Patents by Inventor Robin S. Tanke

Robin S. Tanke 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).

  • Addition of iridium to the rhodium/inorganic iodide catalyst system
    Patent number: 6211405
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the carbonylation of an alcohol, ether or ester to products comprising a carboxylic acid, the anhydride thereof or coproduction of the carboxylic acid and anhydride. More particularly, the present invention provides a process for the carbonylation of methanol to produce acetic acid by reacting methanol with carbon monoxide in a liquid reaction medium containing a catalyst comprising rhodium, iridium, iodide ion, and said reaction medium further comprising water, acetic acid, methyl iodide, and methyl acetate and subsequently recovering acetic acid from the resulting reaction product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Hung-Cheun Cheung, Elaine C. Sibrel, Robin S. Tanke, G. Paull Torrence