Patents by Inventor John F. Knifton

John F. Knifton 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).

  • Patent number: 5414141
    Abstract: A method for preparing tertiary butyl alcohol wherein a solution of a tertiary butyl hydroperoxide feedstock in tertiary butyl alcohol is charged to a hydroperoxide decomposition reaction zone containing a catalytically effective amount of a hydroperoxide decomposition catalyst consisting essentially of palladium and gold supported on alumina, and is brought into contact with the catalyst in liquid phase under hydroperoxide decomposition reaction conditions to convert the tertiary butyl hydroperoxide to decomposition products, principally tertiary butyl alcohol and ditertiary butyl peroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Sanderson, John F. Knifton, Roger G. Duranleau
  • Patent number: 5387722
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing alkyl tertiary alkyl ethers in one step which comprises reacting tert-butanol and a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 primary alcohol in the presence of a catalyst consisting essentially of a pentasil zeolite having a silica/alumina ratio of 50-150, optionally with a binder at a temperature of about 80.degree. to 200.degree. C. and atmospheric pressure to about 1000 psig, wherein when the temperature is in the operating range above 140.degree. C., the product comprises a two-phase mix of a MTBE or ETBE and isobutylene product-rich phase and a heavier aqueous primary alcohol-rich phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Knifton, Pei-Shing E. Dai
  • Patent number: 5387723
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing alkyl tertiary alkyl ethers which comprises reacting t-butanol with an alkanol in the presence of a catalyst which exhibits extended life comprising .beta.-zeolite modified with one or more metals selected from the group consisting of Group IA and Group IIIB of the Periodic Table and continuously contacting said alkanol and t-butanol in a molar amount from about 10:1 to 1:10 over said zeolite catalyst at a temperature of about 20.degree. C. to about 250.degree. C. and a pressure of about atmospheric to about 1000 psig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Knifton, Pei-Shing E. Dai
  • Patent number: 5364981
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved process for preparing alkyl tertiary alkyl ethers, especially methyl t-butyl ether, in one step which comprises reacting tertiary butanol and methanol in the presence of a catalyst comprising .beta.-zeolite modified with one or more metals selected from Group VIII of the Periodic Table, and optionally further modified with a halogen or a Group IB metal, with an alumina binder, at a temperature of about 20.degree. C. to 250.degree. C. and atmospheric pressure to about 1000 psig, wherein when the temperature is in the operating range above about 140.degree. C., the product comprises a two-phase mix of an MTBE-isobutylene and, optionally, diisobutylene product-rich phase and a heavier aqueous ethanol-rich phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Company
    Inventors: John F. Knifton, Pei-Shing E. Dai
  • Patent number: 5362913
    Abstract: Highly saturated, highly aminated alkoxylated polymers may be reliably made by an improved process involving the steps of (1) polymerizing one or more unsaturated hydrocarbons to form a liquid polymer, where at least one of the unsaturated hydrocarbons is butadiene; (2) providing the liquid polymer with terminal hydroxyl groups; (3) alkoxylating the hydroxylated liquid polymer with one or more alkylene oxides having at least three carbon atoms to provide secondary terminal hydroxyl groups; (4) simultaneously aminating and hydrogenating the alkoxylated liquid polymer to produce an essentially saturated, aminated, alkoxylated liquid polymer in the presence of hydrogen and ammonia and a catalyst. The catalyst preferably contains nickel as the single greatest component, with smaller amounts of copper, chromium and molybdenum. Excesses of hydrogen and ammonia are used in the final step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Huntsman Corporation
    Inventors: John F. Knifton, Michael Cuscurida
  • Patent number: 5359130
    Abstract: A method for preparing tertiary butyl alcohol wherein a feedstock comprising a solvent solution of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide in tertiary butyl alcohol or a mixture of tertiary butyl alcohol with isobutane is charged to a hydroperoxide decomposition reaction zone containing a catalytically effective amount of a hydroperoxide decomposition catalyst consisting essentially of alumina having palladium and platinum deposited thereon and is brought into contact with the catalyst in liquid phase under hydroperoxide decomposition reaction conditions to convert the tertiary butyl hydroperoxide to decomposition products, principally tertiary butyl alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Company
    Inventors: John R. Sanderson, Roger G. Duranleau, John F. Knifton
  • Patent number: 5354917
    Abstract: A method for preparing tertiary butyl alcohol wherein a feedstock comprising a solvent solution of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide in tertiary butyl alcohol or a mixture of tertiary butyl alcohol with isobutane is charged to a hydroperoxide decomposition reaction zone containing a catalytically effective amount of a hydroperoxide decomposition catalyst consisting essentially of alumina or carbon having rhodium deposited thereon and is brought into contact with the catalyst in liquid phase under hydroperoxide decomposition reaction conditions to convert the tertiary butyl hydroperoxide to decomposition products, principally tertiary butyl alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Company
    Inventors: John R. Sanderson, Roger G. Duranleau, John F. Knifton
  • Patent number: 5352847
    Abstract: A method is disclosed wherein t-butanol is reacted with methanol in a reaction zone in one step to provide methyl tert-butyl ether and the improvement of accomplishing the reaction which comprises:a. Using a catalyst comprising a chlorohydrol-treated, phosphated montmorillonite clay,b. continuously contacting said t-butanol and methanol in a molar amount of about 0.1 to 10 moles of methanol per mole of t-butanol with said catalyst at a temperature of about 20.degree. C. to about 250.degree. C. and a pressure of about atmospheric to about 1000 psig to obtain the methyl tert-butyl ether product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: John F. Knifton
  • Patent number: 5349110
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparation of monoalkyl ethers by reacting low molecular weight olefins and the corresponding oxiranes, in the presence of a catalyst comprising an acidic heterogeneous or homogeneous catalyst, generally represented by the equation: ##STR1## where R, R', R" may be hydrogen or an alkyl radical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Company
    Inventor: John F. Knifton
  • Patent number: 5344984
    Abstract: A method for preparing "twin-tailed" tertiary amines which have two moles of alkoxylated phenol bonded to each nitrogen function of a molecule of methylamine and represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein x represents zero to about 30 which comprises alkylating a mole of methylamine with two moles of alkoxylated alkylphenol over a catalyst comprising:5 to 70% nickel;1 to 20% copper;0.1 to 10% chromium; and0.1 to 10% molybdenum on an alumina support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Company
    Inventors: John F. Knifton, Carter G. Naylor
  • Patent number: 5345009
    Abstract: A method for conjointly preparing tertiary butyl alcohol and ditertiary butyl peroxide wherein a solution of a tertiary butyl hydroperoxide feedstock in tertiary butyl alcohol is charged to a hydroperoxide decomposition reaction zone containing a catalytically effective amount of a hydroperoxide decomposition catalyst consisting essentially of palladium supported on pelleted carbon, and is brought into contact with the catalyst in liquid phase under hydroperoxide decomposition reaction conditions to convert the tertiary butyl hydroperoxide to decomposition products, principally tertiary butyl alcohol and ditertiary butyl peroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Company
    Inventors: John R. Sanderson, John F. Knifton
  • Patent number: 5338890
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method wherein t-butanol is reacted with methanol in one step to provide methyl t-butyl ether at a temperature of about 20.degree. C. to 250.degree. C. and a pressure of about atmospheric to about 1000 psig employing a heterogenous catalyst comprising a Group IV oxide having an alkylsulfonic acid covalently bonded thereto, particularly alkylsulfonic acid covalently bonded to silica gel and having the structure: ##STR1## wherein R is an alkyl group having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms and n is an integer in the range of 3 to 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Company
    Inventors: John F. Knifton, John R. Sanderson
  • Patent number: 5313006
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improvement in a method for cogeneration of isobutylene and MTBE by etherification of tBA/MeOH over an ion-exchange resin which allows for more complete conversion of the remaining tBA fraction and comprises a second step consisting essentially of recovering the MTBE from the primary fractionator as an overhead fraction and etherifying the bottoms from the primary fractionator over an inorganic acid catalyst comprising a crystalline aluminosilicate faujasite-type Y-zeolite modified with a compound selected from a fluoride-containing compound including hydrofluoric acid, ammonium fluoride, fluorosulfonic acids and their cogeners and triflic anhydride at a temperature of greater than 120.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Company
    Inventor: John F. Knifton
  • Patent number: 5304681
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparation of alkylamines which comprises reacting ammonia and a monounsaturated olefin in the presence of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of:a. Acid modified montmorillonite clays;b. Heterogeneous catalysts comprising a fluorine-containing compound on an inert support; andc. Heteropoly acids on an inert support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Company
    Inventors: John F. Knifton, Neal J. Grice
  • Patent number: 5300697
    Abstract: A method is disclosed wherein t-butanol is reacted with methanol in a reaction zone in one step to provide methyl tert-butyl ether and the improvement of accomplishing the reaction which comprises:a. Using a catalyst consisting of a crystalline aluminosilicate faujasite Y-type zeolite which has been treated with hydrogen fluoride;b. continuously contacting said t-butanol and methanol in a molar amount of about 0.1 to 10 moles of methanol per mole of t-butanol with said catalyst at a temperature of about 20.degree. C. to about 250.degree. C. and a pressure of about atmospheric to about 1000 psig to obtain the methyl tert-butyl ether product wherein the product mix separates into an isobutylene-MTBE product-rich phase and a heavier aqueous methanol phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Company
    Inventors: John F. Knifton, John R. Sanderson
  • Patent number: 5300703
    Abstract: Disclosed is a one step method for synthesis of alkylphenols which comprises reacting phenol with the corresponding olefin under adiabatic conditions in the presence of a catalyst comprising a heteropoly acid represented by the structure:H.sub.8-n [XM.sub.12 O.sub.40 ]where x=P or Si, M=Mo or w.sub.v and n is an integer which is 4 or 5, alone, or deposited on an inert support, at a temperature of from 60.degree. C. to 250.degree. C. and a pressure of from near atmospheric to about 500 psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Company
    Inventor: John F. Knifton
  • Patent number: 5276215
    Abstract: Disclosed is a one-step method for synthesis of alkylphenols which comprises reacting phenol with the corresponding olefin under adiabatic conditions in the presence of a zeolite catalyst, preferably a dealuminated Y-zeolite, a modified Y-zeolite, or a .beta.-zeolite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Company
    Inventors: John F. Knifton, Yu-Hwa E. Sheu, Pei-Shing Dai
  • Patent number: 5276239
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for preparing synthetic lubricant base stocks having a high dimer to trimer ratio from long-chain olefins. These synthetic lubricant base stocks are prepared in good yield by dimerizing linear olefins using a catalyst comprising a silica gel alkylsulfonic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Company
    Inventors: Sanderson John R., John F. Knifton, Edward T. Marquis
  • Patent number: 5262562
    Abstract: A method is disclosed wherein tetrahydrofuran is reacted in the presence of acetic anhydride and a catalyst to provide acetate derivatives of polyglycols and using as a catalyst a triflic acid-modified montmorillonite clay at a temperature of 0.degree.-1000.degree. C. and atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Company
    Inventors: Donald R. Hollingsworth, John F. Knifton
  • Patent number: 5256828
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing narrow range glycols which comprises reacting a glycol with ethylene oxide in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst consisting essentially of an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or alkali metal halide impregnated into an inorganic solid oxide selected from the groups consisting of small pore faujasite zeolites, pentasil zeolites, small pore ferrierite zeolites, two-dimensional mordenite zeolites, .beta.-type zeolite, basic zeolites and Group IV oxides or mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Company
    Inventors: Michael Cuscurida, John F. Knifton, Pei-Shing E. Dai