Patents by Inventor Bernd Pennemann

Bernd Pennemann has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11702381
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for operating a rectification column (1000) for separating a mixture (S) containing a component A and a component B having a boiling point higher than that of the component A at an operating pressure of the rectification column (1000) which is lower than ambient pressure, wherein the method comprises a step for controlling the mass fraction of the component B in the product stream of the component A (P1) to a value within a first target range from 0.1% to 5.0% and the mass fraction of the component A in the product stream of the component B (P2) to a value within a second target range from 0.1% to 5.0%, wherein the control is carried out as a function of a controlling temperature (TC) for which a setpoint TCsetpoint is calculated according to the equation TCsetpoint=T2+F·(T1?T2), where F is a factor which is in the range from 0.1 to 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignees: Covestro Deutschland AG, Covestro LLC
    Inventors: Bernd Pennemann, Shuang Liang, Zhangyong Ming, Juergen Bausa
  • Publication number: 20230159433
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing a toluylene diamine mixture which, along with toluylene diamine (TDA), also contains a high-boiling fraction, such as the high-boiling fraction which is accumulated as a sump flow in the distillative preparation of product mixtures obtained by hydrogenating dinitrotoluene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Sebastian Pohl, Bernd Pennemann
  • Publication number: 20230016848
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing an apparatus (or a plant comprising a plurality of apparatuses), for example a heat exchanger, a vaporizer or a distillation column, for use in a process (in particular a continuously operated process) for concentrating a mineral acid by evaporation of water, wherein the apparatus or the plant comprises (at least) a device which is resistant to the mineral acid and the device is flushed with an aqueous alkali metal hydroxide solution having a concentration by mass of alkali metal hydroxide in the range from 1% to 30% at a temperature in the range from 40° C. to 90° C. for a time of from 2 hours to 7 days.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Bernd Pennemann, Kameh Tajvidi
  • Publication number: 20220289662
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of an aromatic amine by hydrogenation of an aromatic nitro compound, comprising the following steps: (I) providing a copper tetramine salt-based impregnation catalyst, in particular an impregnation catalyst obtainable by the incipient wetness method, comprising a metal or metal oxide on a support as a hydrogenation catalyst. At least metallic or oxidic copper (in particular CuO) is present and the mole fraction of Cu based on all metals present is in the range of 075 to 1, and wherein the support comprises shaped silicon-dioxide shaped bodies or silicon-carbide shaped bodies; (II) optionally, activating the hydrogenation catalyst by treating with hydrogen in the absence of the aromatic nitro compound; and (III) reacting the aromatic nitro compound with hydrogen in the presence of the, optionally activated, hydrogenation catalyst to obtain the aromatic amine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Lennart Sandbrink, Bernd Pennemann, Eberhard Zirngiebl, Martina Gerdinand, Hans-Jürgen Quella, Daniel Ullrich, Marc Williams
  • Patent number: 11231727
    Abstract: A method for continuously producing a product (A1) by way of at least two coupled-together chemical reactions (C1, C2), wherein at least two input substances (E1, E2) are fed to a first chemical reaction (C1), wherein a plurality of intermediate substances (Z1, Z2) are produced from the input substances (E1, E2) by the first chemical reaction (C1), wherein at least one of the intermediate substances (Z2) is fed to a second chemical reaction (C2), wherein the at least one fed intermediate substance (Z2) is further processed by the second chemical reaction (C2), in particular using at least one further substance (W1, W2) in a second chemical reaction (C2) to form a plurality of output substances (A1, A2), that is to say to form the chemical product (A1) and at least one further output substance (A2), wherein the flow rates (Fi) of the fed substances (E1, E2, Z1, W1, W2, A2) that are fed to one of the reactions (C1, C2) are set by a respective actuating element (VE1, VE2, VW1, VW 2, VZ 2, VA1), wherein each of t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Covestro Deutschland AG
    Inventors: Bernd Pennemann, Erwin Dieterich, Heinz-Josef Hamacher
  • Patent number: 10799810
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cascade tray suitable for use in a rectifying column and comprising openings in the weir-type cascade edge, to a rectifying column containing at least one cascade tray according to the invention, to a method for operating such a rectifying column, and to the use of a claimed rectifying column in the fractionation of specific substance mixtures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Covestro Deutschland AG
    Inventors: Bernd Pennemann, Jürgen Bausa
  • Publication number: 20200301452
    Abstract: A method for continuously producing a product (A1) by way of at least two coupled-together chemical reactions (C1, C2), wherein at least two input substances (E1, E2) are fed to a first chemical reaction (C1), wherein a plurality of intermediate substances (Z1, Z2) are produced from the input substances (E1, E2) by the first chemical reaction (C1), wherein at least one of the intermediate substances (Z2) is fed to a second chemical reaction (C2), wherein the at least one fed intermediate substance (Z2) is further processed by the second chemical reaction (C2), in particular using at least one further substance (W1, W2) in a second chemical reaction (C2) to form a plurality of output substances (A1, A2), that is to say to form the chemical product (A1) and at least one further output substance (A2), wherein the flow rates (Fi) of the fed substances (E1, E2, Z1, W1, W2, A2) that are fed to one of the reactions (C1, C2) are set by a respective actuating element (VE1, VE2, VW1, VW 2, VZ 2, VA1), wherein each of t
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Bernd Pennemann, Erwin Dieterich, Heinz-Josef Hamacher
  • Patent number: 10698424
    Abstract: A method for continuously producing a product (A1) by way of at least two coupled-together chemical reactions (C1, C2), wherein at least two input substances (E1, E2) are fed to a first chemical reaction (C1), wherein a plurality of intermediate substances (Z1, Z2) are produced from the input substances (E1, E2) by the first chemical reaction (C1), wherein at least one of the intermediate substances (Z2) is fed to a second chemical reaction (C2), wherein the at least one fed intermediate substance (Z2) is further processed by the second chemical reaction (C2), in particular using at least one further substance (W1, W2) in a second chemical reaction (C2) to form a plurality of output substances (A1, A2), that is to say to form the chemical product (A1) and at least one further output substance (A2), wherein the flow rates (Fi) of the fed substances (E1, E2, Z1, W1, W2, A2) that are fed to one of the reactions (C1, C2) are set by a respective actuating element (VE1, VE2, VW1, VW 2, VZ 2, VA1), wherein each of t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Covestro Deutschland AG
    Inventors: Bernd Pennemann, Erwin Dieterich, Heinz-Josef Hamacher
  • Publication number: 20200061491
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cascade tray suitable for use in a rectifying column and comprising openings in the weir-type cascade edge, to a rectifying column containing at least one cascade tray according to the invention, to a method for operating such a rectifying column, and to the use of a claimed rectifying column in the fractionation of specific substance mixtures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Bernd PENNEMANN, Jürgen BAUSA
  • Patent number: 10155720
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for producing toluenediamine by hydrogenation of dinitrotoluene in the presence of a catalyst, a dinitrotoluene being used as starting material and being processed by applying an electrical voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: COVESTRO DEUTSCHLAND AG
    Inventors: Bernd Pennemann, Antoni Mairata, Antonia Zock
  • Patent number: 10041921
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing organic amino compounds from organic nitro compounds, wherein the organic nitro compound hydrogenated to the organic amino compound with a hydrogen-containing gas stream by means of a catalyst, the reaction course of the hydrogenation being monitored by analysis of secondary products forming during hydrogenation, wherein the method is characterized in that the concentration of one or more gaseous secondary products is determined in the gas phase and if the concentration falls below a predefinable minimum concentration the hydrogenating activity of the catalyst is increased. The present invention also relates to a device for performing said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: COVESTRO DEUTSCHLAND AG
    Inventors: Bernd Pennemann, Bodo Temme
  • Patent number: 9896407
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing dinitrotoluene, comprising the following steps: a) nitrating toluene with a mixture of nitric acid and sulfuric acid and subsequently separating a sulfuric-acid-containing aqueous phase that arises in the nitration, wherein a raw dinitrotoluene is obtained, b) washing the raw dinitrotoluene in a water wash with neutral and/or alkaline washing water, wherein a pre-cleaned dinitrotoluene, which contains at least water in addition to dinitrotoluene, is obtained after the washing water used in the last wash has been separated, and c) separating the water from the pre-cleaned dinitrotoluene, d) collecting the waste water from steps a), b), and/or c), e) optionally extracting the collected waste water from step d) with toluene and returning the thus obtained organic phase to step a), f) freeing the collected waste water from step d), or, if the optional step e) is performed, the extracted waste water from step e), of toluene in a toluene stripper, wherein a toluene-co
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Covestro Deutschland AG
    Inventors: Thomas Knauf, Jürgen Münnig, Wolfgang Lorenz, Bernd Pennemann
  • Publication number: 20170322566
    Abstract: A method for continuously producing a product (A1) by way of at least two coupled-together chemical reactions (C1, C2), wherein at least two input substances (E1, E2) are fed to a first chemical reaction (C1), wherein a plurality of intermediate substances (Z1, Z2) are produced from the input substances (E1, E2) by the first chemical reaction (C1), wherein at least one of the intermediate substances (Z2) is fed to a second chemical reaction (C2), wherein the at least one fed intermediate substance (Z2) is further processed by the second chemical reaction (C2), in particular using at least one further substance (W1, W2) in a second chemical reaction (C2) to form a plurality of output substances (A1, A2), that is to say to form the chemical product (A1) and at least one further output substance (A2), wherein the flow rates (Fi) of the fed substances (E1, E2, Z1, W1, W2, A2) that are fed to one of the reactions (C1, C2) are set by a respective actuating element (VE1, VE2, VW1, VW 2, VZ 2, VA1), wherein each of t
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Applicant: Covestro Deutschland AG
    Inventors: Bernd Pennemann, Erwin Dieterich, Heinz-Josef Hamacher
  • Publication number: 20170291869
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing dinitrotoluene, comprising the following steps: a) nitrating toluene with a mixture of nitric acid and sulfuric acid and subsequently separating a sulfuric-acid-containing aqueous phase that arises in the nitration, wherein a raw dinitrotoluene is obtained, b) washing the raw dinitrotoluene in a water wash with neutral and/or alkaline washing water, wherein a pre-cleaned dinitrotoluene, which contains at least water in addition to dinitrotoluene, is obtained after the washing water used in the last wash has been separated, and c) separating the water from the pre-cleaned dinitrotoluene, d) collecting the waste water from steps a), b), and/or c), e) optionally extracting the collected waste water from step d) with toluene and returning the thus obtained organic phase to step a), f) freeing the collected waste water from step d), or, if the optional step e) is performed, the extracted waste water from step e), of toluene in a toluene stripper, wherein a toluene-co
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas KNAUF, Jürgen MÜNNIG, Wolfgang LORENZ, Bernd PENNEMANN
  • Publication number: 20170144963
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for producing toluenediamine by hydrogenation of dinitrotoluene in the presence of a catalyst, a dinitrotoluene being used as starting material and being processed by applying an electrical voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Bernd Pennemann, Antoni Mairata, Antonia Zock
  • Patent number: 9518006
    Abstract: The invention relates to an industrial-scale method for the vapor-phase hydrogenation of dinitrotoluene (DNT). According to said method, a stream containing DNT is sprayed into a carrier-gas stream containing hydrogen, optionally in the presence of an atomizing gas, unevaporated liquid droplets are extracted from the substantially gaseous stream that is obtained and the resultant gas stream is catalytically hydrogenated to form diaminotoluene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Covestro Deutschland AG
    Inventors: Bernd Pennemann, Amgad Salah Moussa, Bastian Mahr
  • Publication number: 20160244402
    Abstract: The invention relates to an industrial-scale method for the vapor-phase hydrogenation of dinitrotoluene (DNT). According to said method, a stream containing DNT is sprayed into a carrier-gas stream containing hydrogen, optionally in the presence of an atomizing gas, unevaporated liquid droplets are extracted from the substantially gaseous stream that is obtained and the resultant gas stream is catalytically hydrogenated to form diaminotoluene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Bernd Pennemann, Amgad Salah Moussa, Bastian Mahr
  • Patent number: 9365503
    Abstract: Meta-toluene-diisocyanate is produced by reacting meta-toluenediamine with phosgene in the gas phase. The meta-toluenediamine to be vaporized for use in this phosgenation process must contain less than 0.5 wt. % of toluenediamine residue, a total of less than 0.2 wt. % of ammonia and cycloaliphatic amines, and less than 20 ppm of heavy metals. At least 0.1 wt. % of the liquid meta-toluenediamine being to be vaporized must not be vaporized. This non-vaporized content of the meta-toluenediamine must not be fed to the phosgenation reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Covestro Deutschland AG
    Inventors: Klaus Biskup, Rainer Bruns, Wolfgang Lorenz, Lars Padeken, Bernd Pennemann, Fritz Pohl, Andreas Rausch, Friedhelm Steffens
  • Patent number: 9346012
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reducing the concentration of nitrogen oxides in waste gases released dating the production of organic amino compounds, wherein an organic compound is first reacted with NOx and/or nitric acid to form an organic nitro compound with the formation of an NOx-containing waste gas stream and the organic nitro compound is converted to the organic ammo compound by means of hydrogen-containing reaction gas, the reaction of the organic nitro compound with the hydrogen-containing reduction gas taking place with the formation of a hydrogen-containing waste gas stream, the method being characterised in that the NOx-containing waste gas stream is combined with the hydrogen-containing waste gas stream and/or an externally supplied hydrogen stream and is reacted at a temperature of 800 to 1700° C. for the at least partial reduction of the NOx concentration. The invention additionally relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignees: Covestro LLC, Covestro Deutschland AG
    Inventors: Bernd Pennemann, Ulrich Westphal, Dieter Foertsch, Spotswood Miller
  • Publication number: 20150352488
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reducing the concentration of nitrogen oxides in waste gases released dating the production of organic amino compounds, wherein an organic compound is first reacted with NOx and/or nitric acid to form an organic nitro compound with the formation of an NOx-containing waste gas stream and the organic nitro compound is converted to the organic ammo compound by means of hydrogen-containing reaction gas, the reaction of the organic nitro compound with the hydrogen-containing reduction gas taking place with the formation of a hydrogen-containing waste gas stream, the method being characterised in that the NOx-containing waste gas stream is combined with the hydrogen-containing waste gas stream and/or an externally supplied hydrogen stream and is reacted at a temperature of 800 to 1700° C. for the at least partial reduction of the NOx concentration. The invention additionally relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Bernd Pennemann, Ulrich Westphal, Dieter Foertsch, Spotswood Miller