstract: Biphenylcarboxamide compounds of formula (I) methods for preparing such compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds as well as the use of said compounds as a medicine for the treatment of hyperlipidemia, obesity and type II diabetes.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 15, 2001
Date of Patent:
November 14, 2006
Assignee:
Janssen Pharmaceutica, NV
Inventors:
Lieven Meerpoel, Leo Jacobs Jozef Backx
Abstract: A process for catalytically reacting a fluid reactant mixture in a multi-tubular reactor system to form a fluid product, whereby the reactant mixture is led through at least one reactor tube containing a fixed bed of solid particulate catalyst and surrounded by a heat-exchange fluid, and whereby an upstream portion of the reactor tube is dedicated to pre-heating the reactant mixture and/or a downstream portion of the reactor tube is dedicated to post-cooling the product, characterized in that the upstream portion and/or downstream portion of the reactor tube contains a heat-exchanging essentially rod-shaped insert, the insert having a length of from 1 to 20%, preferably 1 to 5%, of the total length of the reactor tube.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 25, 2001
Date of Patent:
November 7, 2006
Assignee:
Shell Oil Company
Inventors:
Arend Jan Te Raa, Mathias Jozef Paul Slapak, Alouisius Nicolaas Rene Bos
Abstract: Provided is a method of inhibiting the formation of coke in an ethylene dichloride to vinyl chloride monomer pyrolysis cracker. The coke formation, which occurs during an ethylene dichloride pyrolysis reaction, is inhibited by contacting a heat-transfer surface of the cracker and a boron compound. The amount of coke generated when a coke formation-inhibiting material is used is 50% or less of that when a coke formation-inhibiting material is not used. In this case, however, the ethylene chloride conversion and the selectivity to a vinyl chloride monomer during the pyrolysis reaction are not affected. Accordingly, the efficiency of the pyrolysis cracker can be maximized.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 8, 2005
Date of Patent:
November 7, 2006
Assignee:
LC Chem, Ltd.
Inventors:
Donghyun Jo, Jongwook Bae, Juyoul Kim, Sung Won Kim, Byungchul Oh, Seung Back Ha
Abstract: A process for the preparation of 2-chloro-1,1,1,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane is disclosed which involves (a) contacting a mixture comprising hydrogen fluoride, chlorine, and at least one starting material selected from the group consisting of halopropenes of the formula CX3CCI?CX2 and halopropanes of the formula the CX3CCIYCX3, wherein each X is independently F or Cl, and Y is H, Cl or F (provided that the number of X and Y which are F totals no more than six) with a chlorofluorination catalyst in a reaction zone to produce a product mixture comprising CF3CCIFCF3, HCI, HF. and underfluorinated halogenated hydrocarbon intermediates. The process is characterized by said chlorofluorination catalyst comprising at least one chromium-containing component selected from (i) a crystalline alpha-chromium oxide where at least 0.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 21, 2003
Date of Patent:
October 31, 2006
Assignee:
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
Inventors:
Mario J. Nappa, Velliyur Nott Mallikarjuna Rao, H. David Rosenfeld, Sekhar Subramoney, Munirpallam A. Subramanian, Allen C. Sievert
Abstract: A process for converting natural gas to an olefin includes heating the gas to a selected range of temperature to convert a fraction of the gas stream to reactive hydrocarbons, primarily ethylene or acetylene, and reacting with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to produce the olefin, usually ethylene. A portion of the incoming natural gas may be used to heat the remainder of the natural gas to the selected range of temperature. Hydrogen resulting from the reactions may be used to make electricity in a fuel cell. Alternatively, hydrogen may be burned to heat the natural gas to the selected range of temperature.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 1, 2003
Date of Patent:
October 10, 2006
Assignee:
The Texas A&M University System
Inventors:
Kenneth R. Hall, Jerry A. Bullin, Philip T. Eubank, Aydin Akgerman, Rayford G. Anthony
Abstract: A gas-agitated multiphase reactor system that is effective for enabling maximum reactor productivity or minimizing reactor volume comprising at least two stages with or without recycle, wherein inlet gas superficial velocity is at least 20 cm/sec at Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, yielding a total syngas conversion of greater than about 90%, while syngas conversion in each reactor is less than 60%. More specifically, the total reactor volume is held to a minimum such that minimum reactor volume is less than 0.02 cubic meters total reactor volume/(kg C5+/hr production).
Abstract: A process for the conversion of synthesis gas to higher hydrocarbons by synthesis gas, at an elevated temperature and pressure, with a suspension of a particulate Fischer-Tropsch catalyst, in a system comprising at least one high shear mixing zone and a reactor vessel wherein the process comprises: (a) passing the suspension and the gaseous stream through the high shear mixing zone wherein the gaseous stream is broken down into gas bubbles and/or irregularly shaped gas voids; (b) discharging suspension having gas bubbles and/or irregularly shaped gas voids dispersed therein from the high shear mixing zone into the reactor vessel; and (c) maintaining the temperature of the suspension discharged into the reactor vessel at the desired reaction temperature by means of an internal heat exchanger positioned within the suspension in the reactor vessel. At least 5% of the exothermic heat of reaction is removed from the system by means of the internal heat exchanger.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 17, 2002
Date of Patent:
October 3, 2006
Assignees:
BP Exploration Operating Company Limited, Davy Process Technology Limited