Patents by Inventor Steven A. Cerefice

Steven A. Cerefice 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 mineral acids or salts thereof to a TMA production process
    Patent number: 6696604
    Abstract: This invention is related to the production of trimellitic anhydride (TMA). More specifically, the invention is related to the addition of a mineral acid or salt thereof in the production process of trimellitic anhydride to reduce the viscosity of the bottoms fraction when TMA is purified by distillation and thus to prevent fouling/plugging. This permits the use of lower levels of TMA in the bottoms fraction and increases TMA recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Cerefice, Wayne P. Schammel, David A. Young
  • Addition of mineral acids or salts thereof to a TMA production process
    Publication number: 20020143192
    Abstract: This invention is related to the production of trimellitic anhydride (TMA). More specifically, the invention is related to the addition of a mineral acid or salt thereof in the production process of trimellitic anhydride to reduce the viscosity of the bottoms fraction when TMA is purified by distillation and thus to prevent fouling/plugging. This permits the use of lower levels of TMA in the bottoms fraction and increases TMA recovery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventors: Steven A. Cerefice, Wayne P. Schammel, David A. Young
  • Catalyst and process for purification of crude terephthalic acid
    Patent number: 4791226
    Abstract: A catalyst, a process for preparing said catalyst, and a process for producing purified terephthalic acid, wherein 4-carboxybenzaldehyde is reduced to very low levels, wherein said catalyst is prepared by contacting a solution of a suitable palladium salt in an organic solvent with a suitable activated carbon support, wherein said palladium salt is reduced to palladium metal crystallites by said activated carbon support. Purified terephthalic acid is prepared by hydrogenating crude terephthalic acid in the presence of said catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventors: Imre Puskas, Steven A. Cerefice
  • Process for purification of crude p-hydroxymethylbenzoic acid
    Patent number: 4721808
    Abstract: A crude p-hydroxymethylbenzoic acid compound containing 4-carboxybenzaldehyde is purified and decolorized by hydrogenation in the presence of a platinum on carbon catalyst. 4-carboxybenzaldehyde is hydrogenated to p-hydroxymethylbenzoic acid. Toluic acid is not a product of the hydrogenation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Lillwitz, Steven A. Cerefice
  • Process for preparing palladium on carbon catalysts for purification of crude terephthalic acid
    Patent number: 4476242
    Abstract: A catalyst, a process for preparing said catalyst, and a process for producing purified terephthalic acid, wherein 4-carboxybenzaldehyde is reduced to very low levels, wherein said catalyst is prepared by contacting a solution of a suitable palladium salt in an organic solvent with a suitable activated carbon support, wherein said palladium salt is reduced to palladium metal crystallites by said activated carbon support. Purified terephthalic acid is prepared by hydrogenating crude terephthalic acid in the presence of said catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1984
    Assignee: Standard Oil Company (Indiana)
    Inventors: Imre Puskas, Steven A. Cerefice
  • Process for purification of p-hydroxymethylbenzoic acid
    Patent number: 4447645
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for purification of p-hydroxymethylbenzoic acid containing 4-carboxybenzaldehyde, p-toluic acid and terephthalic acid impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1984
    Assignee: Standard Oil Company (Indiana)
    Inventors: John A. Donohue, James O. Knobloch, Bruce Petty-Weeks, Steven A. Cerefice
  • Preparation of poly(p-methylenebenzoate) from p-hydroxymethylbenzoic acid
    Patent number: 4431798
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of poly(p-methylenebenzoate) from p-hydroxymethylbenzoic acid containing no more than about 10% by weight terephthalic acid and no more than about 0.3 (wt) % total of 4-carboxybenzaldehyde and p-toluic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1984
    Assignee: Standard Oil Company (Indiana)
    Inventors: Edward E. Paschke, Steven A. Cerefice
  • Alkyl alkoxymethylbenzoates
    Patent number: 4220753
    Abstract: Alkyl alkoxymethylbenzoates and essentially linear polyester ethers and copolyester ethers therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1980
    Assignee: Standard Oil Company (Indiana)
    Inventors: Steven A. Cerefice, Edward E. Paschke
  • Monomers for poly(methylenebenzoate) polymers from toluic acid compounds
    Patent number: 4182847
    Abstract: Highly-purified monomers for poly(p-methylenebenzoate) polymers and poly(m-methylenebenzoate) polymers are prepared by purifying acetoxylated hydroxymethylbenzoic acid compounds derived by side-chain acetoxylation of toluic acid compounds. The purification process can be by recrystallation or by fractional distillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1980
    Assignee: Standard Oil Company (Indiana)
    Inventors: Ellis K. Fields, Steven A. Cerefice, Edward E. Paschke
  • Method of making high purity monomers from dicarboxylic acid monoesters and resultant polymers
    Patent number: 4130719
    Abstract: High purity monomers, such as methyl p-hydroxymethylbenzoate, are produced by selective reduction of dicaboxylic acid monoesters with diborane. The resultant monomers are suitable for producing new polymers with improved physical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1978
    Assignee: Standard Oil Company (Indiana)
    Inventors: Steven A. Cerefice, Ellis K. Fields, Kerford A. Marchant, Jr., Edward E. Paschke
  • 7,8 Diacyl bicyclo 2.2.2!bis(2,3-dicarboximide) compounds
    Patent number: 4073794
    Abstract: 7,8-Diacyl bicyclo 2.2.2!oct-5-ene-bis(2,3-dicarboximide) and 7,8-diacyl bicyclo 2.2.2!octane-bis(2,3-dicarboximide) compounds useful for the production of polyimides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1978
    Assignee: Standard Oil Company (Indiana)
    Inventors: Steven A. Cerefice, Ellis K. Fields
  • Dicyclohexadiene tetraacyl compounds
    Patent number: 4007214
    Abstract: This invention relates to dicyclohexadiene tetraacyl compounds. More particularly, this invention relates to dicyclohexadiene dianhydrides, dicyclohexadiene tetracarboxylic acid esters and dicyclohexadiene tetracarboxylic acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1977
    Assignee: Standard Oil Company (Indiana)
    Inventors: Steven A. Cerefice, Ellis K. Fields
  • Polyhalo poly cyclocarboxylic acid compounds
    Patent number: 4005122
    Abstract: 7,7-dihalobicyclo [4.1.0] hept-4-ene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid compounds and 5,5,8,8-tetrahalotricyclo [5.1.0.0.sup.4,6 ] octane-2,3-dicarboxylic acid compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1977
    Assignee: Standard Oil Company (Indiana)
    Inventors: Steven A. Cerefice, Ellis K. Fields