Patents by Inventor Victor Johnston

Victor Johnston 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: 20230245324
    Abstract: Techniques for performing fine-scale movement tracking of underwater objects are described. A computing device or system may receive timestamps corresponding to acoustic signals detected using an underwater acoustic receiver. The device or system may select a period of a known acoustic transmitter, and generate raw image data plotting the timestamps as graphical elements with respect to a first axis corresponding to linear time, and a second axis having a magnitude corresponding to the selected period. A first machine learning (ML) model may process the raw image data to generate segmented image data include a subset of the graphical elements determined to correspond to the selected period. A portion of the segmented image data, including the graphical elements, may be input to a second ML model to generate image data comprising a subset of the graphical elements corresponding to the selected period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: Innovasea Marine Systems Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Oliver Sølund Kirsebom, Kayalvizhi Thanigainathan, Matthew Charles Richard, Frank Ian Smith, David Allen Ouellette, Samuel Victor Johnston
  • Patent number: 9193663
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a method for producing a vinyl acetate composition. The method comprises the step of contacting acetic acid, oxygen, and ethylene under conditions effective to form a crude vinyl acetate composition comprising vinyl acetate, acetic acid, residual oxygen, and water. The method further comprises the step of contacting the crude vinyl acetate composition or a derivative thereof with at least one scavenger to form a treated crude vinyl acetate composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Jessica Freeman, Qiang Yao, Lauren Moore, Ilias Kotsianis, Victor Johnston, Kevin Hanks
  • Patent number: 8932372
    Abstract: Processes for producing alcohols such as ethanol and propanol from a mixed acid feedstock in an integrated process. In one embodiment, the process comprises the step of carbonylating methanol in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst to form a mixed acid feedstock comprising acetic acid and one or more higher acids, preferably comprising propionic acid. The mixed acid feed is hydrogenated in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to form a crude alcohol product comprising ethanol and one or more higher alcohols, preferably including propanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Victor Johnston, Lincoln Sarager, Mark Scates, Ronald David Shaver, G. Paull Torrence, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner, Trinity Horton, Radmila Jevtic, James Zink, David Lee
  • Patent number: 8927790
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for the recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. The crude ethanol product is separated in a column to produce a distillate stream comprising ethyl acetate, ethanol and acetaldehyde and a residue stream comprising ethanol, acetic acid and water. The ethanol product is recovered from the residue stream. A liquid recycle stream is sent to a second vaporizer to form a second vapor feed stream that is fed to the hydrogenation reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Radmila Wollrab, Victor Johnston
  • Patent number: 8901358
    Abstract: Ethanol production process for recovering ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. Ethanol recovery is improved by esterifying a vapor crude ethanol product to reduce unreacted acetic acid concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Radmila Jevtic, Victor Johnston, Lincoln Sarager, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner, Trinity Horton
  • Patent number: 8865609
    Abstract: The present invention relates to catalysts, to processes for making catalysts and to chemical processes employing such catalysts. The catalysts are preferably used for converting acetic acid to ethanol. The catalyst comprises a precious metal and one or more active metals on a modified support. The modified support may comprise cobalt tungstate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Zhenhua Zhou, Victor Johnston, Dheeraj Kumar, Xiaoyan Tu, Heiko Weiner, Radmila Wollrab
  • Patent number: 8846988
    Abstract: Purifying and/or recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. Separation and purification processes of crude ethanol mixture are employed to allow recovery of ethanol and remove impurities. In addition, the process involves returning acetaldehyde separated from the crude ethanol product to the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Radmila Jevtic, Victor Johnston, Lincoln Sarager, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner, Trinity Horton
  • Patent number: 8728179
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is to an ethanol composition comprising at least 85 wt. % ethanol and from 95 wppm to 850 wppm isopropanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Victor Johnston, Lincoln Sarager, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner, Trinity Horton, Radmila Jevtic
  • Patent number: 8668750
    Abstract: A denatured fuel ethanol composition for blending with fuels, including gasoline and diesel fuel. The composition includes an ethanol composition comprising at least 92 wt. % ethanol; and from 95 wppm to 1,000 wppm isopropanol; and at least 1.96 vol. % fuel denaturant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Victor Johnston, Lincoln Sarager, R. Jay Warner, Heiko Weiner, Gerald Gruesendorf, Trinity Horton, Radmila Jevtic
  • Patent number: 8637715
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst comprising platinum, tin and a secondary noble metal selected from the group consisting of rhodium, palladium, gold and iridium. The catalyst may be on a support. In some embodiments, the support may comprise calcium. The catalyst is used for converting acetic acid to ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Zhenhua Zhou, Victor Johnston, Heiko Weiner, Radmila Wollrab
  • Patent number: 8575406
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst. The catalyst is used for converting acetic acid to ethanol. The catalyst comprises platinum, tin, a base metal selected from calcium and/or tungsten and a promoter metal selected from barium, potassium and/or cesium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Zhenhua Zhou, Victor Johnston, Heiko Weiner, Radmila Wollrab
  • Patent number: 8569203
    Abstract: A process for producing a catalyst comprising the steps of contacting a support with a mixed metal precursor comprising tin oxalate, a second metal precursor, a solubilizing agent such as ammonium oxalate, and water to form an impregnated support and heating the impregnated support under conditions effective to remove at least a weight majority of the water and reduce the tin from the tin oxalate and the second metal from the second metal precursor and thereby form the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Heiko Weiner, Radmila Jevtic, Victor Johnston
  • Patent number: 8536382
    Abstract: A process hydrogenating alkanoic acids in the presence of a catalyst that comprises supports, one or more metals, tungsten oxide, and at least one alkaline earth metal oxide or metasilicate. The molar ratio of the at least one alkaline earth metal oxide or metasilicate to tungsten oxide, based on the metals, is from 1:3 to 5:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Radmila Jevtic, Victor Johnston, Heiko Weiner, Zhenhua Zhou
  • Publication number: 20130178664
    Abstract: The present invention relates to catalysts, to processes for making catalysts and to chemical processes employing such catalysts. The catalysts are preferably used for converting acetic acid to ethanol. The catalyst comprises a precious metal and one or more active metals on a modified support. The modified support may comprise cobalt tungstate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhenhua Zhou, Victor Johnston, Dheeraj Kumar, Xiaoyan Tu, Heiko Weiner, Radmila Wollrab
  • Publication number: 20130165700
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst comprising platinum, tin and a secondary noble metal selected from the group consisting of rhodium, palladium, gold and iridium. The catalyst may be on a support. In some embodiments, the support may comprise calcium. The catalyst is used for converting acetic acid to ethanol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhenhua Zhou, Victor Johnston, Heiko Weiner, Radmila Wollrab
  • Publication number: 20130165701
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst. The catalyst is used for converting acetic acid to ethanol. The catalyst comprises platinum, tin, a base metal selected from calcium and/or tungsten and a promoter metal selected from barium, potassium and/or cesium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhenhua Zhou, Victor Johnston, Heiko Weiner, Radmila Wollrab
  • Publication number: 20130158301
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for the recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. The crude ethanol product is separated in a column to produce a distillate stream comprising ethyl acetate, ethanol and acetaldehyde and a residue stream comprising ethanol, acetic acid and water. The ethanol product is recovered from the residue stream. A liquid recycle stream is sent to a second vaporizer to form a second vapor feed stream that is fed to the hydrogenation reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Radmila Wollrab, Victor Johnston
  • Patent number: 8455702
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the formation of ethanol from a mixed feed, the steps of the process comprising: contacting a feed stream containing the mixed feed and hydrogen at an elevated temperature with a hydrogenation catalyst comprising from 3 to 25 wt. % of a substantially equal molar ratio of cobalt and tin on a support, wherein the mixed feed comprises 5 to 40 wt. % ethyl acetate and 60 to 95 wt. % acetic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Zhenhua Zhou, Victor Johnston, Heiko Weiner
  • Publication number: 20130090500
    Abstract: A process hydrogenating alkanoic acids in the presence of a catalyst that comprises supports, one or more metals, tungsten oxide, and at least one alkaline earth metal oxide or metasilicate. The molar ratio of the at least one alkaline earth metal oxide or metasilicate to tungsten oxide, based on the metals, is from 1:3 to 5:1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Radmila Jevtic, Victor Johnston, Heiko Weiner, Zhenhua Zhou
  • Patent number: 8309757
    Abstract: This invention provides an integrated two stage economical process for the production of vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) from acetic acid in the vapor phase. First, acetic acid is selectively hydrogenated over a hydrogenating catalyst composition to form ethylene either in a single reactor zone or in a dual rector zone wherein the intermediate hydrogenated products are either dehydrated and/or cracked to form ethylene. In a subsequent second stage so formed ethylene is reacted with molecular oxygen and acetic acid over a suitable catalyst to form VAM. In an embodiment of this invention reaction of acetic acid and hydrogen over a hydrogenation catalyst and subsequent reaction over a dehydration catalyst selectively produces ethylene, which is further mixed with acetic acid and molecular oxygen and reacted over a supported palladium/gold/potassium catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Victor Johnston, Barabra Kimmich, Deborah Repman, James Zink, Josefina Chapman, Laiyuan Chen