Patents by Inventor Bruce Roger Debruin

Bruce Roger Debruin 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).

  • Publication number: 20240157604
    Abstract: Methods and systems for separating mixed plastic waste are provided herein. The methods generally comprise separating the mixed plastic waste into a PET-enriched stream and one or more PET-depleted streams. The separating may be accomplished using the combinations of two or more density separation stages. Exemplary density separation stages include sink-float separators and centrifugal force separators. The PET-enriched and PET-depleted streams may be recovered and/or directed to downstream chemical recycling processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Bruce Roger DeBruin, Kyle Lyn Collings, James Stewart Nelson
  • Publication number: 20240051822
    Abstract: Raw synthesis gas (syngas) compositions are provided herein. The syngas compositions are generally formed from a partial oxidation reaction with a plastic feedstock within a PDX gasifier. The raw syngas compositions may by characterized by a desirable ratio of carbon monoxide to hydrogen and/or less impurities than syngas compositions formed using other feedstocks, such as natural gas or coal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Bruce Roger DeBruin, Michael Paul Ekart, William Lewis Trapp
  • Publication number: 20230407198
    Abstract: A chemical recycling process and facility for turning one or more waste plastics into syngas are provided. Generally, the chemical recycling process involves: (a) liquefying at least one solid waste plastic to form a liquefied waste plastic; (b) introducing at least a portion of the liquefied waste plastic into a partial oxidation (POX) gasifier; and (c) converting at least a portion of the liquefied waste plastic in the POX gasifier into a syngas composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Bruce Roger DeBruin, Michael Paul Ekart, William Lewis Trapp, David Milton Lange
  • Publication number: 20230323023
    Abstract: Copolyesters made from the direct esterification of terephthalic acid with diols including ethylene glycol, but which contain low diethylene glycol (DEG) content, and processes for making the copolyesters. The copolyesters are characterized by comprising 1.0 wt % or less of DEG without requiring the use of DEG-suppressing additives. The processes are characterized by features including operating at lower pressures and lower EG:TPA feed mole ratios in the first reaction zone, while simultaneously at higher temperatures than typical operation in order to lower incorporation of DEG into the final polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Anne-Martine Sherbeck Jackson, Rachel Elizabeth McLendon, Bruce Roger DeBruin, Michael Paul Ekart, Dale Milton Blakely, Robert Todd Harris
  • Publication number: 20230235238
    Abstract: A method of producing synthesis gas is provided. The method includes feeding a waste plastic feedstock into a partial oxidation gasifier. The waste plastic feedstock includes one or more vitrification materials. The method also includes partially oxidizing the waste plastic within the partial oxidation gasifier to produce the synthesis gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Bruce Roger DeBruin, Michael Paul Ekart, William Lewis Trapp, Daryl Bitting, David Eugene Slivensky, Xianchun Wu
  • Patent number: 11708453
    Abstract: Process for preparing copolyesters by introducing TPA, EG, and CHDM at an EG:TPA molar ratio of 2.3:1 to 2.7:1 into a reaction zone; reacting TPA with EG and CHDM at a temperature of at least 250° C. and pressure of up to 40 psi to form a first esterification product; passing the first esterification product to a reaction zone; esterifying the first esterification product at a temperature of at least 250° C. and pressure of up to 20 psi to form a second esterification product, passing the second esterification product to a reaction zone; polycondensing the second esterification product in the presence of a catalyst to form a prepolymerization product; passing the prepolymerization product to one or more reaction zones; and polycondensing the prepolymerization product in the presence of the catalyst to form a copolyester comprising 1.0 wt % or less of DEG, without requiring the use of DEG-suppressing additives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Anne-Martine Sherbeck Jackson, Rachel Elizabeth McLendon, Bruce Roger DeBruin, Michael Paul Ekart, Dale Milton Blakely, Robert Todd Harris
  • Publication number: 20230227622
    Abstract: Processes and facilities for using one or more PET-containing materials as a feedstock to a chemical recycling facility, and in particular a solvolysis facility, are provided herein. The PET-containing materials used as feedstock may comprise colored plastic-containing mixtures derived as products or co-products from plastic reclaimer facilities and/or municipal recycling facilities. Such mixtures are generally undesirable or unusable to mechanical PET recycling facilities, and typically are sent to landfills and/or incinerators. However, the processes and facilities described herein make use of the PET and other plastics present in these otherwise undesirable or unusable colored plastic-containing mixtures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Bruce Roger DeBruin, Michael Paul Ekart, Anne-Martine Sherbeck Jackson, Nathan Mitchell West, Zhufang Liu
  • Publication number: 20230220180
    Abstract: Processes and facilities for using one or more PET-containing materials as a feedstock to a chemical recycling facility, and in particular a solvolysis facility, are provided herein. The PET-containing materials used as feedstock may comprise a quantity of PET-containing solidified purge material. The PET-containing solidified purge material may be derived from various processes and facilities, including PET reclaimer facilities, manufacturers of PET articles, and/or a polymer manufacturing facilities. For example, he purge material may be the solidified purge material from an extrusion and/or pelletization process. Such solidified purge materials are generally undesirable or unusable to mechanical PET recycling facilities, and typically are sent to landfills and/or incinerators. However, the processes and facilities described herein make use of the PET and other plastics present in these otherwise undesirable or unusable solidified purge materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Bruce Roger DeBruin, Michael Paul Ekart, Anne-Martine Sherbeck Jackson, Nathan Mitchell West, Zhufang Liu
  • Publication number: 20230220181
    Abstract: A chemical recycling process and facility for using one or more PET-containing materials as a feedstock to a chemical recycling facility, and in particular a solvolysis facility, are provided herein. The PET-containing materials used as feedstock may comprise PET-containing reclaimer co-products, PET-containing MRF products or co-products, sorted plastic-containing mixtures, and/or PET-containing waste plastic from a plastic article manufacturing facility. In particular, the PET-containing materials used as feedstock may comprise a quantity of PET-containing wet fines from a reclaimer facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Bruce Roger DeBruin, Michael Paul Ekart
  • Publication number: 20230211394
    Abstract: Chemical recycling facilities for processing mixed waste plastic are provided herein. Such facilities have the capability of processing mixed plastic waste streams and utilize a variety of recycling facilities, such as, for example, solvolysis facility, a pyrolysis facility, a cracker facility, a partial oxidation gasification facility, an energy recovery facility, and a solidification facility. Streams from one or more of these individual facilities may be used as feed to one or more of the other facilities, thereby maximizing recovery of valuable chemical components and minimizing unusable waste streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Bruce Roger DeBruin, Michael Paul Ekart, William Lewis Trapp
  • Publication number: 20230212367
    Abstract: A process and system for liquefying and dehalogenating a waste plastic are provided. Generally, the process comprises: (a) liquefying solid waste plastic to produce a liquefied waste plastic; (b) heating at least a portion of the molten waste plastic in a heat exchanger to thereby provide a heated liquefied waste plastic; (c) sparging a stripping gas into the heated liquefied waste plastic to produce a multi-phase mixture; and (d) disengaging a gaseous phase from a liquid phase of the multi-phase mixture to thereby provide a halogen-enriched gaseous material and a halogen-depleted liquefied waste plastic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Bruce Roger DeBruin, Daryl Bitting, David Eugene Slivensky, Xianchun Wu, Michael Paul Ekart, David Milton Lange, Aaron Nathaniel Edens
  • Publication number: 20230212470
    Abstract: A chemical recycling process and facility for turning one or more waste plastics into syngas are provided. Generally, the chemical recycling process involves: (a) liquefying at least one solid waste plastic to form a liquefied waste plastic; (b) introducing at least a portion of the liquefied waste plastic into a partial oxidation (POX) gasifier; and (c) converting at least a portion of the liquefied waste plastic in the POX gasifier into a syngas composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Bruce Roger DeBruin, Michael Paul Ekart, William Lewis Trapp, David Milton Lange
  • Publication number: 20230212370
    Abstract: Processes and facilities for using one or more PET-containing materials as a feedstock to a chemical recycling facility, and in particular a solvolysis facility, are provided herein. The PET-containing materials used as feedstock may comprise a quantity of PET-containing dry fines. The PET-containing dry fines may be derived from various processes and facilities, including PET reclaimer facilities and/or manufacturers of PET articles. For example, the dry fines may be collected from solid-liquid separators and/or dust collectors from processes that include conveying, drying, densification, centrifugation processes, and/or grinding PET-containing plastic material. Such dry fines are generally undesirable or unusable to mechanical PET recycling facilities, and typically are sent to landfills and/or incinerators. However, the processes and facilities described herein make use of the PET and other plastics present in these otherwise undesirable or unusable dry fines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Bruce Roger DeBruin, Michael Paul Ekart, Kyle Lyn Collings, Anne-Martine Sherbeck Jackson, Nathan Mitchell West, Zhufang Liu
  • Publication number: 20230212469
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of producing synthesis gas (syngas) from aplastic material. The methods generally comprise feeding a wet waste plastic and/or liquified plastic stream and molecular oxygen (O2) into a partial oxidation (POX) gasifier. The wet waste plastic generally comprises the plastic material mixed with a liquid medium and has a liquid content of at least 2 weight percent. The wet waste plastic may be in the form of a plastic-containing slurry and/or may be derived from other processes that produce plastic-containing streams. The wet waste plastic may also be combined with a quantity of coal (or pet coke) before being fed to the gasifier. A partial oxidation reaction is performed within the gasifier by reacting at least a portion of the plastic material and the molecular oxygen to form the syngas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Bruce Roger DeBruin, William Lewis Trapp
  • Publication number: 20230203268
    Abstract: Chemical recycling facilities for processing mixed waste plastic are provided herein. Such facilities have the capability of processing mixed plastic waste streams and utilize a variety of recycling facilities, such as, for example, solvolysis facility, a pyrolysis facility, a cracker facility, a partial oxidation gasification facility, an energy recovery facility, and a solidification facility. Streams from one or more of these individual facilities may be used as feed to one or more of the other facilities, thereby maximizing recovery of valuable chemical components and minimizing unusable waste streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Bruce Roger DeBruin, Michael Paul Ekart, Xianchun Wu, David Eugene Slivensky, Daryl Bitting, Anne-Martine Sherbeck Jackson, Nathan Mitchell West, Zhufang Liu
  • Publication number: 20230203270
    Abstract: Chemical recycling facilities for processing mixed waste plastic are provided herein. Such facilities have the capability of processing mixed plastic waste streams and utilize a variety of recycling facilities, such as, for example, solvolysis facility, a pyrolysis facility, a cracker facility, a partial oxidation gasification facility, an energy recovery facility, and a solidification facility. Streams from one or more of these individual facilities may be used as feed to one or more of the other facilities, thereby maximizing recovery of valuable chemical components and minimizing unusable waste streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Bruce Roger DeBruin, Michael Paul Ekart, Anne-Martine Sherbeck Jackson, Nathan Mitchell West, Zhufang Liu
  • Publication number: 20230183439
    Abstract: Processes and facilities for using one or more PET-containing materials as a feedstock to a chemical recycling facility, and in particular a solvolysis facility, are provided herein. The PET-containing materials used as feedstock may comprise a quantity of PET and metal-containing reclaimer co-product. The PET and metal-containing reclaimer co-product may comprise a quantity of plastic articles, plastic flakes, and/or plastic fines, and may be derived from plastic reclaimer separation processes such as eddy current separators. Such metal-containing co-products are generally undesirable or unusable to mechanical PET recycling facilities, and typically are sent to landfills and/or incinerators. However, the processes and facilities described herein make use of the PET and other plastics present in these otherwise undesirable or unusable metal-containing co-products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Bruce Roger DeBruin, Michael Paul Ekart, Anne-Martine Sherbeck Jackson, Nathan Mitchell West, Zhufang Liu
  • Publication number: 20230183443
    Abstract: Chemical recycling facilities for processing mixed waste plastic are provided herein. Such facilities have the capability of processing mixed plastic waste streams and utilize a variety of recycling facilities, such as, for example, solvolysis facility, a pyrolysis facility, a cracker facility, a partial oxidation gasification facility, an energy recovery facility, and a solidification facility. Streams from one or more of these individual facilities may be used as feed to one or more of the other facilities, thereby maximizing recovery of valuable chemical components and minimizing unusable waste streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Bruce Roger DeBruin, Michael Paul Ekart, David Milton Lange, Aaron Nathaniel Edens, Anne-Martine Sherbeck Jackson, Nathan Mitchell West, Zhufang Liu
  • Publication number: 20230183441
    Abstract: Processes and facilities for using one or more PET-containing materials as a feedstock to a chemical recycling facility, and in particular a solvolysis facility, are provided herein. The PET-containing materials used as feedstock may comprise a quantity of PET and PVC-containing reclaimer flake reject. The PET and PVC-containing reclaimer flake reject may be derived from various plastic reclaimer separation processes, including density separation. Such flake reject materials are generally undesirable or unusable to mechanical PET recycling facilities due to the PVC content, and typically are sent to landfills and/or incinerators. However, the processes and facilities described herein make use of the PET and other plastics present in these otherwise undesirable or unusable flake reject materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Bruce Roger DeBruin, Michael Paul Ekart, Anne-Martine Sherbeck Jackson, Nathan Mitchell West, Zhufang Liu
  • Publication number: 20230139587
    Abstract: A process and system for liquefying and plasticizing a waste plastic in a pyrolysis film reactor are provided. More particularly, a liquefied waste plastic, which may include halogen-depleted molten waste plastics, may be pyrolyzed in a pyrolysis film reactor to form a pyrolysis oil and a pyrolysis gas. The pyrolysis film reactors may include a falling film reactor and/or an upflow film reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Bruce Roger DeBruin, Daryl Bitting, David Eugene Slivensky, Xianchun Wu, Michael Paul Ekart, David Milton Lange, Aaron Nathanial Edens