Patents by Inventor Michael Merkel

Michael Merkel 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: 20250154097
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing isocyanates by reacting at least one amine or the salt thereof with a stoichiometric excess of phosgene in the condensed phase in the presence of a solvent, having the steps of: A) transitioning to a hot phosgenation process and B) expelling remaining phosgene and/or hydrogen chloride. The invention is characterized in that the reaction is carried out in batches in at least two reactors which are arranged parallel to one another and in that step A) and/or step B) is carried out asynchronously in at least two of the reactors arranged parallel to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2023
    Publication date: May 15, 2025
    Inventors: Mark Jacob, Guido Grommes, Thomas Schmitz, Pascal Scherpian, Christian Jens, Michael Merkel, Stefanie Lang
  • Publication number: 20250129017
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing isocyanates by reacting corresponding amines with phosgene. The invention further relates to an apparatus for separating exhaust gas flows from a phosgenation reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2023
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Inventors: Sarmilan Santhakumaran, Lukas Grave, Pascal Scherpian, Manfred Kobylka, Tevfik Topal Hasan, Mark Jacob, Christian Jens, Michael Merkel, Franz-Josef Niemeyer, Christian Toffel
  • Patent number: 12151997
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing a suspension of a hydrochloride of an organic amine, comprising the following steps of (i) initially charging at least one organic solvent in a reaction vessel to form a liquid level, (ii) adding hydrogen chloride, (iii) adding the organic amine, wherein the organic amine is added below the liquid level present in the reaction vessel and steps (ii) and (iii) are at least partly carried out simultaneously. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a method wherein the suspension obtained after step (iii) is reacted in a step (iv) with phosgene to obtain the organic isocyanate corresponding to the organic amine used, to the corresponding organic isocyanate and to the use of the organic isocyanate for producing polyisocyanates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Covestro Intellectual Property GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Merkel, Tim Loddenkemper, Frank Gerhartz, Stefan Hirschfeld
  • Publication number: 20240343674
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for obtaining an amine from a composition by means of distillation and a composition obtainable by that method. The invention also relates to a method for the production of an isocyanate from the composition obtainable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Applicant: Genomatica, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Merkel, Mathias LEIMBRINK, Friedhelm STEFFENS
  • Publication number: 20240336554
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the removal of water from and transport of at least one aliphatic diamine comprising the following steps: a) providing a first composition including 60 to 98 wt.-% water and 2 to 40 wt.-% of the at least one aliphatic diamine with two —NH2 groups per molecule, each of them bound to a primary or secondary carbon atom, b) removing water at least partially from said first composition by distillation at a first production location in a distillation apparatus comprising at least two distillation columns operating at different head pressures, thus generating a second composition comprising the diamine and ?55 wt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Merkel, Mathias LEIMBRINK, Friedhelm STEFFENS
  • Publication number: 20240336555
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the processing and transport of hexane-1,6-diamine or pentane-1,5-diamine comprising the steps of: a) Providing a first composition including 60 to 98 wt.-% water and 2 to 40 wt.-% hexane-1,6-diamine or pentane-1,5-diamine, b) partially removing water from the first composition by distillation at a first production location, whereby a second composition is generated, said second composition including the hexane-1,6-diamine or pentane-1,5-diamine and 1 wt.-% to 35 wt.-% water, and c) transporting said second composition during a span of time t from the first production location to a second production location, wherein the span of time t including times for optional temporary storage is at least 6 h.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventor: Michael MERKEL
  • Publication number: 20240279162
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tubular reactor for gas phase phosgenation of at least one organic amine comprising • at least one inlet device for starting materials, • an outer shell with inner diameters Dri, • a tubular inner sleeve disposed within a segment of the outer shell, having a length Ls along its longitudinal axis and outer diameters Dso, wherein along at least 50% of length Ls, having an inner diameter Dri and an outer diameter Dso, ratio Rd is from 0.600 to 0.990, calculated by the following equation Rd=Dso/Dri, wherein there is a gap between the inner sleeve and the outer shell, and wherein the inlet device is disposed within the outer shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Publication date: August 22, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Merkel, Ernst-Ulrich Rohe, Frank Fantin, Manfred Kobylka, Kevin Kelleher
  • Patent number: 11795260
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bulk material comprising solid diisocyanate, especially naphthalene 1,5-diisocyanate or p-phenylene diisocyanate, to a process for production thereof, and to a process for preparing isocyanate prepolymers using the bulk material of the invention, to the isocyanate prepolymers themselves and to the use thereof for preparation of polyurethane elastomers, especially cast polyurethane elastomers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Covestro Intellectual Property GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Merkel, Anna-Marie Zorn, Rainer Bellinghausen, Pascal Scherpian, Ralph Weber
  • Publication number: 20230271916
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing a suspension of a hydrochloride of an organic amine, comprising the following steps of (i) initially charging at least one organic solvent in a reaction vessel to form a liquid level, (ii) adding hydrogen chloride, (iii) adding the organic amine, wherein the organic amine is added below the liquid level present in the reaction vessel and steps (ii) and (iii) are at least partly carried out simultaneously. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a method wherein the suspension obtained after step (iii) is reacted in a step (iv) with phosgene to obtain the organic isocyanate corresponding to the organic amine used, to the corresponding organic isocyanate and to the use of the organic isocyanate for producing polyisocyanates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Merkel, Tim Loddenkemper, Frank Gerhartz, Stefan Hirschfeld
  • Publication number: 20220380303
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for distillative purification of a crude isocyanate obtained by phosgenation of the corresponding amine in a distillation apparatus under vacuum to obtain the corresponding isocyanate, characterized in that at least one liquid ring compressor is used to generate the vacuum in the distillation apparatus, a particular operating liquid is used for the at least one liquid ring compressor, the pressure p on the suction side of the at least one liquid ring compressor is 10 to 200 mbar(a), the operating temperature of the at least one liquid ring compressor is ?17° C. to +15° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Merkel, Martin Ehrig, Manfred Kobylka, Peter Lehner, Tim Loddenkemper, Martin Schiffhauer
  • Publication number: 20220267500
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing polyisocyanates having a low monomer content, said method comprising the following steps: (i) modifying at least one monomeric diisocyanate to obtain a mixture containing at least one polyisocyanate and unconverted monomeric diisocyanate, (ii) separating the mixture obtained in step (i) into at least one gaseous stream containing monomeric diisocyanate and a liquid stream depleted of monomeric diisocyanate, (iii) partially condensing the gaseous stream from (ii) in at least one condenser, so that a liquid condensate and an uncondensed vapour stream are obtained, (iv) post-condensing the uncondensed vapour stream obtained in step (iii) in at least one post-condenser, so that a post-condensate and an uncondensed waste gas are obtained, and (v) delivering the uncondensed waste gas from step (iv) to the suction side of a vacuum pump, characterised in that the at least one post-condenser in step (iv) is operated at a post-condenser temperature, and the at least one c
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Merkel, Anna Grosse Daldrup, Christoph Eggert, Stefan Groth, Markus Meuresch, Monika Groetzner, Stefan Nolte
  • Patent number: 11279670
    Abstract: Provided is a process for separating an organic isocyanate prepared by reacting an organic amine with a stoichiometric excess of phosgene in the gas phase from the gaseous crude product obtained in the reaction, the process comprising the steps of (i) at least partially condensing the crude product stream containing at least the isocyanate, hydrogen chloride and unconverted phosgene by contacting with at least one liquid stream containing at least one quench liquid in a first separation apparatus to obtain a liquid stream containing at least some of the quench liquid and some of the isocyanate and a gas stream containing at least hydrogen chloride, evaporated quench liquid and phosgene, (ii) discharging the liquid stream obtained in step (i) via a first liquid outlet and of the gas stream obtained in (i) via a first gas conduit and (iii) at least partially condensing and/or absorbing the gas stream discharged in step (ii) through the first gas conduit, wherein that the at least partial condensation and/or abs
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Covestro Deutschland AG
    Inventors: Manfred Kobylka, Michael Merkel, Dominik Duerig, Bernhard Seidel
  • Patent number: 11174222
    Abstract: Provided is a process for preparing an organic diisocyanate of the formula: OCN—R—NCO (1), wherein R represents a bivalent hydrocarbon radical containing 3 to 20 carbon atoms, the carbon atoms being arranged in a way that the two nitrogen atoms are separated from each other by at least 3 carbon atoms, the process comprising, Step (I) preparing a diurethane of the formula wherein R is the same as in formula (1), R? and R? independently represent organic radicals selected from the group consisting of 4 to 36 carbon atoms, 4 to 74 hydrogen atoms, 0 to 12 oxygen atoms that have the oxidation state ?2, and 0 to 1 halogen atoms from a diarylurethane of the formula, wherein R is the same as in formula (1), Ar and Ar? independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl radical selected from the group containing a total of 4 to 20 carbon atoms by transesterification, Step (II) subjecting the diurethane of the formula (2) to a cleavage reaction to form the hydroxy compounds R?—OH and R?—O
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Covestro Deutschland AG
    Inventor: Michael Merkel
  • Publication number: 20210284787
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a polyisocyanate composition containing urethane groups, and to the polyisocyanate compositions containing urethane groups that are obtained or obtainable by this process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Merkel, Oswald Wilmes, Christian Drumm, Ruiwen Wu, Stefan Groth, Wenbin Fan
  • Publication number: 20210171450
    Abstract: Provided is a process for separating an organic isocyanate prepared by reacting an organic amine with a stoichiometric excess of phosgene in the gas phase from the gaseous crude product obtained in the reaction, the process comprising the steps of (i) at least partially condensing the crude product stream containing at least the isocyanate, hydrogen chloride and unconverted phosgene by contacting with at least one liquid stream containing at least one quench liquid in a first separation apparatus to obtain a liquid stream containing at least some of the quench liquid and some of the isocyanate and a gas stream containing at least hydrogen chloride, evaporated quench liquid and phosgene, (ii) discharging the liquid stream obtained in step (i) via a first liquid outlet and of the gas stream obtained in (i) via a first gas conduit and (iii) at least partially condensing and/or absorbing the gas stream discharged in step (ii) through the first gas conduit, wherein that the at least partial condensation and/or abs
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Manfred Kobylka, Michael Merkel, Dominik Duerig, Bernhard Seidel
  • Publication number: 20210163658
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bulk material comprising solid diisocyanate, especially naphthalene 1,5-diisocyanate or p-phenylene diisocyanate, to a process for production thereof, and to a process for preparing isocyanate prepolymers using the bulk material of the invention, to the isocyanate prepolymers themselves and to the use thereof for preparation of polyurethane elastomers, especially cast polyurethane elastomers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Merkel, Anna-Marie Zorn, Rainer Bellinghausen, Pascal Scherpian, Ralph Weber
  • Patent number: 10919845
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cleaning device for separating an organic isocyanate produced by the reaction of an organic amine with a stoichiometric excess of phosgene in the gas phase from the gaseous raw product obtained in the reaction, said device comprising a first separating body comprising at least one raw product supply line for a gaseous raw product flow containing at least the isocyanate, hydrogen chloride and non-reacted phosgene, a first liquid supply line for a liquid flow containing at least one quench liquid, and a first liquid discharge line for a liquid flow containing at least part of the quench liquid and part of the isocyanate, a first gas line for transporting a gas flow containing at least hydrogen chloride, evaporated quench liquid and phosgene leading away from the first separating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Covestro Deutschland AG
    Inventors: Manfred Kobylka, Michael Merkel, Dominik Duerig, Bernhard Seidel
  • Publication number: 20210024459
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for recovering monomer diisocyanates, which are solid at room temperature, from a distillation residue, said method comprising the following steps: (i) preparing at least one residue which contains diisocyanates, which are solid at room temperature, and (ii) separating the residue in at least one kneader-dryer, paddle-dryer and/or roller-dryer in the presence of less than 2 wt % bitumen, based on the mass of the residue prepared in step (i), into a gaseous portion, containing monomer diisocyanate that is solid at room temperature, and a brittle residue depleted of diisocyanate, which is solid at room temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Joerg Morawski, Tim Loddenkemper, Stefanie Lang, Rainer Bellinghausen, Ulrich Liesenfelder, Michael Merkel, Marc Seekamp, Ariane Dunker
  • Patent number: 10889539
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for the preparation of pure aniline, comprising the steps of a) providing a crude aniline fraction containing up to 20.000% by weight of phenol; b) dividing the crude aniline fraction from step a) into a first partial stream and a second partial stream; c) distilling the first partial stream from step b) in a first distillation column and distilling the second partial stream from step b) in a second distillation column, wherein the first distillation column is operated at a higher head pressure than the second distillation column, with the proviso that each of the first distillation column and the second distillation column is operated at a head pressure in the range from 1.0 mbar(abs.) to 500 mbar(abs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Covestro Deutschland AG
    Inventors: Michael Merkel, Friedhelm Steffens, Murat Kalem, Peter Lehner
  • Publication number: 20200392074
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing a suspension of a hydrochloride of an organic amine, comprising the following steps of (i) initially charging at least one organic solvent in a reaction vessel to form a liquid level, (ii) adding hydrogen chloride, (iii) adding the organic amine, wherein the organic amine is added below the liquid level present in the reaction vessel and steps (ii) and (iii) are at least partly carried out simultaneously. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a method wherein the suspension obtained after step (iii) is reacted in a step (iv) with phosgene to obtain the organic isocyanate corresponding to the organic amine used, to the corresponding organic isocyanate and to the use of the organic isocyanate for producing polyisocyanates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Merkel, Tim Loddenkemper, Frank Gerhartz, Stefan Hirschfeld