Patents by Inventor Thomas Foo
Thomas Foo 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).
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Patent number: 7880028Abstract: The invention provides a continuous process for the production of 3-pentenenitrile, comprising: (a) contacting, in a reaction zone, a hydrogen cyanide-containing feed, a 1,3-butadiene-containing feed, and a catalyst precursor composition, wherein the catalyst precursor composition comprises a zero-valent nickel and at least one multidentate phosphorus-containing ligand selected from the group consisting of a phosphite, a phosphonite, a phosphinite, a phosphine, and a mixed phosphorus-containing ligand or a combination of such members; and (b) maintaining a residence time sufficient to convert about 95% or more of the hydrogen cyanide and to produce a reaction mixture comprising 3-pentenenitrile and 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile, wherein the 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile concentration is maintained below about 15 weight percent of the total mass of the reaction mixture.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2007Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Invista North America S.A R.L.Inventors: Thomas Foo, Sigridur S. Kristjansdottir, Ronald J. McKinney, Ron Ozer, Paul S. Pearlman
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Patent number: 7741083Abstract: A process is provided for producing glycolic acid from formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. More specifically, heat-treated formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide are reacted to produce glycolonitrile having low concentrations of impurities. The glycolonitrile is subsequently converted to an aqueous solution of ammonium glycolate using an enzyme catalyst having nitrilase activity derived from Acidovorax facilis 72W (ATCC 57746). Glycolic acid is recovered in the form of the acid or salt from the aqueous ammonium glycolate solution using a variety of methods described herein.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2008Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and CompanyInventors: Robert DiCosimo, Anna Panova, Jeffery Scott Thompson, Robert D. Fallon, F. Glenn Gallagher, Thomas Foo, Xu Li, George C. Fox, Joseph J. Zaher, Mark S. Payne, Daniel P. O'Keefe
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Publication number: 20100145074Abstract: This invention relates to compounds useful as ionic liquids that are based on an N-substituted pyrrolidinone and incorporate a pendant ammonium cation that is spaced from the pyrrolidone ring by a variable length linker.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2008Publication date: June 10, 2010Inventors: THOMAS FOO, Mark Andrew Harmer, Keith W. Hutchenson, Christopher P. Junk, Berlyn R. Mellein, Aaron Minter
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Publication number: 20100145073Abstract: This invention relates to compounds useful as ionic liquids that are based on an N-substituted pyrrolidinone and incorporate a pendant ammonium cation that is spaced from the pyrrolidone ring by a variable length linker, which compounds may be represented by the structure of the following Formula I: wherein: (a) Z is —(CH2)n—, wherein n is an integer from 2 to 12; (b) R2, R3 and R4 are each independently H or a C1 to C6 straight-chain or branched alkyl group; and (c) A?is levulinate, —[CF3—O—CFHCF2SO3]—, [CF3CF2OCFHCF2SO3]—, or [CF3CF2CF2OCFHCF2SO3]—.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2008Publication date: June 10, 2010Inventors: THOMAS FOO, Mark Andrew Harmer, Keith W. Hutchenson, Christopher P. Junk, Berlyn R. Mellein, Aaron Minter
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Patent number: 7732172Abstract: A process is provided for producing glycolic acid from formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. More specifically, heat-treated formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide are reacted to produce glycolonitrile having low concentrations of impurities. The glycolonitrile is subsequently converted to an aqueous solution of ammonium glycolate using an enzyme catalyst having nitrilase activity derived from Acidovorax facilis 72W (ATCC 57746). Glycolic acid is recovered in the form of the acid or salt from the aqueous ammonium glycolate solution using a variety of methods described herein.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2008Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and CompanyInventors: Robert DiCosimo, Anna Panova, Jeffrey Scott Thompson, Robert D. Fallon, F. Glenn Gallagher, Thomas Foo, Xu Li, George C. Fox, Joseph J. Zaher, Mark S. Payne, Daniel P. O'Keefe
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Patent number: 7709673Abstract: The invention provides a continuous process for the production of 3-pentenenitrile comprising: (a) contacting, in a reaction zone, a hydrogen cyanide-containing feed, a butadiene-containing feed, and a catalyst precursor composition, wherein the catalyst precursor composition comprises a zero-valent nickel and at least one bidentate phosphite ligand selected from a member of the group represented by Structures I and II, in which all like reference characters have the same meaning, except as further explicitly limited: wherein R1 and R5 are independently selected from the group consisting of C1 to C5 hydrocarbyl, and R2, R3, R4, R6, R7 and R8 are independently selected from the group consisting of H and C1 to C4 hydrocarbyl; and (b) maintaining a residence time in the reaction zone sufficient to convert about 95% or more of the hydrogen cyanide and to produce a reaction mixture comprising 3-pentenenitrile and 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile, wherein the 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile concentration is maintainType: GrantFiled: July 12, 2007Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Invista North America S.A R.L.Inventors: Thomas Foo, Sigridur S. Kristjansdottir, Ronald J. McKinney, Ron Ozer
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Patent number: 7709674Abstract: A hydrocyanation process produces adiponitrile and other dinitriles having six carbon atoms. The process involves forming a reaction mixture in the presence of at least one Lewis acid. The reaction mixture includes ethylenically unsaturated nitrites having five carbon atoms, hydrogen cyanide, and a catalyst precursor compositions. The reaction mixture is continuously fed while controlling the overall feed molar ratio of 2-pentenenitriles to all unsaturated nitriles and the overall feed molar ratio of hydrogen cyanide to all unsaturated nitrites. In the reaction product mixture, including adiponitrile, the ratio of the concentration of 2-pentenenitriles to the concentration of 3-pentenenitriles from about 0.2/1 to about 10/1. Included in the catalyst precursor composition is a zero-valent nickel and at least one multidentate phosphorus-containing ligand.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2007Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Invista North America S.A R.LInventors: Thomas Foo, James Michael Garner, Ron Ozer, Paul S. Pearlman
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Patent number: 7659422Abstract: A hydrocyanation process produces adiponitrile and other dinitriles having six carbon atoms. The process involves forming a reaction mixture in the presence of at least one Lewis acid. The reaction mixture includes ethylenically unsaturated nitriles having five carbon atoms, hydrogen cyanide, and a catalyst precursor composition. The reaction mixture is continuously fed while controlling the overall feed molar ratio of 2-pentenenitriles to all unsaturated nitriles and the overall feed molar ratio of hydrogen cyanide to all unsaturated nitriles. In the reaction product mixture, including adiponitrile, the ratio of the concentration of 2-pentenenitriles to the concentration of 3-pentenenitriles is from about 0.2/1 to about 10/1. Included in the catalyst precursor composition is a zero-valent nickel and at least one bidentate phosphite ligand.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2007Date of Patent: February 9, 2010Assignee: Invista North America S.A.R.L.Inventors: Thomas Foo, James Michael Garner, Ron Ozer
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Patent number: 7635789Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) and formula (III): wherein A is —F or —CF3; Rf is independently C1-C6 perfluorinated linear or branched alkyl optionally interrupted by one or more oxygens; Ro is a linear or branched aliphatic group of about 10 to about 100 carbon atoms, interrupted by about 5 to about 50 ether oxygens, wherein the ratio of ether oxygen to carbon atoms is about 1:2 to about 1:3; and wherein each carbon atom has at most one ether oxygen atom bonded to it, and covalent bonding between ether oxygen atoms is absent; m is an integer of 1 to 3; Y?m is an anionic radical selected from the group consisting of halide, C1-C6 carboxylate, carbonate, hydrocarbonate, sulfate, hydrosulfate, C1-C6 sulfonate, phosphate, hydrophosphate, and dihydrophosphate. Further embodiments include methods of lowering surface tension of a medium comprising contacting the medium with a composition of formula (I), (III), or a mixture thereof.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2007Date of Patent: December 22, 2009Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and CompanyInventor: Thomas Foo
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Publication number: 20090182164Abstract: The invention provides a hydrocyanation process to produce adiponitrile and other dinitriles having six carbon atoms, in the presence of catalyst composition comprising a zero-valent nickel and at least one bidentate phosphorus-containing ligand wherein the bidentate phosphorus-containing ligand gives acceptable results according to at least one protocol of the 2-Pentenenitrile Hydrocyanation Test Method.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2009Publication date: July 16, 2009Applicant: INVISTA NORTH AMERICA S.A R.L.Inventors: Thomas Foo, James Michael Garner, Ron Ozer, Paul S. Pearlman
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Publication number: 20090182163Abstract: The invention provides an integrated, continuous process for the production of 3-pentenenitrile, the refining of 3-pentenenitrile, and the refining of 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile, the process comprising: (a) contacting, in a reaction zone, a hydrogen cyanide-containing feed, a butadiene-containing feed, and a catalyst composition, wherein the catalyst composition comprises a zero-valent nickel and at least one bidentate phosphorus-containing ligand selected from the group consisting of a phosphite, a phosphonite, a phosphinite, a phosphine, a mixed phosphorus-containing ligand, and combination thereof; (b) maintaining a residence time in the reaction zone sufficient to convert about 95% or more of the hydrogen cyanide and to produce a reaction mixture comprising 3-pentenenitrile and 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile, wherein the 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile concentration is maintained below about 15 weight percent of the total mass of the reaction mixture; (c) distilling the reaction mixture to obtain a first stream comprType: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2009Publication date: July 16, 2009Applicant: INVISTA NORTH AMERICA S.A R.L.Inventors: THOMAS FOO, Sigridur S. Kristjansdottir, Ronald J. McKinney, Ron Ozer, Paul S. Pearlman
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Publication number: 20090042997Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) and formula (III): wherein A is —F or —CF3; Rf is independently C1-C6 perfluorinated linear or branched alkyl optionally interrupted by one or more oxygens; Ro is a linear or branched aliphatic group of about 10 to about 100 carbon atoms, interrupted by about 5 to about 50 ether oxygens, wherein the ratio of ether oxygen to carbon atoms is about 1:2 to about 1:3; and wherein each carbon atom has at most one ether oxygen atom bonded to it, and covalent bonding between ether oxygen atoms is absent; m is an integer of 1 to 3; Y?m is an anionic radical selected from the group consisting of halide, C1-C6 carboxylate, carbonate, hydrocarbonate, sulfate, hydrosulfate, C1-C6 sulfonate, phosphate, hydrophosphate, and dihydrophosphate. Further embodiments include methods of lowering surface tension of a medium comprising contacting the medium with a composition of formula (I), (III), or a mixture thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2007Publication date: February 12, 2009Inventor: THOMAS FOO
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Publication number: 20090011483Abstract: A process is provided for producing glycolic acid from formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. More specifically, heat-treated formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide are reacted to produce glycolonitrile having low concentrations of impurities. The glycolonitrile is subsequently converted to an aqueous solution of ammonium glycolate using an enzyme catalyst having nitrilase activity derived from Acidovorax facilis 72W (ATCC 57746). Glycolic acid is recovered in the form of the acid or salt from the aqueous ammonium glycolate solution using a variety of methods described herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2008Publication date: January 8, 2009Applicant: E.I. Du Pont De Nemous And CompanyInventors: Robert DiCosimo, Anna Panova, Jerrery Scott Thompson, Robert D. Fallon, Thomas Foo, F. Glenn Gallagher, Xu Li, George C. Fox, Joseph J. Zaher, Mark S. Payne, Daniel P. O'Keefe
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Publication number: 20090011482Abstract: A process is provided for producing glycolic acid from formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. More specifically, heat-treated formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide are reacted to produce glycolonitrile having low concentrations of impurities. The glycolonitrile is subsequently converted to an aqueous solution of ammonium glycolate using an enzyme catalyst having nitrilase activity derived from Acidovorax facilis 72W (ATCC 57746). Glycolic acid is recovered in the form of the acid or salt from the aqueous ammonium glycolate solution using a variety of methods described herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2008Publication date: January 8, 2009Applicant: E.I. Du Pont De Nemours And CompanyInventors: Robert DiCosimo, Anna Panova, Jeffery Scott Thompson, Robert D. Fallon, F. Glenn Gallagher, Thomas Foo, Xu Li, George C. Fox, Joseph J. Zaher, Mark S. Payne, Daniel P. O'Keefe
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Publication number: 20090004708Abstract: A process is provided for producing glycolic acid from formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. More specifically, heat-treated formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide are reacted to produce glycolonitrile having low concentrations of impurities. The glycolonitrile is subsequently converted to an aqueous solution of ammonium glycolate using an enzyme catalyst having nitrilase activity derived from Acidovorax facilis 72W (ATCC 57746). Glycolic acid is recovered in the form of the acid or salt from the aqueous ammonium glycolate solution using a variety of methods described herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2008Publication date: January 1, 2009Applicant: E.I. Du Pont De Nemours And CompanyInventors: Robert DiCosimo, Anna Panova, Jeffery Scott Thompson, Robert D. Fallon, Thomas Foo, F. Glenn Gallagher, Xu Li, George C. Fox, Joseph J. Zaher, Mark S. Payne, Daniel P. O'Keefe
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Publication number: 20090004710Abstract: A process is provided for producing glycolic acid from formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. More specifically, heat-treated formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide are reacted to produce glycolonitrile having low concentrations of impurities. The glycolonitrile is subsequently converted to an aqueous solution of ammonium glycolate using an enzyme catalyst having nitrilase activity derived from Acidovorax facilis 72W (ATCC 57746). Glycolic acid is recovered in the form of the acid or salt from the aqueous ammonium glycolate solution using a variety of methods described herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2008Publication date: January 1, 2009Applicant: E.I. Du Pont De Nemours And CompanyInventors: Robert DiCosimo, Anna Panova, Jeffery Scott Thompson, Robert D. Fallon, Thomas Foo, F. Glenn Gallagher, Xu Li, George C. Fox, Joseph J. Zaher, Mark S. Payne, Daniel P. O'Keefe
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Publication number: 20090004711Abstract: A process is provided for producing glycolic acid from formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. More specifically, heat-treated formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide are reacted to produce glycolonitrile having low concentrations of impurities. The glycolonitrile is subsequently converted to an aqueous solution of ammonium glycolate using an enzyme catalyst having nitrilase activity derived from Acidovorax facilis 72W (ATCC 57746). Glycolic acid is recovered in the form of the acid or salt from the aqueous ammonium glycolate solution using a variety of methods described herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2008Publication date: January 1, 2009Applicant: E.I. Du Pont De Nemours And CompanyInventors: Robert DiCosimo, Anna Panova, Jeffery Scott Thompson, Robert D. Fallon, Thomas Foo, F. Glenn Gallagher, Xu Li, George C. Fox, Joseph J. Zaher, Mark S. Payne, Daniel P. O'Keefe
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Publication number: 20090004709Abstract: A process is provided for producing glycolic acid from formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. More specifically, heat-treated formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide are reacted to produce glycolonitrile having low concentrations of impurities. The glycolonitrile is subsequently converted to an aqueous solution of ammonium glycolate using an enzyme catalyst having nitrilase activity derived from Acidovorax facilis 72W (ATCC 57746). Glycolic acid is recovered in the form of the acid or salt from the aqueous ammonium glycolate solution using a variety of methods described herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2008Publication date: January 1, 2009Applicant: E.l. Du Pont De Nemours And CompanyInventors: Robert DiCosimo, Anna Panova, Jeffery Scott Thompson, Robert D. Fallon, Thomas Foo, F. Glenn Gallagher, Xu Li, George C. Fox, Joseph J. Zaher, Mark S. Payne, Daniel P. O'Keefe
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Publication number: 20090004707Abstract: A process is provided for producing glycolic acid from formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. More specifically, heat-treated formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide are reacted to produce glycolonitrile having low concentrations of impurities. The glycolonitrile is subsequently converted to an aqueous solution of ammonium glycolate using an enzyme catalyst having nitrilase activity derived from Acidovorax facilis 72W (ATCC 57746). Glycolic acid is recovered in the form of the acid or salt from the aqueous ammonium glycolate solution using a variety of methods described herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2008Publication date: January 1, 2009Applicant: E.I. Du Pont De Nemours And CompanyInventors: Robert DiCosimo, Anna Panova, Jeffery Scott Thompson, Robert D. Fallon, Thomas Foo, F. Glenn Gallagher, Xu Li, George C. Fox, Joseph J. Zaher, Mark S. Payne, Daniel P. O'Keefe
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Patent number: 7445917Abstract: A process is provided for producing glycolic acid from formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. More specifically, heat-treated formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide are reacted to produce glycolonitrile having low concentrations of impurities. The glycolonitrile is subsequently converted to an aqueous solution of ammonium glycolate using an enzyme catalyst having nitrilase activity derived from Acidovorax facilis 72W (ATCC 57746). Glycolic acid is recovered in the form of the acid or salt from the aqueous ammonium glycolate solution using a variety of methods described herein.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2005Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and CompanyInventors: Robert DiCosimo, Anna Panova, Jeffery Scott Thompson, Robert D. Fallon, F. Glenn Gallagher, Thomas Foo, Xu Li, George C. Fox, Joseph J. Zaher, Mark S. Payne, Daniel P. O'Keefe