Patents Examined by Michael Lewis
  • Patent number: 5958817
    Abstract: An improved process for production of mixed cation-exchanged adsorbents that involves a single pass ion exchange. The precursor (non-exchanged) zeolite is treated with a combined essentially stoichiometric and excess solution of desirable weakly held and strongly held cations so that the resultant zeolite has the required mixed cation composition, while consuming smaller amounts of weakly held cation. Ion exchange post-treatment includes an optional equilibration step to ensure a uniform adsorbent and an optional washing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick Wells Leavitt
  • Patent number: 5958364
    Abstract: Heat exchange apparatus and process, particularly heat exchange primary reforming with the primary reformed gas being subjected to partial combustion (and optionally secondary reforming) and the resultant partially combusted gas being used as the heat exchange medium to supply heat required for the primary reforming. The apparatus includes process fluid inlet and outlet zones separated from the heat exchange zone by boundary means such as tube sheets or header pipes. A plurality of heat exchange tubes for a process fluid extending through a heat exchange zone from one of the boundary means and slideably engage at the other boundary means with seal tubes fastened to said other boundary means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries PLC
    Inventors: Michael David Dunne, Stephen James O'Nien, Peter William Farnell
  • Patent number: 5958827
    Abstract: A solid solution particle of oxides contains a solid solution of oxides in which one oxide is dissolved into the other oxide, and in which the degree of dissolution of one oxide into the other oxide is not less 50%, and in which an average diameter of crystallite is not more than 100 nm. The solid solution particle of oxides has small average diameter of a crystallite and large specific surface area, and it improves capacities such as an oxygen storage ability due to high degree of dissolution. A catalyst for purifying exhaust gases has excellent purifying performance by employing the solid solution comprising ceria and zirconia which has large OSC and high oxygen adsorption and discharge speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventors: Akihiko Suda, Hideo Sobukawa, Tadashi Suzuki, Toshio Kandori, Yoshio Ukyo, Masahiro Sugiura, Mareo Kimura, Hiroshi Hirayama, Yasuo Ikeda
  • Patent number: 5958828
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying catalyst (3) has an inner catalytic layer (5) fixed on a carrier (4). In the inner catalytic layer (5), there are held a palladium component, platinum component and a rhodium component by a base material containing an alumina component composed of alumina impregnated with lanthanum. Further, the exhaust gas purifying catalyst (3) has an outer catalytic layer (6) formed on the inner catalytic layer (5). In the outer catalytic layer (6), a palladium component is held by a base material which contains an alumina component, an oxide complex of ceria and zirconia and a magnesium component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Murakami, Hiroshi Yamada, Kenji Okamoto, Kaori Imada, Yuki Koda, Osamu Takayama, Shinichi Tanioka
  • Patent number: 5958297
    Abstract: Process for the preparation of hydrogen and/or carbon monoxide rich gas comprising partial oxidation of a hydrocarbon feedstock in a reactor with an upper and a lower portion and a refractory lining attached to an inner surface of the reactor, comprising the steps of introducing the feedstock and an oxygen containing atmosphere into the upper portion of the reactor;partially oxidizing the feedstock with oxygen in the upper portion of the reactor; andcontacting a part of the partially oxidized feedstock with a reforming catalyst arranged on the refractory lining in at least the upper portion of the reactor, so that to cool the lining by endothermic reforming reactions proceeding in the partially oxidized gas on the refractory lining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Haldor Topsoe A/S
    Inventor: Ivar Ivarsen Primdahl
  • Patent number: 5958352
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for scavenging H.sub.2 S from aqueous and hydrocarbon substrates, preferably natural gas, using aldehyde ammonia trimers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael Callaway, Gordon T. Rivers
  • Patent number: 5955416
    Abstract: The present invention relates to detergent compositions comprising lipases, a lipase compatible anionic surfactant system, and a gemini polyhydroxy fatty acid amide. The anionic surfactant system comprises alkyl alkoxylated sulphates having specific ratios of mono-, di- and tri-alkoxylated sulphates. The detergent compositions provide improved greasy soil removal over a wide range of temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gerard Marcel Baillely, Barry Thomas Ingram, Christian Leo Marie Vermote
  • Patent number: 5955045
    Abstract: For selectively removing nitrogen oxides from a carrier gas that contains hydrocarbons, the nitrogen oxides are removed by chemisorption on metal oxides, without the occurrence of undesirable secondary reactions. The metal oxides are preferably formed from metals of the 6th to 8th subgroups, whereby manganese dioxide (MnO.sub.2,) is especially preferred as a metal oxide. The process can be conducted with one or more reactor beds, which preferably operate at 10 to 40.degree. C. and are regenerated with nitrogen at a temperature of 130 to 170.degree. C.By removing nitrogen oxides from an olefin-rich gas, for example from the waste gas of an FCC unit, the resultant gas can then be fed to a cryogenic olefin extraction stage without danger of explosion.Such a waste gas contains unsaturated hydrocarbons, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and oxygen, the oxygen having a concentration preferably between 100 and 5000 mol ppm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Karl Baur, Hans-Peter Langebach, Hartmut Neumann, Ulrike Wenning
  • Patent number: 5952541
    Abstract: Lead impurities are removed from a liquid hydrocarbon stream by contacting the hydrocarbon stream with an adsorbent, which has been prepared by contacting the adsorbent with an organohalide under conditions which cause the organohalide to decompose; thus, producing an adsorbent containing hydrogen halide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Exxon Chemical Patents, Inc.
    Inventors: John Di-Yi Ou, Daniel David Rosenfeld
  • Patent number: 5948719
    Abstract: Ferrierite is ion exchanged with trivalent rare earth metals by a hydrothermal ion exchange method. The ion exchange is carried out by contacting ferrierite, in which its cation exchange positions are occupied by hydrogen or a hydrogen precursor, with an aqueous solution of one or more rare earth metal cations at a temperature above the boiling point of the solution. After the ion exchange, preferably at least 10% and more preferably at least 15% of the ferrierite cation exchange capacity is occupied by a trivalent rare earth metal cation. When combined with a catalytic metal, such as a Group VIII noble metal, the trivalent rare earth metal ion exchanged ferrierite is useful as a dewaxing catalyst having good selectivity for lubricating oil fractions, particularly when dewaxing a Fischer-Tropsch wax hydroisomerate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Jack W. Johnson, Bruce R. Cook, Guang Cao, Rich A. McEvoy, Richard H. Ernst
  • Patent number: 5948377
    Abstract: A catalyst composition comprising at least one first supports, at least one first precious metal component, at least one second supports, and at least one second precious metal component. The total amount of the first precious metal component comprises from 1 to 99 weight percent based on the total of the first and second precious metal components. The surface area of the at least one first support is greater than the surface area of the at least one second support. Optionally or alternatively, the average particle size of the at least one first supports is greater than the average particle size of the at least one second supports. The present invention includes a method to prepare the catalyst composition and a method to use the catalyst composition as a three-way catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Engelhard Corporation
    Inventor: Shiang Sung
  • Patent number: 5945373
    Abstract: A method for treating silica to render its surface non-polar, especially for use as a chromatography medium in "reverse phase" chromatography. The silica is treated with a solution of a complex in which a hydrocarbon chain is coordinated, e.g. through a carboxylic group, with a metal ion such as chromium. The complex also has halide ligands, which on hydrolysis give rise to cationic charging and hydroxyl-bridging of the complex molecules with the silica surface and with one another. Elimination of water binds the molecules onto the silica surface where their hydrocarbon chains give the desired non-polar properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Downstream Media Limited
    Inventor: Martin J Hofmann
  • Patent number: 5945369
    Abstract: A catalyst for purifying exhaust gases includes a porous support; a cerium oxide or a solid solution of a cerium oxide and a zirconium oxide in a state of mutual solid solution, loaded on the porous support; and a noble metal element loaded on the porous support. The cerium oxide or the solid solution has an average particle diameter of from 5 to 100 nm. The cerium oxide is present in the solid solution in an amount of from 0.2 to 4.0 by molar ratio with respect to the zirconium oxide therein. The catalyst can be prepared by: coating and calcinating on a support substrate a slurry of a cerium oxide sol, a cerium oxide sol and a zirconium oxide sol, on a solid solution powder of a cerium oxide and a zirconium oxide in a state of mutual solid solution; and loading a noble metal element thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventors: Mareo Kimura, Yoriko Matsuoka, Hideo Sobukawa, Masayuki Fukui, Akihiko Suda, Toshio Kandori, Yoshio Ukyo
  • Patent number: 5945368
    Abstract: An active catalyst having a crystal structure corresponding to that of a catalyst that has been prepared and activated by the following process. A substantially pentavalent vanadium-containing compound is reacted with a pentavalent phosphorus-containing compound in an alcohol medium capable of reducing the vanadium to an oxidation state of less than +5. Molybdenum is incorporated into the product of the reaction, thereby forming a solid molybdenum-modified precursor composition. The alcohol is removed to produce a dried solid molybdenum-modified precursor composition. Shaped bodies comprising said dried solid molybdenum-modified precursor composition are formed. The dried formed molybdenum-modified catalyst precursor composition is activated to transform it into the active catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Huntsman Petrochemical Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy R. Felthouse, Robert A. Keppel, Carl J. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 5945083
    Abstract: Powdered ore is fed into fluidized bed reactor 1 after preheating by hot blast in preheating furnace 2. Iron oxide particles are recovered from an exhaust gas of the preheating furnace 2 by dust catcher 3, and the iron oxide particles are reduced to iron in reducing furnace 4. The reduced iron particles are added into the flow path of fluidized bed reactor 1 to catalyze the reaction producing iron carbide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignees: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Mitsubishi Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Inoue, Yoshio Uchiyama, Junya Nakatani
  • Patent number: 5942457
    Abstract: A process for regenerating spent clay which includes: (1) an extraction stage wherein an organic solvent or mixture of organic solvents are thoroughly mixed with the spent clay thus separating the entrained oil from the spent clay, (2) a reactivation stage wherein the oil-free spent clay is treated with acid, and (3) a thermal polishing step wherein the acid-treated, solvent-extracted spent clay is heated at a high temperature from about 500 degrees F to about 1400 degrees F for approximately one minute to five hours, preferably 10 minutes to 4 hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Inventor: Benjamin Santos
  • Patent number: 5942204
    Abstract: A transition metal carbide (e.g., WC) is prepared by the following steps. A carbon-precursor mixture is formed by mixing a precursor comprised of (i) a transition metal oxide (e.g., WO.sub.x) and (ii) a material selected from the group consisting of: a transition metal (e.g., W); a transition metal carbide (e.g., WC) and a substoichiometric carbide (W.sub.2 C), in the presence of a source of carbon (e.g., carbon black) in an amount sufficient to form a reduced mixture comprised of the transition metal carbide and substoichiometric transition metal carbide, wherein the amount of the transition metal oxide and transition metal is essentially zero in said reduced mixture. The carbon-precursor mixture is heated in a reducing atmosphere (e.g., 5 percent hydrogen in argon) to a reducing temperature and for a time sufficient to produce the reduced mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: OMG Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen D. Dunmead, Hobart A. Barker, John P. Henley, Pat J. DeLuca, Tom J. Bunnelle, Joe F. Repman, Daniel F. Carroll, Stephen A. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5942456
    Abstract: A catalytic distillation structure containing (1) a solid catalytic material comprising a catalyst component and (2) a structure. The total volume of open space for the catalytic distillation structure should be at least 10 volume % and preferably at least 20 volume % up to about 65 volume %. The catalytic material may be a mixture of two or more catalysts or the individual catalyst may occupy separate and distinct areas of the structure without physical mixing of the catalysts. The structural element may contain substantially rigid elements and porous containers which contain the catalytic material. The structural element may be comprised of the porous containers. Other catalytic distillation structures may comprises the porous containers for the catalysts and a resilient material such as demister wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventors: Clifford S. Crossland, John R. Adams
  • Patent number: 5942458
    Abstract: Spent lead catalysts containing contaminating amounts of arsenic values, e.g., mixed oxides of lead and arsenic, are regenerated and rendered suitable for reuse by heat-treating same at a temperature of at least 550.degree. C. in the presence of a gas mixture which comprises an inert gas, e.g., Ar, N.sub.2 or He, and at least 2% by volume of at least one reducing gas, e.g., H.sub.2, CO or CH.sub.4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Procatalyse
    Inventors: Paul Berthier, Jean-Paul Bournonville, Christian Ladirat, Bernard Nocher
  • Patent number: RE36330
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electroless process for making a catalyst in a liquid or gaseous medium comprising contacting a base metal with a chemical cleaning agent and simultaneously or sequentially treating said base metal under reducing conditions with a noble metal-containing material, the catalyst prepared using the process, and a method of using the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Witco Corporation
    Inventors: James S. Ritscher, Wei T. Yang, George M. Omietanski, Robert L. Ocheltree, Earl E. Malson