Patents by Inventor Johan G. A. Bitter

Johan G. A. Bitter 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).

  • Counter-current membrane module for liquid separation
    Patent number: 5143613
    Abstract: A counter-current flow membrane module for liquid separations consisting of a body comprising hollow fiber membranes wherein the hollow fiber membranes are arranged transversely of the longitudinal axis of the module and the channels in the hollow fibers are connected to spaces present around the body which is furthermore surrounded by a shell. The module comprises two or more transverse current flow (cross-flow) segments formed by seals between the body and the shell, wherein at least one fiber layer or fiber fabric is applied per segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Johan G. A. Bitter, Harry Futselaar, Imre G. Racz
  • Process for reducing the metal content of a hydrocarbon mixture
    Patent number: 5133851
    Abstract: Process for reducing the metal content of a hydrocarbon feed mixture by reverse osmosis, comprising contacting the feed mixture substantially boiling in the range between about 100.degree. and about 350.degree. C. and containing at most about 1000 parts per billion by weight (ppbw) of metal(s) with a metal-selective membrane to give a hydrocarbon permeate stream having a metal content which is less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Johan G. A. Bitter, Richard H. Clark, Johannes L. W. C. Den Boestert, Jayantilal B. Rajani
  • Process for the separation of a phenol
    Patent number: 4987273
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the separation of a phenol from a mixture obtained by the carboxylation of the phenol and containing phenol, phenolate and the carboxylation products thereof, which process comprises separation carried out by selectively absorbing the phenol into the wall of a membrane, solubilizing the phenol in the membrane matrix, diffusing the phenol through the membrane and desorbing the phenol from the other wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Johan G. A. Bitter, Johannes L. W. C. den Boestert, Wilhelmus J. M. Weeres
  • Supported membrane and process for its preparation
    Patent number: 4837055
    Abstract: A supported membrane comprising a non-woven monofilament support layer wherein dense membranes with a maximum width of 5000 .mu.m are surrounded by filaments. The invention further relates to a process for the preparation of said supported membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Johan G. A. Bitter
  • Process for separating a fluid feed mixture containing hydrocarbon oil and an organic solvent
    Patent number: 4810366
    Abstract: Process for separating a fluid feed mixture containing hydrocarbon oil and an organic solvent (e.g. obtained from a furfural extraction unit) by contacting said fluid feed mixture at elevated pressure with one side of a hydrocarbon oil-selective membrane containing a layer of a silicone polymer which is substantially impermeable to said organic solvent and recovering hydrocarbon oil permeate from the other side of the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Johan G. A. Bitter, Johannes P. Haan
  • Supported membrane
    Patent number: 4769263
    Abstract: A supported membrane comprising a non-woven monofiliment support layer wherein dense membranes with a maximum width of 5000 .mu.m are surrounded by filaments. The invention further relates to a process for the preparation of said supported membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Johan G. A. Bitter
  • Process for the separation of solvents from hydrocarbons dissolved in the solvents
    Patent number: 4748288
    Abstract: The invention is a process for the separation of solvents from hydrocarbons dissolved in the solvents which comprises contacting at elevated pressure a feed solution comprising hydrocarbons dissolved in an aromatic solvent and a polar aliphatic solvent with one side of a dense membrane which is substantially impermeable to the hydrocarbons, and which membrane comprises a layer of a halogen-substituted silicon compound, and recovering the solvents from the other side of the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1988
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Johan G. A. Bitter, Johannes P. Haan, Hendrik C. Rijkens
  • Process for the separation of an organic liquid mixture
    Patent number: 4670151
    Abstract: A process for the separation of a two component liquid mixture is described in which the liquid mixture is passed along one side of a membrane and an extracting agent is passed on the other side of the membrane, the process being characterized by the use of a membrane impermeable to at least one component of the liquid mixture and permeable to the extracting agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Johan G. A. Bitter
  • Preparation of 2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone
    Patent number: 4250335
    Abstract: An improved process is described for the preparation of 2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone by catalytically oxidizing a trimethylphenol selected from the class consisting of 2,3,5-trimethylphenol, 2,3,6-trimethylphenol and mixtures thereof with oxygen in the presence of a cobalt chelate catalyst complex in a dimethylformamide solvent to form 2,3,5-trimethyl-p-benzoquinone which is subsequently hydrogenated to 2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone by reaction with hydrogen in the presence of a noble metal catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1981
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Johan G. A. Bitter, Rudolf J. Maas, Jacobus H. Scheerman