Patents by Inventor Ryan A. Sothen

Ryan A. Sothen 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: 9233890
    Abstract: Provided is a process for producing cyclohexylbenzene, in which a benzene feed stream is subjected to each of the following treatment steps: treating the feed stream with at least one adsorbent and fractionating the feed stream to remove components having a different boiling point than benzene. The treatment steps are carried out in any order and produce a treated benzene feed stream. The treated benzene feed stream is then contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a hydroalkylation catalyst in a hydroalkylation unit under conditions effective to produce a reaction product containing cyclohexylbenzene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Hari Nair, Christopher L. Becker, Ryan A. Sothen, Charles Morris Smith, Tan-Jen Chen
  • Patent number: 9233888
    Abstract: In a process for producing cyclohexylbenzene, benzene is reacted with cyclohexene under alkylation conditions effective to produce an alkylation effluent comprising cyclohexylbenzene and a polycyclohexylbenzene. A first feed comprising at least a portion of the alkylation effluent is then fed to a first separation device, where the first feed is separated into at least a first fraction containing cyclohexylbenzene and a second fraction containing the polycyclohexylbenzene, the second fraction also comprising an oxygenated hydrocarbon. At least a portion of the oxygenated hydrocarbon is removed from at least a portion of the second fraction in a second separation device to obtain a second feed. The second feed may then be reacted in a transalkylation or dealkylation reactor to convert at least part of the polycyclohexylbenzene to additional cyclohexylbenzene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan A. Sothen, Francisco M. Benitez, Charles Morris Smith, Christopher L. Becker
  • Publication number: 20150203419
    Abstract: In a process for producing cyclohexylbenzene, benzene is reacted with cyclohexene under alkylation conditions effective to produce an alkylation effluent comprising cyclohexylbenzene and a polycyclohexylbenzene. A first feed comprising at least a portion of the alkylation effluent is then fed to a first separation device, where the first feed is separated into at least a first fraction containing cyclohexylbenzene and a second fraction containing the polycyclohexylbenzene, the second fraction also comprising an oxygenated hydrocarbon. At least a portion of the oxygenated hydrocarbon is removed from at least a portion of the second fraction in a second separation device to obtain a second feed. The second feed may then be reacted in a transalkylation or dealkylation reactor to convert at least part of the polycyclohexylbenzene to additional cyclohexylbenzene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: Ryan A. Sothen, Francisco M. Benitez, Charles Morris Smith, Christopher L. Becker
  • Publication number: 20150158788
    Abstract: Provided is a process for producing cyclohexylbenzene, in which a benzene feed stream is subjected to each of the following treatment steps: treating the feed stream with at least one adsorbent and fractionating the feed stream to remove components having a different boiling point than benzene. The treatment steps are carried out in any order and produce a treated benzene feed stream. The treated benzene feed stream is then contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a hydroalkylation catalyst in a hydroalkylation unit under conditions effective to produce a reaction product containing cyclohexylbenzene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Hari Nair, Christopher L. Becker, Ryan A. Sothen, Charles Morris Smith, Tan-Jen Chen
  • Patent number: 8603229
    Abstract: Multi-Element Structured Arrays (MESAs) present an effective approach to utilizing high pressure drop media that previously were cost prohibitive for use in a traditional filter element. The operational velocity is significantly slowed by the incorporation of numerous elements; thus, eliminating the Darcian flow resistances of the media. The MESAs are readily fitted with two or more replaceable “filter elements” that are able to employ commercially available media, microfibrous entrapped catalyst/sorbent media, unique multilayers and more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Auburn University
    Inventors: Bruce Tatarchuk, Ryan A. Sothen
  • Publication number: 20090142234
    Abstract: Multi-Element Structured Arrays (MESAs) present an effective approach to utilizing high pressure drop media that previously were cost prohibitive for use in a traditional filter element. The operational velocity is significantly slowed by the incorporation of numerous elements; thus, eliminating the Darcian flow resistances of the media. The MESAs are readily fitted with two or more replaceable “filter elements” that are able to employ commercially available media, microfibrous entrapped catalyst/sorbent media, unique multilayers and more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Bruce Tatarchuk, Ryan A. Sothen