Patents by Inventor Donald Wayne Whisenhunt

Donald Wayne Whisenhunt 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: 6187942
    Abstract: A method and catalyst system for producing aromatic carbonates from aromatic hydroxy compounds is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes the step of contacting at least one aromatic hydroxy compound with oxygen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst system having an effective amount of an iron source as the primary catalyst component in the absence of a Group VIII B metal source. In various alternative embodiments, the carbonylation catalyst system can include at least one inorganic co-catalyst, as well as a halide composition and/or a base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ben Purushotam Patel, Grigorii Lev Soloveichik, Donald Wayne Whisenhunt, Jr., Kirill Vladimirovich Shalyaev
  • Patent number: 6184409
    Abstract: A method and catalyst system for producing aromatic carbonates from aromatic hydroxy compounds is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes the step of contacting at least one aromatic hydroxy compound with oxygen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst system having an effective amount of a nickel source as the primary catalyst component in the absence of a Group VIII B metal source. In various alternative embodiments, the carbonylation catalyst system can include at least one inorganic co-catalyst, as well as a halide composition and/or a base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ben Purushotam Patel, Grigorii Lev Soloveichik, Donald Wayne Whisenhunt, Jr., Kirill Vladimirovich Shalyaev
  • Patent number: 6175032
    Abstract: A method and catalyst system for producing aromatic carbonates from aromatic hydroxy compounds. In one embodiment, the method includes the step of contacting at least one aromatic hydroxy compound with oxygen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst system having an effective amount of a cobalt source in the absence of a Group VIII B metal source. In various alternative embodiments, the carbonylation catalyst system can include at least one inorganic co-catalyst, as well as a halide composition and/or a base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ben Purushotam Patel, Grigorii Lev Soloveichik, Donald Wayne Whisenhunt, Jr., Kirill Vladimirovich Shalyaev
  • Patent number: 6175033
    Abstract: A method and catalyst system for producing aromatic carbonates from aromatic hydroxy compounds. In one embodiment, the method includes the step of contacting at least one aromatic hydroxy compound with oxygen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst system having an effective amount of a manganese source in the absence of a Group VIII B metal source. In various alternative embodiments, the carbonylation catalyst system can include at least one inorganic co-catalyst, as well as a halide composition and/or a base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ben Purushotam Patel, Grigorii Lev Soloveichik, Donald Wayne Whisenhunt, Jr., Kirill Vladimirovich Shalyaev
  • Patent number: 6160154
    Abstract: A method and catalyst system for economically producing aromatic carbonates from aromatic hydroxy compounds. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of carbonylating aromatic hydroxy compounds by contacting at least one aromatic hydroxy compound with oxygen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst system that includes a catalytic amount of an inorganic co-catalyst containing copper. In various alternative embodiments, the carbonylation catalyst system can include an effective amount of a palladium source and an effective amount of a halide composition. Further alternative embodiments can include catalytic amounts of various inorganic co-catalyst combinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Lawrence Spivack, Donald Wayne Whisenhunt, Jr., James Norman Cawse, Bruce Fletcher Johnson, Marsha Mottel Grade, Grigorii Lev Soloveichik, John Yaw Ofori, Eric James Pressman
  • Patent number: 6160155
    Abstract: A method and catalyst system for economically producing aromatic carbonates from aromatic hydroxy compounds. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of carbonylating aromatic hydroxy compounds by contacting at least one aromatic hydroxy compound with oxygen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst system that includes a catalytic amount of an inorganic co-catalyst containing ytterbium. In various alternative embodiments, the carbonylation catalyst system can include an effective amount of a palladium source and an effective amount of a halide composition. Further alternative embodiments can include catalytic amounts of various inorganic co-catalyst combinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Lawrence Spivack, Donald Wayne Whisenhunt, Jr., James Norman Cawse, Grigorii Lev Soloveichik
  • Patent number: 6143914
    Abstract: A method and catalyst system for economically producing aromatic carbonates from aromatic hydroxy compounds. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of carbonylating aromatic hydroxy compounds by contacting at least one aromatic hydroxy compound with oxygen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst system that includes a catalytic amount of a combination of inorganic co-catalysts containing manganese and nickel; manganese and iron; manganese and chromium; manganese and cerium; manganese and europium; manganese, cerium, and europium; manganese, iron, and europium; or manganese and thorium. In various alternative embodiments, the carbonylation catalyst system can include an effective amount of a palladium source and an effective amount of a halide composition. Further alternative embodiments can include catalytic amounts of various other inorganic co-catalyst combinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Lawrence Spivack, Donald Wayne Whisenhunt, Jr., James Norman Cawse, Bruce Fletcher Johnson, Grigorii Lev Soloveichik, John Yaw Ofori, Eric James Pressman
  • Patent number: 6143913
    Abstract: A method and catalyst system for economically producing aromatic carbonates from aromatic hydroxy compounds. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of carbonylating aromatic hydroxy compounds by contacting at least one aromatic hydroxy compound with oxygen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst system that includes a catalytic amount of an inorganic co-catalyst containing zinc. In various alternative embodiments, the carbonylation catalyst system can include an effective amount of a palladium source and an effective amount of a halide composition. Further alternative embodiments can include catalytic amounts of various inorganic co-catalyst combinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Lawrence Spivack, Donald Wayne Whisenhunt, Jr., James Norman Cawse, Bruce Fletcher Johnson
  • Patent number: 6114563
    Abstract: A method and catalyst system for economically producing aromatic carbonates from aromatic hydroxy compounds. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of carbonylating aromatic hydroxy compounds by contacting at least one aromatic hydroxy compound with oxygen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst system that includes a catalytic amount of an inorganic co-catalyst containing bismuth. In various alternative embodiments, the carbonylation catalyst system can include an effective amount of a palladium source and an effective amount of a halide composition. Further alternative embodiments can include catalytic amounts of various inorganic co-catalyst combinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: James Lawrence Spivack, Donald Wayne Whisenhunt, Jr., James Norman Cawse, Bruce Fletcher Johnson, Kirill Shalyaev