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 maximizing ethanol formation in the hydrogenation of acetic acid
    Patent number: 8552224
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Trinity Horton, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, Tianshu Pan, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner, Nathan Bower, Josefina T. Chapman, Gerald Grusendorf
  • Process for vaporizing acetic acid for hydrogenation processes to produce ethanol
    Patent number: 8552225
    Abstract: Vaporizing acetic acid in the presence of hydrogen to provide a vapor feed stream for a hydrogenation process that produces ethanol. The vaporizer forms a vapor feed stream and a blowdown stream having a weight ratio of the vapor feed stream to the blowdown stream of at least 2:1. The acetic acid may vaporized at a temperature below acetic acid's boiling point at the operating pressure of the reactor. The hydrogenation process produces a crude ethanol product and ethanol is separated from the crude product. In addition, at least one recycle stream comprising acetic acid and less than 1.0 wt. % compounds having a boiling point higher than acetic acid, may also be separated. The recycle streams may be introduced to the vaporizer along with acetic acid to form the vapor feed stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Trinity Horton, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner, Al Amleh, Gerald Gruesendorf
  • Process for Producing Ethanol by Hydrocarbon Oxidation and Hydrogenation or Hydration
    Publication number: 20130261347
    Abstract: Hydrocarbons are oxidized to ethylene and/or oxygenates that comprise acetic acid. The acetic acid may be converted to ethanol by hydrogenation. The ethylene may be converted to ethanol by hydration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Scates, Heiko Weiner, Zhenhua Zhou, James Zink
  • Hydrogenation Catalysts and Processes for Making Same
    Publication number: 20130261349
    Abstract: A catalyst composition comprising tin and optionally a second metal for use in the production of alcohols such as ethanol from carboxylic acids such as acetic acid. An acidic solution such as nitric acid is utilized in the preparation of the catalyst according to one embodiment of the present invention to better solubilize an organometallic tin precursor resulting in the formation of catalysts having particularly high selectivity to ethanol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Heiko Weiner, Zhenhua Zhou
  • Process for Producing Ethanol by Alkane Oxidation and Hydrogenation or Hydration
    Publication number: 20130261348
    Abstract: Ethane is oxidized to ethylene and/or oxygenates that comprise acetic acid. The acetic acid may be converted to ethanol by hydrogenation. The ethylene may be converted to ethanol by hydration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Scates, Heiko Weiner, Zhenhua Zhou, James Zink
  • Process for making ethanol from acetic acid using acidic catalysts
    Patent number: 8546622
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner
  • Ethanol Manufacturing Process Over Catalyst Having Improved Radial Crush Strength
    Publication number: 20130245333
    Abstract: Acetic acid is hydrogenation in the presence of a catalyst comprising one or more active metals on a silica support, wherein the catalyst has a radial crush strength of at least 4 N/mm. The one or more active metals may include cobalt, copper, gold, iron, nickel, palladium, platinum, iridium, osmium, rhenium, rhodium, ruthenium, tin, zinc, lanthanum, cerium, manganese, chromium, vanadium, molybdenum and mixtures thereof. Radial crush strength may be improved by steam treating the catalyst support prior to the loading of the one or more active metals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Zhenhua Zhou, Emily Duff, Dheeraj Kumar, Heiko Weiner
  • Stacked Bed Reactor with Diluents for Producing Ethanol
    Publication number: 20130245334
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for producing ethanol using a stacked bed reactor comprising a first bed comprising a first hydrogenation catalyst and a second bed comprising a second hydrogenation catalyst and one or more diluents. The diluents may be selected from the group consisting of silica, silica-alumina and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Heiko Weiner, Zhenhua Zhou, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston
  • Promoters for Cobalt-Tin Catalysts for Reducing Alkanoic Acids
    Publication number: 20130245332
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the formation of an alcohol from an alkanoic acid, the steps of the process comprising: contacting a feed stream containing the alkanoic acid and hydrogen at an elevated temperature with a hydrogenating catalyst comprising from 3 to 25 wt. % of active metals comprising tin and cobalt and a metal promoter selected from the group consisting of noble metals or first metal, the first metal selected from the group of barium, cesium and potassium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Heiko Weiner, Zhenhua Zhou, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston
  • Rhodium/ Tin Catalysts and Processes for Producing Ethanol
    Publication number: 20130245336
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for producing ethanol using a catalyst comprising rhodium and tin on a support. The rhodium and tin may be present in a molar ratio of 20:80 to 80:20.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhenhua Zhou, Victor J. Johnston, Heiko Weiner
  • Catalyst for Producing Acrylic Acids and Acrylates
    Publication number: 20130245311
    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: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dick Nagaki, Tianshu Pan, Craig J. Peterson, Heiko Weiner, Elizabeth Bowden, Josefina T. Chapman, Sean Mueller
  • Catalyst for Producing Acrylic Acids and Acrylates
    Publication number: 20130245308
    Abstract: In one embodiment, 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 a metal phosphate matrix containing vanadium and bismuth. Preferably, the catalyst comprises, in an active phase, vanadium to bismuth at a molar ratio of at least 0.02:1. Preferably, the catalyst composition is substantially free of titanium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dick Nagaki, Craig J. Peterson, Heiko Weiner, Elizabeth Bowden, Josefina T. Chapman, Sean Mueller
  • Acetic Acid Hydrogenation over a Group VIII Metal Calcined Catalyst Having a Secondary Promoter
    Publication number: 20130245335
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for hydrogenating feedstock comprising acetic acid in the presence of hydrogen to product comprising ethanol in a reaction zone under hydrogenation conditions over a catalyst composition promoted with cobalt, rhodium, cesium or a combination thereof on a previously calcined composition comprising at least one Group VIII metal and tin on a support material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhenhua Zhou, Victor J. Johnston, Heiko Weiner
  • CATALYST FOR PRODUCING ACRYLIC ACIDS AND ACRYLATES
    Publication number: 20130245310
    Abstract: A process for producing an acrylate product comprises the step of contacting an alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent over a catalyst over conditions effective to produce the acrylate product. The catalyst composition comprises vanadium, titanium and bismuth. Preferably, the catalyst comprises vanadium to bismuth at a molar ratio of greater than 0.2:1, in an active phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Dick Nagaki, Craig Peterson, Heiko Weiner, Elizabeth Bowden, Josefina T. Chapman
  • Hydrogenation of Mixed Oxygenate Stream to Produce Alcohol
    Publication number: 20130245131
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for the recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of a mixed oxygenate stream comprising ethyl acetate and acetaldehyde. The crude ethanol product is separated in at least one distillation column to product ethanol. The mixed oxygenate stream may be obtained from syngas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhenhua Zhou, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, Heiko Weiner
  • Hydrogenation Catalysts Prepared from Polyoxometalate Precursors and Process for Using Same to Produce Ethanol While Minimizing Diethyl Ether Formation
    Publication number: 20130245337
    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: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Heiko Weiner, Zhenhua Zhou
  • Hydrogenation Catalysts Prepared from Polyoxometalate Precursors and Process for Using Same to Produce Ethanol
    Publication number: 20130245338
    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, preferably with conversion of the ester coproduct. The catalyst may also comprise one or more active metals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Heiko Weiner, Zhenhua Zhou
  • Recovering ethanol sidedraw by separating crude product from hydrogenation process
    Patent number: 8536384
    Abstract: A process for producing ethanol is disclosed, comprising the steps of hydrogenating acetic acid in a reactor in the presence of a catalyst to form a crude ethanol product, separating at least a portion of the crude ethanol product in a column into a first distillate comprising ethanol and a first residue comprising acetic acid and water, wherein a substantial portion of the water in the crude ethanol product that is fed to the column is removed in the first residue, and separating a portion of the ethanol mixture stream to the second distillation column to yield an ethanol product sidedraw, second residue comprising water and a second distillate comprising ethyl acetate. The water content of the ethanol product sidedraw may be further reduced to yield a stream having reduced water content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Victor J. Johnston, Radmila Jevtic, David Lee, Adam Orosco, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner, Zhenhua Zhou, Emily Duff
  • Rhodium/tin catalysts and processes for producing ethanol
    Patent number: 8536383
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for producing ethanol using a catalyst comprising rhodium and tin on a support. The rhodium and tin may be present in a molar ratio of 20:80 to 80:20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Zhenhua Zhou, Victor J. Johnston, Heiko Weiner
  • Processes for hydrogenating alkanoic acids using catalyst comprising tungsten
    Patent number: 8536382
    Abstract: A process hydrogenating alkanoic acids in the presence of a catalyst that comprises supports, one or more metals, tungsten oxide, and at least one alkaline earth metal oxide or metasilicate. The molar ratio of the at least one alkaline earth metal oxide or metasilicate to tungsten oxide, based on the metals, is from 1:3 to 5:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Radmila Jevtic, Victor Johnston, Heiko Weiner, Zhenhua Zhou