Patents by Inventor Joel E. SCHMIDT

Joel E. SCHMIDT 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: 20250340786
    Abstract: Provided is a blend of a bio-feed and 1-20 wt. % of plastic, based on the weight of the blend, with the plastic comprising polyethylene and/or polypropylene, and the plastic in the blend comprising finely dispersed microcrystalline particles having an average particle size of 10 micron to less than 100 microns, and less than 10 ppm chloride. A process for preparing a blend of plastic and bio-feed is provided, comprising mixing together a bio-feed and a plastic comprising polyethylene and/or polypropylene and heating the mixture above the melting point of the plastic, but less than 500° F. The blend mixture is then hot filtered with the resulting filtered blend mixture being heated to at least 500° F. The heated mixture can then be treated with a chloride removal guard bed. The resulting blend can then be cooled and stored or sent directly to a refinery conversion unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2025
    Publication date: November 6, 2025
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Hye-Kyung C. Timken, Joel E. Schmidt, Tengfei Liu
  • Publication number: 20250340782
    Abstract: Provided is a blend of a bio-feed and 1-20 wt. % of plastic, based on the weight of the blend, with the plastic comprising polyethylene and/or polypropylene, and the plastic in the blend comprising finely dispersed microcrystalline particles having an average particle size of 10 micron to less than 100 microns and less than 100 ppm chloride. A process for preparing a blend of plastic and bio-feed is provided, comprising mixing together a bio-feed and a plastic comprising polyethylene and/or polypropylene and heating the mixture in the range of from 550° F. to 700° F. The blend mixture is then hot filtered and then optionally treated with a chloride removal guard bed. The resulting blend can then be cooled and stored or sent directly to a refinery conversion unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2025
    Publication date: November 6, 2025
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Hye-Kyung C. Timken, Joel E. Schmidt, Tengfei Liu
  • Publication number: 20250340783
    Abstract: Provided is a blend of a petroleum feedstock and 1-20 wt. % of plastic, based on the weight of the blend, with the plastic comprising polyethylene and/or polypropylene, and the plastic in the blend comprising finely dispersed microcrystalline particles having an average particle size of 10 micron to less than 100 microns and less than 100 ppm chloride. A process for preparing a blend of plastic and petroleum is provided, comprising mixing together a petroleum feed and a plastic comprising polyethylene and/or polypropylene and heating the mixture in the range of from 550° F. to 700° F. The blend mixture is then hot filtered and then optionally treated with a chloride removal guard bed. The resulting blend can then be cooled and stored or sent directly to a refinery conversion unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2025
    Publication date: November 6, 2025
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Hye-Kyung C. Timken, Joel E. Schmidt, Tengfei Liu
  • Publication number: 20250340785
    Abstract: Provided is a blend of a petroleum feedstock and 1-20 wt. % of plastic, based on the weight of the blend, with the plastic comprising polyethylene and/or polypropylene, and the plastic in the blend comprising finely dispersed microcrystalline particles having an average particle size of 10 micron to less than 100 microns, and less than 10 ppm chloride. A process for preparing a blend of plastic and petroleum is provided, comprising mixing together a petroleum feed and a plastic comprising polyethylene and/or polypropylene and heating the mixture above the melting point of the plastic, but less than 500° F. The blend mixture is then hot filtered with the resulting filtered blend mixture being heated to at least 500° F. The heated mixture can then be treated with a chloride removal guard bed. The resulting blend can then be cooled and stored or sent directly to a refinery conversion unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2025
    Publication date: November 6, 2025
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Hye-Kyung C. Timken, Joel E. Schmidt, Tengfei Liu
  • Patent number: 12415958
    Abstract: Provided is a blend of a petroleum feedstock and 1-20 wt. % of plastic, based on the weight of the blend, with the plastic comprising polyethylene and/or polypropylene, and the plastic in the blend comprising finely dispersed microcrystalline particles having an average particle size of 10 micron to less than 100 microns and less than 100 ppm chloride. A process for preparing a blend of plastic and petroleum is provided, comprising mixing together a petroleum feed and a plastic comprising polyethylene and/or polypropylene and heating the mixture in the range of from 550° F. to 700° F. The blend mixture is then hot filtered and then optionally treated with a chloride removal guard bed. The resulting blend can then be cooled and stored or sent directly to a refinery conversion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2025
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Hye-Kyung C. Timken, Joel E. Schmidt, Tengfei Liu
  • Patent number: 12404458
    Abstract: Provided is a blend of a petroleum feedstock and 1-20 wt. % of plastic, based on the weight of the blend, with the plastic comprising polyethylene and/or polypropylene, and the plastic in the blend comprising finely dispersed microcrystalline particles having an average particle size of 10 micron to less than 100 microns, and less than 10 ppm chloride. A process for preparing a blend of plastic and petroleum is provided, comprising mixing together a petroleum feed and a plastic comprising polyethylene and/or polypropylene and heating the mixture above the melting point of the plastic, but less than 500° F. The blend mixture is then hot filtered with the resulting filtered blend mixture being heated to at least 500° F. The heated mixture can then be treated with a chloride removal guard bed. The resulting blend can then be cooled and stored or sent directly to a refinery conversion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2025
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Hye-Kyung C. Timken, Joel E. Schmidt, Tengfei Liu
  • Publication number: 20250263608
    Abstract: Provided is a circular process for converting polyolefins and other waste plastics back into the starting materials for polymers or value-added chemicals. Waste plastics are passed through a pyrolysis reactor to produce a pyrolyzed effluent. The pyrolyzed effluent is separated into offgas, a pyrolysis oil and pitch (or char). Optionally after further washing to remove halogens and other contaminants, the pyrolysis oil is passed to a hydrodehalogenation reactor, followed by a hydroconversion reactor comprising a catalyst comprising an LTA zeolite having an acid site concentration of 1-3 mol/l. Effluent from the hydroconversion reactor can then be sent to a steam cracker for renewed conversion into olefins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2025
    Publication date: August 21, 2025
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Theodorus Ludovicus Michael MAESEN, Cong-Yan CHEN, Joel E. SCHMIDT, Kandasamy M. SUNDARAM
  • Publication number: 20250263353
    Abstract: Provided is a stable and efficient process for preparing ethylene in improved yields when starting with a bio feedstock. The process first involves a hydrodeoxygenation reaction in which n-paraffins are made. The n-paraffins are then subjected to a hydroconversion reaction. The hydroconversion reaction is run in the presence of an LTA type zeolite, which zeolite has an acid site concentration preferably about 2.7 mol/l or greater. A boiling range of n-paraffins is then collected from the hydroprocessing reactor comprising C2-C6 n-paraffins. The collected C2-C6 n-paraffins can then be pyrolyzed in a steam cracker with good results including improved ethylene production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2025
    Publication date: August 21, 2025
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Theodorus Ludovicus Michael MAESEN, Cong-Yan CHEN, Joel E. SCHMIDT
  • Publication number: 20250215182
    Abstract: Provided is a process for converting waste polystyrene plastic into recycle for polystyrene polymerization. The process comprises selecting waste polystyrene plastics and preparing a stable blend of aromatic-rich hydrocarbon feedstock and the polystyrene plastic. The amount of plastic in the blend comprises no more than 20 wt. % of the blend. The blend is passed to a refinery FCC unit. Aromatic products are recovered from the FCC unit, from which styrene is separated. The separated styrene can then be passed to a polymerization unit to prepare polystyrene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2024
    Publication date: July 3, 2025
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Joel E. SCHMIDT, Hye-Kyung Cho TIMKEN, Tengfei LIU
  • Publication number: 20250215330
    Abstract: Provided is a continuous process for converting waste polystyrene plastic into recycle for chemical and gasoline production. The process comprises selecting waste polystyrene and preparing a stable blend of a hydrocarbon feedstock and the polystyrene. The amount of plastic in the blend comprises no more than 20 wt. % of the blend. The blend is passed to a conversion unit. Useful chemicals can be recovered, including C3 and C4 olefins and aromatics, as well as high octane gasoline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2024
    Publication date: July 3, 2025
    Applicant: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Tengfei LIU, Joel E. SCHMIDT, Hye-Kyung Cho TIMKEN
  • Publication number: 20250215335
    Abstract: Provided is a composition comprising a blend of polystyrene and an aromatic-rich hydrocarbon feedstock. Also provided is a process for preparing a stable blend of polystyrene and an aromatic-rich hydrocarbon feedstock which can be stored or transported if desired. In one embodiment, the aromatic-rich hydrocarbon feedstock comprises light cycle oil, heavy gasoline, heavy reformate, an aromatic solvent, or a mixture thereof. The amount of polystyrene in the blend comprises no more than 20 wt. % of the blend. The blend can be passed to a conversion unit for conversion of the polystyrene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2024
    Publication date: July 3, 2025
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Hye-Kyung Cho TIMKEN, Tengfei LIU, Joel E. SCHMIDT
  • Publication number: 20240191140
    Abstract: Provided is a blend of a petroleum feedstock and 1-20 wt. % of plastic, based on the weight of the blend, with the plastic comprising polyethylene and/or polypropylene, and the plastic in the blend comprising finely dispersed microcrystalline particles having an average particle size of 10 micron to less than 100 microns and less than 100 ppm chloride. A process for preparing a blend of plastic and petroleum is provided, comprising mixing together a petroleum feed and a plastic comprising polyethylene and/or polypropylene and heating the mixture in the range of from 550° F. to 700° F. The blend mixture is then hot filtered and then optionally treated with a chloride removal guard bed. The resulting blend can then be cooled and stored or sent directly to a refinery conversion unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2023
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Hye-Kyung C. Timken, Joel E. Schmidt, Tengfei Liu
  • Publication number: 20240191142
    Abstract: Provided is a blend of a petroleum feedstock and 1-20 wt. % of plastic, based on the weight of the blend, with the plastic comprising polyethylene and/or polypropylene, and the plastic in the blend comprising finely dispersed microcrystalline particles having an average particle size of 10 micron to less than 100 microns, and less than 10 ppm chloride. A process for preparing a blend of plastic and petroleum is provided, comprising mixing together a petroleum feed and a plastic comprising polyethylene and/or polypropylene and heating the mixture above the melting point of the plastic, but less than 500° F. The blend mixture is then hot filtered with the resulting filtered blend mixture being heated to at least 500° F. The heated mixture can then be treated with a chloride removal guard bed. The resulting blend can then be cooled and stored or sent directly to a refinery conversion unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2023
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Hye-Kyung C. Timken, Joel E. Schmidt, Tengfei Liu
  • Publication number: 20240010583
    Abstract: Provided is a continuous process for converting waste plastic into recycle for polyethylene polymerization. The process comprises selecting waste plastics containing polyethylene and/or polypropylene and preparing a blend of a bio feedstock and the selected plastic. The amount of plastic in the blend comprises no more than 20 wt. % of the blend. The blend is passed to a FCC unit. A liquid petroleum gas LPG olefin/paraffin mixture and naphtha are recovered from the FCC unit and can be passed on to make polyethylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Joel E. SCHMIDT, Tengfei LIU, Hye-Kyung C. TIMKEN
  • Publication number: 20240010927
    Abstract: Provided is a composition comprising a blend of a waste plastic and a bio feedstock. Also provided is a process for preparing a stable blend of a plastic and bio feedstock which can be stored or transported if desired. The amount of plastic in the blend comprises no more than 20 wt. % of the blend. The blend can be passed to a conversion unit for conversion of the waste plastic and bio feedstock. The conversion process produces clean monomers for polymerization and chemical intermediates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Tengfei LIU, Joel E. SCHMIDT, Hye-Kyung C. TIMKEN
  • Publication number: 20240010940
    Abstract: Provided is a continuous process for converting waste plastic into recycle for chemical production. The process comprises selecting waste plastics containing polyethylene and/or polypropylene and preparing a stable blend of a bio feedstock and the selected plastic. The amount of plastic in the blend comprises no more than 20 wt. % of the blend. The blend is passed to a conversion unit. Useful chemicals are recovered, including C3 and C4 olefins and aromatics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Tengfei LIU, Joel E. SCHMIDT, Hye-Kyung C. TIMKEN
  • Publication number: 20240010928
    Abstract: Provided is a continuous process for converting waste plastic into recycle for polypropylene polymerization. The process comprises selecting waste plastics containing polyethylene and/or polypropylene and preparing a blend of a bio feedstock and the selected plastic. The amount of plastic in the blend comprises no more than 20 wt. % of the blend. The blend is passed to a FCC unit. A liquid petroleum gas LPG olefin/paraffin mixture and naphtha are recovered from the FCC unit and can be passed on to make polypropylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Joel E. SCHMIDT, Tengfei LIU, Hye-Kyung C. TIMKEN
  • Publication number: 20230312437
    Abstract: Provided is a continuous process for converting waste plastic into recycle for polypropylene polymerization. The process comprises selecting waste plastics containing polyethylene and/or polypropylene and preparing a stable blend of petroleum and the selected plastic. The amount of plastic in the blend comprises no more than 20 wt. % of the blend. The blend is passed to a refinery FCC unit. A liquid petroleum gas C3 olefin/paraffin mixture is recovered from the FCC unit. The C3 paraffins and C3 olefins are separated into different fractions with the C3 olefin fraction passed to a propylene polymerization reactor, and the C3 paraffin fraction passed optionally to a dehydrogenation unit to produce additional propylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Joel E. SCHMIDT, Hye-Kyung C. TIMKEN, Tengfei LIU, Richard L. GROVE, Kaidong CHEN
  • Publication number: 20230312862
    Abstract: Provided is a continuous process for converting waste plastic into recycle for polyethylene polymerization. The process comprises selecting waste plastics containing polyethylene and/or polypropylene and preparing a stable blend of petroleum and the selected plastic. The amount of plastic in the blend comprises no more than 20 wt. % of the blend. The blend is passed to a refinery FCC unit. A liquid petroleum gas LPG olefin/paraffin mixture and naphtha are recovered from the FCC unit and passed to a steam cracker to make ethylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Tengfei LIU, Joel E. SCHMIDT, Hye-Kyung C. TIMKEN, Richard L. GROVE, Kaidong CHEN
  • Publication number: 20230312863
    Abstract: Provided is a blend of a petroleum feedstock and 1-20 wt. % of plastic, based on the weight of the blend, with the plastic comprising polyethylene and/or polypropylene, and the plastic in the blend comprising finely dispersed microcrystalline particles having an average particle size of 10 micron to less than 100 microns. A process for preparing a blend of plastic and petroleum is provided, comprising mixing together a petroleum feed and a plastic comprising polyethylene and/or polypropylene and heating the mixture above the melting point of the plastic, but less than 500° F. Then cooling the plastic melt and petroleum feedstock liquid blend with mixing to a temperature below the melting point of the plastic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Hye-Kyung C. TIMKEN, Tengfei LIU, Joel E. SCHMIDT, Kaustav CHAUDHURI