Patents by Inventor Ralph J. Melton

Ralph J. Melton 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: 20030166983
    Abstract: A catalyst composition and a process for converting a hydrocarbon stream such as, for example, gasoline to C6 to C8 aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene and xylenes are disclosed. The catalyst composition comprises an alumina, a silica, and a metal wherein the weight ratio of aluminum to silicon is in the range of from about 0.002:1 to about 0.6:1. The process comprises contacting a hydrocarbon stream with the catalyst composition under a condition sufficient to effect the conversion of a hydrocarbon to a C6 to C8 aromatic hydrocarbon. Also disclosed is a process for producing the catalyst composition which comprises: (1) contacting a zeolite with an effective amount of an acid under a condition sufficient to effect a reduction in aluminum content of the zeolite to produce an acid-leached zeolite; and (2) impregnating the acid-leached zeolite with an effective amount of a metal compound under a condition sufficient to effect the production of a metal-promoted zeolite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventors: An-Hsiang Wu, Charles A. Drake, Ralph J. Melton
  • Patent number: 6593503
    Abstract: A catalyst composition and a process for converting a hydrocarbon stream such as, for example, gasoline to C6 to C8 aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene and xylenes are disclosed. The catalyst composition includes an alumina, a silica, and a metal wherein the weight ratio of aluminum to silicon is in the range of from about 0.002:1 to about 0.6:1. The process includes contacting a hydrocarbon stream with the catalyst composition under a condition sufficient to effect the conversion of a hydrocarbon to a C6 to C8 aromatic hydrocarbon. Also disclosed is a process for producing the catalyst composition which includes: (1) contacting a zeolite with an effective amount of an acid under a condition sufficient to effect a reduction in aluminum content of the zeolite to produce an acid-leached zeolite; and (2) impregnating the acid-leached zeolite with an effective amount of a metal compound under a condition sufficient to effect the production of a metal-promoted zeolite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: An-hsiang Wu, Charles A. Drake, Ralph J. Melton
  • Patent number: 6162353
    Abstract: An improved process and novel catalyst for upgrading catalytically cracked liquid hydrocarbons whereby the hydrodesulfurization and liquid yield of the hydrocarbons are enhanced while the octane number thereof is substantially maintained. The process basically comprises contacting the hydrocarbons with the catalyst composition which is comprised of a sulfided, molybdenum carbide and zinc hexaborate promoted, binder bound zeolite in the presence of hydrogen and under conditions sufficient to effect said upgrading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: An-hsiang Wu, Ralph J. Melton, Charles A. Drake
  • Patent number: 6162352
    Abstract: A catalyst composition containing a sulfided mixture of a zinc spinel, a zeolite, alumina, cobalt and molybdenum, and a method of preparing such catalyst composition, are disclosed. The thus-obtained catalyst composition is employed as a catalyst in the hydrodesulfurization of a hydrocarbon feedstock containing gasoline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: An-hsiang Wu, Charles A. Drake, Ralph J. Melton
  • Patent number: 6051745
    Abstract: A catalyst system comprising a nitrided silicoaluminophosphate, and a method of preparing such catalyst system which comprises nitriding a silicoaluminophosphate, are disclosed. The thus-obtained catalyst system is employed as a catalyst in the conversion of a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising oxygenated hydrocarbons to olefins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: An-hsiang Wu, Ralph J. Melton, Charles A. Drake
  • Patent number: 6025293
    Abstract: A catalyst composition, a process for producing the composition and a hydrocarbon conversion process for converting a C.sub.9 + aromatic compound to a C.sub.6 to C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbon such as a xylene are disclosed. The composition comprises an acid-treated zeolite having impregnated thereon a metal or metal oxide. The composition can be produced by incorporating the metal or metal oxide into the zeolite. The hydrocarbon conversion process comprises contacting a fluid which comprises a C.sub.9 + aromatic compound with the catalyst composition under a condition sufficient to effect the conversion of a C.sub.9 + aromatic compound to a C.sub.6 to C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: An-hsiang Wu, Ralph J. Melton, Charles A. Drake
  • Patent number: 5929295
    Abstract: A catalyst composition, a process for producing the composition and a hydrocarbon conversion process for converting a C.sub.9 + aromatic compound to a C.sub.6 to C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbon such as a xylene are disclosed. The composition comprises an acid-treated zeolite having impregnated thereon a metal or metal oxide. The composition can be produced by incorporating the metal or metal oxide into the zeolite. The hydrocarbon conversion process comprises contacting a fluid which comprises a C.sub.9 + aromatic compound with the catalyst composition under a condition sufficient to effect the conversion of a C.sub.9 + aromatic compound to a C.sub.6 to C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: An-hsiang Wu, Ralph J. Melton, Charles A. Drake
  • Patent number: 5866742
    Abstract: A catalyst composition, a process for producing the composition and a hydrocarbon conversion process for converting a C.sub.9 + aromatic compound to a C.sub.6 to C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbon such as a xylene are disclosed. The composition comprises a zeolite having incorporated therein a promoter comprising carbon and a metal or metal oxide. The composition can be produced by incorporating a metal compound into the zeolite followed by thermal treatment of the resulting zeolite with a hydrocarbon. The hydrocarbon conversion process comprises contacting a fluid which comprises a C.sub.9 + aromatic compound with the catalyst composition under a condition sufficient to effect the conversion of a C.sub.9 + aromatic compound to a C.sub.6 to C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: An-hsiang Wu, Ralph J. Melton, Charles A. Drake
  • Patent number: 5714660
    Abstract: A catalyst composition and a process for hydrodealkylating a C.sub.9 + aromatic compound such as, for example, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene to a C.sub.6 to C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbon such as a xylene are disclosed. The composition comprises an alumina, a metal oxide, and an acid site modifier selected from the group consisting of silicon oxides, phosphorus oxides, boron oxides, magnesium oxides, tin oxides, titanium oxides, zirconium oxides, molybdenum oxides, germanium oxides, indium oxides, lanthanum oxides, cesium oxides, and combinations of any two or more thereof. The process comprises contacting a fluid which comprises a C.sub.9 + aromatic compound with the catalyst composition under a condition sufficient to effect the conversion of a C.sub.9 + aromatic compound to a C.sub.6 to C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: An-hsiang Wu, Charles A. Drake, Ralph J. Melton
  • Patent number: 5707918
    Abstract: A Group VIII metal- and chloride-containing composition is prepared by a method which comprises mixing (A) a solid material containing at least one Group VIII metal (Pt and/or Pd and/or Ni) and alumina as the support and (B) an alumina-supported aluminum- and chlorine-containing compound which has been prepared by mixing an alumina material with AlCl.sub.3 and/or at least one organoaluminum chloride (such as ethylaluminum dichloride), heating the mixture at a temperature of about 600.degree.-750.degree. C. and then with an HCl-containing gas at a temperature of about 100.degree.-750.degree. C. The thus-obtained composition comprising components (A) and (B) is employed as a catalyst in the isomerization of C.sub.4 -C.sub.8 alkanes and/or cycloalkanes (e.g., n-butane).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: An-hsiang Wu, Charles A. Drake, Ralph J. Melton
  • Patent number: 5707921
    Abstract: A Group VIII metal- and chloride-containing composition (effective as an alkane/cycloalkane isomerization catalyst) is prepared by a method which comprises mixing at least one aluminum- and chlorine-containing compound (preferably AlCl.sub.3) with a solid material containing at least one Group VIII metal (Pt and/or Pd and/or Ni) and alumina, heating the obtained solid mixture in an inert gas, and then treating the solid mixture with a gas mixture comprising hydrogen gas and HCl and/or chloroalkane (such as CCl.sub.4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: An-hsiang Wu, Charles A. Drake, Ralph J. Melton
  • Patent number: 5689026
    Abstract: A process for hydrodealkylating C.sub.9 -C.sub.12 alkyl-substituted benzenes (preferably trimethylbenzenes) to C.sub.6 -C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbons (in particular, toluene and xylenes) and C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkanes employs a catalyst containing zeolite Beta, nickel, molybdenum and sulfur (preferably as sulfides of nickel and of molybdenum).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: An-hsiang Wu, Charles A. Drake, Ralph J. Melton
  • Patent number: 5654254
    Abstract: A Group VIII metal- and chloride-containing composition (effective as an alkane/cycloalkane isomerization catalyst) is prepared by a method which comprises mixing at least one organoaluminum chloride (such as ethylaluminum dichloride) with a solid material containing at least one Group VIII metal (Pt and/or Pd and/or Ni) and alumina, heating the obtained mixture in an inert gas at about 630.degree.-750.degree. C., and then treating the mixture with a hydrogen chloride-containing gas at about 630.degree.-700.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: An-hsiang Wu, Ralph J. Melton
  • Patent number: 5591689
    Abstract: A Group VIII metal and chloride-containing composition (effective as an alkane/cycloalkane isomerization catalyst) is prepared by a method which comprises mixing aluminum trichloride with a solid material containing at least one Group VIII metal (Pt and/or Pd and/or Ni) and alumina, heating the obtained mixture in an inert gas at about 450.degree.-750.degree. C., and then treating the mixture with a hydrogen chloride-containing gas at about 300.degree.-700.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: An-hsiang Wu, Charles A. Drake, Ralph J. Melton