Patents by Inventor Heiko Weiner

Heiko Weiner 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).

  • Processes for making ethyl acetate from acetic acid
    Patent number: 8680317
    Abstract: A process for hydrogenating acetic acid to form of ethyl acetate and mixtures of ethyl acetate and ethanol. The hydrogenation is done in the presence of catalyst, preferably on a support that optionally includes a support modifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Victor J. Johnston, Laiyuan Chen, Barbara F. Kimmich, Josefina T. Chapman, James H. Zink, Heiko Weiner, John L. Potts, Radmila Jevtic
  • Denatured fuel ethanol compositions for blending with gasoline or diesel fuel for use as motor fuels
    Patent number: 8668750
    Abstract: A denatured fuel ethanol composition for blending with fuels, including gasoline and diesel fuel. The composition includes an ethanol composition comprising at least 92 wt. % ethanol; and from 95 wppm to 1,000 wppm isopropanol; and at least 1.96 vol. % fuel denaturant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Victor Johnston, Lincoln Sarager, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner, Gerald Gruesendorf, Trinity Horton, Radmila Jevtic
  • Catalyst for producing acrylic acids and acrylates
    Patent number: 8669201
    Abstract: The invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process includes the steps of contacting an alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent over a catalyst composition under conditions effective to produce the acrylate product. The catalyst composition comprises vanadium, titanium and tungsten. Preferably, the catalyst comprises vanadium to tungsten at a molar ratio of at least 0.02:1, in an active phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Dick Nagaki, Tianshu Pan, Craig J. Peterson, Heiko Weiner, Elizabeth Bowden, Josefina T. Chapman, Sean Mueller
  • Process for production of ethanol using a mixed feed using copper containing catalyst
    Patent number: 8664454
    Abstract: The present invention produces ethanol in a reactor that comprises a catalyst comprising from 40 to 70 wt. % copper and 15 to 40 wt. % zinc and a support material. The crude ethanol product may be separated and ethanol recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Heiko Weiner, Zhenhua Zhou, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston
  • Processes for producing acrylic acids and acrylates
    Patent number: 8658822
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of reacting an alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent under conditions effective to produce a crude acrylate product. A molar ratio of alkylenating agent to alkanoic acid is maintained at a level of at least 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Sean Mueller, Dick Nagaki, Craig J. Peterson, Mark O. Scates, Heiko Weiner, Josefina T. Chapman, Alexandra S. Locke
  • Hydrogenation catalysts prepared from polyoxometalate precursors and process for using same to produce ethanol while minimizing diethyl ether formation
    Patent number: 8658843
    Abstract: The present invention relates to hydrogenation catalysts prepared from polyoxometalate precursors. The polyoxometalate precursors introduce a support modifier to the catalyst. The catalysts are used for hydrogenating alkanoic acids and/or esters thereof to alcohols with relatively low ether formation, preferably with conversion of the ester coproduct. The catalyst may also comprise one or more active metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Heiko Weiner, Zhenhua Zhou
  • Silica Enhanced Support for Hydrogenation Catalysts and Processes for Producing Ethanol
    Publication number: 20140051894
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst. The catalyst is used for converting acetic acid to ethanol. The catalyst comprises one or more active metals on an alkali metal silicate support or on an alkaline earth metal silicate support, wherein the support further comprises a silica enhancer and a support modifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Heiko Weiner, Radmila Wollrab, Zhenhua Zhou
  • Catalyst for producing acrylic acids and acrylates
    Patent number: 8652988
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a catalyst composition, comprising vanadium and titanium. Preferably, the molar ratio of vanadium to titanium in an active phase of the catalyst composition is greater than 0.5:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Dick Nagaki, Heiko Weiner, Josefina T. Chapman, Mark O. Scates, Alexandra S. Locke, Craig J. Peterson
  • Process for utilizing a water stream in a hydrolysis reaction to form ethanol
    Patent number: 8653308
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing a water stream comprising the steps of hydrogenating acetic acid to form a crude ethanol product and separating at least a portion of the crude ethanol product in at least one column of a plurality of columns into a distillate comprising ethanol and a residue comprising the water stream. The water stream preferably is essentially free of organic impurities other than acetic acid and ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Trinity Horton Hale, Radmila Wollrab, Victor J. Johnston, Lincoln Sarager, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner
  • Processes for Maximizing Ethanol Formation In the Hydrogenation of Acetic Acid
    Publication number: 20140046100
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for purifying a crude ethanol product. The process comprises the step of hydrogenating acetic acid in a reactor in the presence of a catalyst to form the crude ethanol product. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude ethanol product in a purification zone. The purification zone preferably comprises a first column, which yields a first distillate comprising ethanol, water and ethyl acetate, and a first residue comprising acetic acid. The at least a portion of the crude ethanol product has a residence time from the reactor to the purification zone from 5 minutes to 5 days.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Trinity Horton Hale, Radmila Wollrab, Victor J. Johnston, Tianshu Pan, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner, Nathan Bower, Josefina T. Chapman, Gerald Grusendorf
  • Catalysts for producing acrylic acids and acrylates
    Patent number: 8642498
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a catalyst composition comprising vanadium, titanium; and at least one oxide additive. The at least one oxide additive is present in an amount of at least 0.1 wt % based on the total weight of the catalyst composition. The molar ratio of titanium to metal additive in an active phase of the catalyst composition is at least 0.05:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Dick Nagaki, Heiko Weiner, Josefina T. Chapman, Mark O. Scates, Alexandra S. Locke, Craig J. Peterson
  • Catalysts comprising secondary noble metals and process for producing ethanol
    Patent number: 8637715
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst comprising platinum, tin and a secondary noble metal selected from the group consisting of rhodium, palladium, gold and iridium. The catalyst may be on a support. In some embodiments, the support may comprise calcium. The catalyst is used for converting acetic acid to ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Zhenhua Zhou, Victor Johnston, Heiko Weiner, Radmila Wollrab
  • Process for producing ethanol over catalysts containing platinum and palladium
    Patent number: 8637714
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing product comprising ethanol which comprises contacting a feedstock comprising acetic acid and hydrogen in a reaction zone at hydrogenation conditions with a catalyst composition comprising platinum, palladium and tin on a support, wherein the catalyst has an excess amount of platinum relative to the amount of palladium based on weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Zhenhua Zhou, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, Heiko Weiner
  • Process for Making Ethanol from Acetic Acid Using Acidic Catalysts
    Publication number: 20130345478
    Abstract: A process for selective formation of ethanol from acetic acid by hydrogenating acetic acid in the presence of a catalyst comprises a first metal on an acidic support. The acidic support may comprise an acidic support material or may comprise an support having an acidic support modifier. The catalyst may be used alone to produced ethanol via hydrogenation or in combination with another catalyst. In addition, the crude ethanol product is separated to obtain ethanol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Radmila Wollrab, Victor J. Johnston, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner
  • CATALYSTS FOR MAKING ETHANOL FROM ACETIC ACID
    Publication number: 20130296164
    Abstract: Catalysts and processes for forming catalysts for use in hydrogenating acetic acid to form ethanol. In one embodiment, the catalyst comprises a first metal, a silicaceous support, and at least one metasilicate support modifier. Preferably, the first metal is selected from the group consisting of copper, iron, cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, platinum, titanium, zinc, chromium, rhenium, molybdenum, and tungsten. In addition the catalyst may comprise a second metal preferably selected from the group consisting of copper, molybdenum, tin, chromium, iron, cobalt, vanadium, tungsten, palladium, platinum, lanthanum, cerium, manganese, ruthenium, rhenium, gold, and nickel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Victor J. Johnston, Barbara F. Kimmich, John L. Potts, Heiko Weiner, Radmila Wollrab, James H. Zink, Josefina T. Chapman, Laiyuan Chen
  • Catalysts having promoter metals and process for producing ethanol
    Patent number: 8575406
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst. The catalyst is used for converting acetic acid to ethanol. The catalyst comprises platinum, tin, a base metal selected from calcium and/or tungsten and a promoter metal selected from barium, potassium and/or cesium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Zhenhua Zhou, Victor Johnston, Heiko Weiner, Radmila Wollrab
  • Alcohol production process integrating acetic acid feed stream comprising water from carbonylation process
    Patent number: 8569551
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing ethanol, comprising the step of providing from a distillation column in a carbonylation process a purified acetic acid stream comprising up to 25 wt. % water. The process further comprises the step of hydrogenating acetic acid of the purified acetic acid stream in the presence of a catalyst and under conditions effective to form a crude ethanol product comprising ethanol and water. Ethanol is recovered from the crude ethanol product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, Tianshu Pan, Mark O. Scates, Ronald David Shaver, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner, Josefina T. Chapman
  • Processes for making tin-containing catalysts
    Patent number: 8569203
    Abstract: A process for producing a catalyst comprising the steps of contacting a support with a mixed metal precursor comprising tin oxalate, a second metal precursor, a solubilizing agent such as ammonium oxalate, and water to form an impregnated support and heating the impregnated support under conditions effective to remove at least a weight majority of the water and reduce the tin from the tin oxalate and the second metal from the second metal precursor and thereby form the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Heiko Weiner, Radmila Jevtic, Victor Johnston
  • Catalyst supports having crystalline support modifiers
    Patent number: 8569549
    Abstract: A catalyst comprising a first metal, a silicaceous support, and at least one metasilicate support modifier, wherein at least 1 wt. % of the at least one metasilicate support modifier is crystalline in phase, as determined by x-ray diffraction. The invention also relates to processes for forming such catalysts, to supports used therein, and to processes for hydrogenating acetic acid in the presence of such catalysts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Heiko Weiner, Victor J. Johnston
  • Production of mixtures of methylenedianiline and its higher homologues using calcined metal oxide-silica catalysts
    Patent number: 8558027
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions, systems, and methods of forming an amine (e.g., methylenedianiline (MDA)) using an acid catalyst including, for example, a metal oxide-silica catalyst calcined at temperature(s) of about ?500° C. to form a solid acid silica-metal oxide catalyst. A metal oxide of a solid acid silica-metal oxide catalyst may comprise alumina. A process for making a solid acid silica-metal oxide catalyst may comprise calcining an amorphous alumina-silica material at temperature(s) of about ?500° C. and/or under an anhydrous and/or inert atmosphere. A rearrangement reaction of the condensation product of aniline and formaldehyde in the presence of a solid acid silica-metal oxide catalyst may yield more MDA and/or more desirable isomer(s) of MDA than reactions performed with a corresponding catalyst calcined at temperature(s) of less than 500° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Heiko Weiner, David C. Molzahn, Robert J. Gulotty, Jr.