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).

  • Process for Promoting Catalyst Activity for Ethyl Acetate Conversion
    Publication number: 20130172632
    Abstract: The process of the current invention relates to the production of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid and ethyl acetate in the presence of a catalyst. Conversion of ethyl acetate may be improved by adding water to the reactor. At least 0.01 wt. % water may be added to the reactor. The crude ethanol product is separated in one or more columns to yield an ethanol product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Radmila Wollrab, Zhenhua Zhou, Victor J. Johnston, David Lee, Heiko Weiner
  • Calcination of Modified Support to Prepare Hydrogenation Catalysts
    Publication number: 20130165702
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst having an amorphous support and one or more active metals. The amorphous support may comprise a support material and an amorphous support modifier, which adjusts the acidity of the support material. In preparing the amorphous catalyst, post-synthesis treatment, i.e. calcination, may be used to adjust the catalyst performance while converting acetic acid to ethanol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Heiko Weiner, Zhenhua Zhou, Victor J. Johnston
  • Catalysts Having Promoter Metals and Process for Producing Ethanol
    Publication number: 20130165701
    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: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhenhua Zhou, Victor Johnston, Heiko Weiner, Radmila Wollrab
  • Catalysts Comprising Secondary Noble Metals and Process for Producing Ethanol
    Publication number: 20130165700
    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: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhenhua Zhou, Victor Johnston, Heiko Weiner, Radmila Wollrab
  • PROCESS FOR PRODUCING ETHANOL IN A REACTOR HAVING A CONSTANT TEMPERATURE
    Publication number: 20130165704
    Abstract: The present invention, in one embodiment, relates to a process for producing ethanol. The process comprises the step of reacting acetic acid and hydrogen in a shell and tube reactor and in the presence of a catalyst under conditions effective to form a crude ethanol product. The crude ethanol product comprises ethanol, acetic acid, ethyl acetate, and water. The process further comprises the step of recovering ethanol from the crude ethanol product. The shell and tube reactor comprises one or more tubes, each containing a heat transfer medium, and a shell comprising the catalyst. Preferably, the shell and tube reactor has an inlet temperature and an outlet temperature and the inlet temperature is substantially similar to or less than the outlet temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Radmila Wollrab, Zhenhua Zhou, Victor J. Johnston, Heiko Weiner
  • Hydrogenation Catalysts Having An Amorphous Support
    Publication number: 20130165703
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst having an amorphous support and one or more active metals. The amorphous support may comprise a support material and an amorphous support modifier, which adjusts the acidity of the support material. In preparing the amorphous catalyst, post-synthesis treatment, i.e. calcination, may be used to adjust the catalyst performance while converting acetic acid to ethanol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Heiko Weiner, Zhenhua Zhou, Victor J. Johnston
  • Processes for making ethanol from acetic acid
    Patent number: 8471075
    Abstract: A process for selective formation of ethanol from acetic acid by hydrogenating acetic acid in the presence of first metal, a silicaceous support, and at least one 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: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    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
  • Process For Producing Ethanol By Hydrogenating Mixed Feeds Comprising Water
    Publication number: 20130158300
    Abstract: The processes of the current invention relate to the production of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid and ethyl acetate. Conversion of ethyl acetate may be improved by controlling the water content that may be fed to the vaporizer to form a feed stream that may be fed to the hydrogenation reactor. At least 0.01 wt. % water is fed to the vaporizer. The crude ethanol product is separated two or more columns to yield an ethanol product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Radmila Wollrab, Zhenhua Zhou, Victor J. Johnston, David Lee, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner
  • Ethanol compositions
    Patent number: 8460405
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is to an ethanol composition comprising at least 92 wt. % ethanol and from 95 wppm to 1,000 wppm isopropanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Trinity Horton, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, Lincoln Sarager, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner
  • Cobalt and tin catalysts for producing ethanol
    Patent number: 8455702
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the formation of ethanol from a mixed feed, the steps of the process comprising: contacting a feed stream containing the mixed feed and hydrogen at an elevated temperature with a hydrogenation catalyst comprising from 3 to 25 wt. % of a substantially equal molar ratio of cobalt and tin on a support, wherein the mixed feed comprises 5 to 40 wt. % ethyl acetate and 60 to 95 wt. % acetic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Zhenhua Zhou, Victor Johnston, Heiko Weiner
  • Catalyst Preparations for High Conversion Catalysts for Producing Ethanol
    Publication number: 20130131399
    Abstract: A process for producing a catalyst, the process comprising the steps of: impregnating a first metal from a first metal precursor on a support to form a first impregnated support; calcining the first impregnated support; impregnating a second metal from a second metal precursor on the first impregnated support to form a second impregnated support; calcining the second impregnated support to form the catalyst, wherein the catalyst has a total metal loading of at least 2 wt. % based on the total weight of the catalyst. A method for hydrogenating alkanoic acids in the presence of the catalyst is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Heiko Weiner, Ana Rita Almeida, Graham Ormsby
  • Processes for producing ethanol from acetaldehyde
    Patent number: 8426652
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for forming an ethanol mixture by hydrogenating an acetaldehyde feed stream in the presence of a catalyst. The acetaldehyde feed stream comprises acetaldehyde and at least one of acetic acid and ethanol. Preferably the acetaldehyde feed stream is a by-product stream from a vinyl acetate synthesis process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, Lincoln Sarager, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner, Trinity Horton Hale
  • PROCESSES FOR HYDROGENATING ALKANOIC ACIDS USING CATALYST COMPRISING TUNGSTEN
    Publication number: 20130090500
    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: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Radmila Jevtic, Victor Johnston, Heiko Weiner, Zhenhua Zhou
  • CATALYSTS FOR PRODUCING ACRYLIC ACIDS AND ACRYLATES
    Publication number: 20130085293
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a catalyst composition comprising vanadium and titanium. The catalyst composition further comprises ethylene glycol and citric acid. Preferably, the catalyst composition is substantially free of oxalic acid and lactic acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dick Nagaki, Craig Peterson, Mark Scates, Heiko Weiner, Josefina T. Chapman, Alexandra S. Locke
  • CATALYSTS FOR PRODUCING ACRYLIC ACIDS AND ACRYLATES
    Publication number: 20130079553
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a catalyst composition comprising vanadium and titanium. The catalyst composition has a surface area of at least 22.6 m2/g and a plurality of pores, and the plurality of pores have a pore diameter of less than 11.9 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Heiko Weiner, Josefina T. Chapman, Alexandra S. Locke, Craig J. Peterson, Mark O. Scates, Dick Nagaki
  • Process for producing a water stream from ethanol production
    Patent number: 8399719
    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: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Trinity Horton, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, Lincoln Sarager, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner
  • CATALYSTS FOR PRODUCING ACRYLIC ACIDS AND ACRYLATES
    Publication number: 20130053599
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a catalyst composition comprising titanium, phosphorus, and less than 1 wt. % vanadium. The catalyst composition has a molar ratio of phosphorus to titanium of at least 1.0:1.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Heiko Weiner, Josefina T. Chapman, Alexandra S. Locke, Dick Nagaki, Craig J. Peterson, Mark O. Scates
  • PROCESS FOR PURIFYING ETHANOL
    Publication number: 20130046113
    Abstract: Purifying and/or recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. Separation and purification processes of crude ethanol mixture are employed to allow recovery of ethanol and remove impurities. In addition, the process involves returning acetaldehyde separated from the crude ethanol product to the reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Radmila Wollrab, Nathan Bower, Josefina T. Chapman, Gerald Grusendorf, Victor J. Johnston, Lincoln Sarager, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner
  • REDUCING IMPURITIES IN HYDROGENATION PROCESSES WITH MULTIPLE REACTION ZONES
    Publication number: 20130035520
    Abstract: In a hydrogenation processes, a second lower temperature hydrogenation reactor is used to control the concentration of impurities, namely ethyl acetate, acetaldehyde, and acetal, prior to separating the reaction mixtures. Controlling impurities reduces the need for separation capital and improves overall efficiencies for recovering alcohols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, R. Jay Warner, Dheeraj Kumar, Heiko Weiner
  • Processes for producing ethanol from acetaldehyde
    Patent number: 8344186
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for forming an ethanol mixture by hydrogenating an acetaldehyde feed stream in the presence of a catalyst. The acetaldehyde feed stream comprises acetaldehyde and at least one of acetic acid and ethanol. Preferably the acetaldehyde feed stream is a by-product stream from a vinyl acetate synthesis process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, Lincoln Sarager, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner, Trinity Horton