Patents by Inventor Patrick C. Whitchurch

Patrick C. Whitchurch 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: 8273935
    Abstract: This invention is drawn to a process for isomerizing a non-equilibrium mixture of xylenes and ethylbenzene using a catalyst comprising a zeolite having specific particle-size characteristics, a platinum-group metal and a silica binder. A relatively minimal amount of hydrogen is supplied to the process on a once-through basis, resulting in low saturation of aromatics while achieving effective xylene isomerization with reduced processing costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: James E Rekoske, Patrick C Whitchurch, Robert B Larson
  • Patent number: 8134037
    Abstract: Xylene isomerization processes, especially those processes in which ethylbenzene is also converted, are beneficially affected by adding benzene to the feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paula L. Bogdan, Robert B. Larson, James E. Rekoske, Patrick J. Silady, Patrick C. Whitchurch, Freddie Sandifer
  • Publication number: 20110230695
    Abstract: This invention is drawn to a process for isomerizing a non-equilibrium mixture of xylenes and ethylbenzene using a catalyst comprising a zeolite having specific particle-size characteristics, a platinum-group metal and a silica binder. A relatively minimal amount of hydrogen is supplied to the process on a once-through basis, resulting in low saturation of aromatics while achieving effective xylene isomerization with reduced processing costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: James E. Rekoske, Patrick C. Whitchurch, Robert B. Larson
  • Patent number: 8022263
    Abstract: This invention is drawn to a process for isomerizing a non-equilibrium mixture of xylenes and ethylbenzene using a catalyst comprising a zeolite having specific particle-size characteristics, a platinum-group metal and a silica binder. A relatively minimal amount of hydrogen is supplied to the process on a once-through basis, resulting in low saturation of aromatics while achieving effective xylene isomerization with reduced processing costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: James E. Rekoske, Patrick C. Whitchurch, Robert B. Larson
  • Patent number: 7939701
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be an ion-exchanged xylene isomerization catalyst. The ion-exchanged xylene isomerization catalyst can include: about 1-about 99%, by weight, of at least one of MFI, MEL, EUO, FER, MFS, MTT, MTW, TON, MOR, and FAU zeolite; about 1-about 99%, by weight, of a binder having an aluminum phosphate; and no more than about 350 ppm, by weight, of a noble metal based on the weight of the catalyst. Generally, the catalyst has a quotient of (CO area)/(weight % of the noble metal) of no more than about 0.10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Patrick C. Whitchurch, Paula L. Bogdan, Terrence E. Deak, Dimitri A. Trufanov
  • Publication number: 20110077146
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be an ion-exchanged xylene isomerization catalyst. The ion-exchanged xylene isomerization catalyst can include: about 1-about 99%, by weight, of at least one of MFI, MEL, EUO, FER, MFS, MTT, MTW, TON, MOR, and FAU zeolite; about 1-about 99%, by weight, of a binder having an aluminum phosphate; and no more than about 350 ppm, by weight, of a noble metal based on the weight of the catalyst. Generally, the catalyst has a quotient of (CO area)/(weight % of the noble metal) of no more than about 0.10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Patrick C. Whitchurch, Paula L. Bogdan, Terrence E. Deak, Dimitri A. Trufanov
  • Patent number: 7745677
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be an extruded C8 alkylaromatic isomerization catalyst. The extruded catalyst can include: about 2-about 20%, by weight, of an MTW zeolite; about 80-about 98%, by weight, of a binder including an alumina; about 0.01-about 2.00%, by weight, of a noble group metal calculated on an elemental basis; and about 100 ppm-less than about 1000 ppm, by weight, of at least one alkali metal calculated on an elemental basis. Generally, the weight percents of the MTW zeolite, the binder, the noble group metal, and the at least one alkali metal are based on a weight of the extruded catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Patrick C. Whitchurch, Paula L. Bogdan, John E. Bauer
  • Publication number: 20100137667
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be an extruded C8 alkylaromatic isomerization catalyst. The extruded catalyst can include: about 2-about 20%, by weight, of an MTW zeolite; about 80-about 98%, by weight, of a binder including an alumina; about 0.01-about 2.00%, by weight, of a noble group metal calculated on an elemental basis; and about 100 ppm-less than about 1000 ppm, by weight, of at least one alkali metal calculated on an elemental basis. Generally, the weight percents of the MTW zeolite, the binder, the noble group metal, and the at least one alkali metal are based on a weight of the extruded catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Patrick C. Whitchurch, Paula L. Bogdan, John E. Bauer
  • Publication number: 20100125160
    Abstract: This invention is drawn to a process for isomerizing a non-equilibrium mixture of xylenes and ethylbenzene using a catalyst comprising a zeolite having specific particle-size characteristics, a platinum-group metal and a silica binder. A relatively minimal amount of hydrogen is supplied to the process on a once-through basis, resulting in low saturation of aromatics while achieving effective xylene isomerization with reduced processing costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Inventors: James E. Rekoske, Patrick C. Whitchurch, Robert B. Larson
  • Publication number: 20100069694
    Abstract: Xylene isomerization processes, especially those processes in which ethylbenzene is also converted, are beneficially affected by adding benzene to the feed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paula L. Bogdan, Robert B. Larson, James E. Rekoske, Patrick J. Silady, Patrick C. Whitchurch, Freddie Sandifer
  • Patent number: 7629283
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be an extruded C8 alkylaromatic isomerization catalyst. The extruded catalyst can include: about 2-about 20%, by weight, of an MTW zeolite; about 80-about 98%, by weight, of a binder including an alumina; about 0.01-about 2.00%, by weight, of a noble group metal calculated on an elemental basis; and about 100 ppm-less than about 1000 ppm, by weight, of at least one alkali metal calculated on an elemental basis. Generally, the weight percents of the MTW zeolite, the binder, the noble group metal, and the at least one alkali metal are based on a weight of the extruded catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Patrick C. Whitchurch, Paula L. Bogdan, John E. Bauer
  • Publication number: 20090143218
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a regeneration process for a C8 alkylaromatic isomerization catalyst. The process can include: contacting the C8 alkylaromatic isomerization catalyst with a first gas stream comprising an oxidizing gas at a first stage for a first time period and a first temperature effective to remove at least a portion of a carbonaceous material from the C8 alkylaromatic isomerization catalyst; and contacting the C8 alkylaromatic isomerization catalyst with a second gas stream comprising the oxidizing gas at a second stage for a second time period and a second temperature effective to remove another portion of the carbonaceous material from the C8 alkylaromatic isomerization catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Paula L. Bogdan, Gregory F. Maher, John E. Bauer, Patrick C. Whitchurch
  • Publication number: 20090093662
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a catalyst for a C8 aromatic isomerization process. The catalyst can include: about 1-about 90%, by weight, of a zeolite including an MTW zeolite; about 10-about 99%, by weight, of a binder including a gamma-alumina, the gamma-alumina being derived from a Boehmite alumina; about 0.1-about 2%, by weight, of a noble metal, calculated on an elemental basis; and at least one alkali metal wherein a total alkali metal content of the catalyst is at least about 100 ppm, by weight, calculated on an elemental basis. Generally, the catalyst has a pore volume distribution and at least about 70% of a pore volume of the catalyst is defined by pores having a diameter greater than about 100 ?.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventors: Patrick C. Whitchurch, Paula L. Bogdan, John E. Bauer
  • Publication number: 20090093660
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be an extruded C8 alkylaromatic isomerization catalyst. The extruded catalyst can include: about 2-about 20%, by weight, of an MTW zeolite; about 80-about 98%, by weight, of a binder including an alumina; about 0.01-about 2.00%, by weight, of a noble group metal calculated on an elemental basis; and about 100 ppm-less than about 1000 ppm, by weight, of at least one alkali metal calculated on an elemental basis. Generally, the weight percents of the MTW zeolite, the binder, the noble group metal, and the at least one alkali metal are based on a weight of the extruded catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventors: Patrick C. Whitchurch, Paula L. Bogdan, John E. Bauer
  • Patent number: 7456125
    Abstract: Catalysts comprising a combination of molecular sieve having a pore diameter of from about 4 to 8 angstroms and a catalytically-effective amount of molybdenum hydrogenation component in an amorphous aluminum phosphate binder provide processes for isomerizing xylene and dealkylating ethylbenzene in feed streams that exhibit stability, selectivity and low ring loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paula L. Bogdan, Patrick C. Whitchurch, Robert B. Larson, James E. Rekoske, Dimitri A. Trufanov, Victor C. Patton, Suheil F. Abdo
  • Patent number: 7446237
    Abstract: Catalysts comprise a combination of molecular sieve having a pore diameter of from about 4 to 8 angstroms and a catalytically-effective amount of molybdenum hydrogenation component and a sufficient amount of at least one platinum group metal hydrogenation component to enhance the isomerization activity of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paula L. Bogdan, Patrick C. Whitchurch, Robert B. Larson, James E. Rekoske
  • Patent number: 7425660
    Abstract: Catalysts comprising a combination of molecular sieve having a pore diameter of from about 4 to 8 angstroms and a catalytically-effective amount of molybdenum hydrogenation component in an amorphous aluminum phosphate binder provide processes for isomerizing xylene and dealkylating ethylbenzene in feed streams that exhibit stability, selectivity and low ring loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Robert B. Larson, James E. Rekoske, Patrick C. Whitchurch, Paula L. Bogdan
  • Patent number: 7381677
    Abstract: Catalysts comprise a combination of molecular sieve having a pore diameter of from about 4 to 8 angstroms and a catalytically-effective amount of molybdenum hydrogenation component and a sufficient amount of at least one platinum group metal hydrogenation component to enhance the isomerization activity of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paula L. Bogdan, Patrick C. Whitchurch, Robert B. Larson, James E. Rekoske
  • Patent number: 7375047
    Abstract: Catalysts comprising a combination of molecular sieve having a pore diameter of from about 4 to 8 angstroms and a catalytically-effective amount of molybdenum hydrogenation component in an amorphous aluminum phosphate binder provide processes for isomerizing xylene and dealkylating ethylbenzene in feed streams that exhibit stability, selectivity and low ring loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Robert B. Larson, James E. Rekoske, Patrick C. Whitchurch, Paula L. Bogdan
  • Patent number: 7371914
    Abstract: Xylene isomerization processes, especially those processes in which ethylbenzene is also converted, are beneficially affected by adding benzene to the feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Robert B. Larson, James E. Rekoske, Patrick J. Silady, Patrick C. Whitchurch, Freddie Sandifer