Patents by Inventor Unnikrishnan R. Pillai

Unnikrishnan R. Pillai 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: 8962877
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for the preparation of organohalosilanes. The process comprises contacting a first finely-divided silicon comprising from 0.08 to 0.25% (w/w) of aluminum with an organohalide in a reactor at a temperature of from 250 to 350° C. in the presence of a Direct Process catalyst comprising copper, and a promotor; and introducing a second finely-divided silicon into the reactor comprising from 0.001 to <0.10% (w/w) of aluminum into the reactor as needed in an amount sufficient to maintain an aluminum concentration of from 0.08 to 0.2% (w/w), based on a weight of unreacted silicon and aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Dow Corning Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Peter Kohane, Unnikrishnan R. Pillai, Jonathan David Wineland
  • Patent number: 8410297
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a method of producing organohalohydrosilanes by treating a silicon metal with a halogen-containing compound, wherein the halogen-containing compound has a formula selected from RdSiX4-d (II) and RX (III), combining a catalyst and a promoter with the treated silicon metal, and contacting the combination with hydrogen gas and an organohalide. The invention also pertains to a method of producing organohalohydrosilanes by contacting an organohalide and hydrogen gas with a combination of silicon metal, a catalyst, a promoter and a hydrogen storage material. The invention also pertains to a method of producing organohalohydrosilanes by contacting an organohalide and hydrogen gas with a combination of a silicon metal, a catalyst, a promoter and a hydrogenation catalyst. The invention also pertains to a method of producing organohalohydrosilanes by contacting an organohalide and hydrogen gas with a reaction mass residue and optionally a hydrogenation catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Dow Corning Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Peter Kohane, Unnikrishnan R. Pillai, Jonathan David Wineland
  • Patent number: 8404183
    Abstract: A reactor produces a surface corona for emitting UV light and for the production of ozone by passing air or oxygen through the surface corona. The emitted UV light activates a photocatalyst coated on a surface facing a surface with embedded electrodes which generate the surface corona. The photocatalyst is a thin film of nanoparticle TiO2 with primary particle size of 0.02 to 0.2 ?m was deposited on a substrate by a flame aerosol method. The method combines ozonation and photocatalysis to provide effective and efficient oxidation of alcohols and hydrocarbons to value added products. The method can also be used for air and water cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    Inventors: Endalkachew Sahle-Demessie, Pratim Biswas, Unnikrishnan R. Pillai, Chulhan Kim
  • Publication number: 20120197034
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for the preparation of organohalosilanes. The process comprises contacting a first finely-divided silicon comprising from 0.08 to 0.25% (w/w) of aluminum with an organohalide in a reactor at a temperature of from 250 to 350° C. in the presence of a Direct Process catalyst comprising copper, and a promotor; and introducing a second finely-divided silicon into the reactor comprising from 0.001 to <0.10% (w/w) of aluminum into the reactor as needed in an amount sufficient to maintain an aluminum concentration of from 0.08 to 0.2% (w/w), based on a weight of unreacted silicon and aluminum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventors: Joseph Peter Kohane, Unnikrishnan R. Pillai, Jonathan David Wineland
  • Publication number: 20110257422
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a method of producing organohalohydrosilanes by treating a silicon metal with a halogen-containing compound, wherein the halogen-containing compound has a formula selected from RdSiX4-d (II) and RX (III), combining a catalyst and a promoter with the treated silicon metal, and contacting the combination with hydrogen gas and an organohalide. The invention also pertains to a method of producing organohalohydrosilanes by contacting an organohalide and hydrogen gas with a combination of silicon metal, a catalyst, a promoter and a hydrogen storage material. The invention also pertains to a method of producing organohalohydrosilanes by contacting an organohalide and hydrogen gas with a combination of a silicon metal, a catalyst, a promoter and a hydrogenation catalyst. The invention also pertains to a method of producing organohalohydrosilanes by contacting an organohalide and hydrogen gas with a reaction mass residue and optionally a hydrogenation catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventors: Joseph Peter Kohane, Unnikrishnan R. Pillai, Jonathan David Wineland
  • Patent number: 7691342
    Abstract: A reactor produces a surface corona for emitting UV light and for the production of ozone by passing air or oxygen through the surface corona. The emitted UV light activates a photocatalyst coated on a surface facing a surface with embedded electrodes which generate the surface corona. The photocatalyst is a thin film of nanoparticle TiO2 with primary particle size of 0.02 to 0.2 ?m was deposited on a substrate by a flame aerosol method. The method combines ozonation and photocatalysis to provide effective and efficient oxidation of alcohols and hydrocarbons to value added products. The method can also be used for air and water cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    Inventors: Endalkachew Sahle-Demessie, Pratim Biswas, Unnikrishnan R. Pillai, Chulhan Kim
  • Publication number: 20090301859
    Abstract: A reactor produces a surface corona for emitting UV light and for the production of ozone by passing air or oxygen through the surface corona. The emitted UV light activates a photocatalyst coated on a surface facing a surface with embedded electrodes which generate the surface corona. The photocatalyst is a thin film of nanoparticle TiO2 with primary particle size of 0.02 to 0.2 ?m was deposited on a substrate by a flame aerosol method. The method combines ozonation and photocatalysis to provide effective and efficient oxidation of alcohols and hydrocarbons to value added products. The method can also be used for air and water cleaning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: The United States of America as represented by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
    Inventors: Endalkachew SAHLE-DEMESSIE, Pratim Biswas, Unnikrishnan R. Pillai, Chulhan Kim
  • Patent number: 7560410
    Abstract: A catalyst comprising gold nanodots on cerium oxide, catalytically active for oxidation of carbon monoxide at room temperature. The catalyst is prepared by deposition-precipitation followed by aging or ultrasound treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Unnikrishnan R. Pillai, Sarojini Deevi
  • Patent number: RE46657
    Abstract: A method of making a trihalosilane comprising contacting an organotrihalosilane according to the formula RS1X3 (I), wherein R is C1-C10 hydrocarbyl and each X independently is halo, with hydrogen, wherein the mole ratio of the organotrihalosilane to hydrogen is from 0.009:1 to 1:2300, in the presence of a catalyst comprising a metal selected from (i) Re, (ii) a mixture comprising Re and at least one element selected from Pd, Ru, Mn, Cu, and Rh, (iii) a mixture comprising Ir and at least one element selected from Pd and Rh, (iv) Mn, (v) a mixture comprising Mn and Rh, (vi) Ag, (vii) Mg, and (viii) Rh at from 300 to 800° C. to form a trihalosilane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Dow Corning Corporation
    Inventors: Stephanie Berger, Dimitris Katsoulis, Robert Thomas Larsen, Matthew J. McLaughlin, Unnikrishnan R. Pillai, Jonathan David Wineland