Patents by Inventor Thomas Allen Puckette

Thomas Allen Puckette 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).

  • Publication number: 20220323880
    Abstract: Selective recovery of C2 to C4 hydrocarbons is achieved through the use of a converging-diverging nozzle, or de Laval nozzle. The vapor stream comprising C2 to C4 hydrocarbons is fed into an inlet of a de Laval nozzle having a throat. The vapor stream may have an initial temperature of between 0° C. and 100° C., and an initial pressure of between 200 psig and 500 psig. In the de Laval nozzle, the vapor stream expands after passing through the throat of the de Laval nozzle, producing a vapor stream having reduced temperature and pressure. Then, C2 to C4 hydrocarbons condense from the reduced-temperature vapor stream as liquid droplets, which may be recovered. Fractionation of C2 to C4 hydrocarbons by means of a de Laval nozzle is possible; the technique allows selective recovery of propane from a mixture of propane and ethane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Ashfaq Shahanawaz Shaikh, Thomas Allen Puckette, Scott Allen Owens, Syed Mohammed Maaz, Jack R. Edwards
  • Patent number: 11266924
    Abstract: Selective recovery of C2 to C4 hydrocarbons is achieved through the use of a converging-diverging nozzle, or de Laval nozzle. The vapor stream comprising C2 to C4 hydrocarbons is fed into an inlet of a de Laval nozzle having a throat. The vapor stream may have an initial temperature of between 0° C. and 100° C., and an initial pressure of between 200 psig and 500 psig. In the de Laval nozzle, the vapor stream expands after passing through the throat of the de Laval nozzle, producing a vapor stream having re-duced temperature and pressure. Then, C2 to C4 hydrocarbons condense from the reduced-temperature vapor stream as liquid droplets, which may be recovered. Fractionation of C2 to C4 hydrocarbons by means of a de Laval nozzle is possible; the technique allows select-ive recovery of propane from a mixture of propane and ethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignees: Eastman Chemical Company, North Carolina State University
    Inventors: Ashfaq Shahanawaz Shaikh, Thomas Allen Puckette, Scott Owens, Syed Maaz, Jack R. Edwards
  • Publication number: 20200269152
    Abstract: Selective recovery of C2 to C4 hydrocarbons is achieved through the use of a converging-diverging nozzle, or de Laval nozzle. The vapor stream comprising C2 to C4 hydrocarbons is fed into an inlet of a de Laval nozzle having a throat. The vapor stream may have an initial temperature of between 0° C. and 100° C., and an initial pressure of between 200 psig and 500 psig. In the de Laval nozzle, the vapor stream expands after passing through the throat of the de Laval nozzle, producing a vapor stream having re-duced temperature and pressure. Then, C2 to C4 hydrocarbons condense from the reduced-temperature vapor stream as liquid droplets, which may be recovered. Fractionation of C2 to C4 hydrocarbons by means of a de Laval nozzle is possible; the technique allows select-ive recovery of propane from a mixture of propane and ethane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Ashfaq Shahanawaz Shaikh, Thomas Allen Puckette, Scott Owens, Syed Maaz, Jack R. Edwards
  • Patent number: 10702793
    Abstract: Selective recovery of C2 to C4 hydrocarbons is achieved through the use of a converging-diverging nozzle, or de Laval nozzle. The vapor stream comprising C2 to C4 hydrocarbons is fed into an inlet of a de Laval nozzle having a throat. The vapor stream may have an initial temperature of between 0° C. and 100° C., and an initial pressure of between 200 psig and 500 psig. In the de Laval nozzle, the vapor stream expands after passing through the throat of the de Laval nozzle, producing a vapor stream having reduced temperature and pressure. Then, C2 to C4 hydrocarbons condense from the reduced-temperature vapor stream as liquid droplets, which may be recovered. Fractionation of C2 to C4 hydrocarbons by means of a de Laval nozzle is possible; the technique allows selective recovery of propane from a mixture of propane and ethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignees: Eastman Chemical Company, North Carolina State University
    Inventors: Ashfaq Shahanawaz Shaikh, Thomas Allen Puckette, Scott Owens, Syed Maaz, Jack R. Edwards
  • Publication number: 20180369711
    Abstract: Selective recovery of C2 to C4 hydrocarbons is achieved through the use of a converging-diverging nozzle, or de Laval nozzle. The vapor stream comprising C2 to C4 hydrocarbons is fed into an inlet of a de Laval nozzle having a throat. The vapor stream may have an initial temperature of between 0° C. and 100° C., and an initial pressure of between 200 psig and 500 psig. In the de Laval nozzle, the vapor stream expands after passing through the throat of the de Laval nozzle, producing a vapor stream having reduced temperature and pressure. Then, C2 to C4 hydrocarbons condense from the reduced-temperature vapor stream as liquid droplets, which may be recovered. Fractionation of C2 to C4 hydrocarbons by means of a de Laval nozzle is possible; the technique allows selective recovery of propane from a mixture of propane and ethane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicants: Eastman Chemical Company, North Carolina State University
    Inventors: Ashfaq Shahanawaz Shaikh, Thomas Allen Puckette, Scott Owens, Syed Maaz, Jack R. Edwards
  • Patent number: 9861970
    Abstract: This invention pertains to hydroformylation catalysts containing a mixture of isomeric forms of halo-phosphorus ligands. This invention also describes a procedure for preparing isomers of certain halophosphite ligands, which contain the phosphorus atom in a macrocyclic ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Thomas Allen Puckette, Xiaopeng Shan, Jody Lee Rodgers, Brian E. Green
  • Publication number: 20170087542
    Abstract: This invention pertains to hydroformylation catalysts containing a mixture of isomeric forms of halo-phosphorus ligands. This invention also describes a procedure for preparing isomers of certain halophosphite ligands, which contain the phosphorus atom in a macrocyclic ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Thomas Allen Puckette, Xiaopeng Shan, Jody Lee Rodgers, Brian E. Green
  • Patent number: 9550179
    Abstract: This invention pertains to hydroformylation catalysts containing a mixture of isomeric forms of halo-phosphorus ligands. This invention also describes a procedure for preparing isomers of certain halophosphite ligands, which contain the phosphorus atom in a macrocyclic ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Thomas Allen Puckette, Xiaopeng Shan, Jody Lee Rodgers, Brian E. Green
  • Publication number: 20150368171
    Abstract: A process for producing polyols (such as neopentyl glycol) is disclosed which comprises reacting formaldehyde and another aldehyde in the presence of a trialkylamine catalyst and a base promoter to form an Aldol condensation reaction product. The base promoter improves removal of nitrogen containing salts prior to hydrogenation of the hydroxy aldehyde to produce the polyol. The improved process also reduces trialkylamine catalyst usage, improves trialkylamine catalyst recovery, and reduces nitrogen-containing salts prior to hydrogenation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Wayne Hampton, JR., Eugenen H. Brown, Thomas K. Brown, Amy K. Paris, Kevin S. Howe, Thomas Allen Puckette
  • Patent number: 8710278
    Abstract: A process for producing polyols (such as neopentyl glycol) is disclosed which comprises reacting formaldehyde and another aldehyde in the presence of a trialkylamine catalyst and a base promoter to form an Aldol condensation reaction product. The base promoter improves removal of nitrogen containing salts prior to hydrogenation of the hydroxy aldehyde to produce the polyol. The improved process also reduces trialkylamine catalyst usage, improves trialkylamine catalyst recovery, and reduces nitrogen-containing salts prior to hydrogenation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Wayne Hampton, Jr., Eugene H. Brown, Thomas K. Brown, Amy K. Paris, Kevin S. Howe, Thomas Allen Puckette
  • Patent number: 8492593
    Abstract: Amido-fluorophosphite compounds and catalyst systems comprising at least one amido-fluorophosphite ligand compound in combination with a transition metal are described. Moreover, the use of amido-fluorophosphite containing catalysts for transition metal catalyzed processes, especially to the hydroformylation of various olefins to produce aldehydes are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventor: Thomas Allen Puckette
  • Publication number: 20130046112
    Abstract: Amido-fluorophosphite compounds and catalyst systems comprising at least one amido-fluorophosphite ligand compound in combination with a transition metal are described. Moreover, the use of amido-fluorophosphite containing catalysts for transition metal catalyzed processes, especially to the hydroformylation of various olefins to produce aldehydes are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventor: Thomas Allen Puckette
  • Patent number: 7928267
    Abstract: Novel trivalent organophosphite ligands having the structure of general formula (I): wherein R is an alkyl or aryl group containing 1 to 30 carbon atoms; Ar1 and Ar2 are aryl groups containing 4 to 30 carbon atoms; R1 to R6 are H or alkyl or aryl hydrocarbon radicals containing 1 to 40 carbon atoms; and X is a connecting group or a simple chemical bond, were developed and found to be very active for hydroformylation processes for ethylenically unsaturated substrates. Catalyst solutions prepared from these ligands with a Rh metal show an unusual “ligand acceleration effect” for simple alkenes, i.e., the hydroformylation activity increases as the concentration of ligand increases, and are capable of producing linear or branched aldehydes under typical hydroformylation conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Thomas Allen Puckette, Yun-Shan Liu
  • Patent number: 7674937
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a class of compounds that can be both monodentate and bidentate in their association with a transition metal to form a catalyst for reactions such as the hydroformylation of olefins to produce aldehydes. The compounds contain two phosphorus atoms having different steric and/or electronic nature. In hydroformylation catalysts, the compounds advantageously can produce a variable n/iso product mixture of aldehyde products that can be varied by simply changing process variables such as [H2]/[CO] partial pressure gas ratio or temperature/inert gas partial pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Ginette Struck Tolleson, Thomas Allen Puckette
  • Publication number: 20090299099
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a class of compounds that can be both monodentate and bidentate in their association with a transition metal to form a catalyst for reactions such as the hydroformylation of olefins to produce aldehydes. The compounds contain two phosphorus atoms having different steric and/or electronic nature. In hydroformylation catalysts, the compounds advantageously can produce a variable n/iso product mixture of aldehyde products that can be varied by simply changing process variables such as [H2]/[CO] partial pressure gas ratio or temperature/inert gas partial pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
    Inventors: Ginette Struck Tolleson, Thomas Allen Puckette
  • Patent number: 7615671
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of 1,2-glycols by hydrogenation of 1,2-dioxygenated organic compounds in the presence of a catalyst composition comprising a ruthenium compound, a trivalent phosphorus compound selected from 1,1,1-tris(diarylphosphinomethyl)alkyl or substituted alkyl, and a promoter selected from Lewis acids, protic acids having an ionization constant (Ki) of 5×10?3 or greater, and onium salts. The process is useful for the hydrogenation of glycolic acid or derivatives thereof to ethylene glycol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Thomas Allen Puckette, Kenneth Wayne Hampton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7586010
    Abstract: Disclosed are catalyst solutions for preparing aldehydes with variable normal- to iso-aldehyde ratios comprising one or more phosphonite ligands, rhodium, and a hydroformylation solvent. Also disclosed is a process for preparing aldehydes with variable normal- to iso-aldehyde ratios comprising contacting an olefin, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide with one or more phosphonite ligands, rhodium, and a hydroformylation solvent. The phosphonite-based catalyst solutions provide the ability to manipulate the normal- to iso-aldehyde ratio by varying one or more process variables including carbon monoxide partial pressure, temperature, and gram moles ligand to gram atoms rhodium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Yun-Shan Liu, Thomas Allen Puckette
  • Publication number: 20090143612
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of 1,2-glycols by hydrogenation of 1,2-dioxygenated organic compounds in the presence of a catalyst composition comprising a ruthenium compound, a trivalent phosphorus compound selected from 1,1,1-tris(diarylphosphinomethyl)alkyl or substituted alkyl, and a promoter selected from Lewis acids, protic acids having an ionization constant (Ki) of 5×10?3 or greater, and onium salts. The process is useful for the hydrogenation of glycolic acid or derivatives thereof to ethylene glycol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Allen Puckette, Kenneth Wayne Hampton, JR.
  • Patent number: 7420093
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes for the preparation of glycolaldehyde in which formaldehyde is contacted with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a rhodium catalyst and a solvent containing at least one N,N-dihexylbutyramide. The glycolaldehyde product is recovered by extraction with water. The process provides high selectivity to glycolaldehyde and efficient separation of hydroformylation products from the solvent and rhodium catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Thomas Allen Puckette, Thomas James Devon
  • Publication number: 20080154067
    Abstract: Disclosed are catalyst solutions for preparing aldehydes with variable normal- to iso-aldehyde ratios comprising one or more phosphonite ligands, rhodium, and a hydroformylation solvent. Also disclosed is a process for preparing aldehydes with variable normal- to iso-aldehyde ratios comprising contacting an olefin, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide with one or more phosphonite ligands, rhodium, and a hydroformylation solvent. The phosphonite-based catalyst solutions provide the ability to manipulate the normal- to iso-aldehyde ratio by varying one or more process variables including carbon monoxide partial pressure, temperature, and gram moles ligand to gram atoms rhodium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Yun-Shan Liu, Thomas Allen Puckette