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).

  • Reaction product additive and ori-inhibited motor fuel composition
    Patent number: 4810261
    Abstract: A novel gasoline-soluble reaction product, a concentrate comprising the reaction product dissolved in a hydrocarbon solvent, and a haze-free, deposit-resistant and ORI-inhibited motor fuel composition comprising the reaction product is described. The reaction product is obtained by reacting a dibasic acid anhydride, a novel diamine containing block copolymers with polyoxyalkylene backbones, and a hydrocarbyl polyamine. Motor fuel compositions containing the reaction product additive of the instant invention are haze-free and show improved deposit-resistance and ORI control in comparison with motor fuels without the reaction product. Motor fuel compositions of the instant invention may optionally comprise a polyolefin polymer/copolymer component having a molecular weight range of about 500-3500.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney L. Sung, Milton D. Behrens, Michael A. Caggiano, John F. Knifton, John M. Larkin, Robert L. Zimmerman
  • Process for synthesis of primary amines from olefins, syngas and ammonia
    Patent number: 4794199
    Abstract: This invention concerns the synthesis of primary amines from olefins, synthesis gas and ammonia via an amination process in the presence of a cobalt catalyst, an ether solvent and a tertiary group VB donor ligand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Jiang-Jen Lin, John F. Knifton
  • Process for preparing pyrazines from hydroxyamines
    Patent number: 4788289
    Abstract: This invention relates to the cyclocondensation of hydroxyamines to form pyrazines by a process comprising reacting said hydroxyamine in the presence of a catalyst comprising a rhodium, ruthenium or palladium-containing compound and a phosphine-containing compound under mild conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Wei-Yang Su, John F. Knifton
  • Novel polyoxyalkylene diamine compound and ori-inhibited motor fuel composition
    Patent number: 4747851
    Abstract: A novel gasoline-soluble polyoxyalkylene diamine compound, a concentrate comprising the compound dissolved in a hydrocarbon solvent, and a haze-free, deposit-resistant and ORI-inhibited motor fuel composition comprising the compound is described. Motor fuel compositions comprising the novel polyoxyalkylene diamine compound of the instant invention are haze-free and show improved ORI control and carbonaceous deposit inhibition in comparison with conventional motor fuels. Motor fuel compositions of the instant invention may optionally comprise a polyolefin polymer/copolymer component having a molecular weight range of about 500-3500.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1988
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney L. Sung, Milton D. Behrens, Michael A. Caggiano, John F. Knifton, John M. Larkin, Robert L. Zimmerman
  • Process for cosynthesis of ethylene glycol and dimethyl carbonate
    Patent number: 4734518
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for the cosynthesis of ethylene glycol and dimethyl carbonate by reacting methanol and ethylene carbonate in the presence of a homogeneous catalyst from the group consisting of soluble miscible tertiary phosphines arsines, and stibines and soluble, miscible bivalent sulphur and selenium compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: John F. Knifton
  • Preparation of disecondary amines from diolefins and primary amines
    Patent number: 4705898
    Abstract: A two-step process for the preparation of secondary amines in good yield from olefins, carbon monoxide, hydrogen and primary amines is described. The intermediate imine may be isolated in good yield as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1987
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Edward E. McEntire, John F. Knifton
  • Process for production of ethylene glycol and dimethyl carbonate
    Patent number: 4691041
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for the preparation of ethylene glycol and dimethyl carbonate by reacting methanol and ethylene carbonate in the presence of a series of heterogenous catalyst systems including ion exchange resins with tertiary amine, quaternary ammonium, sulfonic acid and carboxylic acid functional groups, alkali and alkaline earth silicates impregnated into silica and ammonium exchanged zeolites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Roger G. Duranleau, Edward C. Y. Nieh, John F. Knifton
  • Catalytic process for the preparation of linear polyethylenepolyamines with tungstophosphoric acid-or molybdophosphoric acid-on-titania catalysts
    Patent number: 4683335
    Abstract: This invention is directed to novel catalyst compositions based on titania pellets on which a minor amount of tungstophosphoric acid or molybdophosphoric 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: September 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Knifton, Neal J. Grice
  • Process for separation of product resulting from hydroformylation
    Patent number: 4678857
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for preparing products such as 4-hydroxybutanal which comprises contacting unsaturated compounds such as allyl alcohol with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a rhodium carbonyl-phosphine catalyst and an aromatic solvent. The solvent is an aromatic which causes a large density difference between the resulting aqueous phase and organic phase so that the soluble rhodium catalyst can be easily separated from the 4-hydroxybutanal product and starting material without appreciable loss of the metal. This allows for easy recycle of the catalyst solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1987
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Roger G. Dureanleau, John F. Knifton
  • Process for cosynthesis of ethylene glycol and dimethyl carbonate
    Patent number: 4661609
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for the cosynthesis of ethylene glycol and dimethyl carbonate by reacting methanol and ethylene carbonate in the presence of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of zirconium, titanium and tin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: John F. Knifton
  • Process for formation of dialkylaminomethylated internal olefin polymers
    Patent number: 4657984
    Abstract: An aminomethylation reaction is disclosed wherein polymeric polyamines are produced. Polymeric polyolefins such as polybutadiene, secondary amines, and synthesis gas are reacted in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a ruthenium-containing compound, a rhodium-containing compound, a sterically hindered phosphine and a solvent. Preferred polybutadiene feedstocks are those with a predominance of internal rather than pendant vinylic olefin groups and particularly those polymers containing both the 1,2-polybutadiene and 1,4-polybutadiene units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1987
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Edward E. McEntire, John F. Knifton
  • Process for preparing ethyl and n-propyl esters of carboxylic acids from methanol, syngas and carboxylic acid using a new catalyst system
    Patent number: 4647691
    Abstract: Ethyl and n-propyl esters of carboxylic acids are prepared in good yield from methanol, syngas and a carboxylic acid by contacting a mixture of the carboxylic acid, carbon monoxide, hydrogen and methanol with a catalyst composition comprising a ruthenium-containing compound, a cobalt-containing compound and a quaternary onium salt or base, and heating the resulting mixture at an elevated temperature and pressure for sufficient time to produce the desired ethyl and propyl esters, and then recovering the same from the reaction mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Jiang-Jen Lin, John F. Knifton
  • Selective synthesis of aliphatic dicarboxylic acid esters using palladium-phosphine or palladium-arsine catalysts
    Patent number: 4629807
    Abstract: A process for preparing aliphatic dicarboxylic acid esters from aliphatic, non-conjugated dienes via carbonylation in the presence of a homogeneous palladium-phosphine catalyst or a palladium-phosphine melt catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: John F. Knifton
  • Process for C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkanol production from synthesis gas using a trimetallic catalyst
    Patent number: 4622343
    Abstract: This invention concerns a process for making C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkanols and particularly ethanol which comprises contacting a mixture of CO and H.sub.2 at a pressure of 30 atm or greater and at a temperature of at least 150.degree. C. with a catalyst system comprising a ruthenium-containing compound, a cobalt-containing compound and a manganese-containing compound dispersed in a low melting quaternary phosphonium salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Knifton, Neal J. Grice
  • Catalytic process for the production of primary amines from oxyethylene glycol monoalkyl ethers
    Patent number: 4618717
    Abstract: A process for the conversion of oxyethylene glycol monoalkyl ethers to the corresponding primary amines by reaction with ammonia in the presence of a nickel-copper-chromium-containing catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1986
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Terry L. Renken, John F. Knifton
  • Process for low pressure synthesis of ethylene glycol from synthesis gas plus formaldehyde
    Patent number: 4616097
    Abstract: This invention relates to the manufacture of ethylene glycol and more particularly to a low pressure process for making ethylene glycol comprising reacting synthesis gas, i.e. a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, plus formaldehyde in the presence of a homogenous liquid catalyst containing an effective amount of cobalt-containing compound and a silicon-containing promoter at a temperature of at least 50.degree. C. and a pressure of at least 500 psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1986
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: John F. Knifton
  • Process for synthesis of ethylene glycol from synthesis gas plus 1,3-dioxolane using 1,3-dioxolane as a solvent
    Patent number: 4609768
    Abstract: This invention relates to the manufacture of ethylene glycol and more particularly to a low pressure process for making ethylene glycol comprising reacting synthesis gas, i.e. a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, plus 1,3-dioxolane in the presence of a homogenous liquid catalyst containing an effective amount of cobalt-containing compound, a silane or germane-containing promoter dispersed in a dioxolane solvent at a temperature of at least 50.degree. C. and a pressure of at least 500 psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1986
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Knifton, Jiang-Jen Lin, Neal J. Grice
  • Process for C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkanol production from synthesis gas
    Patent number: 4605677
    Abstract: This invention concerns a process for making C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkanols and particularly ethanol which comprises contacting a mixture of CO and H.sub.2 at a pressure of 30 atm or greater and at a temperature of at least 150.degree. C. with a catalyst system comprising a ruthenium-containing compound and a cobalt-containing compound dispersed in a low melting quaternary phosphonium base with an added N-heterocyclic promoter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1986
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: John F. Knifton
  • Process for low pressure synthesis of ethylene glycol from synthesis gas plus 1,3-dioxolane
    Patent number: 4568780
    Abstract: This invention relates to the manufacture of ethylene glycol and more particularly to a low pressure process for making ethylene glycol comprising reacting synthesis gas, i.e. a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, plus 1,3-dioxolane in the presence of a homogenous liquid catalyst containing an effective amount of cobalt-containing compound and a silane or germane-containing promoter dispersed in a hydrocarbon solvent at a temperature of at least 50.degree. C. and a pressure of at least 500 psi, where the particular solvents used allow the desired product to be separated from the reaction mixture by phase separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1986
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: John F. Knifton
  • Method for the preparation of formamides
    Patent number: 4565866
    Abstract: The instant invention relates to a process for the preparation of formamides in which ammonia, a primary or a secondary amine is reacted with carbon monoxide at an elevated temperature and pressure in the presence of a mixture consisting of a phenol and a phenate salt from the group consisting of an alkali metal phenate and an alkaline earth metal phenate, said phenol and said phenate salt each having the radical: ##STR1## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl radical having from 3 to 18 carbon atoms and a hydroxyaryl radical of the formula: ##STR2## in which R' is an alkylene group having from 2 to 5 carbon atoms and in which x has a value of 1 to 2 when R is said alkyl radical and x has a value of 1 when R is said hydroxyaryl radical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1986
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Roger G. Duranleau, John F. Knifton, George P. Speranza