Patents by Inventor Bruce E. Leach

Bruce E. Leach 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: 5627121
    Abstract: A process for preparing an alkoxylation catalyst suitable for alkoxylating compounds such as active hydrogen-containing compounds wherein an alkoxylated alcohol mixture, a calcium-containing compound that is at least partially dispersible in the alkoxylated alcohol mixture, and a carboxylic acid are mixed together to produce a calcium-containing composition having titratable alkalinity, the composition being obtained under conditions to prevent loss of water, the composition being at least partially neutralized with an inorganic acid under conditions to prevent loss of water to produce a partially neutralized calcium-containing catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Condea Vista Company
    Inventors: John Lin, Upali Weerasooriya, Bruce E. Leach, Steve V. Orsak
  • Patent number: 5386045
    Abstract: A process for producing alkoxylated mono-, di-, and tri-esters in which a starting material ester and an alkylene oxide are reacted in the presence of selected calcium based catalysts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Vista Chemical Company
    Inventors: Upali Weerasooriya, Donald T. Robertson, John Lin, Bruce E. Leach, Cynthia L. Aeschbacher, Tonyette S. Sandoval
  • Patent number: 5220046
    Abstract: A process for producing alkoxylated methyl esters to produce a narrow homolog distribution of the alkoxylate species in which a staring material methyl ester and an alkylene oxide are reacted in the presence of selected calcium based catalysts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: Vista Chemical Company
    Inventors: Bruce E. Leach, John Lin, Cynthia L. Aeschbacher, Donald T. Robertson, Tonyette S. Sandoval, Upali Weerasooriya
  • Patent number: 4835321
    Abstract: A process for preparing an alkoxylation catalyst in which the catalyst pre-mix is formed by admixing an alkoxylated alcohol with a calcium containing compound which is dispersible in the alkoxylated alcohol, an inorganic acid and an aluminum trialkoxide, the pre-mix being heated to a temperature and for a time sufficient to effect at least partial exchange reaction betweeen the alkoxide groups of the aluminum alkoxide and the hydroxyl groups of the alkoxylated alcohol. There is also disclosed and claimed an alkoxylation process utilizing the catalysts formed as described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Vista Chemical Company
    Inventors: Bruce E. Leach, Mark L. Shannon, Donald L. Wharry
  • Patent number: 4775653
    Abstract: A process for preparing an alkoxylation catalyst in which the catalyst pre-mix is formed by admixing an alkoxylated alcohol with a calcium containing compound which is dispersible in the alkoxylated alcohol, an inorganic acid and an aluminum trialkoxide, the pre-mix being heated to a temperature and for a time sufficient to effect at least partial exchange reaction between the alkoxide groups of the aluminum alkoxide and the hydroxyl groups of the alkoxylated alcohol. There is also disclosed and claimed an alkoxylation process utilizing the catalysts formed as described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1988
    Assignee: Vista Chemical Company
    Inventors: Bruce E. Leach, Mark L. Shannon, Donald L. Wharry
  • Patent number: 4676928
    Abstract: A process of producing a water dispersible alumina comprising forming an aqueous alumina slurry, acidifying the slurry to a pH range of from about 5 to about 8, aging the acidified slurry at elevated temperatures and for a sufficient amount of time to convert the greater portion of the alumina to a colloidal sol, recovering the sol and drying the sol to produce a highly water dispersible alumina.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: Vista Chemical Company
    Inventors: Bruce E. Leach, Lewis B. Decker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4322566
    Abstract: Amorphorus titanium, uranium, chromium ions and zirconium together with sulfate ions are effective promoters for magnesium oxide catalysts. These catalysts are active for the ortho methylation of phenols in the vapor phase to yield 2,6-xylenol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1982
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce E. Leach
  • Patent number: 4290924
    Abstract: A process for preparing 2,6-xylenol in high selectivity and a catalyst composition useful therein are disclosed. The process comprises reacting phenol, o-cresol or mixtures thereof with methanol in presence of water, hydrogen and a catalyst consisting essentially of Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, SnO.sub.2, Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3, and K.sub.2 O.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce E. Leach
  • Patent number: 4283574
    Abstract: Phenol is methylated over an alumina catalyst using methanol, and the reaction product therefrom is combined with additional methanol over a promoted magnesium oxide catalyst. Major reaction products are ortho-cresol, 2,6-xylenol and 2,3,6-trimethylphenol. The promoted magnesium oxide catalyst contains metal promoters selected from the group consisting of titanium, chromium, and uranium together with sulfate ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce E. Leach
  • Patent number: 4271138
    Abstract: HCl gas is added to aluminum alkoxides containing from 1 to 5 carbon atoms (0.5 mole HCl/mole Al) and the mixture is hydrolyzed in water. Alcohol is recovered by azeotropic distillation and the product, a solution of aluminum oxychloride, is concentrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene F. Kennedy, Bruce E. Leach
  • Patent number: 4269735
    Abstract: Amorphorus titanium, uranium, chromium ions and zirconium together with sulfate ions are effective promoters for magnesium oxide catalysts. These catalysts are active for the ortho methylation of phenols in the vapor phase to yield 2,6-xylenol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce E. Leach
  • Patent number: 4258220
    Abstract: 2,6-xylenol admixed with meta,para-cresol is reacted with methanol in a contact with a titanium/SO.sub.4 /magnesium oxide catalyst to yield a product stream which can be readily distilled to give 2,6-xylenol in high purity. The particular catalyst used allows low loss of 2,6-xylenol during the reactions and low amounts of side products obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce E. Leach, Charles M. Starks
  • Patent number: 4227024
    Abstract: A process for preparing 2,6-xylenol in high selectivity and a catalyst composition useful therein are disclosed. The process comprises reacting phenol, o-cresol or mixtures thereof with methanol in presence of water, hydrogen and a catalyst consisting essentially of Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, SnO.sub.2, Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3, and K.sub.2 O.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1980
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce E. Leach
  • Patent number: 4126749
    Abstract: Aluminas derived from aluminum alkoxide hydrolysis are calcined at 1150.degree.-1800.degree. F for a period of time ranging 0.5 to about 12 hours to develop specific pore volume and pore diameter characteristics prior to use as a catalyst in the vapor phase and liquid phase methylation of phenol, monosubstituted, and di-substituted phenols. The calcining at higher temperatures gives increased catalyst life, lower isomerization and disproportionation, and higher orthomethylation activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1978
    Assignee: Continental Oil Company
    Inventor: Bruce E. Leach
  • Patent number: 4125736
    Abstract: This invention provides an improved process for the disproportionation of highly alkylated phenols with phenol using an improved magnesium oxide catalyst promoted with tungsten oxide, silica sol, and sodium silicate. The method provides a catalyst having a high reactivity, high surface area, and high crush strength compared to known magnesium oxide, tungsten oxide catalysts. The catalyst is useful in phenol methylation and disproportionation. The effect of silica sol and sodium silicate is synergistic since these materials alone will not catalyze these reactions. Surprisingly, the catalyst will not disproportionate olefins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1978
    Assignee: Continental Oil Company
    Inventor: Bruce E. Leach
  • Patent number: 4110253
    Abstract: This invention provides an improved process for the disproportionation of highly alkylated phenols with phenol using an improved magnesium oxide catalyst promoted with tungsten oxide, silica sol, and sodium silicate. The method provides a catalyst having a high reactivity, high surface area, and high crush strength compared to known magnesium oxide, tungsten oxide catalysts. The catalyst is useful in phenol methylation and disproportionation. The effect of silica sol and sodium silicate is synergistic since these materials alone will not catalyze these reactions. Surprisingly, the catalyst will not disproportionate olefins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1978
    Assignee: Continental Oil Company
    Inventor: Bruce E. Leach
  • Patent number: 4078042
    Abstract: A process for preparing sodium Zeolite A is disclosed. The process comprises:(a) treating an aluminum alkoxide with water in the presence of a reactive silica compound to form an amorphous sodium aluminum silicate gel in the admixture,(b) heating the admixture-containing gel of step (a) at a predetermined temperature (e.g. 70.degree. to 120.degree. C.) until substantially all of the product is Zeolite A, and(c) recovering the desired product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1978
    Assignee: Continental Oil Company
    Inventor: Bruce E. Leach
  • Patent number: 4071566
    Abstract: Cresols and xylenols are prepared by reacting a mixture of tetramethylphenols and pentamethylphenol with phenol in the liquid phase in the presence of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, magnesium oxide, magnesium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1978
    Assignee: Continental Oil Company
    Inventors: Bruce E. Leach, Charles M. Starks
  • Patent number: 4022843
    Abstract: Ortho cresol is methylated in the liquid phase to yield 2,6-xylenol and 2,3,6-trimethylphenol in high selectivity and mild conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1977
    Assignee: Continental Oil Company
    Inventor: Bruce E. Leach
  • Patent number: 4010099
    Abstract: Phase disengagement between aqueous copper sulfate solutions and organic phases containing a liquid ionic change reagent is greatly facilitated when the dispersed medium from the mixture stage is contacted counter-currently to the direction of phase separation with a small amount of the respective separated phase having uniform appropriate droplet size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1977
    Assignee: Continental Oil Company
    Inventors: Bruce E. Leach, Leroy Rose