Patents by Inventor John W. Byrne

John W. Byrne 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: 6508863
    Abstract: A process for adsorbing hydrocarbons from an acid gas stream includes passing the acid gas stream through an adsorbent that selectively removes hydrocarbons, desorbing the hydrocarbons from the adsorbent and contacting the desorbed hydrocarbons with an acid gas removal solution to remove acid gases which have been coadsorbed with the hydrocarbons. The process is particularly useful in removing hydrocarbons from a hydrogen sulfide-containing stream that is being directed to Claus processing for conversion into elemental sulfur. Useful adsorbents include Y-type zeolites having a silica to alumina mole ratio of less than 15 and a reduced sodium content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Engelhard Corporation
    Inventors: John W. Byrne, William B. Dolan, Kenneth F. Butwell
  • Patent number: 5516497
    Abstract: A zeolite catalyst composition is provided in which a first or upstream zone of the catalyst has a lower metal (e.g., iron or copper) promoter loading than the metal promoter moter loading of the second or downstream zone of the catalyst. The first zone may contain from none up to about 1 percent by weight of the promoter and the second zone may contain from about 1 to 30 percent by weight promoter. The zeolite may be any suitable zeolite, especially one having a silica-to-alumina ratio of about 10 or more, and a kinetic pore size of about 7 to about 8 Angstroms with such pores being interconnected in all three crystallographic dimensions. The method of the invention provides for passing a gaseous stream containing oxygen, nitrogen oxides and ammonia sequentially through first and second catalysts as described above, the first catalyst favoring reduction of nitrogen oxides and the second catalyst favoring the oxidation or other decomposition of excess ammonia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Engelhard Corporation
    Inventors: Barry K. Speronello, John W. Byrne, James M. Chen
  • Patent number: 5024981
    Abstract: A zeolite catalyst composition is provided in which a first or upstream zone of the catalyst has a lower metal (e.g., iron or copper) promoter loading than the metal promoter loading of the second or downstream zone of the catalyst. The first zone may contain from none up to about 1 percent by weight of the promoter and the second zone may contain from about 1 to 30 percent by weight promoter. The zeolite may be any suitable zeolite, especially one having a silica-to-alumina ratio of about 10 or more, and a kinetic pore size of about 7 to about 8 Angstroms with such pores being interconnected in all three crystallographic dimensions. The method of the invention provides for passing a gaseous stream containing oxygen, nitrogen oxides and ammonia sequentially through first and second catalysts as described above, the first catalyst favoring reduction of nitrogen oxides and the second catalyst favoring the oxidation or other decomposition of excess ammonia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Assignee: Engelhard Corporation
    Inventors: Barry K. Speronello, John W. Byrne, James M. Chen
  • Patent number: 4961917
    Abstract: A method in accordance with the invention comprises passing through a zeolite catalyst as described below, a gaseous stream containing nitrogen oxides, ammonia and oxygen to selectively catalyze the reduction of nitrogen oxides and, if excess or unreacted ammonia is present, to oxidize the excess of unreacted ammonia with oxygen to hydrogen and water. The method includes the use of a zeolite catalyst composition which comprises a metal (e.g., iron or copper) promoted zeolite, the zeolite being characterized by having a silica to alumina ratio of at least about 10 and a pore structure which is interconnected in all three crystallographic dimensions by pores having an average kinetic pore diameter of at least about 7 Angstroms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1990
    Assignee: Engelhard Corporation
    Inventor: John W. Byrne
  • Patent number: 4839026
    Abstract: Sulfur oxides are removed at least partially from the gaseous regenerator effluent of a fluid catalytic cracking unit operated with feedstock containing sulfur compounds and converted to hydrogen sulfide in the cracking zone by associating sulfur oxides in the gas with at least one rare earth compound, preferably cerium or a rare earth mixture rich in cerium, supported on discrete particles of alumina. The alumina particles may be a component of particles of a composite fluid cracking catalyst or separate fluidizable entities other than cracking catalyst and physically admixed with the catalyst particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Stanley M. Brown, John W. Byrne, Harry E. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 4606813
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a fluid catalytic cracking catalyst comprising a blend of a catalytically active first component and a second component for reducing the emissions of oxides of sulfur from the regenerator of a catalytic cracking unit and the use of that catalyst to crack sulfur containing petroleum feedstocks. The catalytically active first component contains Y-faujasite zeolite and comprises about 10-70% by weight, preferably about 25-50% by weight, of the catalyst. The second component of the catalyst comprises about 30-90% by weight, preferably about 50-75% by weight, of the catalyst. The second component comprises fluidizable particles containing at least about 70% by weight, preferably at least about 90% by weight, alumina and having an equilibrium surface area in the range of about 40-100 m.sup.2 /g., preferably in the range of about 50-90 m.sup.2 /g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1986
    Assignee: Engelhard Corporation
    Inventors: John W. Byrne, Barry K. Speronello
  • Patent number: 4384949
    Abstract: Whole crude and residual fractions from distillation of petroleum and like feed stocks are subjected to selective vaporization to prepare heavy fractions of reduced Conradson Carbon and/or metals content by short-term, high temperature riser contact with a substantially inert solid contact material of low surface area in a selective vaporization zone. High boiling point components of the charge which are of high Conradson Carbon number and/or high metal content remain on the contact material as a combustible deposit which is then burned off in a combustion zone whereby the contact material is heated to a high temperature for return to the selective vaporization zone to supply the heat required therein. Equilibrium FCC catalyst, previously treated to reduce catalytic cracking activity and surface area, is used as the substantially inert solid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1983
    Assignee: Engelhard Minerals & Chemicals Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Reagan, John W. Byrne, Francis L. Himpsl
  • Patent number: 4325817
    Abstract: A system is described for control of sulfur oxide in emissions to the atmosphere from the combined flue gases of selective vaporization and FCC cracking of the improved charge stock resulting from selective vaporization. The invention provides for reduction in sulfur oxide content of the waste gases from the FCC regenerator and the selective vaporization burner and adds a new controllable variable for a heat balanced FCC Unit. The cracking catalyst used has the capability of reversibly reacting with sulfur oxides in the combined flue gases to carry the sulfur back into the reactor where it is converted, at least in part, to hydrogen sulfide which is removed from reaction products in the normal course of treating the cracked products from the reactor. By the disclosed system, the blend of flue gas is cooled and then contacted with hot regenerated catalyst from the regenerator for sorption of sulfur oxides by the catalyst and to cool the catalyst for control of reaction parameters in the FCC reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1982
    Assignee: Engelhard Minerals & Chemicals Corporation
    Inventors: David B. Bartholic, John W. Byrne
  • Patent number: 4284494
    Abstract: A system is described for control of sulfur oxide in emissions to the atmosphere from regenerators of Fluid Catalytic Cracking Units (FCC) in a manner which provides an added controllable variable in heat balanced units. The cracking catalyst used has the capability of reversibly reacting with sulfur oxides in the regenerator flue gas to carry the sulfur back into the reactor where it is converted, at least in part, to hydrogen sulfide which is removed from reaction products in the normal course of treating the cracked products from the reactor. By the disclosed system, regenerator flue gas is cooled and then contacted with hot regenerated catalyst from the regenerator for sorption of sulfur oxides by the catalyst and to cool the catalyst for control of reaction parameters in the FCC reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1981
    Assignee: Engelhard Minerals & Chemicals Corporation
    Inventors: David B. Bartholic, John W. Byrne