Patents by Inventor Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan

Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan 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).

  • Publication number: 20230348289
    Abstract: A process of making a silica-alumina composition having improved properties is provided. The process includes (a) mixing an aqueous solution of a silicon compound and an aqueous solution of an aluminum compound and an acid, while maintaining a pH of the mixed solution in a range of 1 to 3, and obtaining an acidified silica-alumina sol; (b) adding an aqueous solution of a base precipitating agent to the acidified silica-alumina sol to a final pH in a range of 5 to 8, and co-precipitating a silica-alumina slurry, wherein the base precipitating agent is selected from ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, and any combination thereof; (c) optionally, hydrothermally aging the silica-alumina slurry to form a hydrothermally aged silica-alumina slurry; and (d) recovering a precipitate solid from the silica-alumina slurry or the hydrothermally aged silica-alumina slurry, wherein the precipitate solid comprises the silica-alumina composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Kandaswamy JOTHIMURUGESAN, Hye-Kyung TIMKEN
  • Patent number: 11787701
    Abstract: A process of making a silica-alumina composition having improved properties is provided. The process includes (a) mixing an aqueous solution of a silicon compound and an aqueous solution of an aluminum compound and an acid, while maintaining a pH of the mixed solution in a range of 1 to 3, and obtaining an acidified silica-alumina sol; (b) adding an aqueous solution of a base precipitating agent to the acidified silica-alumina sol to a final pH in a range of 5 to 8, and co-precipitating a silica-alumina slurry, wherein the base precipitating agent is selected from ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, and any combination thereof; (c) optionally, hydrothermally aging the silica-alumina slurry to form a hydrothermally aged silica-alumina slurry; and (d) recovering a precipitate solid from the silica-alumina slurry or the hydrothermally aged silica-alumina slurry, wherein the precipitate solid comprises the silica-alumina composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan, Hye-Kyung Timken
  • Publication number: 20220153603
    Abstract: A process of making a silica-alumina composition having improved properties is provided. The process includes (a) mixing an aqueous solution of a silicon compound and an aqueous solution of an aluminum compound and an acid, while maintaining a pH of the mixed solution in a range of 1 to 3, and obtaining an acidified silica-alumina sol; (b) adding an aqueous solution of a base precipitating agent to the acidified silica-alumina sol to a final pH in a range of 5 to 8, and co-precipitating a silica-alumina slurry, wherein the base precipitating agent is selected from ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, and any combination thereof; (c) optionally, hydrothermally aging the silica-alumina slurry to form a hydrothermally aged silica-alumina slurry; and (d) recovering a precipitate solid from the silica-alumina slurry or the hydrothermally aged silica-alumina slurry, wherein the precipitate solid comprises the silica-alumina composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Kandaswamy JOTHIMURUGESAN, Hye-Kyung TIMKEN
  • Patent number: 10947458
    Abstract: A process is provided for upgrading a renewable feedstock. The process includes introducing the renewable feedstock into a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) reactor unit operating under catalytic cracking conditions and comprising a circulating inventory of an equilibrium catalyst composition; removing a portion of the equilibrium catalyst inventory from the FCC reactor unit while replacing all the equilibrium catalyst removed from the unit with a spent catalyst to obtain a composite circulating catalyst within the FCC reactor unit; and contacting the composite circulating catalyst with the renewable feedstock in the FCC reactor unit under a steady state environment to provide a product stream comprising cracked products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Tengfei Liu, Mingting Xu, Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan, Richard Grove, Michael K. Maholland, Michelle Young, Winnie Lieu, Cameron McCord
  • Patent number: 10010877
    Abstract: A process has been developed for preparing a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst precursor and a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst made from the precursor. The process includes preparing a catalyst precursor by contacting a boehmite material with a stabilizer containing vanadium-phosphorus. The boehmite material includes two or more different crystalline boehmites having the same average crystallite size to the nearest whole nanometer and having differing properties selected from surface area, pore volume, density and combinations thereof. The boehmite material is subjected to at least one heat treatment at a temperature of at least 500° C., either before or after the contacting step to obtain a stabilized catalyst support having a pore volume of at least 0.3 cc/g. A catalytic metal or a compound containing cobalt is applied to the stabilized catalyst support to form the catalyst precursor. Finally, the catalyst precursor is reduced to activate the catalyst precursor to obtain the Fischer Tropsch catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan, Howard Steven Lacheen, Mark Muraoka
  • Publication number: 20170354960
    Abstract: A process has been developed for preparing a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst precursor and a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst made from the precursor. The process includes preparing a catalyst precursor by contacting a boehmite material with a stabilizer containing vanadium-phosphorus. The boehmite material includes two or more different crystalline boehmites having the same average crystallite size to the nearest whole nanometer and having differing properties selected from surface area, pore volume, density and combinations thereof. The boehmite material is subjected to at least one heat treatment at a temperature of at least 500° C., either before or after the contacting step to obtain a stabilized catalyst support having a pore volume of at least 0.3 cc/g. A catalytic metal or a compound containing cobalt is applied to the stabilized catalyst support to form the catalyst precursor. Finally, the catalyst precursor is reduced to activate the catalyst precursor to obtain the Fischer Tropsch catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan, Howard Steven Lacheen, Mark Muraoka
  • Patent number: 9687825
    Abstract: A process to make a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst with improved hydrothermal stability, comprising: a. contacting a crystalline oxide material with a solution of a tungsten and a phosphorus to make a tungsten-phosphorus modified support; b. calcining the tungsten-phosphorus modified support at a temperature less than or equal to 750° C. to make a calcined tungsten-phosphorus modified support that has the improved hydrothermal stability and that can be used to support a Co-loaded Fischer-Tropsch catalyst. A Co-loaded Fischer-Tropsch catalyst having improved hydrothermal stability and higher C5+ hydrocarbon productivity is also provided. A Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process is provided, comprising contacting a gaseous mixture comprising a carbon monoxide and a hydrogen with the Co-loaded Fischer-Tropsch catalyst having the improved hydrothermal stability and higher C5+ productivity, at a pressure of from 0.1 to 3 MPa and at a reaction temperature of from 180 to 260° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan, Mark Muraoka
  • Patent number: 9687826
    Abstract: Provided is a Fischer Tropsch catalyst prepared according to a process comprising: a. preparing a catalyst precursor by: i. impregnating an alumina catalyst support material with a first solution comprising ammonium metavanadate and phosphoric acid, to obtain a treated catalyst support material; ii. calcining the treated catalyst support material at a temperature of at least 500° C. to obtain a modified catalyst support having a modified support surface area and a pore volume of at least 0.4 cc/g; wherein the modified catalyst support loses no more than 8% of the pore volume when exposed to a water vapor; and iii. contacting the modified catalyst support with a second solution comprising a precursor compound of an active cobalt catalyst component and glutaric acid to obtain the catalyst precursor; and b. reducing the catalyst precursor to activate the catalyst precursor to obtain the Fischer Tropsch catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan, Howard Steven Lacheen
  • Patent number: 9370768
    Abstract: A process has been developed for preparing a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst precursor and a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst made from the precursor. The process includes contacting a gamma alumina catalyst support material with a first solution containing a vanadium compound and a phosphorus compound, to obtain a modified catalyst support material. The modified catalyst support material is calcined at a temperature of at least 500° C. The modified catalyst support is less soluble in acid solutions than an equivalent unmodified catalyst support. The modified catalyst support loses no more than 6% of its pore volume when exposed to water vapor. The modified catalyst support is contacted with a second solution which includes a precursor compound of an active cobalt catalyst component to obtain a catalyst precursor. The Fischer-Tropsch catalyst has enhanced hydrothermal stability as measured by losing no more than 10% of its pore volume when exposed to water vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan
  • Publication number: 20160089662
    Abstract: A process has been developed for preparing a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst precursor and a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst made from the precursor. The process includes contacting an alumina catalyst support material with a first solution containing a vanadium compound and a phosphorus compound, to obtain a modified catalyst support material. The modified catalyst support material is calcined at a temperature of at least 500° C. The calcined modified catalyst support has a pore volume of at least 0.4cc/g. The modified catalyst support is less soluble in acid solutions than an equivalent unmodified catalyst support. The modified catalyst support is contacted with a second solution which includes a precursor compound of an active cobalt catalyst component and an organic compound, preferably glutaric acid, to obtain a catalyst precursor. The catalyst precursor is reduced to activate the catalyst precursor to obtain the Fischer-Tropsch catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan, Howard Steven Lacheen
  • Publication number: 20160067688
    Abstract: A process has been developed for preparing a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst precursor and a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst made from the precursor. The process includes contacting a gamma alumina catalyst support material with a first solution containing a vanadium compound and a phosphorus compound, to obtain a modified catalyst support material. The modified catalyst support material is calcined at a temperature of at least 500° C. The modified catalyst support is less soluble in acid solutions than an equivalent unmodified catalyst support. The modified catalyst support loses no more than 6% of its pore volume when exposed to water vapor. The modified catalyst support is contacted with a second solution which includes a precursor compound of an active cobalt catalyst component to obtain a catalyst precursor. The Fischer-Tropsch catalyst has enhanced hydrothermal stability as measured by losing no more than 10% of its pore volume when exposed to water vapor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventor: Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan
  • Publication number: 20160067681
    Abstract: A process has been developed for preparing a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst precursor and a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst made from the precursor. The process includes contacting a gamma alumina catalyst support material with a first solution containing a compound containing an element selected from the group consisting of yttrium (Y), niobium (Nb), molybdenum (Mo), tin (Sn), antimony (Sb) and mixtures thereof to obtain a modified catalyst support material. The modified catalyst support material is calcined at a temperature of at least 700° C. The calcined modified catalyst support has a pore volume of at least 0.4 cc/g. The modified catalyst support is less soluble in acid solutions than an equivalent unmodified catalyst support. The modified catalyst support is contacted with a second solution which includes a precursor compound of an active cobalt catalyst component to obtain a catalyst precursor. The catalyst precursor is reduced to activate the catalyst precursor to obtain the Fischer-Tropsch catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan
  • Publication number: 20160067687
    Abstract: A process has been developed for preparing a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst precursor and a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst made from the precursor. The process includes contacting a gamma alumina catalyst support material with a first solution containing a vanadium compound and a phosphorus compound, to obtain a modified catalyst support material. The modified catalyst support material is calcined at a temperature of at least 500° C. The calcined modified catalyst support has a pore volume of at least 0.4 cc/g. The modified catalyst support is less soluble in acid solutions than an equivalent unmodified catalyst support. The modified catalyst support is contacted with a second solution which includes a precursor compound of an active cobalt catalyst component and an organic compound, preferably glutaric acid, to obtain a catalyst precursor. The catalyst precursor is reduced to activate the catalyst precursor to obtain the Fischer-Tropsch catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan
  • Publication number: 20160067682
    Abstract: A process has been developed for preparing a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst precursor and a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst made from the precursor. The process includes contacting a gamma alumina catalyst support material with a first solution containing a compound containing an element selected from the group consisting of yttrium (Y), niobium (Nb), molybdenum (Mo), tin (Sn), antimony (Sb) and mixtures thereof to obtain a modified catalyst support material. The modified catalyst support material is calcined at a temperature of at least 700° C. The calcined modified catalyst support has a pore volume of at least 0.4 cc/g. The modified catalyst support is less soluble in acid solutions than an equivalent unmodified catalyst support. The modified catalyst support is contacted with a second solution which includes a precursor compound of an active cobalt catalyst component to obtain a catalyst precursor. The catalyst precursor is reduced to activate the catalyst precursor to obtain the Fischer-Tropsch catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan
  • Patent number: 9278344
    Abstract: Disclosed are hybrid Fischer-Tropsch catalysts containing cobalt deposited on hybrid supports. The hybrid supports contain an acidic zeolite component and a silica-containing material. It has been found that the use of the hybrid Fischer-Tropsch catalysts in synthesis gas conversion reactions results in high C5+ productivity, high CO conversion rates and low olefin formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan, Robert James Saxton
  • Patent number: 9233358
    Abstract: A process has been developed for preparing a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst precursor and a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst made from the precursor. The process includes contacting a gamma alumina catalyst support material with a first solution containing a vanadium compound, to obtain a modified catalyst support material. The modified catalyst support material is calcined at a temperature of at least 500° C. The calcined modified catalyst support has a pore volume of at least 0.35 cc/g. The modified catalyst support is less soluble in acid solutions than an equivalent unmodified catalyst support. The modified catalyst support loses no more than 15% of its pore volume when exposed to water vapor. The modified catalyst support is contacted with a second solution which includes a precursor compound of an active cobalt catalyst component to obtain a catalyst precursor. The catalyst precursor is reduced to activate the catalyst precursor to obtain the Fischer-Tropsch catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan
  • Patent number: 9233360
    Abstract: A process has been developed for preparing a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst precursor and a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst made from the precursor. The process includes contacting a gamma alumina catalyst support material with a first solution containing a compound containing zinc and optionally containing P, Ti, V, Co, Ga, Ge, Mo, W and/or Pr to obtain a modified catalyst support material. The modified catalyst support material is calcined at a temperature of at least 500° C. The calcined modified catalyst support has a pore volume of at least 0.4 cc/g. The modified catalyst support is less soluble in acid solutions than an equivalent unmodified catalyst support. The modified catalyst support is contacted with a second solution which includes a precursor compound of an active cobalt catalyst component to obtain a catalyst precursor. The catalyst precursor is reduced to activate the catalyst precursor to obtain the Fischer-Tropsch catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan, Mark Muraoka
  • Patent number: 9206091
    Abstract: Disclosed are a process and a system for synthesis gas conversion. The process includes contacting a synthesis gas feed of hydrogen and carbon monoxide having a H2/CO ratio from 0.5 to 3.0 with a hybrid catalyst of particles having a particle size from 50 to 500 ?m and having at least one zeolite and a Fischer-Tropsch component wherein the ratio of zeolite to Fischer-Tropsch component is from 0.1:1 to 30:1 and the hybrid catalyst includes from 0.5 to 40 wt % Fischer-Tropsch component. The process is conducted in a compact heat exchange reactor having a set of reaction passages disposed between a synthesis gas feed header and a products header and a set of coolant passages disposed between a coolant inlet header and a coolant outlet header. The set of coolant passages conducts a coolant therethrough, and the set of reaction passages contains the hybrid catalyst therein and conducts synthesis gas and reaction products therethrough. The process is conducted at a temperature from 200 to 2800° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Robert James Saxton, Jr., Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan, Charles Leonard Kibby
  • Patent number: 9192921
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for preparing a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst precursor and a catalyst made from the precursor. The process includes contacting an alumina catalyst support material with a first solution containing a vanadium compound and a phosphorus compound, to obtain a modified catalyst support material. The modified catalyst support material is calcined at a temperature of at least 500° C. The calcined modified catalyst support has a pore volume of at least 0.4 cc/g. The modified catalyst support is less soluble in acid solutions than an equivalent unmodified catalyst support. The modified catalyst support is contacted with a second solution which includes a precursor compound of an active cobalt catalyst component and glutaric acid to obtain a catalyst precursor. The catalyst precursor is reduced to activate the catalyst precursor to obtain the Fischer-Tropsch catalyst. The catalyst has enhanced hydrothermal stability and good activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan, Howard Steven Lacheen
  • Patent number: 9168512
    Abstract: A process has been developed for preparing a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst precursor and a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst made from the precursor. The process includes contacting a gamma alumina catalyst support material with a first solution containing a vanadium compound and a phosphorus compound, to obtain a modified catalyst support material. The modified catalyst support material is calcined at a temperature of at least 500° C. The calcined modified catalyst support has a pore volume of at least 0.4 cc/g. The modified catalyst support is less soluble in acid solutions than an equivalent unmodified catalyst support. The modified catalyst support loses no more than 6% of its pore volume when exposed to water vapor. The modified catalyst support is contacted with a second solution which includes a precursor compound of an active cobalt catalyst component to obtain a catalyst precursor. The catalyst precursor is reduced to activate the catalyst precursor to obtain the Fischer-Tropsch catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan