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: 4983565
    Abstract: This invention is directed to novel phosphorus-free catalyst compositions based on titania pellets on which a minor amount of a tungstosilicic acid or a molybdosilicic acid is deposited. Also, the invention is directed to a process for preparing predominantly linear polyethylenepolyamines from ethylenediamine and monoethanolamine using the novel catalyst compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Company
    Inventors: John F. Knifton, Wei-Yang Su
  • Patent number: 4978800
    Abstract: A process for the production of detergent range alcohols and ketones by reacting an alkane with a hydroperoxide in the presence of a transition metal acetylacetonate catalyst is described. Preferred hydroperoxides include cumene hydroperoxide and tertiary butyl hydroperoxide. The transition metal itself may be iron, ruthenium, chromium and mixtures thereof. If iron acetylacetonate is used as a catalyst, copper (II) acetate may be usefully employed as a co-catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Company
    Inventors: John R. Sanderson, Edward T. Marquis, John F. Knifton
  • Patent number: 4939301
    Abstract: A process for preparing monoalkanolamines from ammonia and alkylene oxide using a catalyst which allows for high selectivity and high productivity which comprises an acid modified montmorillonite clay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Company
    Inventors: Neal J. Grice, John F. Knifton
  • Patent number: 4922036
    Abstract: Tertiary butyl alcohol is prepared by the catalytic decomposition of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide, preferably in solution in tertiary butyl alcohol, in the presence of a borate-promoted metal phthalocyanine catalyst such as a Group IB, VIIB or VIIIB metal phthalocyanine and a Group IA, IIA or IIB metal borate, for example, chloroferric phthalocyanine and lithium borate, barium borate, zinc borate or sodium metaborate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Sanderson, Edward T. Marquis, John F. Knifton
  • Patent number: 4922033
    Abstract: A tertiary butyl hydroperoxide feedstock, such as one prepared by the reaction of isobutane with molecular oxygen comprising tertiary butyl hydroperoxide dissolved in tertiary butyl alcohol, is charged to a catalytic decomposition zone where the tertiary butyl hydroperoxide is catalytically decomposed in the presence of a soluble ruthenium catalyst compound promoted with a bidentate ligand to provide a decomposition reaction product characterized by a high conversion rate and a high selectivity of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide to tertiary butyl alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Sanderson, John F. Knifton, Edward T. Marquis
  • Patent number: 4918222
    Abstract: An N-acetylglycine is manufactured by reacting paraformaldehyde with an acetamide and carbon monoxide in the present of a cobalt-containing catalyst promoted by a sulfoxide or dinitride compounds. The presence of sulfoxide or dinitrile ligands are essential for the high yield synthesis of N-acetylglycine and good cobalt recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Jiang-Jen Lin, John F. Knifton, Ernest L. Yeakey
  • Patent number: 4914072
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for the preparation of predominantly linear polyethylenepolyamines by reacting ethylenediamine with monoethanolamine in the presence of a phosphorus/titania/zirconia catalyst.The catalysts that are used in accordance with the present invention are composed of phosphorus, titania and zirconia. They are prepared by mixing solutions of a tetravalent compound of titanium with a tetravalent compound of zirconium, treating the solution to simultaneously heterogeneously coprecipitate titania and zirconia to form a heterogeneous titania/zirconia support, recovering the coprecipitate, treating it with a compound of phosphorus to bond from about 0.5 to 6 wt. % of phosphorus to the coprecipitate and then stabilizing the resultant catalyst by calcining it at about 200.degree. to about 800.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Neal J. Grice, John F. Knifton, Chau-Hwa Yang
  • Patent number: 4912267
    Abstract: Tertiary butyl alcohol is prepared by the catalytic decomposition of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide, preferably in solution in tertiary butyl alcohol, in the presence of a base-promoted metal phthalocyanine catalyst, such as a phthalocyanine of a metal of Group IB, Group VIIB or Group VIIIB of the Periodic Table (e.g., chloroferric phthalocyanine and a base having a pH greater than about 7.5 when 0.10 mole is dissolved in one liter of water, such as sodium carbonate, sodium acetate, sodium phosphate, ammonium hydrogen phosphate, lithium carbonate, etc.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Sanderson, John F. Knifton
  • Patent number: 4912266
    Abstract: In order to prepare a feedstock, isobutane is reacted with oxygen in an oxidation zone to provide an oxidation product comprising a solution of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide in unreacted isobutane. A catalyst may be present to catalyze the reaction of the oxygen with the isobutane if desired.The feedstock is charged to a catalytic decomposition zone wherein the tertiary butyl hydroperoxide is decomposed in the presence of an imidazole-promoted metal phthalocyanine catalyst to provide a decomposition reaction product characterized by a compartively high conversion rate and a compartively high selectively of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide to tertiary butyl alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Sanderson, John F. Knifton, Edward T. Marquis, Mark A. Mueller
  • Patent number: 4910303
    Abstract: This invention relates to the reaction of N-alkyl-bis-(2-hydroxyalkyl)amines to form oxazine derivatives by a process comprising reacting said amines in the presence of a ruthenium-containing compound and hydrogen acceptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Company
    Inventors: Wei-Yang Su, John F. Knifton
  • Patent number: 4910349
    Abstract: Tertiary butyl alcohol is prepared by the catalytic decomposition of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide, preferably in solution in tertiary butyl alcohol, in the presence of a metal phthalocyanine catalyst promoted with a rhenium compound, such as a phthalocyanine of a metal of Group IB, Group VIIB or Group VIIIB of the Periodic Table (e.g., chloroferric phthalocyanine and rhenium heptoxide-p-dioxane or oxotrichloro-bis-(triphenylphosphine) rhenium V).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Sanderson, John F. Knifton, Edward T. Marquis
  • Patent number: 4898987
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for the synthesis of phenol and acetone by acid-catalyzed decomposition over a catalyst comprising an acidic montmorillonite silica alumina clay, modified with a compound from the group consisting of a heteropoly acid, or the inorganic salt of zirconium, titanium and aluminum. The method allows for a 6-fold improvement in rate using heteropoly acid modified montmorillonite clays and a six to 10-food improvement is observed using zirconium or titanium, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Company
    Inventor: John F. Knifton
  • Patent number: 4898995
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for the synthesis of phenol and acetone by decomposition over a heterogeneous catalyst from the group consisting of a heteropoly acid on an inert support or an ion exchange resin with a sulfonic acid functionality. The method allows for quantitative conversions with yields of up to >99 mole % or better.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Company
    Inventors: John F. Knifton, John R. Sanderson
  • Patent number: 4892959
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for the improved production of N-methylpyrrolidine at moderate conditions which comprises the steps of reacting N-methylpyrrolidone with hydrogen over a copper chromite catalyst at a moderate temperature and a pressure of 1000 psig to 5000 psig and thereafter isolating the N-methylpyrrolidine by extraction with an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent having a boiling point less than 70.degree. C. or greater than 90.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Co.
    Inventors: Donald H. Champion, John F. Knifton, Wei-Yang Su
  • Patent number: 4891437
    Abstract: A hydroperoxide charge stock (t-butyl hydroperoxide or t-amyl hydroperoxide) is reacted with a C.sub.3 to C.sub.20 olefin charge stock in liquid phase in a reaction zone in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a soluble molybdenum catalyst to form a product olefin epoxide corresponding to the olefin charge stock and a product alcohol corresponding to the hydroperoxide charge (t-butyl alcohol or t-amyl alcohol), which process is improved in accordance with the present invention by maintaining a reaction medium composed of more than 60 wt % of polar components (hydroperoxide charge stock, product alcohol and product epoxide) in the reaction zone by charging to the reaction zone at least about a 30 wt % solution of the hydroperoxide charge stock in the corresponding product alcohol and charging said olefin charge stock to said reaction zone in an amount relative to the amount of said charged solution of charged hydroperoxide in product alcohol sufficient to provide a ratio of from about 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Edward T. Marquis, Kenneth P. Keating, John F. Knifton, William A. Smith, John R. Sanderson, Jonathan Lustri
  • Patent number: 4891442
    Abstract: N-acetyl-.beta.-phenylalanine is synthesized by reacting phenylacetaldehyde, acetamide and synthesis gas with a catalyst comprising a cobalt-containing compound in conjunction with a cocatalyst that may be either a Group VB or VIB containing ligand, or a rhodium compound optionally bonded to one or more Group VB or VIB donor ligands, at a temperature of at least 50.degree. C. and a pressure of at least 500 psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Jiang-Jen Lin, John F. Knifton
  • Patent number: 4876397
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for the synthesis of phenol and acetone by decomposition over a heterogeneous catalyst comprising a fluorine-containing acidic compound on an inert support. The method allows for quantitative conversions with yields of up to >99 mole %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Company
    Inventors: John F. Knifton, Neal J. Grice
  • Patent number: 4870217
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for the synthesis of phenol and acetone by acid-catalyzed decomposition over a catalyst comprising an acidic smectite clay, particularly an acidic montmorillonite silica-alumina clay. The method allows for quantitative conversions with yields of up to 98% mole or better. Further the method is capable of operating efficiently at high LHSVs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Company
    Inventor: John F. Knifton
  • Patent number: 4827048
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing methyl tertiary butyl ether by reacting tertiary butyl alcohol and methanol in the presence of a catalyst comprising a heteropoly acid, such as 12-tungstophosphoric acid or 12-molybdophosphoric acid, on an inert support, such as titania, at an elevated temperature and moderate pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Company
    Inventor: John F. Knifton
  • Patent number: 4822921
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing methyl tertiary butyl ether by reacting tertiary butyl alcohol and methanol in the presence of a catalyst comprising an inert support, such as titania, having a phosphoric acid impregnated thereon at a mild temperature and moderate pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Company
    Inventors: John F. Knifton, Neal J. Grice