Patents by Inventor Douglas A. Nafis

Douglas A. Nafis 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: 11123721
    Abstract: A trialkylphosphonium haloaluminate compound having a formula: where R1, R2, and R3 are the same or different and each is independently selected from C1 to C8 hydrocarbyl; and X is selected from F, Cl, Br, I, or combinations thereof is described. An ionic liquid catalyst composition incorporating the trialkylphosphonium haloaluminate compound, methods of making the trialkylphosphonium haloaluminate compound, and alkylation processes incorporating the trialkylphosphonium haloaluminate compound are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Avram M. Buchbinder, Susie C. Martins, Douglas A. Nafis, Donato Nucciarone
  • Patent number: 10888857
    Abstract: Processes for regenerating ionic liquid catalyst by contacting the ionic liquid catalyst with hydrogen gas in a regeneration reactor. The amount of hydrogen is less than 550 SCF/BBL (97.96 m3/m3) of spent ionic liquid catalyst, or less than 500 SCF/BBL (89.05 m3/m3) of spent ionic liquid catalyst, or between 550 and 45 SCF/BBL (97.96 and 8.015 m3/m3) of spent ionic liquid catalyst, or between 500 and 50 SCF/BBL (89.05 and 8.905 m3/m3) of spent ionic liquid catalyst. Alkylation processes are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Elizabeth Carter, Douglas A. Nafis, Bong-Kyu Chang, Hye Kyung Timken, Huping Luo, Michael Girgis
  • Patent number: 10702798
    Abstract: A process for treating an ionic liquid containing waste stream is described. If there is a liquid waste stream, the liquid waste stream is introduced into a liquid treatment zone. The ionic liquid in the liquid waste stream is neutralized. The concentration of the ionic liquid in the liquid waste stream is determined, and the allowed concentration of the ionic liquid in the liquid waste stream is determined. The concentration of the ionic liquid in the neutralized liquid waste stream is reduced to the allowed concentration, and the liquid waste stream having the allowed concentration is released. If there is a vapor waste stream, the vapor waste stream is introduced into a vapor treatment zone. The vapor waste stream is treated to form a treated vapor waste stream, and the treated vapor waste stream is released to a plant vapor treatment zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Eric Leeton, Gregory J. Schrad, David S. Lafyatis, Matthew Lippmann, Douglas A. Nafis
  • Publication number: 20190381493
    Abstract: Processes for regenerating ionic liquid catalyst by contacting the ionic liquid catalyst with hydrogen gas in a regeneration reactor. The amount of hydrogen is less than 550 SCF/BBL (97.96 m3/m3) of spent ionic liquid catalyst, or less than 500 SCF/BBL (89.05 m3/m3) of spent ionic liquid catalyst, or between 550 and 45 SCF/BBL (97.96 and 8.015 m3/m3) of spent ionic liquid catalyst, or between 500 and 50 SCF/BBL (89.05 and 8.905 m3/m3) of spent ionic liquid catalyst. Alkylation processes are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Elizabeth Carter, Douglas A. Nafis, Bong-Kyu Chang, Hye Kyung Timken, Huping Luo, Michael Girgis
  • Patent number: 10384988
    Abstract: The present invention involves processes and equipment for handling chloride in an ionic liquid alkylation system. The processes involve not only breaking down the organic chloride to active HCl for ionic liquid activation, but also recovering HCl in the effluent downstream to maintain the HCl requirements while also reducing HCl emissions. This equipment may be used in conjunction with an isomerization reaction zone which is integrated into the ionic liquid alkylation process to further isomerize n-paraffins to isoparaffins for recycle to the alkylation reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Kurt Detrick, Douglas A. Nafis, David A. Wegerer, Eric Leeton, Trung Pham
  • Patent number: 10369556
    Abstract: An integrated process for gasoline production is described. The process includes introducing a feed comprising n-C5 hydrocarbons into a disproportionation reaction zone in the presence of a disproportionation catalyst to form a disproportionation mixture comprising iso-C4 and C6+ disproportionation products and unreacted n-C5 hydrocarbons. An iso-C4 hydrocarbon stream and an olefin feed are introduced into an alkylation reaction zone in the presence of an alkylation catalyst to produce an alkylation mixture comprising alkylate and unreacted iso-C4 paraffins. The disproportionation mixture and the alkylation mixture are combined, and the combined mixture is separated into at least a stream comprising the alkylate product, an iso-C4 stream, and an unreacted n-C5 hydrocarbon stream. The iso-C4 stream is recycled to the alkylation reaction zone, and the unreacted n-C5 hydrocarbon stream is recycled to the disproportionation reaction zone. The stream comprising the alkylate product is recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Tom N. Kalnes, Stuart Smith, Douglas A. Nafis, Alakananda Bhattacharyya, Bryan K. Glover, Susie C. Martins
  • Publication number: 20190105644
    Abstract: A trialkylphosphonium haloaluminate compound having a formula: where R1, R2, and R3 are the same or different and each is independently selected from C1 to C8 hydrocarbyl; and X is selected from F, Cl, Br, I, or combinations thereof is described. An ionic liquid catalyst composition incorporating the trialkylphosphonium haloaluminate compound, methods of making the trialkylphosphonium haloaluminate compound, and alkylation processes incorporating the trialkylphosphonium haloaluminate compound are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Avram M. Buchbinder, Susie C. Martins, Douglas A. Nafis, Donato Nucciarone
  • Publication number: 20180272327
    Abstract: A process removing ionic liquid from a process stream is described. The process stream is introduced into a coalescer to form an ionic liquid stream and a first treated process stream which has less ionic liquid than the process stream. The first treated process stream is introduced into a separator to form a second treated process stream. The second treated process stream has less ionic liquid than the first treated process stream. The separator is selected from a filtration zone comprising sand or carbon, an adsorption zone, a scrubbing zone, an electrostatic separation zone, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew Lippmann, David S. Lafyatis, Douglas A. Nafis, Kurt Detrick
  • Patent number: 9914675
    Abstract: Alkylation processes are described. The processes utilize ionic liquid catalysts having a kinematic viscosity range of about 50 cSt to about 100 cSt at 25° C. Catalysts within this range produce alkylate having higher octane than catalysts outside this range, especially at higher process temperatures which are preferable from an operating cost standpoint. The alkylate can have one or more of a research octane number of at least about 93, a selectivity of C8 of at least about 65%, and a mole ratio of trimethylpentane to dimethylhexane of greater than about 7:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Avram M. Buchbinder, Douglas A. Nafis, Alakananda Bhattacharyya, Susie C. Martins
  • Patent number: 9914674
    Abstract: An alkylation process utilizing less than 10 vol % of a halometallate based ionic liquid catalyst is described. By decreasing the catalyst volume fraction, the level of subsequent undesirable reactions may be minimized. The total residence time is typically in the range of about 1 min to about 30 min. The alkylate typically has a research octane number of at least about 93, and the olefin conversion is typically at least about 96%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Avram M. Buchbinder, Susie C. Martins, Erin M. Broderick, Paul T. Barger, Alakananda Bhattacharyya, Douglas A. Nafis
  • Patent number: 9815049
    Abstract: A method of controlling a hydrocarbon conversion process is described. The method involves introducing a reactant into a reaction zone containing an ionic liquid catalyst. The reaction zone has at least two zones. The mass transfer resistance in the second zone is greater than the mass transfer resistance in the first zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: David S. Lafyatis, Sean G. Mueller, Zhanping Xu, Douglas A. Nafis, Robert Mehlberg, Kurt Detrick, Avram M. Buchbinder
  • Publication number: 20170183275
    Abstract: The present invention involves processes and equipment for handling chloride in an ionic liquid alkylation system. The processes involve not only breaking down the organic chloride to active HCl for ionic liquid activation, but also recovering HCl in the effluent downstream to maintain the HCl requirements while also reducing HCl emissions. This equipment may be used in conjunction with an isomerization reaction zone which is integrated into the ionic liquid alkylation process to further isomerize n-paraffins to isoparaffins for recycle to the alkylation reaction zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Kurt Detrick, Douglas A. Nafis, David A. Wegerer, Eric Leeton, Trung Pham
  • Publication number: 20170144141
    Abstract: A method of controlling a hydrocarbon conversion process is described. The method involves introducing a reactant into a reaction zone containing an ionic liquid catalyst. The reaction zone has at least two zones. The mass transfer resistance in the second zone is greater than the mass transfer resistance in the first zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: David S. Lafyatis, Sean G. Mueller, Zhanping Xu, Douglas A. Nafis, Robert Mehlberg, Kurt Detrick, Avram M. Buchbinder
  • Publication number: 20170113162
    Abstract: A process for treating an ionic liquid containing waste stream is described. If there is a liquid waste stream, the liquid waste stream is introduced into a liquid treatment zone. The ionic liquid in the liquid waste stream is neutralized. The concentration of the ionic liquid in the liquid waste stream is determined, and the allowed concentration of the ionic liquid in the liquid waste stream is determined. The concentration of the ionic liquid in the neutralized liquid waste stream is reduced to the allowed concentration, and the liquid waste stream having the allowed concentration is released. If there is a vapor waste stream, the vapor waste stream is introduced into a vapor treatment zone. The vapor waste stream is treated to form a treated vapor waste stream, and the treated vapor waste stream is released to a plant vapor treatment zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Eric Leeton, Gregory J. Schrad, David S. Lafyatis, Matthew Lippmann, Douglas A. Nafis
  • Patent number: 9566578
    Abstract: A method for regenerating deactivated acidic ionic liquid is described. The method involves reducing a level of free hydrochloric acid in the deactivated acidic ionic liquid in a removal zone using at least one of heat, a stripping fluid, reduced pressure, and liquid-liquid extraction to form a deactivated acidic ionic liquid having a reduced level of free hydrochloric acid; and regenerating the deactivated acidic ionic liquid having the reduced level of free hydrochloric acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Michael Brendel, Avram M. Buchbinder, Paul Olson, Susie C. Martins, Kaitlin M. DeSalvo, Douglas A. Nafis
  • Publication number: 20160289138
    Abstract: Alkylation processes are described. The processes utilize ionic liquid catalysts having a kinematic viscosity range of about 50 cSt to about 100 cSt at 25° C. Catalysts within this range produce alkylate having higher octane than catalysts outside this range, especially at higher process temperatures which are preferable from an operating cost standpoint. The alkylate can have one or more of a research octane number of at least about 93, a selectivity of C8 of at least about 65%, and a mole ratio of trimethylpentane to dimethylhexane of greater than about 7:1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Avram M. Buchbinder, Douglas A. Nafis, Alakananda Bhattacharyya, Susie C. Martins
  • Publication number: 20160289137
    Abstract: An alkylation process utilizing less than 10 vol % of a halometallate based ionic liquid catalyst is described. By decreasing the catalyst volume fraction, the level of subsequent undesirable reactions may be minimized. The total residence time is typically in the range of about 1 min to about 30 min. The alkylate typically has a research octane number of at least about 93, and the olefin conversion is typically at least about 96%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Avram M. Buchbinder, Susie C. Martins, Erin M. Broderick, Paul T. Barger, Alakananda C. Bhattacharyya, Douglas A. Nafis
  • Patent number: 9434662
    Abstract: An integrated hydrocarbon conversion process is described. The process includes contacting a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock with a hydrocarbon cracking catalyst in a fluidized reactor zone to produce light olefins to form a fluid catalytic cracker (FCC) effluent stream comprising a range of hydrocarbons. The FCC effluent stream is separated to form at least a stream rich in C4 hydrocarbons which comprises isobutane and 1-butene. The stream rich in C4 hydrocarbons is introduced into an alkylation reaction zone where the isobutane and the 1-butene are alkylated to form a reaction product mixture comprising dimethylhexanes and C9+ hydrocarbons. The reaction product mixture is dehydrocyclized to form a stream rich in xylenes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Trung Pham, Susie C. Martins, Douglas A. Nafis
  • Patent number: 9399604
    Abstract: A process for making an alkylate is presented. The process includes mixing an isoparaffin stream with an olefin stream in an alkylation reactor. The alkylation reactor includes a catalyst for performing the reaction. The catalyst is an ionic liquid that is a quaternary chloroaluminate based ionic liquid, and the reaction is performed at or near ambient temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Susie C. Martins, Douglas A. Nafis, Alakananda Bhattacharyya
  • Publication number: 20160167034
    Abstract: A method for regenerating deactivated acidic ionic liquid is described. The method involves reducing a level of free hydrochloric acid in the deactivated acidic ionic liquid in a removal zone using at least one of heat, a stripping fluid, reduced pressure, and liquid-liquid extraction to form a deactivated acidic ionic liquid having a reduced level of free hydrochloric acid; and regenerating the deactivated acidic ionic liquid having the reduced level of free hydrochloric acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Brendel, Avram M. Buchbinder, Paul Olson, Susie C. Martins, Kaitlin M. DeSalvo, Douglas A. Nafis