Patents by Inventor Paul Smits

Paul Smits 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: 20120178889
    Abstract: The present invention relates to catalyst systems and a process for the simultaneous trimerization and tetramerization of olefinic monomers using those ligands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric Johannes Maria DE BOER, Harry VAN DER HEIJDEN, Quoc An ON, Johan Paul SMIT, Arie VAN ZON
  • Patent number: 8192514
    Abstract: A fixed bed coal gasifier (300) includes a coal gasification chamber with a coal lock above the chamber. A static coal distribution device inside the gasification chamber includes a hollow coal distributor which flares downwardly outwardly with a skirt depending downwardly from an inside of the coal distributor so that a gas collection zone is defined between the skirt and the coal distributor. The gasifier (300) has an ash discharge outlet (606) and a rotatable grate (600) above the outlet (606). The rotatable grate (600) includes at least one upwardly projecting finger or disturbing formation (500) to disturb the ash bed formed in use above and around the grate (600).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Sasol Technology (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventors: Jacobus Andreas Stadler, Eric Graham Van De Venter, Paul Smit Baumann
  • Publication number: 20110319577
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ligand and its use in a catalyst for the oligomerization of olefinic monomers, the ligand having the general formula (IV); (R8)(R1)P—N(R3)—P(R4)??(IV).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric Johannes Maria DE BOER, Harry VAN DER HEIJDEN, Quoc An ON, Johan Paul SMIT, Arie VAN ZON
  • Publication number: 20110319579
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ligand and its use in a catalyst for the oligomerization of olefinic monomers, the ligand having the general formula (VI); (R9)(R10)P—N(R3)—P(R4)??(VI) wherein: the R9 and R10 groups are independently selected from optionally substituted alkyl or heteroalkyl groups; the R3 group is selected from hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a heterohydrocarbyl group, a substituted heterohydrocarbyl group, a silyl group or derivative thereof; the R4 group is an optionally substituted alkylenedioxy, alkylenedimercapto or alkylenediamino structure which is bound to the phosphorus atom through the two oxygen, sulphur or nitrogen atoms of the alkylenedioxy, alkylenedimercapto or alkylenediamino structure or an optionally substituted arylenedioxy, arylenedimercapto or arylenediamino structure which is bound to the phosphorus atom through the two oxygen, sulphur or nitrogen atoms of the arylenedioxy, arylenedimercapto or arylenediamino structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric Johannes Maria DE BOER, Harry VAN DER HEIJDEN, Quoc An ON, Johan Paul SMIT, Arie VAN ZON
  • Publication number: 20110288356
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ligand and its use in a catalyst for the oligomerization of olefinic monomers, the ligand comprising the product formed by reacting i) a compound having the general formula (III); (R1)(R2)P—N(R3)—R5??(III); and ii) a compound of the formula X—P(R4), preferably at a temperature in the range of from ?30 to 200° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric Johannes Maria DE BOER, Harry VAN DER HEIJDEN, Quoc An ON, Johan Paul SMIT, Arie VAN ZON
  • Patent number: 8022007
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ligand and its use in a catalyst for the oligomerization of olefinic monomers, the ligand having the general formula (II); P(R1)(R2)—P(R4)?N(R3)??(II) wherein: the R1 group is selected from a hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl and substituted heterohydrocarbyl group; the R2 group is selected from a hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl and substituted heterohydrocarbyl group; the R3 is selected from hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a heterohydrocarbyl group, a substituted heterohydrocarbyl group, a silyl group or derivative thereof; the R4 group is an optionally substituted alkylenedioxy, alkylenedimercapto or alkylenediamino structure which is bound to the phosphorus atom through the two oxygen, sulphur or nitrogen atoms of the alkylenedioxy, alkylenedimercapto or alkylenediamino structure or an optionally substituted arylenedioxy, arylenedimercapto or arylenediamino structure which is bound to the pho
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eric Johannes Maria De Boer, Harry Van Der Heijden, Quoc An On, Johan Paul Smit, Arie Van Zon
  • Patent number: 7867938
    Abstract: A catalyst precursor composition comprising: a source of chromium, molybdenum or tungsten; a first ligand having the general formula (R1)(R2P—X—P(R3)(R4); and a second ligand having the general formula (R1?)(R2?)P—X?—P(R3?)(R4?). The present invention also relates to a catalyst system comprising the catalyst precursor composition of the present invention and a cocatalyst. The present invention further relates to a process for the trimerization and tetramerization of olefinic monomers, particularly the trimerization and tetramerization of ethylene to 1-hexene and 1-octene, wherein the process comprises contacting at least one olefinic monomer with the catalyst system of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eric Johannes Maria De Boer, Harry Van Der Heijden, Quoc An On, Johan Paul Smit, Arie Van Zon
  • Publication number: 20100317814
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ligand and its use in a catalyst for the oligomerization of olefinic monomers, the ligand having the general formula (II); P(R1)(R2)—P(R4)?N(R3)??(II) wherein: the R1 group is selected from a hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl and substituted heterohydrocarbyl group; the R2 group is selected from a hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl and substituted heterohydrocarbyl group; the R3 is selected from hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a heterohydrocarbyl group, a substituted heterohydrocarbyl group, a silyl group or derivative thereof; the R4 group is an optionally substituted alkylenedioxy, alkylenedimercapto or alkylenediamino structure which is bound to the phosphorus atom through the two oxygen, sulphur or nitrogen atoms of the alkylenedioxy, alkylenedimercapto or alkylenediamino structure or an optionally substituted arylenedioxy, arylenedimercapto or arylenediamino structure which is bound to the ph
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: Eric Johannes Maria DE BOER, Harry VAN DER HEIJDEN, Quoc An ON, Johan Paul SMIT, Arie VAN ZON
  • Publication number: 20100311928
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ligand and its use in a catalyst for the oligomerization of olefinic monomers, the ligand comprising the product formed by reacting i) a compound having the general formula (III); (R1)(R2)P—N(R3)—R5??(III); and ii) a compound of the formula X—P(R4), preferably at a temperature in the range of from ?30 to 200° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: Eric Johannes Maria DE BOER, Harry Van Der Heijden, Quoc An On, Johan Paul Smit, Arie Van Zon
  • Publication number: 20100311929
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ligand and its use in a catalyst for the oligomerization of olefinic monomers, the ligand having the general formula (IV); (R8)(R2)P—N(R3)—P(R4)??(IV).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: Eric Johannes Maria DE BOER, Harry Van Der Heijden, Quoc An On, Johan Paul Smit, Arie Van Zon
  • Publication number: 20100311932
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ligand and its use in a catalyst for the oligomerization of olefinic monomers, the ligand having the general formula (VI); (R9)(R10)P—N(R3)—P(R4)??(VI) wherein: the R9 and R10 groups are independently selected from optionally substituted alkyl or heteroalkyl groups; the R3 group is selected from hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a heterohydrocarbyl group, a substituted heterohydrocarbyl group, a silyl group or derivative thereof; the R4 group is an optionally substituted alkylenedioxy, alkylenedimercapto or alkylenediamino structure which is bound to the phosphorus atom through the two oxygen, sulphur or nitrogen atoms of the alkylenedioxy, alkylenedimercapto or alkylenediamino structure or an optionally substituted arylenedioxy, arylenedimercapto or arylenediamino structure which is bound to the phosphorus atom through the two oxygen, sulphur or nitrogen atoms of the arylenedioxy, arylenedimercapto or arylenediamino structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: Eric Johannes Maria DE BOER, Harry Van Der Heijden, Quoc An On, Johan Paul Smit, Arie Van Zon
  • Patent number: 7803886
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ligand and its use in a catalyst for the oligomerization of olefinic monomers, the ligand having the general formula (I); P(R4)—P(R1)(R2)?N(R3)??(I) wherein: the R1 group and R2 group are independently selected from a hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl and substituted heterohydrocarbyl group; the R3 is selected from hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a heterohydrocarbyl group, a substituted heterohydrocarbyl group, a silyl group or derivative thereof; the R4 group is an optionally substituted alkylenedioxy, alkylenedimercapto or alkylenediamino structure which is bound to the phosphorus atom through the two oxygen, sulphur or nitrogen atoms of the alkylenedioxy, alkylenedimercapto or alkylenediamino structure or an optionally substituted arylenedioxy, arylenedimercapto or arylenediamino structure which is bound to the phosphorus atom through the two oxygen, sulphur or nitrogen atoms of the arylenedioxy, arylenedimercapto
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eric Johannes Maria De Boer, Harry Van der Heijden, Quoc An On, Johan Paul Smit, Arie Van Zon
  • Publication number: 20090203558
    Abstract: A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation is described. The method includes (a) providing a hydrocarbon recovery composition to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation, wherein (i) when the salinity of the brine is from about 2 wt % to about 4 wt %, the composition comprises a blend of a C20-24 internal olefin sulfonate and a C24-28 internal olefin sulfonate wherein the weight ratio of the C20-24 internal olefin sulfonate to the C24-28 internal olefin sulfonate is from about 90:10 to about 70:30 and (ii) when the salinity of the brine is greater than about 4 wt % up to about 13 wt % the composition comprises a blend of a C20-24 internal olefin sulfonate and a C15-18 internal olefin sulfonate wherein the weight ratio of the C20-24 internal olefin sulfonate to the C15-18 internal olefin sulfonate is from about 90:10 to about 70:30; and (b) allowing the composition to interact with hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventors: Julian Richard BARNES, Kirk Herbert Raney, Thomas Carl Semple, Paul Gregory Shpakoff, Johan Paul Smit
  • Publication number: 20090203557
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation comprising (a) providing a hydrocarbon recovery composition to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation, wherein the composition comprises one or more internal olefin sulfonates having 17 or more carbon atoms, (b) adding water and/or brine from the hydrocarbon formation to the composition, (c) adding a solubilizer which comprises an ethoxylated alcohol wherein the alcohol before ethoxylation had an average molecular weight of at least about 220 and (d) allowing the composition to interact with hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation. The solubilizer may comprise less than about 0.1 wt %, preferably from about 0.02 to about 0.05 wt %, of the total composition and it may have from about 5 to about 9 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventors: Julian Richard BARNES, Kirk Herbert Raney, Thomas Carl Semple, Paul Gregory Shpakoff, Johan Paul Smit, Jasper Roelf Smit
  • Publication number: 20090158658
    Abstract: A fixed bed coal gasifier (300) includes a coal gasification chamber with a coal lock above the chamber. A static coal distribution device inside the gasification chamber includes a hollow coal distributor which flares downwardly outwardly with a skirt depending downwardly from an inside of the coal distributor so that a gas collection zone is defined between the skirt and the coal distributor. The gasifier (300) has an ash discharge outlet (606) and a rotatable grate (600) above the outlet (606). The rotatable grate (600) includes at least one upwardly projecting finger or disturbing formation (500) to disturb the ash bed formed in use above and around the grate (600).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: SASOL-LURGI TECHNOLOGY COMPANY (PTY) LIMITED
    Inventors: Jacobus Andreas Stadler, Eric Graham Van De Venter, Paul Smit Baumann
  • Patent number: 7547783
    Abstract: A transition metal complex which is a bis-arylimine pyridine MXn complex or a [bis-arylimine pyridine MXp+][NC?]q complex comprising a bis-arylimine pyridine ligand and M is a transition metal atom; n matches the formal oxidation state of the transition metal atom M; X is halide, optionally substituted hydrocarbyl, alkoxide, amide, or hydride; NC? is a non-coordinating anion; and p+q matches the formal oxidation state of the transition metal atom M. The transition metal complexes of the present invention, their complexes with non-coordinating anions and catalyst systems containing such complexes have good solubility in non-polar media and chemically inert non-polar solvents especially aromatic hydrocarbon solvents. The catalyst systems can be used for a wide range of (co-)oligomerization, polymerization and dimerization reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eric Johannes Maria De Boer, Harry Van Der Heijden, Quoc An On, Johan Paul Smit, Arie Van Zon
  • Publication number: 20090069517
    Abstract: The present invention relates to ligands and catalyst systems and a process for the simultaneous trimerization and tetramerization of olefinic monomers using said ligands, the ligands having the general formula (I): (R1)2P—P(R1)m(R2)n?N(R3)??(I) wherein R3 is selected from hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a heterohydrocarbyl group, a substituted heterohydrocarbyl group, a silyl group or derivative thereof; the R1 groups are independently selected from an optionally substituted aromatic group bearing a polar substituent on at least one of the ortho-positions; and the R2 groups are independently selected from hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl and substituted heterohydrocarbyl groups with the proviso that when the group is aromatic it does not contain a polar substituent at any of the ortho-positions; with the proviso that m is 0 or 1, n is 1 or 2 and the total of m+n is 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Eric Johannes Maria DE BOER, Harry Van Der Heijden, Quoc An On, Johan Paul Smit, Arie Van Zon
  • Publication number: 20090062493
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ligand and its use in a catalyst for the oligomerization of olefinic monomers, the ligand having the general formula (I); P(R4)—P(R1)(R2)?N(R3)??(I) wherein: the R1 group is selected from a hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl and substituted heterohydrocarbyl group; the R2 group is selected from hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl and substituted heterohydrocarbyl groups; the R3 is selected from hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a heterohydrocarbyl group, a substituted heterohydrocarbyl group, a silyl group or derivative thereof; the R4 group is an optionally substituted alkylenedioxy, alkylenedimercapto or alkylenediamino structure which is bound to the phosphorus atom through the two oxygen, sulphur or nitrogen atoms of the alkylenedioxy, alkylenedimercapto or alkylenediamino structure or an optionally substituted arylenedioxy, arylenedimercapto or arylenediamino structure which is bound to the ph
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Eric Johannes Maria DE BOER, Harry VAN DER HEIJDEN, Quoc An ON, Johan Paul SMIT, Arie VAN ZON
  • Patent number: 7381857
    Abstract: A catalyst precursor composition comprising a) a source of chromium, molybdenum or tungsten; b) a first ligand having the general formula (I): (R1)(R2)P-X-P(R3)(R4)??(I) where X is a bivalent organic bridging group, R1 and R3 are hydrocarbyl groups, and R2 and R4 are aromatic groups; and c) a second ligand having the general formula (II): (R1?)(R2?)P-X?-P(R3?)(R4?)??(II) where X? is a bridging group containing nitrogen and R1?, R2?, R3? and R4? are hydrocarbyl groups. The present invention also relates to a catalyst system comprising the catalyst precursor composition of the present invention and a cocatalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eric Johannes Maria De Boer, Harry Van Der Heijden, Quoc An On, Johan Paul Smit, Arie Van Zon
  • Patent number: 7259123
    Abstract: A catalyst precursor composition comprising a) a source of chromium, molybdenum or tungsten; b) a first ligand having the general formula (I); (R1)(R2)P—X—P(R3)(R4)??(I) wherein X is a bivalent organic bridging group; R1 and R3 are independently selected from, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl and substituted heterohydrocarbyl groups, with the proviso that when R1 and R3 are aromatic groups they do not contain a polar substituent at any of the ortho-positions; R2 and R4 are independently selected from optionally substituted aromatic groups, each R2 and R4 bearing a polar substituent on at least one of the ortho-positions; and c) a second ligand having the general formula (II); (R1?)(R2?)P—X?—P(R3?)(R4?)??(II) wherein X? is a bridging group of the formula —N(R5?)—, wherein R5? is selected from hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a heterohydrocarbyl group, a substituted heterohydrocarbyl group, a silyl group or derivative thereof; and R1?, R2?, R3? and R4?
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eric Johannes Maria De Boer, Harry Van Der Heijden, Quoc An On, Johan Paul Smit, Arie Van Zon