Patents by Inventor James Roy Butler

James Roy 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).

  • Publication number: 20080113439
    Abstract: A method of predicting the catalytic performance of a multi-site catalyst comprising reducing a control catalyst of known catalytic performance as a function of temperature, quantifying the different catalyst sites in the control catalyst to determine a ratio of desirable catalyst sites to undesirable catalyst sites, reducing a sample catalyst of unknown catalytic performance as a function of temperature, quantifying the different catalyst sites in the sample catalyst to determine a ratio of desirable catalyst sites to undesirable catalyst sites, and comparing the ratio desirable catalyst sites to undesirable catalyst sites in the control catalyst to the ratio of desirable catalyst sites to undesirable catalyst sites in the sample catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: James Roy Butler, Xin Xiao
  • Patent number: 6555073
    Abstract: Processes and apparatus are disclosed for the catalytic purification of styrene monomer by hydrogenating the phenylacetylene contaminant therein to styrene in a catalytic bed using multiple hydrogen injection; dilution of the hydrogen by a diluent such as nitrogen; mixing the hydrogen with a catalyst-selectivity improver such as carbon monoxide; using ethylbenzene dehydrogenation ventgas to supply hydrogen; and, using a multiple-catalyst-bed-reactor, or multiple reactors, each with a single catalyst bed. One preferred phenylacetylene reduction catalyst used is palladium on an alumina carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James Roy Butler, Kevin Peter Kelly
  • Patent number: 6469223
    Abstract: A process is provided for the selective hydrogenation of dienes from a mixed hydrocarbon stream. The catalyst contains nickel in an amount between approximately 5 and 15 weight percent and, alternatively, may contain nickel oxide and molybdenum oxide in an amount between approximately 3 to 6 and 12 to 25 weight percent, respectively. The catalyst metals are on an aluminum oxide support. The process does not require any activation or pre-treatment of the catalyst. No sulfur is added to the reaction zone and the catalyst is not adversely affected by the presence of up to 0.20% by weight of sulfur in the feed stream. According to the process, conjugated dienes are reduced by at least 80 to 90%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Peter Kelly, James Roy Butler
  • Patent number: 6462247
    Abstract: A toluene disproportionation process is disclosed which converts toluene to benzene and xylenes over a nickel mordenite catalyst utilizing increased throughputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Peter Kelly, James Roy Butler
  • Publication number: 20020002315
    Abstract: A process is provided for the selective hydrogenation of dienes from a mixed hydrocarbon stream. The catalyst contains nickel in an amount between approximately 5 and 15 weight percent and, alternatively, may contain nickel oxide and molybdenum oxide in an amount between approximately 3 to 6 and 12 to 25 weight percent, respectively. The catalyst metals are on an aluminum oxide support. The process does not require any activation or pre-treatment of the catalyst. No sulfur is added to the reaction zone and the catalyst is not adversely affected by the presence of up to 0.20% by weight of sulfur in the feed stream. According to the process, conjugated dienes are reduced by at least 80 to 90%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2000
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventors: Kevin Peter Kelly, James Roy Butler