Patents by Inventor Kerry L. Rock
Kerry L. Rock 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).
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Patent number: 8168843Abstract: A process for reducing benzene content in a reformate stream, including: fractionating a full range reformate comprising benzene, C7 to C9 monoalkyl aromatics, and C10+ polyalkyl aromatics into at least three fractions including a light reformate fraction comprising the benzene; a medium reformate fraction comprising the C7 to C9 monoalkyl aromatics; and a heavy reformate fraction comprising the C10+ polyalkyl aromatics; feeding the light reformate fraction, the heavy reformate fraction and a transalkylation catalyst to a transalkylation reaction zone; contacting the light fraction and the heavy fraction in presence of the transalkylation catalyst in the transalkylation reaction zone to react at least a portion of the benzene with C10+ polyalkyl aromatics to form monoalkyl aromatics; separating an effluent from the transalkylation reaction zone to form a catalyst fraction and a liquid fraction comprising the monoalkyl aromatics.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2008Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: Catalytic Distillation TechnologiesInventors: Kerry L. Rock, Christopher C. Boyer, Lawrence A. Smith, Jr.
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Publication number: 20100044273Abstract: A process for reducing benzene content in a reformate stream, including: fractionating a full range reformate comprising benzene, C7 to C9 monoalkyl aromatics, and C10+ polyalkyl aromatics into at least three fractions including a light reformate fraction comprising the benzene; a medium reformate fraction comprising the C7 to C9 monoalkyl aromatics; and a heavy reformate fraction comprising the C10+ polyalkyl aromatics; feeding the light reformate fraction, the heavy reformate fraction and a transalkylation catalyst to a transalkylation reaction zone; contacting the light fraction and the heavy fraction in presence of the transalkylation catalyst in the transalkylation reaction zone to react at least a portion of the benzene with C10+ polyalkyl aromatics to form monoalkyl aromatics; separating an effluent from the transalkylation reaction zone to form a catalyst fraction and a liquid fraction comprising the monoalkyl aromatics.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2008Publication date: February 25, 2010Applicant: CATALYTIC DISTILLATION TECHNOLOGIESInventors: Kerry L. Rock, Christopher C. Boyer, Lawrence A. Smith, JR.
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Publication number: 20090193710Abstract: A fuel or fuel blendstock comprising ethanol, ethyl ethers, olefins, and alkanes. In some embodiments, the fuel or fuel blendstock of claim 1, wherein the fuel or fuel blendstock may have an octane number greater than 92 (RON+MON)/2). In other embodiments, the fuel or fuel blendstock may have a Reid vapor pressure less than 7.2 psi. Also disclosed is a process for the production of a fuel, the process including: contacting ethanol and at least one gasoline fraction including alkanes and olefins in the presence of a catalyst to form a fuel mixture including ethyl ethers, alkanes, unreacted olefins, and unreacted ethanol; and recovering the fuel mixture for use as a gasoline or gasoline blendstock without separation of the ethanol from the fuel mixture.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2008Publication date: August 6, 2009Applicant: CATALYTIC DISTILLATION TECHNOLOGIESInventors: Yi-Gang Xiong, Kerry L. Rock, Arvids Judzis, Mitchell E. Loescher
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Patent number: 7553995Abstract: A process for the production of tertiary ethers, including: feeding a hydrocarbon stream comprising isoolefins and propionitrile to a distillation column reactor system containing at least one etherification reaction zone; feeding a C2 to C6 monoalcohol or mixture thereof to the distillation column reactor; concurrently in the distillation column reactor system: reacting a portion of the isoolefins with a portion of the alcohols to form a tertiary ether; and separating the tertiary ether from unreacted isoolefins; withdrawing the tertiary ether and propionitrile from the distillation column reactor system as a bottoms; withdrawing the unreacted isoolefins from the distillation column reactor system as an overheads; and operating the distillation column reactor system such that the etherification reaction zone is substantially free of propionitrile.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2007Date of Patent: June 30, 2009Assignee: Catalytic Distillation TechnologiesInventors: Christopher C. Boyer, Mitchell E. Loescher, Willibrord A. Groten, Mario J. Maraschino, Kerry L. Rock
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Publication number: 20090069608Abstract: A process for the production of tertiary ethers, including: feeding a hydrocarbon stream comprising isoolefins and propionitrile to a distillation column reactor system containing at least one etherification reaction zone; feeding a C2 to C6 monoalcohol or mixture thereof to the distillation column reactor; concurrently in the distillation column reactor system: reacting a portion of the isoolefins with a portion of the alcohols to form a tertiary ether; and separating the tertiary ether from unreacted isoolefins; withdrawing the tertiary ether and propionitrile from the distillation column reactor system as a bottoms; withdrawing the unreacted isoolefins from the distillation column reactor system as an overheads; and operating the distillation column reactor system such that the etherification reaction zone is substantially free of propionitrile.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2007Publication date: March 12, 2009Inventors: Christopher C. Boyer, Mitchell E. Loescher, Willibrord A. Groten, Mario J. Maraschino, Kerry L. Rock
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Patent number: 7431827Abstract: A process for the production of low sulfur, low olefin gasoline wherein a cracked naphtha, such as a full boiling range cracked naphtha, is first separated by fractional distillation into at least two fractions while simultaneously selectively hydrogenating the polyunsaturated compounds contained therein. The mono olefins in the light fraction are then subjected to etherification with alcohol to produce ethers or hydration with water to produce alcohols. The heavy fraction is subjected to sulfur removal by hydrodesulfurization or chemisorption. The two fractions are then combined to produce a low sulfur, low olefin gasoline.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2004Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: Catalytic Distillation TechnologiesInventors: Kerry L. Rock, Yi-Gang Xiong, Arvids Judzis, Jr.
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Patent number: 7175754Abstract: A process for the production of low benzene content gasoline is disclosed wherein a full boiling range naphtha is fractionated to produce a light naphtha, a medium naphtha and a heavy naphtha. The benzene is contained in the medium naphtha and this stream is subjected to hydrogenation to convert the benzene to cyclohexane which may be isomerized to improve the octane. The valuable olefins are removed in the light naphtha and the valuable heavier aromatics (toluene and xylenes) are removed in the heavy naphtha. In a preferred embodiment all of the reactions are carried out in distillation column reactors.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2004Date of Patent: February 13, 2007Assignee: Catalytic Distillation TechnologiesInventors: Willibrord A. Groten, Kerry L. Rock
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Patent number: 6855853Abstract: A process for the production of low benzene content gasoline is disclosed wherein a full boiling range naphtha is fractionated to produce a light naphtha, a medium naphtha and a heavy naphtha. The benzene is contained in the medium naphtha and this stream is subjected to hydrogenation to convert the benzene to cyclohexane which may be isomerized to improve the octane. The valuable olefins are removed in the light naphtha and the valuable heavier aromatics (toluene and xylenes) are removed in the heavy naphtha. In a preferred embodiment all of the reactions are carried out in distillation column reactors.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2003Date of Patent: February 15, 2005Assignee: Catalytic Distillation TechnologiesInventors: Willibrord A. Groten, Kerry L. Rock
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Publication number: 20040055933Abstract: A process for the production of low benzene content gasoline is disclosed wherein a full boiling range naphtha is fractionated to produce a light naphtha, a medium naphtha and a heavy naphtha. The benzene is contained in the medium naphtha and this stream is subjected to hydrogenation to convert the benzene to cyclohexane which may be isomerized to improve the octane. The valuable olefins are removed in the light naphtha and the valuable heavier aromatics (toluene and xylenes) are removed in the heavy naphtha. In a preferred embodiment all of the reactions are carried out in distillation column reactors.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2003Publication date: March 25, 2004Applicant: CATALYTIC DISTILLATION TECHNOLOGIESInventors: Willibrord A. Groten, Kerry L. Rock