Patents Examined by Philip Louie
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Patent number: 9878966Abstract: The present invention provides methods, reactor systems, and catalysts for increasing the yield of aromatic hydrocarbons produced while converting alkanols to hydrocarbons. The invention includes methods of using catalysts to increase the yield of benzene, toluene, and mixed xylenes in the hydrocarbon product.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2015Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: Virent, Inc.Inventors: Paul G. Blommel, Li Yuan, Matthew Van Straten, Warren Lyman, Randy D. Cortright
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Patent number: 9873644Abstract: The present invention provides methods, reactor systems, and catalysts for increasing the yield of aromatic hydrocarbons produced while converting carboxylic acids to aromatic hydrocarbons. The invention includes methods of using catalysts to increase the yield of benzene, toluene, and mixed xylenes in the hydrocarbon product.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2014Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: Virent, Inc.Inventors: Paul Blommel, Randy Cortright
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Patent number: 9873836Abstract: The present invention provides methods, reactor systems, and catalysts for increasing the yield of aromatic hydrocarbons produced while converting biomass to hydrocarbons. The invention includes methods of using catalysts to increase the yield of benzene, toluene, and mixed xylenes in the hydrocarbon product.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2014Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: Virent, Inc.Inventors: Paul Blommel, Andrew Held, Ralph Goodwin, Randy Cortright
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Patent number: 9873643Abstract: The present invention provides methods, reactor systems, and catalysts for increasing the yield of aromatic hydrocarbons produced while converting alkanols to hydrocarbons. The invention includes methods of using catalysts to increase the yield of benzene, toluene, and mixed xylenes in the hydrocarbon product.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2014Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: Virent, Inc.Inventors: Paul G. Blommel, Li Yuan, Matthew Van Straten, Warren Lyman, Randy D. Cortright
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Patent number: 9868680Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for processing hydrocarbon feeds. The method enhances the conversion of hydrocarbon feeds into conversion products, such as ethylene and propylene. In particular, the present techniques utilize a high-severity reactor integrated with another reactor type to convert hydrocarbons to other petrochemical products.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2011Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: Paul F. Keusenkothen, Frank Hershkowitz, Jason D. Davis
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Patent number: 9840670Abstract: Carbon dioxide is hydrogenated by water at elevated temperature in an inorganic sulfate fortified sulfuric acid medium, in the presence of a transition metal catalyst and the absence of a sacrificial metal or hydrogen gas. The reaction sequence forms formaldehyde, immediately forming glycolaldehyde then concatenating to longer hydrocarbon chains possessing at least one alcohol group to maintain solubility in the reaction medium. As products of sufficient molecular weight are attained the alcohol group becomes hydrogenated and the hydrocarbons vaporize. Water's hydrogen is sacrificed as the byproduct oxygen reacts with sulfuric acid forming monoperoxysulfuric acid (Caro's acid) that decomposes at elevated temperatures. Products are removed under partial vacuum to preclude partial oxidation of the hydrocarbon fuels facilitating a continuous process.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2016Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Inventor: M. K. Carter
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Patent number: 9828308Abstract: This invention relates to the conversion of substantially-saturated hydrocarbon to higher-value hydrocarbon products such as aromatics and/or oligomers, to equipment and materials useful in such conversion, and to the use of such conversion for, e.g., natural gas upgrading.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2017Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: Juan D. Henao, Paul F. Keusenkothen, Abhimanyu O. Patil
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Patent number: 9822046Abstract: An alkylate base oil of biological origin and a process to make an alkylate base oil comprising: a) hydrogenating a farnesene to make a farnesane comprising from zero to less than 5 wt % unsaturated molecules; and b) alkylating the farnesane with one or more C6 to C43 olefins in the presence of an acidic alkylation catalyst to make the alkylate base oil having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. from 3 mm2/s to 20 mm2/s.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2016Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.Inventor: Sven Ivar Hommeltoft
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Patent number: 9815754Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing hydrocarbons are provided. In one example, a method for processing hydrocarbons includes the step of providing feed stream including toluene, ethylbenzene, mixed xylenes, and C9 hydrocarbons. Ethylbenzene is present in the feed stream in an amount of at least about 20% by weight of total C8 aromatic hydrocarbons present in the feed stream. The method further includes the step of subjecting the feed stream to ethylbenzene conversion to form a benzene-containing product stream that includes benzene.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2014Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: UOP LLCInventors: Lawrence E. Sullivan, Emily Harrell, Feng Xu, Jason L. Noe
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Patent number: 9809513Abstract: Processes for the production of olefins are disclosed, which may include: contacting a hydrocarbon mixture comprising linear butenes with an isomerization catalyst to form an isomerization product comprising 2-butenes and 1-butenes; contacting the isomerization product with a first metathesis catalyst to form a first metathesis product comprising 2-pentene and propylene, as well as any unreacted C4 olefins, and byproducts ethylene and 3-hexene; and fractionating the first metathesis product to form a C3? fraction and a C5 fraction comprising 2-pentene. The 2-pentene may then be advantageously used to produce high purity 1-butene, 3-hexene, 1-hexene, propylene, or other desired products.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2014Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: Lummus Technology Inc.Inventors: Sukwon Choi, Bala Ramachandran
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Patent number: 9790139Abstract: Processes for catalytically converting oxygenates to hydrocarbon products having an increased C6-C8 aromatics content therein. A first mixture comprising ?10.0 wt. % of at least one oxygenate, based on the weight of the first mixture, contacts a catalyst in a fluidized bed reactor to produce a product stream including water, one or more hydrocarbons comprising ?30.0 wt. % of aromatics, based on the weight of the hydrocarbons in the product stream, hydrogen, and one or more oxygenates. The catalyst comprises at least one molecular sieve, a binder, and at least one element selected from Groups 2-14 of the Periodic Table. At least one water-rich stream, at least one aromatic-rich hydrocarbon stream, and at least one aromatic-depleted hydrocarbon stream are separated from the product stream, and at least a portion of one of the aromatic-rich hydrocarbon stream or the aromatic-depleted hydrocarbon stream is recycled back to the reactor.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2014Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: Nikolaos Soultanidis, Mayank Shekhar, John S. Coleman, Jeevan S. Abichandani, Stephen J. McCarthy
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Patent number: 9790143Abstract: Provided is a method of alkylating an aromatic compound comprising contacting an aromatic compound and an alkylating agent in the presence of UCB-3 as a catalyst under reaction conditions suitable for aromatic alkylation. The aromatic compound preferably comprises benzene or toluene and the alkylation agent preferably comprises an olefin or alcohol. Lower temperature ranges can be used for the reaction, for example in the range of from 100 to 300° C.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2014Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, Chevron U.S.A. Inc.Inventors: Ron C. Runnebaum, Xiaoying Ouyang, Alexander S. Katz, Stacey Ian Zones
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Patent number: 9789473Abstract: A process for the production of organic chemicals and fuels from lignin in the presence of a molybdenum or tungsten based catalyst, comprising mixing the lignin with the catalyst and a solvent in a sealed reactor, introducing an inert gas or hydrogen to the reactor to replace oxygen therein, and heating the sealed reactor to perform a depolymerization reaction at a reaction temperature of above 200° C. to obtain liquid products, which include aromatic compounds, esters, alcohols, monophenols and benzyl alcohols.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2015Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: TIANJIN UNIVERSITYInventors: Yongdan Li, Rui Ma, Xiaolei Ma, Wenyue Hao
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Patent number: 9790432Abstract: Digestion of cellulosic biomass solids may be complicated by release of lignin therefrom. Methods and systems for processing a reaction product containing lignin-derived products, such as phenolics, can comprise hydrotreating the reaction product to convert the lignin-derived products to desired higher molecular weight compounds. The methods and systems can further include separating the higher molecular weight compounds from unconverted products, such as unconverted phenolics, and recycling the unconverted phenolics for use as at least a portion of the digestion solvent and for further conversion to desired higher molecular weight compounds with additional hydrotreatment. The methods and systems can further include a further hydrotreatment step configured for additional lignin conversion and/or a further hydrotreatment step configured for generating hydrogen.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2015Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANYInventors: Joseph Broun Powell, Juben Nemchand Chheda, Lamar Lane Joffrion, Philip Walter Anderson
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Patent number: 9790442Abstract: The present subject matter relates generally to methods for selectively saturating the unsaturated C2-C4. More specifically, the present subject matter relates to methods for saturating butadiene and butenes from a hydrocarbon stream before it is combined with a fresh feed and enters a reaction zone. Removing the unsaturates from the hydrocarbon stream before the hydrocarbon stream enters the reaction zone prevents the reactor internals from coking.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2014Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: UOP LLCInventors: Pelin Cox, Deng-Yang Jan
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Patent number: 9790436Abstract: Digestion of cellulosic biomass solids may be complicated by release of lignin therefrom. Methods and systems for processing a reaction product containing lignin-derived products, such as phenolics, can comprise hydrotreating the reaction product to convert the lignin-derived products to desired higher molecular weight compounds. The methods can further include separating the higher molecular weight compounds from unconverted products, such as unconverted phenolics, and recycling the unconverted phenolics for use as at least a portion of the digestion solvent and for further conversion to desired higher molecular weight compounds with additional hydrotreatment. The methods and systems can further include generating hydrogen with the further hydrotreatment.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2015Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANYInventors: Joseph Broun Powell, Juben Nemchand Chheda, Lamar Lane Joffrion, Philip Walter Anderson
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Patent number: 9790249Abstract: Solid base catalysts and their use for the base-catalyzed depolymerization (BCD) of lignin to compounds such as aromatics are presented herein. Exemplary catalysts include layered double hydroxides (LDHs) as recyclable, heterogeneous catalysts for BCD of lignin.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2015Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLCInventors: Gregg T Beckham, Mary J. Biddy, Jacob S. Kruger, Stephen C. Chmely, Matthew Sturgeon
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Patent number: 9782765Abstract: Disclosed are a mesoporous composite oxide catalyst, a method for preparing the same and a method for synthesizing 1,3-butadidne using the same. The surface area is increased by introducing certain porous silica into preparation of a catalyst for synthesizing 1,3-butadiene, thereby improving a conversion ratio of normal-butene, and selectivity and yield of 1,3-butadiene, and providing economic efficiency from the viewpoint of decreasing an amount of used metal and reducing catalyst production cost.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2014Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.Inventors: Myung Ji Suh, Dong Hyun Ko, Kyong Yong Cha, Jun Han Kang, Dae Chul Kim, Hyun Seok Nam, Dae Heung Choi
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Patent number: 9783460Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide processes for catalytically converting oxygenates to hydrocarbon products having an increased C6-C8 aromatics content therein. Particular processes include (a) providing a first mixture comprising ?10.0 wt. % of at least one oxygenate, based on the weight of the first mixture; (b) contacting the first mixture with a catalyst to convert the first mixture to a product stream including water, one or more hydrocarbons, hydrogen, and one or more oxygenates, wherein the catalyst comprises at least one molecular sieve and at least one element selected from Groups 2-14 of the Periodic Table and the hydrocarbons comprise ?30.0 wt. % of aromatics, based on the weight of the hydrocarbons in the product stream; and (c) separating from the product stream at least one water-rich stream, at least one aromatic-rich hydrocarbon stream, and at least one aromatic-depleted hydrocarbon stream.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2014Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: John D. Ou, Machteld M. Mertens, Linelle T. Jacob, Stephen J. McCarthy, Rohit Vijay, Jeevan S. Abichandani
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Patent number: 9783465Abstract: A novel process and a novel catalyst for the production of light olefins. 1-butene is cracked in the presence of an acid- or base-modified silicalite-1 catalyst bed, wherein the modified silicalite-1 has a Si/Al ratio of greater than 1000. The modification procedures described herein increase the selectivity of the silicalite-1 catalyst toward light olefins such as ethylene and propylene. The catalytic cracking of 1-butene may be carried out in a fixed bed reactor or a fluidized bed reactor.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2017Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and MineralsInventors: Sulaiman Saleh Al-Khattaf, Arudra Palani, Abdullah Mohammed Aitani