Patents by Inventor Stephen W. Sohn

Stephen W. Sohn 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: 11661385
    Abstract: A process increases the concentration of normal paraffins in a feed stream comprising separating a naphtha feed stream into a normal paraffin rich stream and a non-normal paraffin rich stream. A naphtha feed stream may be separated into a normal paraffin stream and a non-normal paraffin stream. An isomerization feed stream may be taken from the non-normal paraffin stream and isomerized over an isomerization catalyst to convert non-normal paraffins to normal paraffins and produce an isomerization effluent stream. The isomerization effluent stream may be separated into a propane stream and a C4+ hydrocarbon stream optionally in a single column. The C4+ hydrocarbon stream may be recycled to the step of separating a naphtha feed stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Funk, Stephen W. Sohn, Cora Wang Ploentham, Nikunj Patel, Hari S. Bajpai, Manoj Kumar
  • Publication number: 20220274899
    Abstract: A process increases the concentration of normal paraffins in a feed stream comprising separating a naphtha feed stream into a normal paraffin rich stream and a non-normal paraffin rich stream. A naphtha feed stream may be separated into a normal paraffin stream and a non-normal paraffin stream. An isomerization feed stream may be taken from the non-normal paraffin stream and isomerized over an isomerization catalyst to convert non-normal paraffins to normal paraffins and produce an isomerization effluent stream. The isomerization effluent stream may be separated into a propane stream and a C4+ hydrocarbon stream optionally in a single column. The C4+ hydrocarbon stream may be recycled to the step of separating a naphtha feed stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Gregory Funk, Stephen W. Sohn, Cora Wang Ploentham, Nikunj Patel, Hari S. Bajpai, Manoj Kumar
  • Publication number: 20210206704
    Abstract: Apparatuses and processes for producing a para-xylene stream in an aromatics complex which include a toluene methylation unit and an adsorptive separation unit. A hydrogenation zone and an oxygenate removal zone are utilized to remove oxygenates from the effluent of the toluene methylation unit. The hydrogenation zone may be a liquid phase hydrogenation zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Gregory B. Kuzmanich, Nirlipt Mahapatra, Stephen W. Sohn, Susan A. Somers, Shruti Gupta, Priyesh Jayendrakumar Jani, Pijus Kanti Roy
  • Patent number: 10427148
    Abstract: A process for the regeneration of a catalyst is presented. The catalyst is in a reactor for use in benzene alkylation, and periodically needs to be regenerated. The reactor is taken off-line, and a regenerant is passed through the reactor, producing an effluent stream. A portion of the effluent stream is recycled through the reactor without passing through a clean-up process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Stephen W. Sohn, Charles P. Luebke, Jeffrey L. Pieper
  • Patent number: 10392321
    Abstract: Processes for transalkylation of aromatic hydrocarbons is disclosed. The process includes introducing a feed stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbon compounds to a transalkylation zone. A water source is introduced to the transalkylation zone, the water source being in an amount to provide about 80 to about 120 wppm of water based upon the mass of the feed stream. The feed stream is contacted with a transalkylation catalyst in the transalkylation zone under transalkylation conditions comprising a transalkylation temperature of about 130° C. to about 230° C. in the presence of the water to provide a transalkylation reaction effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Nishesh Garg, Stephen W. Sohn, Amit Sharma, Priyesh J. Jani, Sarbotrika Sengupta
  • Publication number: 20190194093
    Abstract: Processes for transalkylation of aromatic hydrocarbons is disclosed. The process includes introducing a feed stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbon compounds to a transalkylation zone. A water source is introduced to the transalkylation zone, the water source being in an amount to provide about 80 to about 120 wppm of water based upon the mass of the feed stream. The feed stream is contacted with a transalkylation catalyst in the transalkylation zone under transalkylation conditions comprising a transalkylation temperature of about 130° C. to about 230° C. in the presence of the water to provide a transalkylation reaction effluent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Nishesh Garg, Stephen W. Sohn, Amit Sharma, Priyesh J. Jani, Sarbotrika Sengupta
  • Patent number: 10329498
    Abstract: A process is presented for the purification of an olefins feed stream to a benzene alkylation unit. The process removes heavy aromatics in an adsorbent system comprising at least two adsorbent units. The unit passes the olefins feed stream to a first adsorbent unit, while the second adsorbent unit is either in regeneration mode, or standby mode. The process switches the feed stream to the second adsorbent unit and displaces the fluid in the second adsorbent unit, while maintaining the flow of the purified feed stream to the benzene alkylation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
  • Publication number: 20190062648
    Abstract: A process is presented for the purification of an olefins feed stream to a benzene alkylation unit. The process removes heavy aromatics in an adsorbent system comprising at least two adsorbent units. The unit passes the olefins feed stream to a first adsorbent unit, while the second adsorbent unit is either in regeneration mode, or standby mode. The process switches the feed stream to the second adsorbent unit and displaces the fluid in the second adsorbent unit, while maintaining the flow of the purified feed stream to the benzene alkylation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
  • Patent number: 10167241
    Abstract: A process is presented for the purification of an olefins feed stream to a benzene alkylation unit. The process removes heavy aromatics in a two adsorbent unit system. The unit passes the olefins feed stream to a first adsorbent unit, while the second adsorbent unit is either in regeneration mode, or standby mode. The process switches the feed stream to the second adsorbent unit and displaces the fluid in the second adsorbent unit, while maintaining the flow of the purified feed stream to the benzene alkylation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
  • Publication number: 20180345268
    Abstract: A process for the regeneration of a catalyst is presented. The catalyst is in a reactor for use in benzene alkylation, and periodically needs to be regenerated. The reactor is taken off-line, and a regenerant is passed through the reactor, producing an effluent stream. A portion of the effluent stream is recycled through the reactor without passing through a clean-up process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Stephen W. Sohn, Charles P. Luebke, Jeffrey L. Pieper
  • Publication number: 20180265432
    Abstract: A process is presented for the purification of an olefins feed stream to a benzene alkylation unit. The process removes heavy aromatics in a two adsorbent unit system. The unit passes the olefins feed stream to a first adsorbent unit, while the second adsorbent unit is either in regeneration mode, or standby mode. The process switches the feed stream to the second adsorbent unit and displaces the fluid in the second adsorbent unit, while maintaining the flow of the purified feed stream to the benzene alkylation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
  • Patent number: 9732014
    Abstract: A process for producing alkylaromatic compounds is described. The process involves utilizing at least a portion of the aromatic compound used to regenerate the alkylation catalyst in a spent alkylation reaction zone as a reactant in the active alkylation reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Stephen W. Sohn, Shuguang Zhang, Priyesh Jayendrakumar Jani, Soumendra M. Banerjee
  • Publication number: 20150361012
    Abstract: A method for producing a linear paraffin product from natural oil and kerosene includes providing a first feed stream comprising kerosene, pre-fractionating the first feed stream to generate a paraffin stream comprising at least paraffins in a desired range, and combining paraffin stream with a second feed stream comprising natural oil to form a combined stream. The method further includes deoxygenating the natural oil and fractionating the combined stream to remove paraffins that are heavier than the desired range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Stephen W. Sohn, Andrea G. Bozzano
  • Patent number: 9212108
    Abstract: A process for increasing the production of monoalkylbenzenes is presented. The process includes utilizing a transalkylation process to convert dialkylbenzenes to monoalkylbenzenes. The feed to the transalkylation process has alkylated toluenes and alkylated ethylbenzenes and other alkylated aromatics having small alkyl groups with less than 8 carbons removed to improve the efficiency of the transalkylation process. The recycled dialkylbenzenes and a portion of the recycled benzene are converted to monoalkylbenzenes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Stephen W. Sohn, Mark G. Riley, Michael A. Moore
  • Patent number: 9193642
    Abstract: A method of making dialkylaromatics as a primary product is described. The design involves a dual reaction zone system, both reaction zones containing alkylation catalysts. The olefin feed is split into two portions (or two feeds are used), the first portion being fed to a first alkylation reaction zone and reacted with a first olefin. The other portion of olefin is reacted in a second reaction zone with the linear alkylaromatics formed in the first reaction zone to form the dialkylaromatics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Debarshi Majumder, Stephen W. Sohn
  • Patent number: 9174891
    Abstract: The process of producing an alkylbenzene compound from the alkylation of an aromatic compound with an acyclic monoolefin is an exothermic process. A process for maintaining a relatively constant temperature improves the process and allows for controlling the yields. The process includes recycling a compound through the reactor that is relatively inert, but will moderate the exotherm, while maintaining the 2-phenyl content of the final alkylbenzene product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Debarshi Majumder, Stephen W. Sohn
  • Publication number: 20150251974
    Abstract: A process for producing alkylaromatic compounds is described. The process involves utilizing at least a portion of the aromatic compound used to regenerate the alkylation catalyst in a spent alkylation reaction zone as a reactant in the active alkylation reaction zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Stephen W. Sohn, Shuguang Zhang, Priyesh Jayendarkumar Jani, Soumendra M. Banerjee
  • Patent number: 9126184
    Abstract: A process is disclosed using a new catalyst for use in the alkylation of benzene with a substantially linear olefin. The catalyst allows for cation exchange with a rare earth element to increase the alkylation of benzene, while reducing the amount of isomerization of the alkyl group. This is important for increasing the quality of the alkylbenzene by increasing the linearity of the alkylbenzene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Deng-Yang Jan, Mark G. Riley, Stephen W. Sohn, Jaime G. Moscoso, Raelynn M. Miller
  • Patent number: 9126875
    Abstract: An adsorption process using a fractionation column including a drying section is described. The drying section dries the desorbent and removes water from the adsorption process resulting in increased capacity for the adsorbent bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Pieper, Stephen W. Sohn, Peter M. Bernard, Cynthia K. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 9126884
    Abstract: A method for controlling 2-isomer content in linear alkylbenzene obtained by alkylating benzene with olefins and catalyst used in the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Mark G. Riley, Deng-Yang Jan, Stephen W. Sohn