Patents by Inventor Friedhelm Steffens

Friedhelm Steffens 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: 20240101783
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for recovering raw materials from a polyurethane foam, comprising step (A), the providing of a polyurethane foam based on an isocyanate component and a polyol component, wherein the polyurethane foam comprises a cell structure containing one or more volatile accompanying substances, namely a component X selected from the group consisting of oxygen, a blowing agent, a disinfectant and a mixture of two or more of the above, wherein component X comprises at least oxygen, step (B), the chemolysis of the polyurethane foam with a chemolysis reagent, wherein the polyurethane foam is degassed before being contacted with the chemolysis reagent, wherein at least oxygen, but preferably all constituents of component X or any gaseous breakdown products thereof that have formed are removed from the chemolysis apparatus in gaseous form via a gas removal device at a pressure of not more than 960 mbar(abs.) and a temperature of not more than 120° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Sebastian Pohl, Friedhelm Steffens
  • Publication number: 20230357532
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for recovering raw materials from polyurethane products, having the steps of: (A) providing a polyurethane product based on an isocyanate component and a polyol component; (B) reacting the polyurethane product with an alcohol in the presence of a catalyst, wherein a first product mixture containing alcohol, polyols, carbamates, and optionally water is obtained; (C) preparing the first product mixture, having the steps of: (C.I.) mixing the first product mixture obtained in step (B) with an organic solvent, which can be mixed with the alcohol used in step (B), optionally followed by a separation of solid components, thereby obtaining a second product mixture; (C.II) washing the second product mixture obtained in step (C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Friedhelm Steffens, Sebastian Pohl, Shabnam Majidi Salehi, Jonas Krause
  • Publication number: 20220348533
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the purification of aniline, comprising the following steps: a) providing a raw aniline fraction; b) extracting the raw aniline fraction with an aqueous extractant containing, in relation to the total mass of the aqueous extractant, an alkali metal hydroxide in a concentration range from 0.009 to 2.05 mass % and an alkali metal salt that is different from an alkali metal hydroxide in a concentration range from 2.40 to 25.0 mass %, wherein an organic aniline phase and an aqueous amino phenolate phase are obtained after a phase separation; c) distilling the organic aniline phase from step b), obtaining a flow of purified aniline, a gaseous flow that boils at a lower temperature than aniline and containing organic impurities, and a liquid flow that boils at a higher temperature than aniline and containing organic impurities and aniline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Friedhelm Steffens, Jonas Krause, Denise Chan
  • Publication number: 20220251328
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for recovering raw materials from polyurethane products, comprising the steps of (A) providing a polyurethane product that is based on an isocyanate component and a polyol component; (B) reacting the polyurethane product with a (mono- or polyvalent) alcohol in the presence of a catalyst, thereby obtaining a first product mixture; (C) obtaining the polyols from the first product mixture, comprising (C.I) mixing, without prior removal of any water that might be contained in the first product mixture, the first product mixture obtained in step (B) with an organic solvent that is not completely miscible with the alcohol used in step (B), and phase separation into a first alcohol phase and a first solvent phase; (C.II) processing the first solvent phase and obtaining polyols; and preferably (D) obtaining amines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Friedhelm Steffens, Sebastian Pohl, Shabnam Majidi Salehi, Jonas Krause
  • Patent number: 11267703
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for separating and treating impurities from a hydrogen chloride liquid mixture from the process for preparing isocyanate with phosgenation including sending hydrogen chloride liquid mixture into a gas-liquid separation column for separation to yield a liquid phase flow with impurities at the bottom of the gas-liquid separation column, neutralizing the liquid phase flow comprising impurities with an alkaline liquid in the neutralization tank to yield a neutralized solution, and sending the neutralized solution into a waste liquid treatment device from said neutralization tank for treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Covestro Deutschland AG
    Inventors: Andre Rittermeier, Rainer Hellmich, Alfred Soppe, Luyan Wu, Micky Qian, Peter Lehner, Jürgen Bittner, Friedhelm Steffens, Henrike Fink, Eric Jakobs
  • Patent number: 10894222
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a distributor device (10000) for the even distribution of a fluid (10) into 2 or more fluid streams each containing gas (11) and liquid (12), with a falling film evaporator (100000), in which the distributor device according to the invention serves to distribute the 2 or more fluid streams onto the heating pipes of the evaporator, and to the use of the distributor device (10000) according to the invention and in particular the falling film evaporator (100000) according to the invention in the production and/or preparation of chemical products. The distributor device according to the invention is characterized, in particular, by a swirl breaker (600) for the gas phase (11) which arises from separating the fluid (10) into a gas phase (11) and a liquid phase (12) within the distributor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Covestro Deutschland AG
    Inventors: Christian Drumm, Friedhelm Steffens, Dieter Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 10889539
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for the preparation of pure aniline, comprising the steps of a) providing a crude aniline fraction containing up to 20.000% by weight of phenol; b) dividing the crude aniline fraction from step a) into a first partial stream and a second partial stream; c) distilling the first partial stream from step b) in a first distillation column and distilling the second partial stream from step b) in a second distillation column, wherein the first distillation column is operated at a higher head pressure than the second distillation column, with the proviso that each of the first distillation column and the second distillation column is operated at a head pressure in the range from 1.0 mbar(abs.) to 500 mbar(abs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Covestro Deutschland AG
    Inventors: Michael Merkel, Friedhelm Steffens, Murat Kalem, Peter Lehner
  • Patent number: 10676448
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel method for producing polyisocyanurates comprising isocyanate groups, based on 2,4- and 2,6-toluylene diisocyanate (TDI) and to the use thereof in coating compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Covestro Deutschland AG
    Inventors: Josef Sanders, Andreas Hecking, Reinhard Halpaap, Frank Richter, Oswald Wilmes, Jan Busch, Tim Loddenkemper, Friedhelm Steffens, Stefan Groth
  • Publication number: 20200123097
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for the preparation of pure aniline, comprising the steps of a) providing a crude aniline fraction containing up to 20.000% by weight of phenol; b) dividing the crude aniline fraction from step a) into a first partial stream and a second partial stream; c) distilling the first partial stream from step b) in a first distillation column and distilling the second partial stream from step b) in a second distillation column, wherein the first distillation column is operated at a higher head pressure than the second distillation column, with the proviso that each of the first distillation column and the second distillation column is operated at a head pressure in the range from 1.0 mbar(abs.) to 500 mbar(abs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Merkel, Friedhelm Steffens, Murat Kalem, Peter Lehner
  • Patent number: 10576392
    Abstract: A distillation column for separating a multicomponent mixture into at least three fractions. The distillation column has at least one separating wall and at least one material exchange element (1) above the at least one separating wall. A device (10) for mixing the steam flows flowing upwards to the left and the right of the at least one separating wall is arranged between the at least one separating wall and the at least one material exchange element (1). The use of the distillation column for purifying isocyanates, in particular for toluene diisocyanate (TDI), is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Covestro Deutschland AG
    Inventors: Friedhelm Steffens, Wilfried Hedderich, Jürgen Bausa, Franz Beggel, Volker Michele
  • Publication number: 20200030712
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a distributor device (10000) for the even distribution of a fluid (10) into 2 or more fluid streams each containing gas (11) and liquid (12), with a falling film evaporator (100000), in which the distributor device according to the invention serves to distribute the 2 or more fluid streams onto the heating pipes of the evaporator, and to the use of the distributor device (10000) according to the invention and in particular the falling film evaporator (100000) according to the invention in the production and/or preparation of chemical products. The distributor device according to the invention is characterized, in particular, by a swirl breaker (600) for the gas phase (11) which arises from separating the fluid (10) into a gas phase (11) and a liquid phase (12) within the distributor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Christian DRUMM, Friedhelm STEFFENS, Dieter HOFFMANN
  • Patent number: 10435353
    Abstract: The invention relates to the production of isocyanates by means of phosgenation of the corresponding primary amines in the gas phase, wherein the reactant flows of amine and phosgene are fed separately to a reactor through a pre-heated inert gas flow. Isocyanates within the sense of the invention are, in the broadest sense, all isocyanates whose corresponding amines can be substantially converted into the gas phase without decomposing, with the exception of 1,5-pentane diisocyanate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: COVESTRO DEUTSCHLAND AG
    Inventors: Joachim Zechlin, Tim Loddenkemper, Friedhelm Steffens, Dietmar Wastian
  • Publication number: 20190194018
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for separating and treating impurities from a hydrogen chloride liquid mixture, and particularly relates to a method and a system for separating and treating impurities from a hydrogen chloride liquid mixture produced from the process for preparing isocyanate with phosgenation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: Covestro Deutschland AG
    Inventors: Andre RITTERMEIER, Rainer HELLMICH, Alfred SOPPE, Luyan WU, Micky QIAN, Peter LEHNER, Jürgen BITTNER, Friedhelm STEFFENS, Henrike FINKE, Eric JAKOBS
  • Patent number: 10239826
    Abstract: A method for producing isocyanates by reacting primary amines with phosgene in a stoichiometric excess in the gas phase, wherein the excess phosgene is subsequently recovered and recirculated back into the reaction. particular a method for the feedback-controlled recirculation of the recovered phosgene, particularly when the phosgene stream that should be recovered is distributed between multiple gas-phase reactors operated in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: COVESTRO DEUTSCHLAND AG
    Inventors: Friedhelm Steffens, Bastian Mahr
  • Publication number: 20190031625
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel method for producing polyisocyanurates comprising isocyanate groups, based on 2,4- and 2,6-toluylene diisocyanate (TDI) and to the use thereof in coating compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Josef Sanders, Andreas Hecking, Reinhard Halpaap, Frank Richter, Oswald Wilmes, Jan Busch, Tim Loddenkemper, Friedhelm Steffens, Stefan Groth
  • Patent number: 10189945
    Abstract: The invention relates to polyisocyanates comprising urethane groups, based on toluylene diisocyanate, to a method for their production, and to their use as the polyisocyanate component in one- and two-component polyurethane coatings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Covestro Deutschland AG
    Inventors: Josef Sanders, Andreas Hecking, Reinhard Halpaap, Frank Richter, Oswald Wilmes, Jan Busch, Tim Loddenkemper, Friedhelm Steffens
  • Publication number: 20180370907
    Abstract: The invention relates to the production of isocyanates by means of phosgenation of the corresponding primary amines in the gas phase, wherein the reactant flows of amine and phosgene are fed separately to a reactor through a pre-heated inert gas flow. Isocyanates within the sense of the invention are, in the broadest sense, all isocyanates whose corresponding amines can be substantially converted into the gas phase without decomposing, with the exception of 1,5-pentane diisocyanate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Joachim Zechlin, Tim Loddenkemper, Friedhelm Steffens, Dietmar Wastian
  • Patent number: 10143987
    Abstract: One or more fluid streams are uniformly divided into two or more partial fluid streams in chemical apparatuses in a manner such that there is a reduced tendency to form deposits. Division of such stream(s) is achieved by using a distributor device that includes at least one plate having two or more openings which openings are rounded or chamfered on at least one side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: COVESTRO DEUTSCHLAND AG
    Inventors: Berthold Keggenhoff, Jeffrey Bolton, Friedhelm Steffens, Marc Seekamp, Gerhard Ruffert, Jürgen Kern, Thomas Runowski
  • Patent number: 10131641
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel method for producing polyisocyanurates comprising isocyanate groups, based on 2,4- and 2,6-toluylene diisocyanate (TDI) and to the use thereof in coating compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: COVESTRO DEUTSCHLAND AG
    Inventors: Josef Sanders, Andreas Hecking, Reinhard Halpaap, Frank Richter, Oswald Wilmes, Jan Busch, Tim Loddenkemper, Friedhelm Steffens, Stefan Groth
  • Publication number: 20180318728
    Abstract: The invention relates to a distillation column for separating a multicomponent mixture into at least three fractions. The distillation column has at least one separating wall and at least one material exchange element (1) above the at least one separating wall. A device (10) for mixing the steam flows flowing upwards to the left and the right of the at least one separating wall is arranged between the at least one separating wall and the at least one material exchange element (1). The invention likewise relates to the use of the distillation column according to the invention for purifying isocyanates, in particular for toluene diisocyanate (TDI).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Friedhelm Steffens, Wilfried Hedderich, Jürgen Bausa, Franz Beggel, Volker Michele