Patents by Inventor Michael P. Nicoletti
Michael P. Nicoletti 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: 8178741Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of recovery of the activity of a molecular sieve catalyst following use of the catalyst in an OTO conversion process. This is achieved by a regeneration apparatus and a method of regenerating a molecular sieve catalyst, comprising two stages. In a pretreatment stage, the catalyst is pretreated under pretreatment conditions by heating the catalyst to a temperature of between 320° C. to 700° C. in an oxygen depleted medium for a residence time of between 1 minute to two hours; and, in a regeneration stage, the catalyst is regenerated under regeneration conditions by heating the catalyst at a temperature of between 200° C. to 700° C. in an oxidizing medium for a residence time of between 1 to 60 minutes.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2010Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: Chunshe J. Cao, James H. Beech, Jr., Michael P. Nicoletti, Thomas H. Colle, Teng Xu, Stephen N. Vaughn
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Patent number: 7989669Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for producing one or more olefins from an oxygenate feed. According to the invention, an oxygenate stream is provided and a recycle stream is added to the oxygenate stream to form a feed stream to an oxygenate-to-olefin conversion system. The recycle stream comprises (i.e., contains) propane and dimethyl ether.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2008Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: Gerald G. McGlamery, Jr., James H. Beech, Jr., Michael P. Nicoletti, Cornelis F. Van Egmond
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Patent number: 7906697Abstract: This invention relates to efficiently regenerating catalyst particles by minimizing the formation of localized “hot spots” and “cold spots” in a regeneration zone. Specifically this invention relates to a method for controlling regenerator temperature in an oxygenates-to-olefins system, comprising the steps of: contacting an oxygenate feed in a reactor with a catalytically effective amount of molecular sieve-containing catalyst under conditions effective for converting said oxygenate to a product containing light olefins and forming a coked catalyst; contacting a portion of the coked catalyst in a regenerator, having a catalyst bed height (Hc), an inlet height (Hi), and an outlet height (Ho), with an oxygen-containing regeneration medium under conditions effective to at least partially regenerate the coked catalyst; and conducting a portion of the catalyst from the regenerator to a catalyst cooler to form a cooled catalyst portion, wherein Ho is greater than Hi.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2008Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: James H. Beech, Jr., Chunshe Cao, Michael P. Nicoletti, James R. Lattner, Jesse F. Goellner, Rutton D. Patel, Timothy M. Healy
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Patent number: 7893310Abstract: This invention is to a process for separating condensed water and entrained solids from an olefin stream so that fouling of the separation equipment by the entrained solids is reduced or eliminated. The process involves injecting an antifouling agent into a water condensing or quench system in an amount to maintain a zeta potential of fouling liquid and a zeta potential of the surface of the quench system both in a positive range or both in a negative range.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2008Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: Gerald G. McGlamery, Jr., Michael P. Nicoletti, Thomas H. Colle
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Publication number: 20110021857Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of recovery of the activity of a molecular sieve catalyst following use of the catalyst in an OTO conversion process. This is achieved by a regeneration apparatus and a method of regenerating a molecular sieve catalyst, comprising two stages. In a pretreatment stage, the catalyst is pretreated under pretreatment conditions by heating the catalyst to a temperature of between 320° C. to 700° C. in an oxygen depleted medium for a residence time of between 1 minute to two hours; and, in a regeneration stage, the catalyst is regenerated under regeneration conditions by heating the catalyst at a temperature of between 200° C. to 700° C. in an oxidizing medium for a residence time of between 1 to 60 minutes.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2010Publication date: January 27, 2011Inventors: Chunshe J. Cao, James H. Beech, JR., Michael P. Nicoletti, Thomas H. Colle, Teng Xu, Stephen N. Vaughn
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Patent number: 7816575Abstract: This invention provides a process for limiting the loss of catalyst particles through olefin product streams and regenerator flue gas streams exiting the reaction system. In particular, this invention provides for removing catalyst particles from the reactor using a water stream and from the regenerator using a two step separation process. The two step process involves the use of a catalyst fine separation unit.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2007Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents, Inc.Inventors: James H. Beech, Jr., Yun-feng Chang, Michael P. Nicoletti
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Patent number: 7626067Abstract: The present invention is a process for cleaning and using byproduct water from an oxygenate to olefin process to satisfy the water requirement of the oxygenate to olefin process.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2004Date of Patent: December 1, 2009Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: Cor F. Van Egmond, Zhong Yi Ding, James H. Beech, Jr., Michael P. Nicoletti
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Publication number: 20090192341Abstract: This invention relates to efficiently regenerating catalyst particles by minimizing the formation of localized “hot spots” and “cold spots” in a regeneration zone. Specifically this invention relates to a method for controlling regenerator temperature in an oxygenates-to-olefins system, comprising the steps of: contacting an oxygenate feed in a reactor with a catalytically effective amount of molecular sieve-containing catalyst under conditions effective for converting said oxygenate to a product containing light olefins and forming a coked catalyst; contacting a portion of the coked catalyst in a regenerator, having a catalyst bed height (Hc), an inlet height (Hi), and an outlet height (Ho), with an oxygen-containing regeneration medium under conditions effective to at least partially regenerate the coked catalyst; and conducting a portion of the catalyst from the regenerator to a catalyst cooler to form a cooled catalyst portion, wherein Ho is greater than Hi.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2008Publication date: July 30, 2009Inventors: James H. Beech, JR., Chunshe Cao, Michael P. Nicoletti, James R. Lattner, Jesse F. Goellner, Rutton D. Patel, Timothy M. Healy
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Patent number: 7547814Abstract: This invention is directed to methods of removing water and other condensable materials, as well as solids particles such as catalyst particles, from olefin product streams so as to reduce fouling in the liquid and vapor separation equipment. In order to reduce fouling or contamination in the condensing or quenching process, this invention includes adding a hydrocarbon to at least a portion of the condensed liquid fraction in an amount that effects separation of the liquid fraction into upper and lower fractions.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2007Date of Patent: June 16, 2009Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: Cor F. Van Egmond, Michael J. Veraa, Steven E. Silverberg, Michael P. Nicoletti, John Richard Shutt
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Patent number: 7479468Abstract: This invention provides an integrated system and process for forming light olefins and polymers from oxygenates, and optionally from natural gas. The integrated system includes an air separation unit, which separates air components into an oxygen stream and a nitrogen stream, and which also forms a compressed air stream. According to the present invention, the oxygen stream, the nitrogen stream and/or the compressed air stream from the air separation unit may serve as a reactant in syngas generation, as a regeneration medium in the methanol-to-olefins reaction system, as a fluidizing stream, as a blanketing medium, as a stripping medium, as instrument air, and/or as a reactant in a sulfur removal unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2004Date of Patent: January 20, 2009Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: Cor F. van Egmond, Eric D. Nelson, Lawrence C. Smith, Ronald G. Searle, James H. Beech, Jr., Michael P. Nicoletti
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Publication number: 20080242908Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for producing one or more olefins from an oxygenate feed. According to the invention, an oxygenate stream is provided and a recycle stream is added to the oxygenate stream to form a feed stream to an oxygenate-to-olefin conversion system. The recycle stream comprises (i.e., contains) propane and dimethyl ether.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2008Publication date: October 2, 2008Applicant: ExxonMobil Chemical Company Law TechnologyInventors: Gerald G. McGlamery, James H. Beech, Michael P. Nicoletti, Cornelis F. Van Egmond
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Publication number: 20080185338Abstract: This invention is directed to methods of removing water and other condensable materials, as well as solids particles such as catalyst particles, from olefin product streams so as to reduce fouling in the liquid and vapor separation equipment. In order to reduce fouling or contamination in the condensing or quenching process, this invention includes adding a hydrocarbon to at least a portion of the condensed liquid fraction in an amount that effects separation of the liquid fraction into upper and lower fractions.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2007Publication date: August 7, 2008Inventors: Cor F. Van Egmond, Michael J. Veraa, Steven E. Silverberg, Michael P. Nicoletti, John Richard Shutt
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Publication number: 20080188700Abstract: This invention is to a process for separating condensed water and entrained solids from an olefin stream so that fouling of the separation equipment by the entrained solids is reduced or eliminated. The process involves injecting an antifouling agent into a water condensing or quench system in an amount to maintain a zeta potential of fouling liquid and a zeta potential of the surface of the quench system both in a positive range or both in a negative range.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2008Publication date: August 7, 2008Inventors: Gerald G. McGlamery, Michael P. Nicoletti, Thomas H. Colle
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Publication number: 20070197845Abstract: This invention provides a process for limiting the loss of catalyst particles through olefin product streams and regenerator flue gas streams exiting the reaction system. In particular, this invention provides for removing catalyst particles from the reactor using a water stream and from the regenerator using a two step separation process. The two step process involves the use of a catalyst fine separation unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2007Publication date: August 23, 2007Inventors: James H. Beech, Yun-feng Chang, Michael P. Nicoletti
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Patent number: 6559248Abstract: Disclosed is a method of purifying olefin containing oxygenate contaminants. The method incorporates the use of extractive distillation. Under the appropriate conditions, olefins containing very low levels of oxygenate contaminants can be recovered.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2001Date of Patent: May 6, 2003Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: Dan E. Hendriksen, Minquan Cheng, Keith H. Kuechler, David R. Lumgair, Michael P. Nicoletti, Richard Shutt
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Publication number: 20030045655Abstract: Disclosed is a method of purifying olefin containing oxygenate contaminants. The method incorporates the use of extractive distillation. Under the appropriate conditions, olefins containing very low levels of oxygenate contaminants can be recovered.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2001Publication date: March 6, 2003Inventors: Dan E. Hendriksen, Minquan Cheng, Keith H. Kuechler, David R. Lumgair, Michael P. Nicoletti, Richard Shutt
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Patent number: 4599475Abstract: An improved process is disclosed for the isomerization of xylenes over a zeolite which may contain a platinum group metal. The improvement resides in the use of ZSM-23 zeolite which exhibits enhanced selectivity which inhibits the production of undesired C.sub.9.sup.+ aromatic transalkylation by-products. ZSM-23 having pores substantially unobstructed by silica, such as that made from a forming mixture containing amorphous precipitated silica as a silica source, has been found to be particularly useful in the process of the present invention.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 1985Date of Patent: July 8, 1986Assignee: Mobil Oil CorporationInventors: Charles T. Kresge, James C. Vartuli, Michael P. Nicoletti
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Patent number: 4547605Abstract: This specification discloses a process for the alkylation of aromatics utilizing ZSM-23 catalyst. A particularly preferred embodiment utilizes ZSM-23 made from a forming mixture containing amorphous precipitated silica, as a silica source, including trace amounts of alumina and sodium chloride.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 1983Date of Patent: October 15, 1985Assignee: Mobil Oil CorporationInventors: Charles T. Kresge, John P. McWilliams, James C. Vartuli, Michael P. Nicoletti
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Patent number: 4159283Abstract: An improved process is provided for catalytic isomerization of monocyclic methyl-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon compounds of from 8 to 10 carbon atoms contained in a feedstock also containing ethylbenzene in a reaction zone maintained under conditions such that said isomerization is accomplished in the vapor phase. The improvement in the process comprises a first step wherein the temperature is maintained at a level which provides from about 50 mole percent to about 75 mole percent conversion of said ethylbenzene for a period of time of from about 24 hours to about 96 hours, and a second step wherein the temperature is maintained at a level which provides from about 15 mole percent to less than about 50 mole percent conversion of said ethylbenzene.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 1978Date of Patent: June 26, 1979Assignee: Mobil Oil CorporationInventors: Michael P. Nicoletti, Jesse F. Van Kirk