Patents by Inventor William C. Hecker

William C. Hecker 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).

  • Use of lower alcohols as oxygen source in hydrocarbon sweetening
    Patent number: 4459204
    Abstract: Small amounts of lower alcohols are admixed with sour hydrocarbons and the mixture is contacted with a copper-containing catalyst at an elevated temperature. The alcohol serves as the oxygen source for the catalytic oxygenative conversion to disulfides of mercaptans souring the hydrocarbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1984
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventors: William C. Hecker, Richard C. Robinson, Robert L. Jacobson
  • Process for regenerating sulfur sorbent by oxidation and leaching
    Patent number: 4409124
    Abstract: A process for regenerating a spent copper-porous refractory metal oxide carrier composite for sorbing sulfur compounds from hydrocarbons in which the spent sorbent is stripped of hydrocarbons, oxidized to convert absorbed sulfur to a sulfate form, and then extracted with a liquid solvent to remove the sulfate and reduce the sulfur content of the sorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1983
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventors: Richard C. Robinson, William C. Hecker
  • Sulfur sorbent regeneration process
    Patent number: 4409123
    Abstract: A process for regenerating a spent copper-porous refractory metal oxide carrier composite for sorbing sulfur compounds from hydrocarbons in which the spent sorbent is optionally stripped of hydrocarbons, oxidized to convert absorbed sulfur to a sulfate form, and then purged with an inert gas at temperatures that decompose the sulfate form to sulfur dioxide, thereby reducing the sulfur content of the sorbent substantially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1983
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventor: William C. Hecker