Patents by Inventor Joachim Muller

Joachim Muller 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).

  • Membrane post treatment
    Publication number: 20060157404
    Abstract: The invention relates to polymeric ultrafiltration or microfiltration membranes of, for instance, Halar, PVDF or PP, incorporating PVME or vinyl methyl ether monomers. The PVME may be present as a coating on the membrane or dispersed throughout the membrane or both. The membranes are preferably hydrophilic with a highly asymmetric structure with a reduced pore size and/or absence of macrovoids as a result of the addition of PVME. The PVME maybe cross-linked. The invention also relates to methods of hydrophilising membranes and/or preparing hydrophilic membranes via thermal or diffusion induced phase separation processed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Inventors: Daniel Mullette, Joachim Muller, Neeta Patel
  • Safe operation of a continuous heterogeneously catalyzed gas-phase partial oxidation of at least one organic compound
    Patent number: 7074955
    Abstract: A continuously operated heterogeneously catalyzed gas-phase partial oxidation of at least one organic compound in an oxidation reactor is operated safely by a process in which an explosion diagram for the feed gas mixture is deposited as the basis of a cut-out mechanism in a computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ulrich Hammon, Jochen Meschke, Ulrich Rauh, Klaus Joachim Müller-Engel, Peter Schlemmer, Volker Schliephake
  • Potting method
    Publication number: 20060110486
    Abstract: A method of forming a pot for an array of hollow fibre membranes (7) is provided, including the steps of placing the ends (6) of the fibre membranes (7) in a mould (5); forming a first layer (20) of curable resin material in a non-cured state around the fibre membrane ends (6), applying a second layer (21) of a polyurethane resin material to the first layer (20) prior to full curing of the first layer, the polyurethane resin material layer being chemically reactive with the first layer material to form an adhesive bond therebetween; at least partially curing both layers and removing the pot formed from the mould (5), wherein the second layer material is of higher flexibility than the first layer material when each layer is fully cured. Apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Applicants: U. S. Filter Wastewater Group, Inc., Seitzschenk Filtersystems GmbH
    Inventors: David Cox, Georg Schnieder, Fufang Zha, Joachim Muller, Cinzia Lea
  • Servo drive
    Publication number: 20060105877
    Abstract: The invention relates to a servo drive comprising an electromechanical energy converter, which has a rotatably mounted disc rotor for generating a torque and a stepping up mechanism that is connected downstream of the disc rotor, for coupling the disc rotor to an output element and for stepping up the torque that acts on the disc rotor and comprising a locking mechanism that locks a rotational displacement of the output element, when a torque is introduced on the output side. According to the invention, the locking mechanism comprises a coil spring which can be radially expanded and compressed and which extends around the outer periphery of the stepping up mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Bornchen, Michael Eisentraudt, Uwe Klippert, Thomas Salhoff, Helmut Sesselmann, Uwe Sommer, Werner Stammberger, Manfred Stenzel, Joachim Muller
  • Method for cleaning crude terephthalic acid and catalysts suitable for the same and containing carbon fibers
    Patent number: 7041847
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for cleaning crude terephthalic acid by means of catalytic, hydrogenating aftertreatment using a catalyst material containing at least one hydrogenation metal applied to a carbon carrier consisting of carbon fibres. The invention also relates to a catalyst consisting of the at least one catalyst material containing the at least one hydrogenation metal applied to the carbon fibres, the BET surface of the carbon carrier being <500 m2/g, and a monolithic catalyst consisting of said at least one catalyst material containing the at least one hydrogenation material applied to the carbon fibres, and at least one support element or skeleton element which differs from the catalyst material and is connected to the same, said element mechanically supporting the catalyst material and maintaining the same in a monolithic form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Mathias Haake, Ekkehard Schwab, Michael Koch, Hans-Joachim Müller, Manfred Stroezel, Hermann Petersen, Peter Schreyer
  • Preparation of a multimetal oxide material
    Patent number: 7038082
    Abstract: A process for preparing a multimetal oxide material which contains the elements Mo, V and Te and/or Sb and at least one of the elements Nb, Ti, W, Ta and Ce and if desired promoters and has a specific X-ray diffraction pattern, in which process the last process step comprises washing with acidic liquids. In addition, a multimetal oxide material obtainable in such a way is used as a catalyst for heterogeneously catalyzed gas-phase partial oxidations and/or ammoxidation of hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frieder Borgmeier, Klaus Joachim Müller-Engel, Hartmut Hibst, Martin Dieterle
  • Long-term operation of a heterogeneously catalyzed gas phase partial oxidation of acrolein to acrylic acid
    Patent number: 7022877
    Abstract: A process for the long-term operation of a heterogeneously catalyzed gas phase partial oxidation of acrolein to acrylic acid, in which the temperature of the fixed catalyst bed is increased over time and partial oxidation is interrupted and an oxygen-containing gas is conducted through the fixed catalyst bed before the temperature increase is 8° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Dieterle, Jochen Petzoldt, Klaus Joachim Müller-Engel
  • Heterogeneously catalyzed partial gas phase oxidation of propene to acrylic acid
    Patent number: 7019168
    Abstract: In a process for partially oxidizing propene to acrylic acid in the gas phase under heterogeneous catalysis, a starting reaction gas mixture comprising propene and oxygen and having a specific composition is oxidized in a first reaction stage over a first fixed catalyst bed having a volume-specific activity which is constant or increases in the flow direction and the acrolein-containing product gas mixture of the first reaction stage is subsequently oxidized in a second reaction stage over a second fixed catalyst bed having a volume-specific activity increasing in the flow direction, and the shaped catalyst bodies of both fixed catalyst beds are annular and each have a specific multimetal oxide composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Dieterle, Jochen Petzoldt, Klaus Joachim Müller-Engel, Hans Martan
  • Preparation of (meth)acrolein and/or (meth)acrylic acid
    Patent number: 7015354
    Abstract: A process for preparing (meth)acrolein and/or (meth)acrylic acid by heterogeneously catalyzed gas phase partial oxidation of an organic precursor compound over a fresh fixed catalyst bed, in which the process is started up at a reduced hourly space velocity of charging gas mixture on the fixed catalyst bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jochen Petzoldt, Signe Unverricht, Heiko Arnold, Klaus Joachim Müller-Engel, Martin Dieterle
  • Preparation of (meth)acrylic acid
    Patent number: 7012157
    Abstract: A process for preparing (meth)acrylic acid, in which a saturated hydrocarbon precursor compound is conducted through a catalyst charge which consists of two spatially successive catalyst beds I, II in the flow direction of the reaction mixture, each of which contains different catalysts and has different reaction-selectivity behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frieder Borgmeier, Frank Rosowski, Hans Martan, Klaus Joachim Müller-Engel
  • Heterogeneously catalyzed partial gas phase oxidation of acrolein to acrylic acid
    Patent number: 6982347
    Abstract: In a process for partially oxidizing acrolein to acrylic acid in the gas phase under heterogeneous catalysis, the starting reaction gas mixture is oxidized at an acrolein loading of ?145 and ?70 l (STP) of acrolein/l of fixed catalyst bed·h over a fixed catalyst bed which is accommodated in two successive reaction zones A, B, the highest temperature of the reaction gas mixture within reaction zone A being above the highest temperature of the reaction gas mixture within reaction zone B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Dieterle, Jochen Petzoldt, Klaus Joachim Müller-Engel, Heiko Arnold
  • Potting method
    Patent number: 6974554
    Abstract: A method of forming a pot for an array of hollow fiber membranes (7) is provided, including the steps of placing the ends (6) of the fiber membranes (7) in a mould (5); forming a first layer (20) of curable resin material in a non-cured state around the fiber membrane ends (6), applying a second layer (21) of a polyurethane resin material to the first layer (20) prior to full curing of the first layer, the polyurethane resin material layer being chemically reactive with the first layer material to form an adhesive bond therebetween; at least partially curing both layers and removing the pot formed from the mould (5), wherein the second layer material is of higher flexibility than the first layer material when each layer is fully cured. Apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignees: U.S. Filter Wastewater Group, Inc., Pall Seitzschenk Filtersystems GmbH
    Inventors: David John Cox, Georg Schnieder, Fufang Zha, Joachim Muller, Cinzia Lea
  • Hollow fibres
    Publication number: 20050242021
    Abstract: Elongate hollow fibre polymeric membranes having an outer surface, a plurality of pores and a pore size gradient increasing radially inwardly such that the pores form a substantially hollow passage in the fibre are disclosed. The hollow fiber membranes are made by mixing a liquid lumen forming agent with a polymer dope, and then contacting the dope with a quench fluid for a time sufficient for the dope to solidify, wherein the quench fluid is contacted only at an outer surface of the dope corresponding with an outer surface on the hollow fibre.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Publication date: November 3, 2005
    Applicant: Pall Corporation
    Inventors: Jerome Ditter, Heinz-Joachim Muller, Daniel Mullette
  • Preparation of at least one organic compound by heterogeneously catalyzed partial gas-phase oxidation
    Patent number: 6958414
    Abstract: Organic compounds are prepared by heterogeneously catalyzed partial gas-phase oxidation of precursor compounds by a process in which a portion of the reaction gas starting mixture is brought from a low initial pressure to a higher final pressure by means of a radial compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Volker Schliephake, Ulrich Hammon, Ernst Lang, Carl-Ludwig Krüger, Jürgen Schröder, Klaus Joachim Müller-Engel
  • Preparation of acrylic acid
    Patent number: 6939991
    Abstract: In a process for preparing acrylic acid, an acrylic acid-containing product gas mixture obtained by catalytic gas phase partial oxidation of a C3 precursor of acrylic acid, after direct cooling with a quench liquid, is fractionally condensed in a separating column provided with internals, rising into itself with sidestream takeoff of crude acrylic acid, and the acrylic acid oligomers which form are dissociated and the resulting dissociation gas is subjected to a countercurrent rectification before it is recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joachim Thiel, Ulrich Hammon, Dieter Baumann, Jörg Heilek, Jürgen Schröder, Klaus Joachim Müller-Engel
  • Method for producing methacrylic acid from isobutane
    Patent number: 6933407
    Abstract: A process prepares methacrylic acid from isobutane by subjecting isobutane to a partial catalytic dehydrogenation in the gas phase and charging an oxidation zone with the isobutenic product gas mixture after the components other than isobutane and isobutene have been substantially removed from the product gas mixture. The oxygen required to charge the oxidation zone is introduced accompanied by nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Silke Berndt, Klaus Joachim Müller-Engel, Götz-Peter Schindler, Frank Rosowski, Jochen Petzoldt
  • Halar membranes
    Publication number: 20050098494
    Abstract: Porous polymeric membranes including Halar (poly (ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene)) and related compounds and the methods of production thereof which avoid the use of toxic solvents. Preferred solvents, coating agents and pore forming agents are citric acid ethyl ester or glycerol triacetate. The membranes may be in the form of a hollow fibre or flat sheet, and may include other agents to modify the properties of the membrane, such as the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance. Leachable agents may also be incorporated into the membranes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Inventors: Daniel Mullette, Heinz-Joachim Muller
  • Heterogeneously catalyzed partial gas phase oxidation of propene to acrylic acid
    Patent number: 6888024
    Abstract: In a process for heterogeneously catalyzed partial gas phase oxidation of propene to acrylic acid, the starting reaction gas mixture is oxidized at a propene loading of <160 l(STP)/l·h in a first reaction stage over a fixed catalyst bed 1 which is accommodated in two successive reaction zones A, B, and the acrolein-containing product gas mixture of the first reaction stage is subsequently oxidized in a second reaction stage over a fixed catalyst bed 2 which is a accommodated in two successive reaction zones C, D, the highest temperature of the reaction gas mixture within reaction zone A being above the highest temperature of the reaction gas mixture within reaction zone B and the highest temperature of the reaction gas mixture within reaction zone C being above the highest temperature of the reaction gas mixture within reaction zone D.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Dieterle, Jochen Petzoldt, Klaus Joachim Müller-Engel, Heiko Arnold
  • Potting method
    Publication number: 20050087898
    Abstract: A method of forming a pot for an array of hollow fibre membranes (7) is provided, including the steps of placing the ends (6) of the fibre membranes (7) in a mould (5); forming a first layer (20) of curable resin material in a non-cured state around the fibre membrane ends (6), applying a second layer (21) of a polyurethane resin material to the first layer (20) prior to full curing of the first layer, the polyurethane resin material layer being chemically reactive with the first layer material to form an adhesive bond therebetween; at least partially curing both layers and removing the pot formed from the mould (5), wherein the second layer material is of higher flexibility than the first layer material when each layer is fully cured. Apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Applicants: U. S. Filter Wastewater Group, Inc., Seitzschenk Filtersystems GmbH
    Inventors: David Cox, Georg Schnieder, Fufang Zha, Joachim Muller, Cinzia Lea
  • Modified membranes
    Patent number: 6884350
    Abstract: A porous polymeric membrane formed from a blend of a polymeric membrane forming material, such as polyvinylidene fluoride or polysulfone and a polymeric reactivity modifying agent adapted to modify the surface active properties of the porous polymeric membrane. The reactivity modifying agent is preferably a linear polymeric anhydride, such as poly(alkyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride). The surface activity modifications include modification of the hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity balance of the membrane, or hydrolysis followed by reaction with a polyamine to form a crosslinked polyamide layer. Such modified membranes have use as reverse osmosis membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: U.S. Filter Wastewater Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Heinz-Joachim Muller