Patents by Inventor Edward Lewis Nielsen

Edward Lewis Nielsen 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).

  • Reduction of the viscosity of reactive heavy byproducts during the production of 1,3-propanediol
    Patent number: 7276634
    Abstract: The present invention is an improvement upon the process for the production of 1,3-propanediol wherein an aqueous solution of 3-hydroxy propanal is formed, catalyst, if any, used in said formation is removed from the solution, sodium hydroxide is added to the solution to neutralize any acid therein such that the pH is at least about 5, the neutralized aqueous solution is subjected to hydrogenation to produce a crude 1,3-propanediol mixture which is distilled to produce 1,3-propanediol, water, and reactive heavy components. The improvement on this process comprises replacing the sodium hydroxide with a hydroxide selected from the group consisting of ammonium hydroxide, alkali metal hydroxides other than sodium hydroxide, and alkaline earth metal hydroxides to reduce the viscosity of the reactive heavy components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: John Frederick Knifton, Talmadge Gail James, Paul Richard Weider, Joseph Broun Powell, Edward Lewis Nielsen, Glenn Charles Komplin