Patents by Inventor Michael A. Risch

Michael A. Risch 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).

  • Patent number: 7038097
    Abstract: It has been discovered that a dual bed process using two different catalysts for the selective hydrogenation of acetylene and/or methyl acetylene (MA) and/or propadiene (PD) in a light olefin-rich feedstream can be accomplished with less selectivity to making oligomers (green oil) as compared with existing commercial technologies, if a low oligomers selectivity catalyst is used first in the process. A palladium catalyst may be used as a second, sequential catalyst to further hydrogenate acetylene and/or MAPD while consuming at least a portion of the balance of the hydrogen present. The first catalyst should be different from the second catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Michel Molinier, John Di-Yi Ou, Michael A. Risch, John Scott Buchanan
  • Patent number: 6987208
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for removing oxygenate impurities, e.g., dimethyl ether, from an olefinic product stream by converting the oxygenate impurity to a compound whose boiling point differs by at least about 5° C. from the oxygenate impurity. Typically, the compound is more readily removable from the product stream than the oxygenate impurity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Risch, Teng Xu, John Di-Yi Ou, Keith Holroyd Kuechler, James H. Beech, James Richardson Lattner, Cor F. Van Egmond
  • Publication number: 20040254416
    Abstract: This invention is to a process for removing dimethyl ether from an olefin stream. The process includes contacting the olefin stream with a molecular sieve that has improved capacity to adsorb the dimethyl ether from the olefin stream. The molecular sieve used to remove the dimethyl ether has low or no activity in converting the olefin in the olefin stream to other products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: Michael A. Risch, John D.Y. Ou
  • Publication number: 20040176651
    Abstract: Catalysts have been discovered that are useful in hydrogenation reactions, and particularly for the selective hydrogenation of acetylene and/or methyl acetylene (MA) and/or propadiene (PD) in light olefin-rich feedstreams. These catalysts can selectively hydrogenate acetylene with less selectivity to making oligomers (green oil) as compared with existing commercial catalysts, particularly palladium catalysts. These catalysts are non-palladium catalysts, and have three different constituents that are metal or metal-based components. The metal of the first constituent may be nickel or platinum, the metal of the second constituent may be from Groups 1-10, and the metal of the third constituent may be from Groups 11-12, where the Groups are of the Periodic Table of Elements (new IUPAC notation).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventors: Michel Molinier, John Di-Yi Ou, Michael A. Risch
  • Publication number: 20040176652
    Abstract: It has been discovered that a dual bed process using two different catalysts for the selective hydrogenation of acetylene and/or methyl acetylene (MA) and/or propadiene (PD) in a light olefin-rich feedstream can be accomplished with less selectivity to making oligomers (green oil) as compared with existing commercial technologies, if a low oligomers selectivity catalyst is used first in the process. A palladium catalyst may be used as a second, sequential catalyst to further hydrogenate acetylene and/or MAPD while consuming at least a portion of the balance of the hydrogen present. The first catalyst should be different from the second catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventors: Michel Molinier, John Di-Yi Ou, Michael A. Risch, John Scott Buchanan
  • Publication number: 20040152938
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for removing oxygenate impurities, e.g., dimethyl ether, from an olefinic product stream by converting the oxygenate impurity to a compound whose boiling point differs by at least about 5° C. from the oxygenate impurity. Typically, the compound is more readily removable from the product stream than the oxygenate impurity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: Michael A. Risch, Teng Xu, John Di-Yi Ou, Keith Holroyd Kuechler, James H. Beech, James Richardson Lattner, Cor F. Van Egmond
  • Publication number: 20040097760
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for treating a stream, say, an olefins stream, e.g., propylene, containing at least one ether, e.g., dimethyl ether, and/or at least one of an alkyne and an alkadiene, e.g., methyl acetylene and propadiene, typically present as impurities. The process comprises: contacting the stream with a metal-containing catalyst, e.g., palladium supported on alumina, under conditions sufficient to convert the ether and the at least one of an alkyne and an alkadiene to provide a product stream having a reduced impurities content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Michael A. Risch, John Di-Yi Ou
  • Patent number: 6717025
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for removing oxygenate impurities, e.g., dimethyl ether, from an olefinic product stream by converting the oxygenate impurity to a compound whose boiling point differs by at least about 5° C. from the oxygenate impurity. Typically, the compound is more readily removable from the product stream than the oxygenate impurity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc
    Inventors: Michael A. Risch, Teng Xu, John Di-Yi Ou, Keith Holroyd Kuechler, James H. Beech, James Richardson Lattner, Cor F. Van Egmond
  • Publication number: 20030181325
    Abstract: A catalyst is provided comprising (1) at least one solid acid component, and (2) at least one metal-based component comprised of one or more element from Groups 1-3, one or more element from Groups 4-15 and one or more element from Groups 16 and 17 of the Periodic Table of the Elements. The catalyst is particularly useful in producing light olefins, preferably from paraffins. When used to convert paraffins to light olefins, the catalyst is capable of high paraffin conversion, high olefin yield, and low aromatic yield. Optionally, the catalyst can further comprise at least one of a support and a binder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: John Di-Yi Ou, Michael A. Risch, Blake J. Aronson