Patents by Inventor Richard Franklin Wormsbecher

Richard Franklin Wormsbecher 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: 8901026
    Abstract: A catalytic cracking catalyst composition is disclosed that is suitable for reducing the sulfur content of catalytically cracking liquid products, in particularly gasoline products, produced during a catalytic cracking process. Preferably, the catalytic cracking process is a fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) process. The composition comprises zeolite, zinc and at least one rare earth element having an ionic radius of less than 0.95 ? at a coordination number of 6. Preferably, zinc and the rare earth element are present as cations that have been exchanged on the zeolite. The zeolite is preferably a Y-type zeolite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Richard Franklin Wormsbecher, Ruizhong Hu
  • Publication number: 20130313164
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process of preparing a catalyst from zeolite having a relatively high content of sodium of 18.6 ?g Na2O per zeolite surface area, or greater. The invention comprises adding yttrium compound to the zeolite, either prior to, during, or after its combination with precursors for catalyst matrix. This invention is suitable for preparing zeolite containing fluid cracking catalysts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: W.R. Grace & Co. - CONN
    Inventors: Yuying Shu, Richard Franklin Wormsbecher, Wu-Cheng Cheng
  • Patent number: 8221615
    Abstract: The invention is a composition that is suitable for reducing sulfur species from products produced by petroleum refining processes, especially gasoline products produced by fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) processes. The composition comprises zeolite, yttrium, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of zinc, magnesium and manganese, wherein the yttrium and element are present as cations. The yttrium and zinc are preferably present as cations that have been exchanged onto the zeolite. The zeolite is preferably a zeolite Y.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Ruizhong Hu, Richard Franklin Wormsbecher
  • Patent number: 8084383
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to certain catalyst compositions and processes that are capable of reducing sulfur compounds normally found as part of the gasoline fraction streams of fluid catalytic cracking processes. The present invention is a cracking catalyst composition comprising a zeolite in combination with a Lewis Acid containing component, wherein the cracking catalyst composition comprises 0.2% Na2O or less. It has been found that sulfur compounds in hydrocarbon feeds to fluid catalytic cracking processes can be reduced by at least 15% compared to the same composition, which does not comprise the aforementioned Lewis Acid containing component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Ruizhong Hu, Xinjin Zhao, Richard Franklin Wormsbecher, Michael Scott Ziebarth
  • Publication number: 20110224471
    Abstract: A process for fluid catalytically cracking a hydrocarbon feedstock containing at least one bio-renewable feed fraction using a rare earth metal oxide-containing, high zeolite-to-matrix surface area ratio catalyst is disclosed. The catalyst comprising a zeolite, preferably a Y-type zeolite, a matrix, at least 1 wt % of a rare earth metal oxide, based on the total weight of the catalyst. The zeolite surface area-to-matrix surface area ratio of the catalyst is at least 2, preferably greater than 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Richard Franklin Wormsbecher, Kevin John Sutovich
  • Publication number: 20110224067
    Abstract: This invention comprises USY zeolite prepared by treating a USY zeolite under hydrothermal conditions after forming the USY zeolite from heat treating ammonium exchanged zeolite Y, e g, by calcination. When this invention is used in a FCC catalyst, a significant improvement of activity and selectivity in the fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) performance is observed, compared to FCC catalysts containing conventional USY zeolite. The process used to make the invention is efficient and comprises treating the USY zeolite in an exchange bath under the aforementioned hydrothermal conditions. The surface of the resulting USY zeolite has a molar ratio of alumina to silica that is higher than that seen in the bulk USY zeolite and has a unique structure as viewed by SEM and TEM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Richard Franklin Wormsbecher, Wu-Cheng Cheng, Michael Wallace, Wilson Suarez, Yuying Shu
  • Publication number: 20110120911
    Abstract: The invention is a composition that is suitable for reducing sulfur species from products produced by petroleum refining processes, especially gasoline products produced by fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) processes. The composition comprises zeolite, yttrium, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of zinc, magnesium and manganese, wherein the yttrium and element are present as cations. The yttrium and zinc are preferably present as cations that have been exchanged onto the zeolite. The zeolite is preferably a zeolite Y.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Ruizhong Hu, Richard Franklin Wormsbecher
  • Patent number: 7902106
    Abstract: The invention is a composition that is suitable for reducing sulfur species from products produced by petroleum refining processes, especially gasoline products produced by fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) processes. The composition comprises zeolite, yttrium, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of zinc, magnesium and manganese, wherein the yttrium and element are present as cations. The yttrium and zinc are preferably present as cations that have been exchanged onto the zeolite. The zeolite is preferably a zeolite Y.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Ruizhong Hu, Richard Franklin Wormsbecher
  • Patent number: 7780946
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a supported catalyst system. The supported catalyst of the present invention comprises an inorganic support having attached to at least one surface thereof non-acidic, hydrophillic, hydroxyl-containing organic R10 groups having no or substantially no surface charge in solution, and at least one linker capable of binding a catalytic species, e.g. an enzyme or an organometallic molecule, wherein the linker is attached to a catalytic species. The R10 groups preferably are selected from the group consisting of —CH2OH, —CH(OH)2, —CH(OH)CH3, —CH2CH2OH, —CH(OH)2CH3, —CH2CH(OH)2, —CH(OH)CH2(OH) and mixtures thereof. The presence of the R10 groups on the support surface prevents or reduces non-specific binding of the catalytic species with the support surface by minimizing hydrophobic interactions and providing no or substantially no surface charge in the region of the support having catalytic species attached thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventor: Richard Franklin Wormsbecher
  • Publication number: 20100133145
    Abstract: A catalytic cracking catalyst composition is disclosed that is suitable for reducing the sulfur content of catalytically cracking liquid products, in particularly gasoline products, produced during a catalytic cracking process. Preferably, the catalytic cracking process is a fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) process. The composition comprises zeolite, zinc and at least one rare earth element having an ionic radii of less than 0.95 ? at a coordination number of 6. Preferably, zinc and the rare earth element are present as cations that have been exchanged on the zeolite. The zeolite is preferably a Y-type zeolite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: W. R. GRACE & CO.-CONN.
    Inventors: Richard Franklin Wormsbecher, Ruizhong Hu
  • Publication number: 20080156698
    Abstract: The invention is a composition that is suitable for reducing sulfur species from products produced by petroleum refining processes, especially gasoline products produced by fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) processes. The composition comprises zeolite, yttrium, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of zinc, magnesium and manganese, wherein the yttrium and element are present as cations. The yttrium and zinc are preferably present as cations that have been exchanged onto the zeolite. The zeolite is preferably a zeolite Y.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Ruizhong Hu, Richard Franklin Wormsbecher
  • Publication number: 20080138869
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a supported catalyst system. The supported catalyst of the present invention comprises an inorganic support having attached to at least one surface thereof non-acidic, hydrophillic, hydroxyl-containing organic R10 groups having no or substantially no surface charge in solution, and at least one linker capable of binding a catalytic species, e.g. an enzyme or an organometallic molecule, wherein the linker is attached to a catalytic species. The R10 groups preferably are selected from the group consisting of—CH2OH, —CH(OH)2, —CH(OH)CH3, —CH2CH2OH, —CH(OH)2CH3, —CH2CH(OH)2, —CH(OH)CH2(OH) and mixtures thereof. The presence of the R10 groups on the support surface prevents or reduces non-specific binding of the catalytic species with the support surface by minimizing hydrophobic interactions and providing no or substantially no surface charge in the region of the support having catalytic species attached thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventor: Richard Franklin Wormsbecher
  • Patent number: 7314845
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a supported catalyst system. The supported catalyst of the present invention comprises an inorganic support having attached to at least one surface thereof non-acidic, hydrophilic, hydroxyl-containing organic R10 groups having no or substantially no surface charge in solution, and at least one linker capable of binding a catalytic species, e.g. an enzyme or an organometallic molecule, wherein the linker is attached to a catalytic species. The R10 groups preferably are selected from the group consisting of —CH2OH, —CH(OH)2, —CH(OH)CH3, —CH2CH2OH, —CH(OH)2CH3, —CH2CH(OH)2, —CH(OH)CH2(OH) and mixtures thereof. The presence of the R10 groups on the support surface prevents or reduces non-specific binding of the catalytic species with the support surface by minimizing hydrophobic interactions and providing no or substantially no surface charge in the region of the support having catalytic species attached thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Inventor: Richard Franklin Wormsbecher
  • Patent number: 7166213
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid and method useful in separating chemical components in a complex mixture when at least one of the chemical components of the mixture is capable of being selectively adsorbed. The solid of the present invention comprises an inorganic substance and moieties (R10) located on at least one surface of the inorganic substance, wherein said inorganic substance is an inorganic oxide and the surface moiety is selected from the group consisting of —CH2OH, —CH(OH)2, —CH(OH)CH3, —CH2CH2OH, —C(OH)2CH3, —CH2CH(OH)2 and —CH(OH)CH2(OH). Binding moiety, optionally attached to the inorganic substance via a linker, can also be located on the surface of the solid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventor: Richard Franklin Wormsbecher
  • Patent number: 7048846
    Abstract: A membrane process for the removal of sulfur species from a naphtha feed, in particular, a FCC light cat naphtha, without a substantial loss of olefin yield is disclosed. The process involves contacting a naphtha feed stream with a membrane having sufficient flux and selectivity to separate a sulfur deficient retentate fraction from a sulfur enriched permeate fraction, preferably, under pervaporation conditions. Sulfur deficient retentate fractions are useful directly into the gasoline pool. Sulfur-enriched permeate fractions are rich in sulfur containing aromatic and nonaromatic hydrocarbons and are further treated with conventional sulfur removal technologies, e.g. hydrotreating, to reduce sulfur content. The process of the invention provides high quality naphtha products having a reduced sulfur content and a high content of olefin compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Lloyd Steven White, Richard Franklin Wormsbecher, Markus Lesemann
  • Patent number: 7041212
    Abstract: A membrane process for the removal of sulfur species from a naphtha feed, in particular, a FCC light cat naphtha, without a substantial loss of olefin yield is disclosed. The process involves contacting a naphtha feed stream with a membrane having sufficient flux and selectivity to separate a sulfur deficient retentate fraction from a sulfur enriched permeate fraction, preferably, under pervaporation conditions. Sulfur deficient retentate fractions are useful directly into the gasoline pool. Sulfur-enriched permeate fractions are rich in sulfur containing aromatic and nonaromatic hydrocarbons and are further treated with conventional sulfur removal technologies, e.g. hydrotreating, to reduce sulfur content. The process of the invention provides high quality naphtha products having a reduced sulfur content and a high content of olefin compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: W.R. Grace & Co. - Conn.
    Inventors: Lloyd Steven White, Richard Franklin Wormsbecher, Markus Lesemann
  • Patent number: 7018527
    Abstract: A membrane process for the removal of sulfur species from a naphtha feed, in particular, a FCC light cat naphtha, without a substantial loss of olefin yield is disclosed. The process involves contacting a naphtha feed stream with a membrane having sufficient flux and selectivity to separate a sulfur deficient retentate fraction from a sulfur enriched permeate fraction, preferably, under pervaporation conditions. Sulfur deficient retentate fractions are useful directly into the gasoline pool. Sulfur-enriched permeate fractions are rich in sulfur containing aromatic and nonaromatic hydrocarbons and are further treated with conventional sulfur removal technologies, e.g. hydrotreating, to reduce sulfur content. The process of the invention provides high quality naphtha products having a reduced sulfur content and a high content of olefin compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Lloyd Steven White, Richard Franklin Wormsbecher, Markus Lesemann
  • Patent number: 6998042
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid and method useful in separating chemical components in a complex mixture when at least one of the chemical components of the mixture is capable of being selectively adsorbed. The solid of the present invention comprises an inorganic substance and moieties (R10) located on at least one surface of the inorganic substance, wherein said inorganic substance is an inorganic oxide and the surface moiety is selected from the group consisting of —CH2OH, —CH(OH)2, —CH(OH)CH3, —CH2CH2OH, —C(OH)2CH3, —CH2CH(OH)2 and —CH(OH)CH2(OH). Binding moiety, optionally attached to the inorganic substance via a linker, can also be located on the surface of the solid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Alltech Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Franklin Wormsbecher
  • Patent number: 6987079
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a supported catalyst system. The supported catalyst of the present invention comprises an inorganic support having attached to at least one surface thereof non-acidic, hydrophillic, hydroxyl-containing organic R10 groups having no or substantially no surface charge in solution, and at least one linker capable of binding a catalytic species, e.g. an enzyme or an organometallic molecule, wherein the linker is attached to a catalytic species. The R10 groups preferably are selected from the group consisting of —CH2OH, —CH(OH)2, —CH(OH)CH3, —CH2CH2OH, —CH(OH)2CH3, —CH2CH(OH)2, —CH(OH)CH2(OH) and mixtures thereof. The presence of the R10 groups on the support surface prevents or reduces non-specific binding of the catalytic species with the support surface by minimizing hydrophobic interactions and providing no or substantially no surface charge in the region of the support having catalytic species attached thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventor: Richard Franklin Wormsbecher
  • Patent number: 6896796
    Abstract: A membrane process for the removal of sulfur species from a naphtha feed, in particular, a FCC light cat naphtha, without a substantial loss of olefin yield is disclosed. The process involves contacting a naphtha feed stream with a membrane having sufficient flux and selectivity to separate a sulfur deficient retentate fraction from a sulfur enriched permeate fraction, preferably, under pervaporation conditions. Sulfur deficient retentate fractions are useful directly into the gasoline pool. Sulfur-enriched permeate fractions are rich in sulfur containing aromatic and nonaromatic hydrocarbons and are further treated with conventional sulfur removal technologies, e.g. hydrotreating, to reduce sulfur content. The process of the invention provides high quality naphtha products having a reduced sulfur content and a high content of olefin compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Lloyd Steven White, Richard Franklin Wormsbecher, Markus Lesemann