Patents by Inventor Michael Maher

Michael Maher 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: 6307065
    Abstract: This invention relates in part to processes for producing one or more substituted or unsubstituted epsilon caprolactones and/or hydrates and/or esters thereof which comprise subjecting one or more substituted or unsubstituted penten-1-ols to carbonylation in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst, e.g., a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, to produce said one or more substituted or unsubstituted epsilon caprolactones and/or hydrates and/or esters thereof. The substituted and unsubstituted epsilon caprolactones and/or hydrates and/or esters thereof produced by the processes of this invention can undergo further reaction(s) to afford desired derivatives thereof, e.g., epsilon caprolactam. This invention also relates in part to reaction mixtures containing one or more substituted or unsubstituted epsilon caprolactones and/or hydrates and/or esters thereof as principal product(s) of reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Erik Bruce Tjaden, John Robert Briggs, Anil Sakharam Guram, John Michael Maher
  • Patent number: 6303829
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating one or more products from a reaction product fluid comprising a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, optionally free organophosphorus ligand, said one or more products, one or more nonpolar reaction solvents and one or more polar reaction solvents, wherein said process comprises (1) subjecting said reaction product fluid to fractional countercurrent extraction with at least two immiscible extraction solvents, said at least two immiscible extraction solvents comprising at least one nonpolar extraction solvent and at least one polar extraction solvent, to obtain a nonpolar phase comprising said metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, said optionally free organophosphorus ligand, said one or more nonpolar reaction solvents and said at least one nonpolar extraction solvent and a polar phase comprising said one or more products, said one or more polar reaction solvents and said at least one polar extraction solvent, and (2) recovering said polar
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott Kanel, John Nicholas Argyropoulos, Ailene Gardner Phillips, Brian Michael Roesch, John Robert Briggs, Max Min Lee, John Michael Maher, David Robert Bryant
  • Patent number: 6294700
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating one or more products from a reaction product fluid comprising a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, optionally free organophosphorus ligand, said one or more products, one or more polar reaction solvents and one or more nonpolar reaction solvents, wherein said process comprises (1) subjecting said reaction product fluid to fractional countercurrent extraction with at least two immiscible extraction solvents, said at least two immiscible extraction solvents comprising at least one polar extraction solvent and at least one nonpolar extraction solvent, to obtain a polar phase comprising said metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, said optionally free organophosphorus ligand, said one or more polar reaction solvents and said at least one polar extraction solvent and a nonpolar phase comprising said one or more products, said one or more nonpolar reaction solvents and said at least one nonpolar extraction solvent, and (2) recovering said nonpo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott Kanel, John Nicholas Argyropoulos, Ailene Gardner Phillips, Brian Michael Roesch, John Robert Briggs, Max Min Lee, John Michael Maher, David Robert Bryant
  • Patent number: 6187963
    Abstract: Processes are disclosed for the conversion of propylene to an acrolein derivative by converting propylene to acrolein and converting acrolein to the acrolein derivative. The processes utilize oxygen and recycle propane to the acrolein reactor. Process feeds can comprise, propane, propylene or mixtures thereof. The presence of propane in the propylene-to-acrolein reaction can enhance the efficiency of the processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation
    Inventors: William George Etzkorn, Richard A. Galley, Thomas E. Snead, Jonathan Lester Brockwell, Mark Anderson Young, John Michael Maher, Barbara Knight Warren
  • Patent number: 6184391
    Abstract: This invention relates in part to processes for producing one or more substituted or unsubstituted epsilon caprolactones and/or hydrates and/or esters thereof which comprise subjecting one or more substituted or unsubstituted penten-1-ols to carbonylation in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst, e.g., a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, to produce said one or more substituted or unsubstituted epsilon caprolactones and/or hydrates and/or esters thereof. The substituted and unsubstituted epsilon caprolactones and/or hydrates and/or esters thereof produced by the processes of this invention can undergo further reaction(s) to afford desired derivatives thereof, e.g., epsilon caprolactam. This invention also relates in part to reaction mixtures containing one or more substituted or unsubstituted epsilon caprolactones and/or hydrates and/or esters thereof as principal product(s) of reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Erik Bruce Tjaden, John Robert Briggs, Anil Sakharam Guram, John Michael Maher
  • Patent number: 6166263
    Abstract: Processes are disclosed for the conversion of propylene to acrolein in the presence of propane. The processes utilize oxygen and recycle propane to the acrolein reactor. Process feeds can comprise, propane, propylene or mixtures thereof. The presence of propane in the propylene-to-acrolein reaction can enhance the efficiency of the processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation
    Inventors: William George Etzkorn, Jonathan Lester Brockwell, Mark Anderson Young, John Michael Maher, Barbara Knight Warren
  • Patent number: 6060663
    Abstract: Foamed wire harnesses are provided with a jacket to protect the wires. The jackets are formed with convoluted structure to center the wires during foaming. The indented portions are spaced by full-sized portions. Also, the indented portions are noncontinuous in a circumferential direction. The non-indented portions provide protection to the encased wires by preventing movement of sheet metal or other components into the convoluted areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Lear Automotive Dearborn, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Hier, Lisa Kidd, Michael Maher
  • Patent number: 5962680
    Abstract: This invention relates in part to processes for producing one or more substituted or unsubstituted epsilon caprolactams, e.g., epsilon caprolactam, which comprises: (a) subjecting one or more substituted or unsubstituted alkadienes to hydroxycarbonylation in the presence of a hydroxycarbonylation catalyst, e.g., a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, and neutralization with a base to produce one or more substituted or unsubstituted pentenoic acid salts; (b) subjecting said one or more substituted or unsubstituted pentenoic acid salts to hydroformylation in the presence of a hydroformylation catalyst, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Carl Eisenschmid, John Robert Briggs, Diane Lee Packett, Kurt Damar Olson, John Michael Maher
  • Patent number: 5942611
    Abstract: A new process for recovering high purity natamycin from fermentation broth containing natamycin comprises the steps of adjusting the pH of the broth to above about 10 and adding an amount of a water-miscible solvent, such as isopropanol, sufficient to dissolve the natamycin in the broth, followed by removing insoluble solids from the pH-adjusted broth, followed by lowering the pH of the broth to a level sufficient to precipitate the natamycin, and removing the natamycin from the broth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Cultor Ltd.
    Inventors: George Wayne Borden, John Michael Maher, Constantine Sklavounos
  • Patent number: 5929289
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hydroformylation process comprising: (1) forming a reaction mixture containing: (a) an olefinic compound, (b) hydrogen, (c) carbon monoxide, (d) a phosphite in which each phosphorus atom is bonded to three oxygen atoms and at least one such oxygen atom is bonded to a carbon atom of an aromatic ring that is adjacent to another carbon atom of said ring having a pendant monovalent group having a steric hindrance at least as great as the steric hindrance of the isopropyl group, (e) a catalytic amount of rhodium, and (f) a Group VIII metal (other than a rhodium) in an amount sufficient to reduce the rhodium-catalyzed decomposition of the phosphite during the hydroformylation process; and (2) maintaining the reaction mixture under conditions at which the olefinic compound reacts with the hydrogen and carbon monoxide to form an aldehyde.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony George Abatjoglou, David Robert Bryant, John Michael Maher
  • Patent number: 5925754
    Abstract: This invention relates to a composition comprising (a) epsilon caprolactam and (b) one or more of 5-?4,5-di(3-carboxypropyl)-2-pyridyl!pentanoic acid or salt or amide, 4-?4,5-di(2-carboxypropyl)-2-pyridyl!-2-methylbutanoic acid or salt or amide, 2-?2-(2-carboxybutyl)-5-(1-carboxypropyl)-4-pyridyl!butanoic acid or salt or amide, 5-?3,5-di(3-carboxypropyl)-2-pyridyl!pentanoic acid or salt or amide, 4-?3,5-di(2-carboxypropyl)-2-pyridyl!-2-methylbutanoic acid or salt or amide, 2-?-2-(2-carboxybutyl)-5-(1-carboxypropyl)-3-pyridyl!butanoic acid or salt or amide, 5-amino-4-methylpentanamide, 4-amino-3-ethylbutanamide, 5-?4,5-di(4-hydroxybutyl)-2-pyridyl!pentanol, 4-?4,5-di(2-methoxypropyl)-2-pyridyl!-2-methylbutanol, 2-?2-(2-methoxybutyl)-5-(1-methoxypropyl)-4-pyridyl!butanol, 5-?3,5-di(4-hydroxybutyl)-2-pyridyl!pentanol, 4-?3,5-di(2-methoxypropyl)-2-pyridyl!-2-methylbutanol, 2-?2-(2-methoxybutyl)-5-(1-methoxypropyl)-3-pyridyl!butanol, 5-amino-4-methyl-1-pentanol, 5-imino-2-methyl-1-pentanamine, 5-amino-2-methyl-1-p
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation
    Inventors: John Michael Maher, David Robert Bryant, Johnathan Eugene Holladay, Thomas Carl Eisenschmid, John Robert Briggs, Kurt Damar Olson
  • Patent number: 5919978
    Abstract: This invention relates in part to processes for producing one or more substituted or unsubstituted aldehyde acids or salts, e.g., 5-formylvaleric acid or salt, which comprises subjecting one or more substituted or unsubstituted alkadienes, e.g., butadiene, to hydroxycarbonylation in the presence of a hydroxycarbonylation catalyst, e.g., a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, and optionally neutralization with a base to produce one or more substituted or unsubstituted unsaturated acids or salts, e.g., pentenoic acid or salt, and subjecting said one or more substituted or unsubstituted unsaturated acids or salts to hydroformylation in the presence of a hydroformylation catalyst, e.g., a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, to produce said one or more substituted or unsubstituted aldehyde acids or salts and/or one or more substituted or unsubstituted epsilon caprolactam precursors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Diane Lee Packett, Thomas Carl Eisenschmid, Michael Allen Brammer, John Michael Maher
  • Patent number: 5917095
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from a reaction product fluid containing said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds, a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organophosphorus ligand which process comprises (a) treating said reaction product fluid with water sufficient to remove at least some amount of said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from said reaction product fluid and (b) treating the water which contains phosphorus acidic compounds removed from said reaction product fluid with an acid removal substance sufficient to remove at least some amount of said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from said water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation
    Inventors: David Robert Bryant, James Clair Nicholson, John Robert Briggs, Diane Lee Packett, John Michael Maher
  • Patent number: 5892119
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from a reaction product fluid containing said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds, a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organophosphorus ligand which process comprises (a) treating said reaction product fluid with water sufficient to remove at least some amount of said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from said reaction product fluid and (b) treating the water which contains phosphorus acidic compounds removed from said reaction product fluid with an ion exchange resin sufficient to remove at least some amount of said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from said water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation
    Inventors: David Robert Bryant, James Clair Nicholson, Ernst Billig, John Robert Briggs, Diane Lee Packett, John Michael Maher
  • Patent number: 5886235
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from a reaction product fluid containing said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds, a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organophosphorus ligand which process comprises treating said reaction product fluid with water sufficient to remove at least some amount of said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from said reaction product fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation.
    Inventors: David Robert Bryant, James Clair Nicholson, John Robert Briggs, Diane Lee Packett, John Michael Maher
  • Patent number: 5886236
    Abstract: This invention relates in part to processes for producing one or more substituted or unsubstituted aldehyde acid salts, e.g., epsilon caprolactam, which comprises subjecting said one or more substituted or unsubstituted unsaturated acid salts, e.g., pentenoic acid salts, to hydroformylation in the presence of a hydroformylation catalyst, e.g., a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, to produce one or more substituted or unsubstituted aldehyde acid salts and/or one or more substituted or unsubstituted epsilon caprolactam precursors. This invention also relates in part to reaction mixtures containing one or more substituted or unsubstituted aldehyde acid salts as the principal product(s) of reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Carl Eisenschmid, John Robert Briggs, Diane Lee Packett, Kurt Damar Olson, John Michael Maher
  • Patent number: 5883265
    Abstract: This invention relates in part to processes for producing one or more substituted or unsubstituted epsilon caprolactones and/or hydrates and/or esters thereof which comprise subjecting one or more substituted or unsubstituted penten-1-ols to carbonylation in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst, e.g., a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, to produce said one or more substituted or unsubstituted epsilon caprolactones and/or hydrates and/or esters thereof. The substituted and unsubstituted epsilon caprolactones and/or hydrates and/or esters thereof produced by the processes of this invention can undergo further reaction(s) to afford desired derivatives thereof, e.g., epsilon caprolactam. This invention also relates in part to reaction mixtures containing one or more substituted or unsubstituted epsilon caprolactones and/or hydrates and/or esters thereof as principal product(s) of reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Erik Bruce Tjaden, John Robert Briggs, Anil Sakharam Guram, John Michael Maher
  • Patent number: 5874640
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from a reaction product fluid containing said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds, a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organophosphorus ligand which process comprises treating said reaction product fluid with an aqueous buffer solution sufficient to neutralize and remove at least some amount of said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from said reaction product fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation
    Inventors: David Robert Bryant, Tak Wai Leung, Ernst Billig, Thomas Carl Eisenschmid, James Clair Nicholson, John Robert Briggs, Diane Lee Packett, John Michael Maher
  • Patent number: 5874639
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process which comprises reacting one or more reactants in the presence of a metal-organopolyphosphorus ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organopolyphosphorus ligand to produce a reaction product fluid comprising one or more products, wherein said process is conducted at a carbon monoxide partial pressure such that reaction rate increases as carbon monoxide partial pressure decreases and reaction rate decreases as carbon monoxide partial pressure increases and which is sufficient to prevent and/or lessen deactivation of the metal-organopolyphosphorus ligand complex catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation
    Inventors: James Clair Nicholson, David Robert Bryant, James Russell Nelson, John Robert Briggs, Diane Lee Packett, John Michael Maher
  • Patent number: 5756855
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hydroformylation process comprising: (1) forming a reaction mixture containing: (a) an olefinic compound, (b) hydrogen, (c) carbon monoxide, (d) a phosphite in which each phosphorus atom is bonded to three oxygen atoms and at least one such oxygen atom is bonded to a carbon atom of an aromatic ring that is adjacent to another carbon atom of said ring having a pendant monovalent group having a steric hindrance at least as great as the steric hindrance of the isopropyl group, (e) a catalytic amount of rhodium, and (f) a Group VIII metal (other than a rhodium) in an amount sufficient to reduce the rhodium-catalyzed decomposition of the phosphite during the hydroformylation process; and (2) maintaining the reaction mixture under conditions at which the olefinic compound reacts with the hydrogen and carbon monoxide to form an aldehyde.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony George Abatjoglou, David Robert Bryant, John Michael Maher