Patents by Inventor Joel T. Walenga

Joel T. Walenga 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: 20080249197
    Abstract: A process for the selective oxidation of methane to methanol using a supported transition metal catalyst has been developed. Examples of the transition metals which can be used are copper and palladium, while an example of a support is silica. Optionally, the catalyst can contain a modifier component such as cesium. Generally the process involves contacting a gas stream, comprising methane, a solvent such as trifluoroacetic acid and an oxidizing agent such as air or hydrogen peroxide with the catalyst, at oxidation conditions to produce a methyl ester, e.g. methyl trifluoroacetate. Finally, the methyl ester is hydrolyzed to yield a methanol product stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Maureen L Bricker, Timothy A. Brandvold, Wensheng Chen, Shurong Yang, Joel T. Walenga
  • Publication number: 20070149832
    Abstract: A process for converting methane to methanol using a homogeneous catalyst has been developed. The catalyst is a metal compound having an empirical formula of MxXm where M is a metal such as Pd, Cu, Co, and Mn, X is an anion such as acetate, trifluoroacetate, sulfate, propionate, “m” is the oxidation state of M, and “x” is the anion valence of X. Generally the process involves contacting a gas stream containing methane with the homogeneous catalyst and an oxidant such as hydrogen peroxide at oxidation conditions to produce methyl trifluoroacetate. Finally, the methyl trifluoroacetate is hydrolyzed to give a methanol product stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Inventors: Wensheng Chen, Timothy A. Brandvold, Maureen L. Bricker, Joseph A. Kocal, Joel T. Walenga
  • Patent number: 7112307
    Abstract: A riser reactor system for conversion of hydrocarbon feedstock to ethylene and propylene is described. The riser reactor system prevents riser reactors with a plurality of inlet ports for feeding gases having different compositions and for controlling the residence time of a gas catalyst within the riser reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Hayim Abrevaya, Joel T. Walenga, Michael A. Schultz, Anil R. Oroskar
  • Publication number: 20040258580
    Abstract: A riser reactor system for conversion of hydrocarbon feedstock to ethylene and propylene is described. The riser reactor system prevents riser reactors with a plurality of inlet ports for feeding gases having different compositions and for controlling the residence time of a gas catalyst within the riser reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Hayim Abrevaya, Joel T. Walenga, Michael A. Schultz, Anil R. Oroskar
  • Patent number: 6791002
    Abstract: A riser reactor system for conversion of hydrocarbon feedstock to ethylene and propylene is described. The riser reactor system prevents riser reactors with a plurality of inlet ports for feeding gases having different compositions and for controlling the residence time of a gas catalyst within the riser reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Hayim Abrevaya, Joel T. Walenga, Michael A. Schultz, Anil R. Oroskar