Patents by Inventor James R. Lattner

James R. Lattner 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).

  • Hydrogen Purification Process
    Publication number: 20140314659
    Abstract: In a process for purifying a hydrogen stream, the stream is contacted with a first washing fluid in a first purification zone under conditions effective to transfer at least some water from the hydrogen stream to the first washing fluid, thereby transforming the hydrogen stream into a water-depleted hydrogen stream. At least a portion of the water-depleted hydrogen stream may then be transferred from the first purification zone to a second purification zone, where it is contacted with a second washing fluid under conditions effective to transfer at least some oxygenates from the water-depleted hydrogen stream to the second washing fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Christopher L. Becker, James R. Lattner, Keith H. Kuechler
  • Dealkylation process
    Patent number: 8853482
    Abstract: In a process for dealkylating a poly-alkylated aromatic compound, a feed comprising at least one poly-alkylated aromatic compound selected from polypropylbenzene, polybutylbenzene, and polycyclohexylbenzene is introduced into a reaction zone. The feed is then contacted in the reaction zone with an acid catalyst under conditions effective to dealkylate at least a portion of the poly-alkylated aromatic compound and produce a first reaction product comprising at least one mono-alkylated aromatic compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Kun Wang, James R. Lattner
  • Process for Producing Cycloalkylaromatic Compounds
    Publication number: 20140187821
    Abstract: In a process for producing a cycloalkylaromatic compound, an aromatic compound and a cyclic olefin are contacted with a first catalyst under conditions effective to produce a reaction product comprising the cycloalkylaromatic compound and at least one non-fused bicyclic by-product. The at least one non-fused bicyclic by-product is then contacted with a second catalyst under conditions effective to convert at least a portion of the at least one non-fused bicyclic by-product to a converted by-product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Kun Wang, Jihad M. Dakka, Stephen Zushma, James R. Lattner, Christopher L. Becker, Tan-Jen Chen
  • Process for Reducing the Asphaltene Yield and Recovering Waste Heat in a Pyrolysis Process by Quenching with a Hydroprocessed Product
    Publication number: 20140061100
    Abstract: The invention relates to upgraded pyrolysis products, processes for upgrading products obtained from hydrocarbon pyrolysis, equipment useful for such processes, and the use of upgraded pyrolysis products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: James R. Lattner, Linelle F. Jacob, Ananthakrishnan Bhasker, Keith G. Reed, Teng Xu
  • Hydrogenation process
    Patent number: 8658834
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydrogenation process that may be used in connection with the production of phenol. In the process, a composition comprising: (i) cyclohexylbenzene; and (ii) a hydrogenable component are contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst under hydrogenation conditions. The hydrogenable component can be one or more of an olefin, a ketone or phenol. The hydrogenation catalyst has hydrogenation component and a support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Jihad M. Dakka, Keith H. Kuechler, James R. Lattner, Edmund J. Mozeleski
  • System and method for selective trimerization
    Patent number: 8658750
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for separating from the reactor effluent of an olefin oligomerization procedure those catalyst materials and polymeric by-products which can cause difficulties in the downstream processing of such effluent. Polymer by-products and catalyst in the effluent are separated from reaction products by flash vaporization utilizing an in-situ hot solvent which is contacted with the effluent and serves as the heating medium to promote this flash vaporization step. Subsequent processing of a liquid portion of the effluent which is left after flash vaporization involves recovery of catalyst and polymeric by-products therefrom in a steam stripping vessel. Also disclosed is a multiple reactor system which can be used for continuous trimerization of ethylene to 1-hexene while at the same time washing polymeric by-products from one of the reactors in the series using a wash oil solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Lattner, Michael W. Weber, Jimmy L. Tardy, Howard G. Large, Peter N. Loezos, Randy L. Foster, Jason D. Davis
  • Process for producing phenol
    Patent number: 8592634
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing phenol or a substituted phenol and a co-product comprising the steps of (i) contacting a first stream comprising an alkylaromatic compound with a second stream comprising an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a first catalyst comprising a cyclic imide under conditions to convert at least a portion of said alkylaromatic compound to an alkylaromatic hydroperoxide, (ii) producing an effluent stream comprising said cyclic imide, said alkylaromatic hydroperoxide, and said alkylaromatic compound wherein said effluent stream has an alkylaromatic hydroperoxide concentration of from 10 to 40 wt %; and (iii) contacting in a second reactor at least a portion of said effluent stream with a second catalyst to convert said alkylaromatic hydroperoxide to a product stream comprising phenol and said co-product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Kun Wang, Francisco M. Benitez, James R. Lattner, Jihad M. Dakka, Edmund J. Mozeleski, Stephen Zushma
  • Process for the Production of Xylenes and Light Olefins
    Publication number: 20130296621
    Abstract: In a hydrocarbon upgrading process, a hydrocarbon feed is treated in at least one of a steam cracker, catalytic cracker, coker, hydrocracker, and reformer under suitable conditions to produce a first stream comprising olefinic and aromatic hydrocarbons. A second stream composed mainly of C4 to C12 olefinic and aromatic hydrocarbons is recovered from the first stream and at least part of the second stream is contacted with a catalyst in the absence of added hydrogen under reaction conditions including a temperature of about 450° C. to about 70° C. effective to dealkylate, transalkylate, crack and aromatize components of the second stream to produce a third stream having an increased benzene and/or toluene content compared with the second stream and a C3? olefin by-product. The C3? olefin by-product and a fourth stream comprising toluene are then recovered from the third stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: LARRY L. IACCINO, JAMES R. LATTNER, GLENN C. WOOD, SURBHI JAIN, STEPHEN M. DAVIS
  • Low temperature steam stripping for byproduct polymer and solvent recovery from an ethylene oligomerization process
    Patent number: 8524972
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to low temperature steam stripping methods for byproduct polymer and solvent separation from an ethylene oligomerization process. The methods disclosed have been found to separate byproduct polymer from solvent without fouling process equipment or causing other process problems. The byproduct polymer ends up as flowable solid particles in a water stream that may be easily discharged from the process, while solvent is recovered for recycle to the process. In embodiments of the invention, over 90 wt % of the solvent used is recovered and the discharged byproduct polymer is less than 20 wt % solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Weber, Randy L. Foster, James R. Lattner, Jimmy L. Tardy, Michael J. Veraa
  • Processes for Producing Phenol
    Publication number: 20130225866
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for producing phenol. The processes include oxidizing cyclohexylbenzene to produce an oxidation composition comprising cyclohexyl-1-phenyl-1-hydroperoxide. The cyclohexyl-1-phenyl-1-hydroperoxide in the oxidation composition may undergo a cleavage reaction to produce a cleavage reaction mixture comprising phenol, cyclohexanone and at least one contaminant. The cleavage reaction mixture may be contacted with a basic material to convert at least a portion of the contaminant to a converted contaminant, thereby producing a modified reaction mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Chemical Company - Law Technology
    Inventors: Keith Holroyd Kuechler, Francisco Manuel Benitez, Kun Wang, James R. Lattner, Christopher Lynn Becker
  • Processes for Producing Phenol
    Publication number: 20130217922
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for producing phenol. The process includes oxidizing at least a portion of a feed comprising cyclohexylbenzene to produce an oxidation composition comprising cyclohexyl-1-phenyl-1-hydroperoxide. The oxidation composition may then be cleaved in the presence of an acid catalyst to produce a cleavage reaction mixture comprising the acid catalyst, phenol and cyclohexanone. At least a portion of the cleavage reaction mixture may be neutralized with a basic material to form a treated cleavage reaction mixture. In various embodiments, the treated cleavage reaction mixture contains no greater than 50 wppm of the acid catalyst or no greater than 50 wppm of the basic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Inventors: Keith H. Kuechler, Francisco M. Benitez, Kun Wang, James R. Lattner, Christopher L. Becker
  • Hydrocarbon Pyrolysis Method
    Publication number: 20130211165
    Abstract: Disclosed is a pyrolysis reaction process. The process can be advantageously accomplished using a pyrolysis reactor that has a primary reaction zone comprised of bed packing having multiple passages through the bed packing and a secondary reaction zone having an open flow arrangement. The process includes a step of injecting a pyrolysis feed comprising a first hydrocarbon into the primary reaction zone to produce a primary pyrolysis product containing unsaturated hydrocarbon. A reactive feed comprising a second hydrocarbon is injected into the secondary reaction zone to mix with the primary pyrolysis product and produce a secondary pyrolysis product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Lattner, Paul F. Keusenkothen, Frank Hershkowitz
  • Process for producing phenol
    Patent number: 8487140
    Abstract: In a process for producing phenol, cyclohexylbenzene is oxidized to produce cyclohexylbenzene hydroperoxide and then the resultant cyclohexylbenzene hydroperoxide is cleaved to produce an effluent stream comprising phenol and cyclohexanone. At least a portion of the effluent stream is then fed to at least one dehydrogenation reaction zone, where the effluent stream portion is contacted with a dehydrogenation catalyst under conditions effective to convert at least part of the cyclohexanone in the effluent portion into phenol and hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: John S. Buchanan, Jon E. Stanat, Tan-Jen Chen, Jihad M. Dakka, James R. Lattner
  • Oxidation of hydrocarbons
    Patent number: 8461397
    Abstract: In a process for oxidizing a hydrocarbon to the corresponding hydroperoxide, alcohol, ketone, carboxylic acid or dicarboxylic acid, a reaction medium comprising a hydrocarbon is contacted with an oxygen-containing gas in a reaction zone and in the presence of a catalyst comprising a cyclic imide. During the oxidation process, a portion of the reaction medium is continuously or intermittently removed from the reaction zone, is stripped of water and organic acid impurities and then returned to the reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Lattner, Mark Hagemeister, Jon E. R. Stanat, John S. Buchanan, Jihad M. Dakka, Stephen Zushma
  • System and Method for Selective Trimerization
    Publication number: 20130144024
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for separating from the reactor effluent of an olefin oligomerization procedure those catalyst materials and polymeric by-products which can cause difficulties in the downstream processing of such effluent. Polymer by-products and catalyst in the effluent are separated from reaction products by flash vaporization utilizing an in-situ hot solvent which is contacted with the effluent and serves as the heating medium to promote this flash vaporization step. Subsequent processing of a liquid portion of the effluent which is left after flash vaporization involves recovery of catalyst and polymeric by-products therefrom in a steam stripping vessel. Also disclosed is a multiple reactor system which can be used for continuous trimerization of ethylene to 1-hexene while at the same time washing polymeric by-products from one of the reactors in the series using a wash oil solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: James R. Lattner, Michael W. Weber, Jimmy L. Tardy, Howard G. Large, Peter N. Loezos, Randy L. Foster, Jason D. Davis
  • Process for producing sec-butylbenzene
    Patent number: 8440864
    Abstract: In a process for producing sec-butylbenzene, a C4 olefinic hydrocarbon feedstock comprising isobutene and at least one n-butene is contacted with methanol and/or water in the presence of an acid catalyst to selectively oxygenate isobutene to produce an effluent stream rich in n-butene and containing less isobutene than the feedstock. The effluent stream is then contacted with benzene under alkylation conditions and in the presence of an alkylation catalyst to produce alkylation stream comprising sec-butylbenzene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: John S. Buchanan, Jon E. R. Stanat, James R. Lattner, Jane C. Cheng
  • Systems And Methods For Generating Alpha Olefin Oligomers
    Publication number: 20130102826
    Abstract: Methods for preparing selected oligomers from monomers utilize systems of equipment adapted to provide desired compositions in various streams. Representative equipment of an oligomerization system includes an oligomer synthesis reactor and, optionally, a gas/liquid phase separation system. A monomer feed stream and a catalyst feed stream are directed to the oligomer synthesis reactor. The reactor produces a vapor phase effluent and a liquid phase effluent. The selected oligomer product is withdrawn from the vapor phase effluent. When the gas/liquid phase separation system is included, it is adapted to form a first recycle stream and a separator product stream from the vapor phase effluent. The separator product stream includes the desired oligomer product. Additional equipment may be utilized to further refine the vapor phase effluent and/or the final product stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventors: James R. Lattner, Michael W. Weber
  • Production of light olefins
    Patent number: 8415518
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for producing olefin product from an oxygenate feed that includes dimethyl ether (DME). The process uses an olefin forming catalyst that contains a porous crystalline material, preferably a porous crystalline aluminosilicate molecular sieve material. The process produces high quantities of light olefin (i.e., ethylene, propylene, and mixtures thereof).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Richard B. Hall, Guang Cao, Christopher David William Jenkins, James R. Lattner, Michael J. Veraa, Thomas H. Colle
  • Production of para-xylene by the methylation of benzene and/or toluene
    Patent number: 8399727
    Abstract: In a process for the production of para-xylene, an aromatic feedstock comprising toluene and/or benzene is reacted with methanol under alkylation conditions in a reactor in the presence of a fluidized bed of solid catalyst particles to produce a vapor phase effluent comprising para-xylene, water, unreacted toluene and/or benzene and solid catalyst fines. The vapor phase effluent is contacted with a liquid hydrocarbon quench stream under conditions to condense a minor portion of the vapor phase effluent and produce a condensate which contains at least some of the catalyst fines and which is substantially free of an aqueous phase. The condensate containing said catalyst fines is then separated from the remainder of the vapor phase effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Lattner, Mark P. Hagemeister, Christopher Gordon Smalley, Jon Edmond Randolph Stanat, Timothy Paul Bender, Masaaki Sugita, Rathna P. Davuluri, Lu Han
  • Process for methane conversion
    Patent number: 8378162
    Abstract: The invention relates to the integration of a dehydroaromatization process with the processes for the utilization of associated gas; gases comprising methane and higher hydrocarbons, and/or liquefied natural gas (LNG) production or usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Larry L. Iaccino, Steven E. Silverberg, James R. Lattner, Andrea P. Wight, Garth M. Norman, Douglas E. Smith, Eric D. Nelson, Mark A. Nierode, Moses K. Minta