Patents by Inventor Joseph C. Noronha

Joseph C. Noronha 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).

  • Two-stage, gas phase process for the manufacture of alkylene glycol
    Patent number: 8309771
    Abstract: A two-stage, gas phase process for manufacturing alkylene glycol (e.g., ethylene glycol) from an alkene (e.g., ethylene), oxygen and water, the process comprising the steps of: (A) Contacting under gas phase, oxidation conditions gaseous alkene and oxygen over a heterogeneous oxidation catalyst to produce a gaseous oxidation product comprising alkylene oxide, water and unreacted alkene; (B) Contacting under gas phase, hydrolysis conditions the gaseous oxidation product of (A) with added water over a heterogeneous hydrolysis catalyst to produce a gaseous alkylene glycol and unreacted alkene; and (C) Recycling the unreacted alkene of (B) to (A). The hydrolysis catalyst is selected from the group consisting of hydrotalcites, metal-loaded zeolites, phosphates, and metal-loaded ion-exchanged molecular sieves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Dow Technology Investments LLC
    Inventors: Joseph C. Noronha, Elbert J. Campbell, Brian T. Keen, Dick A. Nagaki, Hwaili Soo, David A. Spears, John F. Szul
  • Two-Stage, Gas Phase Process for the Manufacture of Alkylene Glycol
    Publication number: 20100036176
    Abstract: A two-stage, gas phase process for manufacturing alkylene glycol (e.g., ethylene glycol) from an alkene (e.g., ethylene), oxygen and water, the process comprising the steps of: (A) Contacting under gas phase, oxidation conditions gaseous alkene and oxygen over a heterogeneous oxidation catalyst to produce a gaseous oxidation product comprising alkylene oxide, water and unreacted alkene; (B) Contacting under gas phase, hydrolysis conditions the gaseous oxidation product of (A) with added water over a heterogeneous hydrolysis catalyst to produce a gaseous alkylene glycol and unreacted alkene; and (C) Recycling the unreacted alkene of (B) to (A). The hydrolysis catalyst is selected from the group consisting of hydrotalcites, metal-loaded zeolites, phosphates, and metal-loaded ion-exchanged molecular sieves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Joseph C. Noronha, Elbert J. Campbell, Brian T. Keen, Dick A. Nagaki, Hwaili Soo, David A. Spears, John F. Szul