Patents by Inventor James G. Vassilakis

James G. Vassilakis 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).

  • Patent number: 8101807
    Abstract: A hydrogenolysis method for converting glycerol into propylene glycol by directing a glycerol containing feed having a pH of about 10 or more to a reaction section including at least one glycerol conversion catalyst and operating at glycerol conversions conditions to form a reaction product including propylene glycol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Maureen L. Bricker, Laura E. Leonard, Todd M. Kruse, James G. Vassilakis, Simon R. Bare
  • Publication number: 20100160691
    Abstract: A hydrogenolysis method for converting glycerol into propylene glycol by directing a glycerol containing feed having a pH of about 10 or more to a reaction section including at least one glycerol conversion catalyst and operating at glycerol conversions conditions to form a reaction product including propylene glycol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Maureen Bricker, Laura E. Leonard, Todd M. Kruse, James G. Vassilakis, Simon Bare
  • Publication number: 20090264686
    Abstract: Hydrogenolysis processes are provided that can include providing a hydrogenolysis reactor having a catalyst therein. The catalyst can be exposed to a reducing agent in the absence of polyhydric alcohol compound while maintaining a temperature of the catalyst above 290° C. Hydrogenolysis processes can also include providing a passivated catalyst to within a reactor and exposing the catalyst to a reducing atmosphere while maintaining the catalyst at a temperature less than 210° C. Hydrogenolysis catalyst preparation methods are provided that can include exposing the catalyst to a first reducing atmosphere while maintaining the catalyst at a first temperature to reduce at least a portion of the catalyst. The method can also include passivating at least the portion of the catalyst and depassivating the portion of the catalyst in the presence of a second reducing atmosphere while maintaining the portion of the catalyst at a second temperature less than the first temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Johnathan E. Holladay, James F. White, Thomas H. Peterson, John G. Frye, JR., Danielle S. Muzatko, Simon R. Bare, James G. Vassilakis, Richard R. Rosin
  • Patent number: 7442365
    Abstract: A process for preparing beads of various compositions has been developed. The process involves preparing a reaction mixture of sources of framework elements of a molecular sieve. The reaction mixture can optionally contain molecular sieve seeds. Additional sources of the framework elements are added to give a concentration above the critical supersaturation limit thereby forming beads. Depending on the composition of the reaction mixture and the reaction conditions one can obtain beads which are substantially amorphous, to beads that are substantially crystalline molecular sieve. These beads in turn can be further processed to deposit a molecular sieve layer onto the beads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Lance L. Jacobsen, Brian S. Konrad, David A. Lesch, Beckay J. Mezza, James G. Vassilakis, Cynthia R. Berinti-Vondrasek
  • Patent number: 7015175
    Abstract: A catalyst and process is disclosed to selectively upgrade a paraffinic feedstock to obtain an isoparaffin-rich product for blending into gasoline. The catalyst comprises a support of a sulfated oxide or hydroxide of a Group IVB (IUPAC 4) metal, a first component of at least one lanthanide element or yttrium component, which is preferably ytterbium, and at least one platinum-group metal component which is preferably platinum and a refractory-oxide binder having at least one platinum-group metal component dispersed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: James G. Vassilakis, Richard R. Rosin, Steven A. Bradley, Ralph D. Gillespie, Michelle J. Cohn, Feng Xu
  • Patent number: 5208197
    Abstract: The combination of a steam-stabilized form of zeolite Y, known in the art as Y-85, and a form of zeolite beta which has been modified to maximize the weak acid sites and minimize the strong acid sites, is found to be a uniquely effective acidic component of a hydrocracking catalyst for the production of gasoline. Both the catalyst composition and the hydrocracking process utilizing the catalyst are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: James G. Vassilakis, Donald F. Best, Gary W. Skeels, Edith M. Flanigen
  • Patent number: 5207892
    Abstract: Novel catalyst compositions comprising a metal hydrogenation component and a modified form of zeolite Y are found to be highly effective in the hydrocarbon conversion processes carried out in the presence of added hydrogen and involving hydrogenation as an essential reaction mechanism. The modified form of zeolite Y is prepared from a starting zeolite Y which has been ammonium cation exchanged to lower the alkali metal content to less than 3.0 weight percent. The starting composition is then steamed at temperatures above about 550.degree. C. to reduce the unit cell dimension and then contacted with an aqueous ammonium ion solution having a pH below about 4 to increase the bulk Si/Al.sub.2 ratio to the range of about 6.5 to 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: James G. Vassilakis, Donald F. Best
  • Patent number: 5160033
    Abstract: The combination of a steam-stabilized form of zeolite Y, known in the art as Y-85, and a form of zeolite beta which has been modified to maximize the weak acid sites and minimize the strong acid sites, is found to be a uniquely effective acidic component of a hydrocracking catalyst for the production of gasoline. Both the catalyst composition and the hydrocracking process utilizing the catalyst are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: James G. Vassilakis, Donald F. Best, Gary W. Skeels, Edith M. Flanigen
  • Patent number: 5013699
    Abstract: Novel catalyst bases are described which are prepared by hydrothermally treating an ammonium ion exchanged sodium Y zeolite followed by low pH ammonium ion exchange to produce highly crystalline zeolite catalyst base. Catalysts incorporating such novel zeolite catalyst bases, as well as hydrocracking and fluid catalytic cracking processes for the production of gasoline products utilizing catalysts incorporating such novel catalyst bases, are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: James G. Vassilakis, Donald F. Best
  • Patent number: 4867954
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for catalytically reducing one or more nitrogen oxides from a gaseous stream containing one or more nitrogen oxides and optionally one or more sulfur oxides which comprises contacting said gaseous stream and ammonia with a microporous molecular sieve composition at effective reduction conditions in which the amount of ammonia in said method is excessive over the stoichiometric amount necessary for catalytically reducing one or more nitrogen oxides from said gaseous stream, wherein said microporous molecular sieve composition is (i) optionally acid treated with an inorganic or organic acid, (ii) hydrogen-forming cation exchanged and (iii) optionally metal cation exchanged, prior to said contacting in said method, and wherein at least a portion of excessive ammonia in said method is oxidized without substantial adverse effect on catalytically reducing one or more nitrogen oxides from said gaseous stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Mark T. Staniulis, Alan P. Risch, James G. Vassilakis, Donald F. Best