Patents by Inventor Charles T. Ratcliffe

Charles T. Ratcliffe 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: 4876408
    Abstract: A process for treating a molecular sieve-containing alkylation catalyst to increase its selectivity for monoalkylation in which the alkylation catalyst is contacted with a feedstock comprising at least one organic compound under conditions such that a sufficient amount of carbonaceous material evenly deposits on the alkylation catalyst to substantially suppress its alkylation activity. The carbon-containing catalyst particles are then subjected to combustion by contacting them with a gaseous oxidizing agent at an elevated temperature to remove at least a portion of the carbonaceous material, preferably substantially all of the carbonaceous material, thereby increasing the selectivity of the catalyst for monoalkylation by at least about 1.0 percentage point. The resulting alkylation catalyst an be used to alkylate benzene and other aromatic compounds with ethylene, propylene or other olefins to produce high yields of ethylbenzene, cumene and other alkylated products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
    Inventors: Charles T. Ratcliffe, John W. Ward
  • Patent number: 4798816
    Abstract: A process for treating a molecular sieve-containing alkylation catalyst to increase its selectivity for monoalkylation in which the alkylation catalyst is contacted with a feedstock comprising at least one organic compound under conditions such that a sufficient amount of carbonaceous material evenly deposits on the alkylation catalyst to substantially suppress its alkylation activity. The carbon-containing catalyst particles are then subjected to combustion by contacting them with a gaseous oxidizing agent at an elevated temperature to remove at least a portion of the carbonaceous material, preferably substantially all of the carbonaceous material, thereby increasing the selectivity of the catalyst for monoalkylation by at least about 1.0 percentage point. The resulting alkylation catalyst can be used to alkylate benzene and other aromatic compounds with ethylene, propylene or other olefins to produce high yields of ethylbenzene, cumene and other alkylated products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1989
    Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
    Inventors: Charles T. Ratcliffe, John W. Ward
  • Patent number: 4761162
    Abstract: Solid carbonaceous fuel is dried to a desired moisture content, cooled, and stored in an atmosphere having a controlled humidity and oxygen content to prevent heat generation which causes spontaneous combustion. A suitable atmosphere is produced by displacing air in a storage enclosure with dehumidified combustion gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1988
    Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
    Inventors: Charles T. Ratcliffe, Geoffrey E. Dolbear
  • Patent number: 4668825
    Abstract: Methanethiol is produced from a gaseous feed comprising a mixture of H.sub.2 S and CO by contacting said feed with a catalyst comprising rutile titania at a temperature of at least about 225.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Charles T. Ratcliffe, Petrus J. Tromp
  • Patent number: 4570020
    Abstract: Methanethiol is produced from a gaseous feed comprising a mixture of H.sub.2 S and CO by contacting said feed, at a temperature of at least about 225.degree. C., with a catalyst comprising an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of V, Nb, and Ta and mixtures thereof, preferably V, supported on titania and wherein at least a portion, and preferably at least about 25 wt. %, of said supported oxide is in a non-crystalline form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1986
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Charles T. Ratcliffe, Petrus J. Tromp, Israel E. Wachs
  • Patent number: 4517171
    Abstract: Hydrogen and methane are synthesized from a gaseous feed comprising a mixture of H.sub.2 S and CO by contacting said feed with a catalyst comprising a sulfided rutile titania at a temperature of at least about 275.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1985
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Charles T. Ratcliffe, Petrus J. Tromp
  • Patent number: 4387247
    Abstract: In the reduction of di- or polynitro aromatic compounds by gaseous H.sub.2 S over a solid catalyst, addition of CO gas promotes formation of amino groups from all nitro groups in the molecule. A preferred embodiment is reduction of 2,4- and/or 2,6-dinitrotoluene in vapor phase at 325.degree. C. over a supported iron or supported cobalt catalyst on a support comprising alumina. The amino products are useful for production of polyurethane resins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1983
    Assignee: Allied Corporation
    Inventors: Charles T. Ratcliffe, Geza Pap
  • Patent number: 4326081
    Abstract: Hydrogenation of mononitroaromatic compounds, particularly nitrobenzene, nitrotoluene and their monochloro and monohydroxy ring substitution products, using hydrogen sulfide as reducing agent and a titanium dioxide catalyst at 200.degree.-400.degree. C. and atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1982
    Assignee: Allied Corporation
    Inventors: Charles T. Ratcliffe, Stuart L. Soled, Anthony J. Signorelli, Irving L. Mador
  • Patent number: 4287128
    Abstract: A new process for preparing haloalkyl epoxides and oxaziranes is described in which a mixture of an perhalo alkene or alkyl imine and chlorine gas is contacted with a Group IA, IIA metal oxide, carbonate or bicarbonate under mild conditions of temperature and pressure. The process, using perhalo alkenes or perhalo alkyl imines as starting material, represents a new economical, facil preparation of the monomer hexafluoropropylene oxide, such monomer is capable of polymerizaton or copolymerization to thermally stable and inert polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1981
    Assignee: Allied Corporation
    Inventor: Charles T. Ratcliffe
  • Patent number: 4235699
    Abstract: Conversion of coal to products soluble in common solvents and conversion of coal tar to products of lower molecular weight, effected in liquid or fused reaction medium using a hydrogenating reactant, are carried out employing hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide as the sole or major hydrogenating reactant, without need of elemental hydrogen or a hydrogen donor solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1980
    Assignee: Allied Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Charles T. Ratcliffe, Mahmoud B. Abdel-Baset
  • Patent number: 4233131
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of alkylene episulfides or episelenides is provided which comprises contacting elemental sulfur or elemental selenium, respectively, with an olefin, preferably ethylene, while irradiating with electromagnetic radiation in the infrared to ultraviolet range. The alkylene episulfides and episelenides are useful in the production of a variety of functional polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1980
    Assignee: Allied Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Charles T. Ratcliffe, James T. Yardley
  • Patent number: 4140752
    Abstract: A catalyst/adsorbent for sulfur dioxide from waste gases, via oxidation thereof to sulfur trioxide, comprising vanadium oxide supported on activated carbon, promoted by nickel sulfate or potassium sulfate, or preferably by both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1979
    Assignee: Allied Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Charles T. Ratcliffe, Geza Pap
  • Patent number: 4128586
    Abstract: A process for reducing aromatic sulfonyl halides with hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is contacted with sulfonyl halides preferably in the presence of a solvent and of a catalyst. The reaction forms thiols and proceeds in the range of between about 50.degree. and 300.degree. C. There is little formation of disulfide and no cleavage of the thiol group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1978
    Assignee: Allied Chemical Corporation
    Inventor: Charles T. Ratcliffe
  • Patent number: 4115523
    Abstract: An improved process is described for producing hydroxylamine, NH.sub.2 OH, a valuable intermediate in the industrial manufacture of nylon-6, in which hydrogen sulfide is reacted with nitric oxide, or mixtures of nitrogen oxides, in aqueous acidic media containing a solid sulfur-resistant catalyst, such as activated carbon, at ambient temperature and pressure and substantially in the absence of elemental oxygen.An important aspect of the invention is that the industrial waste gases, hydrogen sulfide and nitrogen oxide, can be effectively utilized in the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1978
    Assignee: Allied Chemical Corporation
    Inventor: Charles T. Ratcliffe
  • Patent number: 4071606
    Abstract: A process is described for producing sulfur by the reaction of sulfur dioxide with agglomerating coal. The purity of the product gases is improved and the tendency of the coal to agglomerate is reduced by employing coal particles having a particle size below 500 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1978
    Assignee: Allied Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Charles T. Ratcliffe, Geza Pap