Patents by Inventor Nick A. Collins

Nick A. Collins 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: 7868219
    Abstract: A process for producing an ethylbenzene product having a purity of at least 99.50 percent based on the weight of ethylbenzene present in the product by the ethylation of the benzene present in non-extracted feed, e.g., non-extracted hydrocarbon composition. The non-extracted feed is substantially free of both C4? hydrocarbons and the C7+ aromatic hydrocarbons and contains benzene and benzene coboilers. The process is carried out in the liquid phase, in the presence of an acid-active catalyst containing MCM-22 family molecular sieve, and under specified conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen H. Brown, Nick A. Collins
  • Publication number: 20100210886
    Abstract: A process for producing an ethylbenzene product having a purity of at least 99.50 percent based on the weight of ethylbenzene present in the product by the ethylation of the benzene present in non-extracted feed, e.g., non-extracted hydrocarbon composition. The non-extracted feed is substantially free of both C4? hydrocarbons and the C7+ aromatic hydrocarbons and contains benzene and benzene coboilers. The process is carried out in the liquid phase, in the presence of an acid-active catalyst containing MCM-22 family molecular sieve, and under specified conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Stephen H. Brown, Nick A. Collins
  • Patent number: 7737314
    Abstract: A process for producing an ethylbenzene product having a purity of at least 99.50 percent based on the weight of ethylbenzene present in the product by the ethylation of the benzene present in non-extracted feed, e.g., non-extracted hydrocarbon composition. The non-extracted feed is substantially free of both C4? hydrocarbons and the C7+ aromatic hydrocarbons and contains benzene and benzene coboilers. The process is carried out in the liquid phase, in the presence of an acid-active catalyst containing MCM-22 family molecular sieve, and under specified conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen H. Brown, Nick A. Collins
  • Publication number: 20080194896
    Abstract: A process for producing an ethylbenzene product having a purity of at least 99.50 percent based on the weight of ethylbenzene present in the product by the ethylation of the benzene present in non-extracted feed, e.g., non-extracted hydrocarbon composition. The non-extracted feed is substantially free of both C4? hydrocarbons and the C7+ aromatic hydrocarbons and contains benzene and benzene coboilers. The process is carried out in the liquid phase, in the presence of an acid-active catalyst containing MCM-22 family molecular sieve, and under specified conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventors: Stephen H. Brown, Nick A. Collins
  • Patent number: 6121498
    Abstract: A method of producing acetaldehyde hydrogenates acetic acid in the presence of an iron oxide catalyst containing between 2.5 and 90 wt % Pd, more preferably 10 and 80 wt % Pd and most preferably 20 and 60 wt % Pd. The catalyst has a specific surface area of less than 150 m.sup.2 /g. Hydrogen and acetic acid are fed to a reactor in a hydrogen to acetic acid ratio of 2:1 to 25:1, more preferably in a hydrogen to acetic acid ratio of 3:1 to 15:1 and most preferably in a hydrogen to acetic acid ratio of 4:1 to 12:1. The hydrogenation is performed at a temperature of about 250.degree. C. to 400.degree. C., more preferably about 270.degree. C. to 350.degree. C. and most preferably about 280.degree. C. to 325.degree. C. The hydrogenation of acetic acid produces a partially gaseous product, and acetaldehyde is absorbed from the partially gaseous product with a solvent containing acetic acid. The gas remaining after the absorption step contains hydrogen, and this gas is recycled for the hydrogenation of acetic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Gerald C. Tustin, Leslie S. Depew, Nick A. Collins
  • Patent number: 5902917
    Abstract: There is provided a process for producing alkylaromatics, especially ethylbenzene and cumene, wherein a feedstock is first fed to a transalkylation zone and the entire effluent from the transalkylation zone is then cascaded directly into an alkylation zone along with an olefin alkylating agent, especially ethylene or propylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Nick A. Collins, Dominick N. Mazzone, Chaya R. Venkat
  • Patent number: 5865987
    Abstract: Low sulfur gasoline is produced from an olefinic, cracked, sulfur-containing naphtha by treatment over an acidic catalyst, preferably an intermediate pore size zeolite such as ZSM-5 to crack low octane paraffins and olefins under mild conditions with limited aromatization of olefins and naphthenes. A benzene-rich co-feed is co-processed with the naphtha to reduce the benzene levels in the co-feed by alkylation. This initial processing step is followed by hydrodesulfurization over a hydrotreating catalyst such as CoMo on alumina. In addition to reducing benzene levels in the combined feeds, the initial treatment over the acidic catalyst removes the olefins which would otherwise be saturated in the hydrodesulfurization, consuming hydrogen and lowering product octane, and converts them to compounds which make a positive contribution to octane. Overall liquid yield is high, typically at least 90 percent or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Inventors: William S. Borghard, Nick A. Collins, Paul P. Durand, Timothy L. Hilbert, Jeffrey C. Trewella
  • Patent number: 5865988
    Abstract: Low sulfur gasoline is produced from an olefinic, cracked, sulfur-containing naphtha by treatment over an acidic catalyst, preferably an intermediate pore size zeolite such as ZSM-5 to crack low octane paraffins and olefins under relatively mild conditions, with limited aromatization of olefins and naphthenes. This is followed by hydrodesulfurization over a hydrotreating catalyst such as CoMo on alumina. The initial treatment over the acidic catalyst removes the olefins which would otherwise be saturated in the hydrodesulfurization, consuming hydrogen and lowering product octane, and converts them to compounds which make a positive contribution to octane. Overall liquid yield is high, typically at least 90 percent of higher. Product aromatics are typically increased by no more than 25 weight percent relative to the feed and may be lower than the feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Nick A. Collins, Paul P. Durand, Timothy L. Hilbert, Gerald J. Teitman, Jeffrey C. Trewella
  • Patent number: 5763727
    Abstract: A process is provided for the disproportionation of C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 paraffins. Propane, butanes and/or pentanes are reacted over a zeolite catalyst having a low acid activity in a turbulent fluidized bed reactor regenerator system operating at low to moderate pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Nick A. Collins, Mohsen N. Harandi
  • Patent number: 5705724
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for the production of alkylaromatic compounds employing olefinic liquid from thermally or catalytically cracked plastics as alkylating agent. The process comprises contacting a feedstream comprising alkylatable aromatics and the olefinic liquid with acidic alkylation catalyst under alkylation conditions in an alkylation zone; and recovering an effluent stream comprising alkylaromatic compounds. The alkylation can be performed with the product of plastics pyrolysis or with non-degraded plastic feedstock in-situ with thermal/catalytic degradation of the plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Nick A. Collins, Larry A. Green, Anagha A. Gupte, David O. Marler, William J. Tracy, III
  • Patent number: 5599439
    Abstract: A low sulfur gasoline of relatively high octane number is produced from a catalytically cracked, sulfur-containing naphtha by hydrodesulfurization followed by octane enhancing treatment in a fluidized bed catalytic process, in the presence of an aromatics-rich feedstream. The process converts the hydrodesulfurized intermediate and the aromatics-rich feedstream to a gasoline boiling range fraction of high octane number. The fluidized bed catalytic process is carried out over zeolite catalyst particles in a turbulent reactor bed at a temperature of about 600.degree. to 800.degree. F. (316.degree. to 427.degree. C.) and pressure of about 100 to 250 psig (790 to 825 kPa. The catalyst has an apparent particle density of about 0.9 to 1.6 g/cm.sup.3 and a size range of about 1 to 150 microns, and average catalyst particle size of about 20 to 100 microns containing about 10 to 25 weight percent of fine particles having a particle size less than 32 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Nick A. Collins, Mohsen N. Harandi, Edward F. Kondis, Hartley Owen
  • Patent number: 5599441
    Abstract: Sulfur species present in cracked naphthas are converted and removed by first passing the naphtha over an acid catalyst to alkylate the thiophenic compounds in the naphtha using the olefins, i.e., monoolefins and diolefins, present in the naphtha as alkylating agent. Alkylated thiophenes are concentrated in the heavy portion of the naphtha by distillation, reducing the amount of naphtha that needs to be hydrodesulfurized. Olefins in cracked naphthas are concentrated in the light portion of the naphtha which is not subsequently hydrotreated. Thus, octane and hydrogen consumption penalties associated with hydrotreating are minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Nick A. Collins, Jeffrey C. Trewella
  • Patent number: 5491270
    Abstract: A benzene-rich gasoline stream is alkylated with higher olefins in contact with a fluid bed of shape selective zeolite catalyst to produce a gasoline product stream reduced in benzene content wherein the high octane value alkylaromatics formed by benzene alkylation are of low carbon number, essentially C10-. Concurrently, a portion of olefins in the gasoline stream are converted to gasoline boiling range hydrocarbons and the sulfur content of the gasoline feedstream is lowered. Besides enhancing the octane value of the feedstream, the process results in a lower Reid vapor pressure and lower sulfur content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur A. Chin, Nick A. Collins, Mohsen N. Harandi, Robert T. Thomson, Robert A. Ware
  • Patent number: 5482617
    Abstract: A process for desulfurizing a hydrocarbon stream which includes at least 50 ppmw sulfur in the form of organic sulfur compounds, and C.sub.5 + hydrocarbons including benzene. The hydrocarbon stream is contacted in the absence of added hydrogen with a fluidized bed of an acidic catalyst having a structure of ZSM-5, ZSM-11, ZSM-22, ZSM-23, ZSM-35, ZSM-48, MCM-22, MCM-36, MCM-49, zeolite Y, zeolite beta or mixtures thereof to convert the organic sulfur compounds to hydrogen sulfide. The catalyst contacts the hydrocarbon stream at a pressure of from 0.0 psig to about 400 psig, a temperature of from about 400.degree. F. to about 900.degree. F., and a weight hourly space velocity of from about 0.1 hr..sup.-1 to about 10.0 hr..sup.-1. Thereafter, the hydrogen sulfide is removed from the hydrocarbon stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Nick A. Collins, Mohsen N. Harandi
  • Patent number: 5414172
    Abstract: A process for upgrading low octane naphthas to produce gasoline products with low levels of benzene and aromatics while retaining a high pool octane uses a paraffinic naphtha reformer feed which is dehexanized to provide a C.sub.7 + fraction which is fed to the reformer and a C.sub.6 fraction which is fed together with the C.sub.6 fraction from the reformer effluent to a catalytic upgrading step where the low octane components from the naphtha and the benzene from the reformate are converted to a low benzene, high octane gasoline by alkylation of the benzene and other aromatics present in the reformate. The process has the advantage that benzene make in the reformer is reduced by the partial by-passing of the C.sub.6 benzene precursors around the reformer; in addition, improved benzene alkylation results from the presence of additional light olefins generated by the cracking of paraffins from the paraffinic naphtha. the reaction is preferably carried out in a turbulent fluidized bed reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur A. Chin, Nick A. Collins, Mohsen N. Harandi, Robert T. Thomson, Robert A. Ware
  • Patent number: 5401391
    Abstract: A process for desulfurizing a hydrocarbon stream which includes at least 100 ppmw sulfur in the form of organic sulfur compounds, and C.sub.4 -hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbon stream is contacted in the absence of added hydrogen with a fluidized bed of an acidic catalyst having a structure of ZSM-5, ZSM-11, ZSM-22, ZSM-23, ZSM-35, ZSM-48, MCM-22, MCM-36, MCM-49, zeolite Y, zeolite beta or mixtures thereof to convert the organic sulfur compounds to hydrogen sulfide. The catalyst contacts the hydrocarbon stream at a pressure of from 0.0 psig to about 400 psig, a temperature of from about 400.degree. F. to about 900.degree. F., and a weight hourly space velocity of from about 0.1 hr..sup.-1 to about 10.0 hr..sup.-1. Thereafter, the hydrogen sulfide is removed from the hydrocarbon stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Nick A. Collins, Mohsen N. Harandi, Raymond D. McGraw
  • Patent number: 5391288
    Abstract: Low sulfur gasoline of relatively high octane number is produced from a catalytically cracked, sulfur-containing naphtha and benzene-rich fraction by hydrodesulfurization in a first reaction zone and treatment over an acidic catalyst, preferably an intermediate pore size zeolite such as ZSM-5 in a second reaction zone to reduce the octane loss which takes place as a result of the hydrodesulfurization. The benzene-rich fraction can be cofed to the first reaction zone or the second reaction zone. The benzene-rich fraction is preferably a heart-cut reformate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Nick A. Collins, Paul P. Durand, David L. Fletcher, Mohsen N. Harandi, Edward F. Kondis, Hartley Owen, Michael S. Sarli, Stuart S. Shih