Patents by Inventor Melissa Page Steffey

Melissa Page Steffey 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: 20180022676
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making and using a titania supported palladium catalyst for the single step synthesis of 2-ethylhexanal from a feed of n-butyraldehyde. This titania supported palladium catalyst demonstrates high n-butyraldehyde conversion but also produces 2-ethylhexanal in an appreciable yield with maintained activity between runs. This method provides a single step synthesis of 2-ethylhexanal from n-butyraldehyde with a catalyst that can be regenerated that provides cleaner downstream separations relative to the traditional caustic route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Venkata Bharat Boppana, Kenneth Wayne Hampton, JR., Zhufang Liu, Charles Edwan Sumner, JR., Gerald Charles Tustin, Guy Ralph Steinmetz, Melissa Page Steffey
  • Patent number: 9834501
    Abstract: A process is described that uses a silver catalyst to convert methanol into formaldehyde in the presence of less than a stoichiometric amount of oxygen. The resulting formaldehyde is reacted without isolation with propionaldehyde over a commercially available anatase titania catalyst that is shown to be catalytically active towards the formation of methacrolein from formaldehyde and propionaldehyde with conversions and selectivities close to 90%. This titania catalyst is readily available, non-toxic, and can be used with formaldehyde and a variety of other aldehyde compounds to make ?,?-unsaturated aldehyde compounds. This process benefits from low raw material costs and is economically advantaged due to the elimination of catalyst separation. This process shows promising stability and selectivity during lifetime studies, particularly when performed in the presence of a hydrogen carrier gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Venkata Bharat Boppana, David William Norman, Gerald C. Tustin, Melissa Page Steffey
  • Patent number: 9828322
    Abstract: A commercially available anatase titania catalyst is shown to be catalytically active towards the formation of methacrolein from formaldehyde and propionaldehyde with conversions and selectivities close to 90%. This titania catalyst is readily available, non-toxic, and can be used with formaldehyde and a variety of other aldehyde compounds to make ?,?-unsaturated aldehyde compounds. This process benefits from low raw material costs and is economically advantaged due to the elimination of catalyst separation. An additional advantage of this method involves the ability of the catalyst to be fully regenerated after a calcination step at 450° C. in air. This process shows promising stability and selectivity during lifetime studies, particularly when performed in the presence of a hydrogen carrier gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Venkata Bharat Boppana, David William Norman, Gerald C. Tustin, Melissa Page Steffey
  • Patent number: 9822053
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making and using a titania supported palladium catalyst for the single step synthesis of 2-ethylhexanal from a feed of n-butyraldehyde. This titania supported palladium catalyst demonstrates high n-butyraldehyde conversion but also produces 2-ethylhexanal in an appreciable yield with maintained activity between runs. This method provides a single step synthesis of 2-ethylhexanal from n-butyraldehyde with a catalyst that can be regenerated that provides cleaner downstream separations relative to the traditional caustic route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Venkata Bharat Boppana, Kenneth Wayne Hampton, Jr., Zhufang Liu, Charles Edwan Sumner, Jr., Gerald C. Tustin, Guy Ralph Steinmetz, Melissa Page Steffey
  • Publication number: 20170217868
    Abstract: A process is described that uses a silver catalyst to convert methanol into formaldehyde in the presence of less than a stoichiometric amount of oxygen. The resulting formaldehyde is reacted without isolation with propionaldehyde over a commercially available anatase titania catalyst that is shown to be catalytically active towards the formation of methacrolein from formaldehyde and propionaldehyde with conversions and selectivities close to 90%. This titania catalyst is readily available, non-toxic, and can be used with formaldehyde and a variety of other aldehyde compounds to make ?,?-unsaturated aldehyde compounds. This process benefits from low raw material costs and is economically advantaged due to the elimination of catalyst separation. This process shows promising stability and selectivity during lifetime studies, particularly when performed in the presence of a hydrogen carrier gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
    Inventors: VENKATA BHARAT BOPPANA, DAVID WILLIAM NORMAN, GERALD C. TUSTIN, MELISSA PAGE STEFFEY
  • Publication number: 20170217866
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making and using a titania supported palladium catalyst for the single step synthesis of 2-ethylhexanal from a feed of n-butyraldehyde. This titania supported palladium catalyst demonstrates high n-butyraldehyde conversion but also produces 2-ethylhexanal in an appreciable yield with maintained activity between runs. This method provides a single step synthesis of 2-ethylhexanal from n-butyraldehyde with a catalyst that can be regenerated that provides cleaner downstream separations relative to the traditional caustic route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
    Inventors: Venkata Bharat BOPPANA, Kenneth Wayne HAMPTON, JR., Zhufang LIU, Charles Edwan SUMNER, JR., Gerald C. TUSTIN, Guy Ralph Steinmetz, Melissa Page STEFFEY
  • Publication number: 20170217867
    Abstract: A commercially available anatase titania catalyst is shown to be catalytically active towards the formation of methacrolein from formaldehyde and propionaldehyde with conversions and selectivities close to 90%. This titania catalyst is readily available, non-toxic, and can be used with formaldehyde and a variety of other aldehyde compounds to make ?,?-unsaturated aldehyde compounds. This process benefits from low raw material costs and is economically advantaged due to the elimination of catalyst separation. An additional advantage of this method involves the ability of the catalyst to be fully regenerated after a calcination step at 450° C. in air. This process shows promising stability and selectivity during lifetime studies, particularly when performed in the presence of a hydrogen carrier gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
    Inventors: Venkata Bharat BOPPANA, David William NORMAN, Gerald C. TUSTIN, Melissa Page STEFFEY
  • Patent number: 9573119
    Abstract: The invention relates to a catalyst composition comprising a mixed oxide of vanadium, titanium, and phosphorus. The titanium component is derived from a water-soluble, redox-active organo-titanium compound. The catalyst composition is highly effective at facilitating the vapor-phase condensation of formaldehyde with acetic acid to generate acrylic acid, particularly using an industrially relevant aqueous liquid feed. Additionally, the catalyst composition is catalytically active towards the formation of acrylic acid from methylene diacetate and methacrylic acid from methylene dipropionate; both reactions are carried out with high space time yields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
    Inventors: Liu Deng, David William Norman, Gerald Charles Tustin, Bharat Venkata Boppana, Melissa Page Steffey
  • Patent number: 9493390
    Abstract: The invention relates to a catalyst composition comprising a mixed oxide of vanadium, titanium, and phosphorus. The titanium component is derived from a water-soluble, redox-active organo-titanium compound. The catalyst composition is highly effective at facilitating the vapor-phase condensation of formaldehyde with acetic acid to generate acrylic acid, particularly using an industrially relevant aqueous liquid feed. Additionally, the catalyst composition is catalytically active towards the formation of acrylic acid from methylene diacetate and methacrylic acid from methylene dipropionate; both reactions are carried out with high space time yields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
    Inventors: Venkata Bharat Ram Boppana, David William Norman, Melissa Page Steffey
  • Publication number: 20160009626
    Abstract: The invention relates to a catalyst composition comprising a mixed oxide of vanadium, titanium, and phosphorus. The titanium component is derived from a water-soluble, redox-active organo-titanium compound. The catalyst composition is highly effective at facilitating the vapor-phase condensation of formaldehyde with acetic acid to generate acrylic acid, particularly using an industrially relevant aqueous liquid feed. Additionally, the catalyst composition is catalytically active towards the formation of acrylic acid from methylene diacetate and methacrylic acid from methylene dipropionate; both reactions are carried out with high space time yields.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Applicant: EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
    Inventors: Liu DENG, David William NORMAN, Gerald Charles TUSTIN, Bharat Venkata BOPPANA, Melissa Page STEFFEY
  • Publication number: 20150166454
    Abstract: The invention relates to a catalyst composition comprising a mixed oxide of vanadium, titanium, and phosphorus. The titanium component is derived from a water-soluble, redox-active organo-titanium compound. The catalyst composition is highly effective at facilitating the vapor-phase condensation of formaldehyde with acetic acid to generate acrylic acid, particularly using an industrially relevant aqueous liquid feed. Additionally, the catalyst composition is catalytically active towards the formation of acrylic acid from methylene diacetate and methacrylic acid from methylene dipropionate; both reactions are carried out with high space time yields.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Venkata Bharat Ram Boppana, David William Norman, Melissa Page Steffey