Patents by Inventor Wenyih Frank Lai

Wenyih Frank Lai 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: 9433935
    Abstract: Methods are provided for synthesis ZSM-48 crystals (or other MRE framework crystals) having heteroatoms different from silicon and aluminum incorporated into the framework structure, and use of such crystals for applications such as catalytic processing of hydrocarbonaceous feeds. Examples of heteroatoms can include titanium, zirconium, and zinc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Wenyih Frank Lai, Lei Zhang
  • Publication number: 20160229959
    Abstract: Organosilica materials, which are a polymer of at least one independent monomer of Formula [Z1OZ2OSiCH2]3 (I), wherein each Z1 and Z2 independently represent a hydrogen atom, a C1-C4 alkyl group or a bond to a silicon atom of another monomer and at least one other trivalent metal oxide monomer are provided herein. Methods of preparing and processes of using the organosilica materials, e.g., for catalysis etc., are also provided herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Quanchang Li, David Charles Calabro, Mobae Afeworki, Simon Christopher Weston, Machteld Maria Wilfried Mertens, Tilman Wolfram Beutel, Wenyih Frank Lai, Paul Podsiadlo, Jean Willem Lodewijk Beeckman
  • Patent number: 9387465
    Abstract: In a process for producing a molecular sieve material, water, at least one source of an oxide of a tetravalent and/or a trivalent element and at least one structure directing agent are mixed in a plough shear mixer/dryer/reactor equipped with a mixer having a Froude number of at least 1, to produce a molecular sieve synthesis mixture having a solids content of at least about 20 wt %. The molecular sieve synthesis mixture is heated in said reactor while agitating said mixture with said mixer to form crystals of said molecular sieve material and said molecular sieve crystals are subsequently recovered from said reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Wenyih Frank Lai, Robert Ellis Kay, Stephen J. McCarthy
  • Publication number: 20160168333
    Abstract: Methods of preparing organosilica materials, which are a polymer comprising of at least one independent cyclic polyurea monomer of Formula wherein each R1 is a Z1OZ2Z3SiZ4 group, wherein each Z1 represents a hydrogen atom, a C1-C4 alkyl group, or a bond to a silicon atom of another monomer unit; each Z2 and Z3 independently represent a hydroxyl group, a C1-C4 alkyl group, a C1-C4 alkoxy group or an oxygen atom bonded to a silicon atom of another monomer unit; and each Z4 represents a C1-C8 alkylene group bonded to a nitrogen atom of the cyclic polyurea are provided herein. Methods of preparing and processes of using the organosilica materials, e.g., for gas separation, color removal, etc., are also provided herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Paul Podsiadlo, Quanchang Li, David Charles Calabro, Lei Zhang, Kiara M. Benitez, Himanshu Gupta, Xiaochun Xu, Scott J. Weigel, Darryl Donald Lacy, Bal Kaul, James William Gleeson, Wenyih Frank Lai
  • Patent number: 9365430
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a novel method of making and recovering M41S family molecular sieve materials using synthesis mixtures having high solids-content and without a purification step. The solids-content, for example, is in a range from about 20 wt. % to 50 wt. %. The method also includes the step of mixing at least a portion of the M41S made with another material to form a composition, wherein the amount of said material to be mixed with said M41S product is such that said composition having less than 10 wt. % free fluid. The material mixed with the M41S made includes metal oxides, metal nitrides, metal carbides and mixtures thereof, as well as absorptive material capable of absorbing mother liquor and selected from the group consisting of carbon silica, alumina, titania, zirconia and mixtures thereof. The amount of the wastewater generated by this novel method is reduced by at least 50% to as much as 100% as comparing with conventional method of making M41S materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Wenyih Frank Lai, Robert Ellis Kay, Stephen John McCarthy
  • Publication number: 20160122193
    Abstract: Methods are provided for synthesis of various types of zeolites using synthesis mixtures that contain a dominant structure directing agent and one or more secondary structure directing agents. Advantageously, the secondary structure directing agents may substantially not alter the crystal structure and/or morphology of the crystals generated by a synthesis mixture in the presence of the dominant structure directing agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Wenyih Frank Lai, Nicholas S. Rollman, Jenna L. Walp, William W. Lonergan
  • Patent number: 9321043
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a molecular sieve composition having a first and second crystalline molecular sieve, made by the method comprising: (a) providing a reaction mixture comprising at least one source of ions of tetravalent element Y, at least one source of alkali metal hydroxide, water, optionally at least one seed crystal, and optionally at least one source of ions of trivalent element X, the reaction mixture having the following molar composition: Y:X2=2 to infinity, preferably from about 2 to about 1000, OH?:Y=0.001 to 2, preferably from 0.1 to 1, M+:Y=0.001 to 2, preferably from 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: ExxonMobile Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Wenyih Frank Lai, Robert Ellis Kay
  • Patent number: 9302254
    Abstract: A process is described for producing an M41S family molecular sieve. The process comprises preparing a synthesis mixture capable of forming said molecular sieve in a reactor, which is equipped with a mixer having a Froude number of at least 1, said synthesis mixture having a solids content of at least 20 wt %. The synthesis mixture is heated in the reactor while agitating the mixture with said mixer to form a product mixture comprising water and crystals of said molecular sieve material. Thereafter at least part of the water is removed from the product mixture in the reactor so as to decrease the water content of the product mixture inside the reactor by at least 5 wt %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Wenyih Frank Lai, Stephen J. McCarthy, Robert Ellis Kay
  • Patent number: 9289755
    Abstract: Methods are provided for synthesizing crystals having a ZSM-5 framework structure from synthesis mixtures suitable for synthesis of ZSM-12 framework structure crystals in the absence of seed crystals with a ZSM-5 framework structure, such as in the absence of any seed crystals. For synthesis mixtures with a sufficiently high XO2:Y2O3 ratio, seeding a synthesis mixture with ZSM-5 seed crystals can result in production of pure phase ZSM-5 crystals with a new morphology. The morphology can include rod-like primary crystallites with a length of about 0.5 ?m or less that are organized/aggregated into larger secondary crystal structures. The aggregation of the primary crystallites into a secondary crystal structure can allow for an unexpectedly large mesoporous surface area for the ZSM-5 crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Wenyih Frank Lai, Nicholas S. Rollman
  • Publication number: 20150273450
    Abstract: Methods are provided for synthesis ZSM-48 crystals (or other MRE framework crystals) having heteroatoms different from silicon and aluminum incorporated into the framework structure, and use of such crystals for applications such as catalytic processing of hydrocarbonaceous feeds. Examples of heteroatoms can include titanium, zirconium, and zinc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Wenyih Frank Lai, Lei Zhang
  • Patent number: 9079809
    Abstract: A process for converting hydrocarbons comprising the step of contacting said hydrocarbons under conversion conditions with a crystalline molecular sieve having a pore size in the range of from about 2 to about 19 ?, said molecular sieve made by a method comprising the steps of (a) providing a mixture comprising at least one source of ions of tetravalent element (Y), at least one trivalent element hydroxide source (OH?), and water, said mixture having a solid-content in the range of from about 15 wt. % to about 50 wt. %. %, preferably of from about 20% to about 30%; and (b) treating said mixture to form the desired crystalline molecular sieve with stirring at crystallization conditions sufficient to obtain a weight hourly throughput from about 0.005 to about 1 hr?1, wherein said crystallization conditions comprise a temperature in the range of from about 200° C. to about 500° C. and a crystallization time less than 100 hr, wherein said crystalline molecular sieve has a zeolite framework type of MFI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Ivy Dawn Johnson, Wenyih Frank Lai
  • Publication number: 20150183647
    Abstract: Methods are provided for synthesis of substantially pure phase ZSM-48 crystals having a fiber or needle morphology based on synthesis mixtures containing non-sodium alkali metal ions, where the structure directing agent in the synthesis mixture can be a diquaternary alkylammonium salt with a 6-carbon atom chain between the ammonium ions (diquat-6). The methods described herein can be used to make ZSM-48 crystals having a fiber and/or needle crystal morphology from a synthesis mixture containing a diquat-6 structure directing agent. The desired morphology can be achieved in part by reducing, minimizing, and/or eliminating the presence of sodium ions in the synthesis mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventor: Wenyih Frank Lai
  • Patent number: 8900547
    Abstract: In a process for preparing a high activity, large crystal ZSM-5 type zeolite in the absence of a template, a reaction mixture can be prepared comprising water, a silica source having a surface area less than 150 m2/g, an alumina source, seeds, a source of an oxide of an alkali metal, M, and a source of gluconic acid or salt thereof, Q, wherein the mixture has a SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio?40. The reaction mixture can be heated to a crystallization temperature from about 100° C. to 200° C. for a time sufficient for crystals of ZSM-5 to form Crystals of ZSM-5 can then be recovered from the reaction mixture which crystals can have a SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio?40 and a majority of which crystals can have at least one crystalline dimension of at least about 2 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Wenyih Frank Lai, Merci A. Hamilton
  • Patent number: 8882993
    Abstract: This invention relates to stabilized aggregates of small primary crystallites of zeolite Y that are clustered into larger secondary particles. At least 80% of the secondary particles may comprise at least 5 primary crystallites. The size of the primary crystallites may be at most about 0.5 micron, or at most about 0.3 micron, and the size of the secondary particles may be at least about 0.8 micron, or at least about 1.0 ?m. The silica to alumina ratio of the resulting stabilized aggregated Y zeolite may be 4:1 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Wenyih Frank Lai, Robert E. Kay, Jason Wu, Kun Wang, Robert C. Lemon
  • Patent number: 8778824
    Abstract: This invention relates to aggregates of small primary crystallites of zeolite Y that are clustered into larger secondary particles. At least 80% of the secondary particles may comprise at least 5 primary crystallites. The size of the primary crystallites may be at most about 0.5 micron, or at most about 0.3 micron, and the size of the secondary particles may be at least about 0.8 micron, or at least about 1.0 ?m. The silica to alumina ratio of the resulting stabilized aggregated Y zeolite may be 4:1 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Wenyih Frank Lai, Robert E. Kay
  • Patent number: 8778171
    Abstract: This invention relates to hydrocracking catalysts utilizing stabilized aggregates of small primary crystallites of zeolite Y that are clustered into larger secondary particles. At least 80% of the secondary particles may comprise at least 5 primary crystallites. The size of the primary crystallites may be at most about 0.5 micron, or at most about 0.3 micron, and the size of the secondary particles may be at least about 0.8 micron, or at least about 1.0 ?m. The silica to alumina ratio of the resulting stabilized aggregated Y zeolite may be 4:1 or more. This invention also relates to the use of such catalysts in hydrocracking processes for the conversion of heavy oils into lighter fuel products. The invention is particularly suited for the selective production of diesel range products from gas oil range feedstock materials under hydrocracking conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Christopher G. Oliveri, Wenyih Frank Lai, Ajit B. Dandekar, Scott J. Weigel, Jason Wu, Robert E. Kay
  • Publication number: 20140162866
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making a reinforced catalytic microporous and/or mesoporous bound composition comprising the steps of: providing a pre-formed catalytic crystalline material; mixing the catalytic crystalline material with water, a metal oxide binder, and a reinforcing glass fiber to form an extrudable composition; extruding the extrudable slurry under conditions sufficient to form the reinforced catalytic bound extrudate; and calcining the reinforced catalytic bound extrudate at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form a calcined reinforced catalytic bound catalyst. Advantageously, the reinforcing glass fiber can have a diameter from 5-100 microns and a length-to-diameter ratio from 300:1-3000:1 and can be present in an amount from about 1-50 parts, based on about 1000 parts combined of catalytic crystalline material and metal oxide binder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Wenyih Frank Lai, Nicholas S. Rollman
  • Publication number: 20140162867
    Abstract: Methods are provided for synthesizing crystals having a ZSM-5 framework structure from synthesis mixtures suitable for synthesis of ZSM-12 framework structure crystals in the absence of seed crystals with a ZSM-5 framework structure, such as in the absence of any seed crystals. For synthesis mixtures with a sufficiently high XO2:Y2O3 ratio, seeding a synthesis mixture with ZSM-5 seed crystals can result in production of pure phase ZSM-5 crystals with a new morphology. The morphology can include rod-like primary crystallites with a length of about 0.5 ?m or less that are organized/aggregated into larger secondary crystal structures. The aggregation of the primary crystallites into a secondary crystal structure can allow for an unexpectedly large mesoporous surface area for the ZSM-5 crystals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Wenyih Frank Lai, Nicholas S. Rollman
  • Patent number: 8748684
    Abstract: A method of crystallizing a crystalline molecular sieve having a pore size in the range of from about 2 to about 19 ?, said method comprising the steps of (a) providing a mixture comprising at least one source of ions of tetravalent element (Y), at least one hydroxide source (OH), and water, said mixture having a solid-content in the range of from about 15 wt. % to about 50 wt. %; and (b) treating said mixture to form the desired crystalline molecular sieve with stirring at crystallization conditions sufficient to obtain a weight hourly throughput from about 0.005 to about 1 hr?1, wherein said crystallization conditions comprise a temperature in the range of from about 200° C. to about 500° C. and a crystallization time less than 100 hr.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobile Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Ivy D. Johnson, Wenyih Frank Lai
  • Patent number: 8697929
    Abstract: The invention concerns a xylenes isomerization process for the production of equilibrium or near-equilibrium xylenes. The process utilizes a catalyst comprising HZSM-5 or MCM-49 and process conditions including a temperature of less than 295° C. and a pressure sufficient to maintain the xylenes in liquid phase. In embodiments, the process can be operated in a continuous mode with ppm levels of dissolved H2 in the feed and in other embodiments in a cyclic mode without the H2 in feed but with periodic regenerations using a feed having low ppm levels of H2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: John Di-Yi Ou, April D. Ross, Doron Levin, Mohan Kalyanaraman, Wenyih Frank Lai