Patents by Inventor Geoffrey W. Fichtl

Geoffrey W. Fichtl 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: 20240010937
    Abstract: A solvent stripping process has been developed for separating the pyrolysis oil in an extracted phase feed stream from an organic solvent used for extraction. The process involves using a stripping solvent to strip the organic solvent from the pyrolysis oil in a stripping column. The stripping column bottom stream comprising the pyrolysis oil and part of the stripping solvent can be separated into a vapor stream comprising the stripping solvent and a liquid stream comprising the pyrolysis and a portion of the stripping solvent. The stripping column overhead stream comprising the stripping solvent and the organic solvent can be separated in a recovery column into a recovery column overhead stream comprising the stripping solvent and a recovery column bottom stream comprising the organic solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Anton N. Mlinar, Stanley J. Frey, Geoffrey W. Fichtl, Matthew C. Cole, Charles P. Luebke, Joe R. Haas
  • Patent number: 10065903
    Abstract: Processes for the production of linear alkylbenzenes from a renewable feedstock. Prior to converting the side chains of the glycerides and free fatty acids of the feedstock into hydrocarbons, the feedstock is separated into a stream rich in C10 and C14 free fatty acids glycerides having C10 and C14 fatty acid side chains and at least one, preferably two, other glyceride streams. The stream rich in glycerides having C10 and C14 fatty acid side chains can be converted via deoxygenation into a stream rich in C9 to C14 hydrocarbons while the other glyceride streams can be used as vegetable oil. A C10 to C13 hydrocarbon fraction from the stream rich in C9 to C14 hydrocarbons may be dehydrogenated to form olefins which may be reacted with benzene to form linear alkylbenzenes. The linear alkylbenzenes may be used to produce surfactants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Daniel L. Ellig, Geoffrey W. Fichtl, Charles P. Luebke
  • Patent number: 9957449
    Abstract: Processes for producing jet-range hydrocarbons includes splitting a renewable olefin feedstock comprising C3 to C8 olefins into a plurality of streams and passing each stream to an oligomerization reactor containing a zeolite catalyst to produce an oligomerized effluent. The reactors may be arranged in series, such that an oligomerized effluent comprises a diluent for a downstream reactor. The net oligomerized effluent may be separated and a heavy olefin stream comprising C8+ olefins may be hydrogenated and separated to provide a distillate range hydrocarbon product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Charles P. Luebke, Geoffrey W. Fichtl, Dana K. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 9914880
    Abstract: A method of increasing the yield of renewable aviation fuel is described. A renewable feedstock rich in fatty acids having between 8 and 14 carbon atoms is selected, and the selected feedstock is hydrogenated and deoxygenated in a first reaction zone to provide an effluent rich in normal paraffins having between 9 and 15 carbon atoms. The normal paraffins are isomerized in a second reaction zone to isomerize at least a portion of the normal paraffins. The isomerization reaction mixture may be separated into a product stream comprising a product rich in branched paraffins having between 9 and 15 carbon atoms, which has a higher yield than a product stream made using a renewable feedstock rich in fatty acids having more than 15 carbon atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Geoffrey W. Fichtl, Daniel L. Ellig
  • Publication number: 20170158966
    Abstract: A method of increasing the yield of renewable aviation fuel is described. A renewable feedstock rich in fatty acids having between 8 and 14 carbon atoms is selected, and the selected feedstock is hydrogenated and deoxygenated in a first reaction zone to provide an effluent rich in normal paraffins having between 9 and 15 carbon atoms. The normal paraffins are isomerized in a second reaction zone to isomerize at least a portion of the normal paraffins. The isomerization reaction mixture may be separated into a product stream comprising a product rich in branched paraffins having between 9 and 15 carbon atoms, which has a higher yield than a product stream made using a renewable feedstock rich in fatty acids having more than 15 carbon atoms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Geoffrey W. Fichtl, Daniel L. Ellig
  • Patent number: 9567264
    Abstract: A process for producing aviation fuel and diesel from renewable feedstock is described. This process involves introducing the renewable feedstock into a hydrogenation and deoxygenation zone, and separating the hydrocarbon effluent from the hydrogenation and deoxygenation zone into an aviation boiling range fraction and a diesel boiling range fraction. The aviation boiling range fraction and diesel boiling range fraction are alternately sent to the isomerization and selective hydrocracking zone. This allows for lower severity isomerization and selective hydrocracking zone operating conditions when processing oils that naturally contain medium and long carbon chains (C8-C18), such as coconut or palm kernel oil. The lower severity operation results in decreased cracking, increasing the yield of aviation fuel product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Geoffrey W. Fichtl
  • Publication number: 20170029347
    Abstract: Processes for the production of linear alkylbenzenes from a renewable feedstock. Prior to converting the side chains of the glycerides and free fatty acids of the feedstock into hydrocarbons, the feedstock is separated into a stream rich in C10 and C14 free fatty acids glycerides having C10 and C14 fatty acid side chains and at least one, preferably two, other glyceride streams. The stream rich in glycerides having C10 and C14 fatty acid side chains can be converted via deoxygenation into a stream rich in C9 to C14 hydrocarbons while the other glyceride streams can be used as vegetable oil. A C10 to C13 hydrocarbon fraction from the stream rich in C9 to C14 hydrocarbons may be dehydrogenated to form olefins which may be reacted with benzene to form linear alkylbenzenes. The linear alkylbenzenes may be used to produce surfactants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Daniel L. Ellig, Geoffrey W. Fichtl, Charles P. Luebke
  • Publication number: 20170022125
    Abstract: Processes for providing a high purity olefin product are described. The processes involve dehydrating a feedstream comprising a mixture of alcohols having 3 to 8 carbon atoms and forming a mixed olefin stream and a water stream, the mixed olefin stream comprising a mixture of olefins having 3 to 8 carbon atoms. The mixed olefin stream is separated into at least a C3 olefin stream comprising olefins having 3 carbon atoms and a C4-8 olefin stream comprising olefins having 4 to 8 carbon atoms. The C4-8 olefin stream is separated into a C4 olefin stream comprising olefins having 4 carbon atoms and a C5-8 olefin stream comprising olefins having 5 to 8 carbon atoms. At least one of the C3 olefin stream and the C4 olefin stream is purified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventor: Geoffrey W. Fichtl
  • Publication number: 20160312134
    Abstract: A method for producing jet-range hydrocarbons includes passing a renewable olefin feedstock comprising C3 to C8 olefins to an oligomerization reactor containing a zeolite catalyst to produce an oligomerized effluent, separating the oligomerized effluent into at least a light stream, and a heavy olefin stream. At least a first portion of the heavy olefin stream is recycled to the oligomerization reactor to dilute the renewable olefin feedstock. portion of heavy olefin stream may be hydrogenated and separated to provide a jet range hydrocarbon product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Geoffrey W. Fichtl, Stanley J. Frey, Charles P. Luebke, Christopher P. Nicholas, Dana K. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20160312131
    Abstract: Processes for producing jet-range hydrocarbons includes splitting a renewable olefin feedstock comprising C3 to C8 olefins into a plurality of streams and passing each stream to an oligomerization reactor containing a zeolite catalyst to produce an oligomerized effluent. The reactors may be arranged in series, such that an oligomerized effluent comprises a diluent for a downstream reactor. The net oligomerized effluent may be separated and a heavy olefin stream comprising C8+ olefins may be hydrogenated and separated to provide a distillate range hydrocarbon product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Charles P. Luebke, Geoffrey W. Fichtl, Dana K. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20160312133
    Abstract: A method for producing jet-range hydrocarbons includes passing a renewable olefin feedstock comprising C3 to C8 olefins to an oligomerization reactor containing a zeolite catalyst to produce an oligomerized effluent, separating the oligomerized effluent into at least a C7? hydrocarbon stream, a heavy olefin stream, and a jet range olefin stream. At least a portion of the heavy olefin stream is recycled to the oligomerization reactor to dilute the renewable C4 olefin feedstock. The jet range olefin stream may be hydrotreated and separated to provide a jet range hydrocarbon product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Geoffrey W. Fichtl, Charles P. Luebke, Christopher P. Nicholas, Dana K. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20160289135
    Abstract: A process for producing aviation fuel and diesel from renewable feedstock is described. This process involves introducing the renewable feedstock into a hydrogenation and deoxygenation zone, and separating the hydrocarbon effluent from the hydrogenation and deoxygenation zone into an aviation boiling range fraction and a diesel boiling range fraction. The aviation boiling range fraction and diesel boiling range fraction are alternately sent to the isomerization and selective hydrocracking zone. This allows for lower severity isomerization and selective hydrocracking zone operating conditions when processing oils that naturally contain medium and long carbon chains (C8-C18), such as coconut or palm kernel oil. The lower severity operation results in decreased cracking, increasing the yield of aviation fuel product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventor: Geoffrey W. Fichtl
  • Patent number: 9163199
    Abstract: A linear alkyl benzene product and production of linear alkylbenzene from a natural oil are provided. A method comprises the step of deoxygenating the natural oils to form a stream comprising paraffins. The paraffins are dehydrogenated to provide mono-olefins. Then, benzene is alkylated with the mono-olefins under alkylation conditions to provide an alkylation effluent comprising alkylbenzenes and benzene. Thereafter, the alkylbenzenes are isolated to provide the alkylbenzene product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Stanley J. Frey, Daniel L. Ellig, Andrea G. Bozzano, Geoffrey W. Fichtl, Debarshi Majumder
  • Publication number: 20150284662
    Abstract: A linear alkyl benzene product and production of linear alkylbenzene from a natural oil are provided. A method comprises the step of deoxygenating the natural oils to form a stream comprising paraffins. The paraffins are dehydrogenated to provide mono-olefins. Then, benzene is alkylated with the mono-olefins under alkylation conditions to provide an alkylation effluent comprising alkylbenzenes and benzene. Thereafter, the alkylbenzenes are isolated to provide the alkylbenzene product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Stanley J. Frey, Daniel L. Ellig, Andrea G. Bozzano, Geoffrey W. Fichtl, Debarshi Majumder
  • Patent number: 9079814
    Abstract: A linear alkyl benzene product and production of linear alkylbenzene from a natural oil are provided. A method comprises the step of deoxygenating the natural oils to form a stream comprising paraffins. The paraffins are dehydrogenated to provide mono-olefins. Then, benzene is alkylated with the mono-olefins under alkylation conditions to provide an alkylation effluent comprising alkylbenzenes and benzene. Thereafter, the alkylbenzenes are isolated to provide the alkylbenzene product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Stanley J. Frey, Daniel L. Ellig, Andrea G. Bozzano, Geoffrey W. Fichtl, Debarshi Majumder
  • Patent number: 9079811
    Abstract: A linear alkyl benzene product and production of linear alkylbenzene from a natural oil are provided. A method comprises the step of deoxygenating the natural oils to form a stream comprising paraffins. The paraffins are dehydrogenated to provide mono-olefins. Then, benzene is alkylated with the mono-olefins under alkylation conditions to provide an alkylation effluent comprising alkylbenzenes and benzene. Thereafter, the alkylbenzenes are isolated to provide the alkylbenzene product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Stanley J. Frey, Daniel L. Ellig, Andrea G. Bozzano, Geoffrey W. Fichtl, Debarshi Majumder
  • Patent number: 9080134
    Abstract: The production of linear alkylbenzene from a natural oil is provided. A method comprises the step of deoxygenating the natural oils to form a stream comprising paraffins. The paraffins are dehydrogenated to provide mono-olefins. Then, benzene is alkylated with the mono-olefins under alkylation conditions to provide an alkylation effluent comprising alkylbenzenes and benzene. Thereafter, the alkylbenzenes are isolated to provide the alkylbenzene product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Stanley J. Frey, Daniel L. Ellig, Andrea G. Bozzano, Geoffrey W. Fichtl, Debarshi Majumder
  • Publication number: 20150148561
    Abstract: A linear alkyl benzene product and production of linear alkylbenzene from a natural oil are provided. A method comprises the step of deoxygenating the natural oils to form a stream comprising paraffins. The paraffins are dehydrogenated to provide mono-olefins. Then, benzene is alkylated with the mono-olefins under alkylation conditions to provide an alkylation effluent comprising alkylbenzenes and benzene. Thereafter, the alkylbenzenes are isolated to provide the alkylbenzene product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Stanley J. Frey, Daniel L. Ellig, Andrea G. Bozzano, Geoffrey W. Fichtl, Debarshi Majumder
  • Publication number: 20150072916
    Abstract: The production of linear alkylbenzene from a natural oil is provided. A method comprises the step of deoxygenating the natural oils to form a stream comprising paraffins. The paraffins are dehydrogenated to provide mono-olefins. Then, benzene is alkylated with the mono-olefins under alkylation conditions to provide an alkylation effluent comprising alkylbenzenes and benzene. Thereafter, the alkylbenzenes are isolated to provide the alkylbenzene product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Stanley J. Frey, Daniel L. Ellig, Andrea G. Bozzano, Geoffrey W. Fichtl, Debarshi Majumder
  • Publication number: 20150073176
    Abstract: A linear alkylbenzene product and a linear alkylbenzene sulfonate product from a natural oil are provided. The linear alkylbenzene product comprises alkylbenzenes having the formula C6H5CnH2n+1 wherein n is from 12 to 13; wherein the alkylbenzenes have at least 7 mass % modern carbon as measured by ASTM Method 6866; and wherein the alkyl group is a linear alkyl group for at least 80 mass % of the alkylbenzenes having the formula C6H5CnH2n+1 wherein n is from 12 to 13.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Stanley J. Frey, Daniel L. Ellig, Andrea G. Bozzano, Geoffrey W. Fichtl, Debarshi Majumder