Patents by Inventor Karl P. Rufener

Karl P. Rufener 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).

  • Alkylene oxide separation system
    Patent number: 10513502
    Abstract: A propylene oxide separation system comprising a heavies distillation column configured to receive a crude propylene oxide stream and discharge a heavies purge bottoms comprising at least one impurity selected from acetone, methanol, aldehydes, aldehyde derivatives, water, heavy hydrocarbons comprising C5+, or combinations thereof, and discharge a heavies distillation column overhead stream comprising a majority of the propylene oxide entering with the crude propylene oxide stream, and a first extractive distillation column configured to receive the heavies distillation column overhead stream and a first extraction solvent stream comprising a hydrocarbon solvent, and discharge a lights purge overhead comprising at least one impurity selected from aldehydes (e.g., acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Lyondell Chemical Technology, L.P.
    Inventors: Elizabeth I. Ross-Medgaarden, David W. Leyshon, Karl P. Rufener, Sunti Kongkitisupchai, Richard J. Wolff, Kimberly A. Petry
  • ALKYLENE OXIDE SEPARATION SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20190241534
    Abstract: A propylene oxide separation system comprising a heavies distillation column configured to receive a crude propylene oxide stream and discharge a heavies purge bottoms comprising at least one impurity selected from acetone, methanol, aldehydes, aldehyde derivatives, water, heavy hydrocarbons comprising C5+, or combinations thereof, and discharge a heavies distillation column overhead stream comprising a majority of the propylene oxide entering with the crude propylene oxide stream, and a first extractive distillation column configured to receive the heavies distillation column overhead stream and a first extraction solvent stream comprising a hydrocarbon solvent, and discharge a lights purge overhead comprising at least one impurity selected from aldehydes (e.g., acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Applicant: Lyondell Chemical Technology, L.P.
    Inventors: Elizabeth I. Ross-Medgaarden, David W. Leyshon, Karl P. Rufener, Sunti Kongkitisupchai, Richard J. Wolff, Kimberly A. Petry
  • Residual stream upgrading in a propylene oxide-styrene monomer process
    Patent number: 8142661
    Abstract: In the co-production of propylene oxide and styrene monomer, there is produced a sodium-containing heavy residue stream previously suitable only as a low grade fuel. In accordance with the invention, the heavy residue stream is mixed with a hydrocarbon and an aqueous acid, and the resulting mixture is separated into an aqueous sodium salt-containing slurry phase and an organic phase reduced in sodium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Lyondell Chemical Technology, L.P.
    Inventors: Dan D. Lindsey, Karl P. Rufener
  • Residual stream upgrading in a propylene oxide-styrene monomer process
    Publication number: 20100078391
    Abstract: In the co-production of propylene oxide and styrene monomer, there is produced a sodium-containing heavy residue stream previously suitable only as a low grade fuel. In accordance with the invention, the heavy residue stream is mixed with a hydrocarbon and an aqueous acid, and the resulting mixture is separated into an aqueous sodium salt-containing slurry phase and an organic phase reduced in sodium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: Dan D. Lindsey, Karl P. Rufener
  • Shear modification of polyolefin-clay nanocomposites
    Patent number: 7183348
    Abstract: A method for modifying polyolefin-clay nanocomposites is disclosed. The method comprises shearing a melt of solution-prepared nanocomposites at an effective shear rate. The modified nanocomposite shows significantly decreased complex melt viscosity, storage modulus, and loss modulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Mark K. Reinking, Karl P. Rufener
  • Shear modification of HDPE-clay nanocomposites
    Patent number: 6884834
    Abstract: A method for modifying a high-density polyethylene (HDPE)-clay nanocomposite is disclosed. The method comprises shearing a melt of the nanocomposite at an effective shear rate. The modified nanocomposite shows significantly increased complex melt viscosity, storage modulus, and loss modulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Mark K. Reinking, Karl P. Rufener
  • Shear modification of HDPE-clay nanocomposites
    Publication number: 20040059024
    Abstract: A method for modifying a high-density polyethylene (HDPE)-clay nanocomposite is disclosed. The method comprises shearing a melt of the nanocomposite at an effective shear rate. The modified nanocomposite shows significantly increased complex melt viscosity, storage modulus, and loss modulus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: Mark K. Reinking, Karl P. Rufener