Patents by Inventor James R. Butler

James R. Butler 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: 8742190
    Abstract: Methods of forming ethylbenzene are described herein. In one embodiment, the method includes contacting dilute ethylene with benzene in the presence of an alkylation catalyst to form ethylbenzene, wherein such contact occurs in a reaction zone containing a gaseous phase and recovering ethylbenzene from the reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Butler
  • Patent number: 8734737
    Abstract: A process for making ethylbenzene and/or styrene by reacting toluene with methane is disclosed. In one embodiment the process can include reacting toluene with methane to form a product stream comprising ethylbenzene and further processing the ethylbenzene to form styrene in an existing styrene production facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Butler, Joseph E. Pelati
  • Patent number: 8729328
    Abstract: A method for the oxidative coupling of hydrocarbons, such as the oxidative coupling of methane to toluene, includes providing an oxidative catalyst inside a reactor, and carrying out the oxidative coupling reaction under a set of reaction conditions. The oxidative catalyst includes (A) at least one element selected from the group consisting of the Lanthanoid group, Mg, Ca, and the elements of Group 4 of the periodic table (Ti, Zr, and Hf); (B) at least one element selected from the group consisting of the Group 1 elements of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and the elements of Group 3 (including La and Ac) and Groups 5-15 of the periodic table; (C) at least one element selected from the group consisting of the Group 1 elements of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and the elements Ca, Sr, and Ba; and (D) oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sivadinarayana Chinta, Joseph L. Thorman, James R. Butler, Joe Hunter, Taylor Rives
  • Publication number: 20140128651
    Abstract: Alkylation systems and methods of minimizing alkylation catalyst regeneration are described herein. The alkylation systems generally include a preliminary alkylation system adapted to receive an input stream including an alkyl aromatic hydrocarbon and contact the input stream with a preliminary alkylation catalyst disposed therein to form a first output stream. The preliminary alkylation catalyst generally includes a zeolite catalyst having a SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of less than about 25. The alkylation systems further include a first alkylation system adapted to receive the first output stream and contact the first output stream with a first alkylation catalyst disposed therein and an alkylating agent to form a second output stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: FINA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: James R. Butler, Xin Xiao, James T. Merrill
  • Patent number: 8710286
    Abstract: A process for the coupling of hydrocarbons and utilizing the heat energy produced by the reaction is disclosed. In one embodiment the process can include reacting methane with oxygen to form a product stream containing ethane and further processing the ethane to ethylene in an existing ethylene production facility while using the heat energy produced by the reaction within the facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Butler
  • Patent number: 8713681
    Abstract: Detecting executable machine instructions in a data is accomplished by accessing a plurality of values representing data contained within a memory of a computer system and performing pre-processing on the plurality of values to produce a candidate data subset. The pre-processing may include determining whether the plurality of values meets (a) a randomness condition, (b) a length condition, and/or (c) a string ratio condition. The candidate data subset is inspected for computer instructions, characteristics of the computer instructions are determined, and a predetermined action taken based on the characteristics of the computer instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Mandiant, LLC
    Inventors: Peter J. Silberman, James R. Butler, II, Nick J. Harbour
  • Publication number: 20140114004
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a polystyrene based nanocomposite by combining a monomer with a nanoparticle to form a mixture and subjecting the mixture to polymerization conditions to produce a polymeric composite. In an embodiment the nanoparticle has been treated with an additive prior to combining with the monomer and the additive contains a silane moiety.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: FINA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: James R. Butler, David W. Knoeppel
  • Publication number: 20140107384
    Abstract: A process for making styrene is disclosed that includes reacting toluene with a C1 source and a co-feed in the presence of a catalyst in a reactor to form a first product stream comprising styrene, ethylbenzene, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen; separating the hydrogen and carbon monoxide from the first product stream to form a second stream; separating the hydrogen from the second stream to form a third stream comprising hydrogen and a fourth stream comprising carbon monoxide; wherein the fourth stream is recycled to the reactor and forms at least a portion of the co-feed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: FINA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Pelati, James R. Butler, Sivadinarayana Chinta
  • Publication number: 20140094631
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for making styrene by converting methanol to formaldehyde in a reactor then reacting the formaldehyde with toluene to form styrene in a separate reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: FINA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: James R. Butler, Joseph E. Pelati
  • Patent number: 8686205
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for making styrene by converting methanol to formaldehyde in a reactor then reacting the formaldehyde with toluene to form styrene in a separate reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Butler, Joseph E. Pelati
  • Patent number: 8680354
    Abstract: Alkylation systems and methods of minimizing alkylation catalyst regeneration are described herein. The alkylation systems generally include a preliminary alkylation system adapted to receive an input stream including an alkyl aromatic hydrocarbon and contact the input stream with a preliminary alkylation catalyst disposed therein to form a first output stream. The preliminary alkylation catalyst generally includes a zeolite catalyst having a SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of less than about 25. The alkylation systems further include a first alkylation system adapted to receive the first output stream and contact the first output stream with a first alkylation catalyst disposed therein and an alkylating agent to form a second output stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Butler, Xin Xiao, James T. Merrill
  • Publication number: 20140066677
    Abstract: A method for the oxidative coupling of hydrocarbons, such as the oxidative coupling of methane to toluene, includes providing an oxidative catalyst inside a reactor, and carrying out the oxidative coupling reaction under a set of reaction conditions. The oxidative catalyst includes (A) at least one element selected from the group consisting of the Lanthanoid group, Mg, Ca, and the elements of Group 4 of the periodic table (Ti, Zr, and Hf); (B) at least one element selected from the group consisting of the Group 1 elements of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and the elements of Group 3 (including La and Ac) and Groups 5-15 of the periodic table; (C) at least one element selected from the group consisting of the Group 1 elements of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and the elements Ca, Sr, and Ba; and (D) oxygen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: FINA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Sivadinarayana Chinta, Joseph L. Thorman, James R. Butler, Joe Hunter, Taylor Rives
  • Patent number: 8653187
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a polystyrene based nanocomposite by combining a monomer with a nanoparticle to form a mixture and subjecting the mixture to polymerization conditions to produce a polymeric composite. In an embodiment the nanoparticle has been treated with an additive prior to combining with the monomer and the additive contains a silane moiety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Butler, David W. Knoeppel
  • Patent number: 8653314
    Abstract: A process for making styrene is disclosed that includes reacting toluene with a C1 source and a co-feed in the presence of a catalyst in a reactor to form a first product stream comprising styrene, ethylbenzene, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen; separating the hydrogen and carbon monoxide from the first product stream to form a second stream; separating the hydrogen from the second stream to form a third stream comprising hydrogen and a fourth stream comprising carbon monoxide; wherein the fourth stream is recycled to the reactor and forms at least a portion of the co-feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Pelati, James R. Butler, Sivadinarayana Chinta
  • Patent number: 8648007
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for vaporizing and transporting an alkali metal salt is shown. The apparatus has a first conduit capable of transporting an alkali metal salt solution and a second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit, the second conduit capable of transporting steam so that the alkali metal salt is dissipated into the steam forming a solution that can be transported, such as to a remote reaction zone. The solution can be transported via a third conduit that is capable of being heated by a heat source. The method can be used to add a promoter to a dehydrogenation catalyst during a dehydrogenation reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Pelati, James R. Butler, Hollie Craig
  • Publication number: 20140005454
    Abstract: Alkylation systems and methods of minimizing alkylation catalyst regeneration are described herein. The alkylation systems generally include a preliminary alkylation system adapted to receive an input stream including an alkyl aromatic hydrocarbon and contact the input stream with a preliminary alkylation catalyst disposed therein to form a first output stream. The preliminary alkylation catalyst generally includes a zeolite catalyst having a SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of less than about 25. The alkylation systems further include a first alkylation system adapted to receive the first output stream and contact the first output stream with a first alkylation catalyst disposed therein and an alkylating agent to form a second output stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: FINA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: James R. Butler, Xin Xiao, James T. Merrill
  • Patent number: 8618181
    Abstract: Chemical production processes are described herein. The chemical production processes generally include providing municipal solid waste; subjecting the municipal solid waste to plasma pyrolysis to form an intermediate for chemical production, wherein the intermediate includes carbon monoxide and hydrogen; and transferring the intermediate from the plasma pyrolysis to a chemical or liquid fuel production process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James N. Waguespack, James R. Butler
  • Patent number: 8552238
    Abstract: Alkylation systems and methods of minimizing alkylation catalyst regeneration are described herein. The alkylation systems generally include a preliminary alkylation system adapted to receive an input stream including an alkyl aromatic hydrocarbon and contact the input stream with a preliminary alkylation catalyst disposed therein to form a first output stream. The preliminary alkylation catalyst generally includes a zeolite catalyst having a SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of less than about 25. The alkylation systems further include a first alkylation system adapted to receive the first output stream and contact the first output stream with a first alkylation catalyst disposed therein and an alkylating agent to form a second output stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Butler, Xin Xiao, James T. Merrill
  • Publication number: 20130231514
    Abstract: A method of producing an alkylaromatic by the alkylation of an aromatic with an alkylating agent, such as producing ethylbenzene by an alkylation reaction of benzene, is disclosed. The method includes using an H-beta catalyst to minimize process upsets due to alkylation catalyst deactivation and the resulting catalyst regeneration or replacement. The H-beta catalyst can be used in a preliminary alkylation reactor that is located upstream of the primary alkylation reactor. The H-beta catalyst used in a preliminary alkylation reactor can reduce the deactivation of the catalyst in the primary alkylation reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: FINA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: James R. Butler
  • Publication number: 20130225888
    Abstract: Alkylation systems and methods of minimizing alkylation catalyst regeneration are described herein. The alkylation systems generally include a preliminary alkylation system adapted to receive an input stream including an alkyl aromatic hydrocarbon and contact the input stream with a preliminary alkylation catalyst disposed therein to form a first output stream. The preliminary alkylation catalyst generally includes a zeolite catalyst having a SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of less than about 25. The alkylation systems further include a first alkylation system adapted to receive the first output stream and contact the first output stream with a first alkylation catalyst disposed therein and an alkylating agent to form a second output stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: FINA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: James R. Butler, Xin Xiao, James T. Merrill