Patents by Inventor Tai-Li Chou

Tai-Li Chou 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).

  • Purification of carboxylic acids by complexation with selective solvents
    Patent number: 7307188
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for purifying carboxylic acids is disclosed. A mixture containing crude carboxylic acid is contacted with a selective crystallization solvent to form a slurry of a salt complex of the carboxylic acid and the selective crystallization solvent. The salt complex is recovered and optionally processed to recover the free carboxylic acid. The method and apparatus of the invention is particularly suitable for purifying aromatic dicarboxylic acids such as terephthalic acid. The present invention also reduces contamination by carboxybenaldehyde isomers in crude phthalic acids by oxidizing the carboxybenzaldehyde to the corresponding phthalic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: GTC Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Randi Wright Wytcherley, Tai-Li Chou
  • Purification of carboxylic acids by complexation with selective solvents
    Publication number: 20050228195
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for purifying carboxylic acids is disclosed. A mixture containing crude carboxylic acid is contacted with a selective crystallization solvent to form a slurry of a salt complex of the carboxylic acid and the selective crystallization solvent. The salt complex is recovered and optionally processed to recover the free carboxylic acid. The method and apparatus of the invention is particularly suitable for purifying aromatic dicarboxylic acids such as terephthalic acid. The present invention also reduces contamination by carboxybenaldehyde isomers in crude phthalic acids by oxidizing the carboxybenzaldehyde to the corresponding phthalic acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Publication date: October 13, 2005
    Inventors: Randi Wytcherley, Tai-Li Chou