Patents by Inventor William J. Tenn, III
William J. Tenn, III 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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Publication number: 20230303484Abstract: A process for producing dinitrile comprises supplying a C6 organic compound, an oxidizing agent, ammonia and a diluent to a reaction zone to produce a reaction mixture and contacting the reaction mixture in the reaction zone with a heterogeneous catalyst at a temperature from 50 to 200° C. to convert at least a portion of the C6 organic compound to dinitrile and water and produce a reaction effluent. At least part of the reaction effluent is supplied to a separation system to separate at least dinitrile and unreacted ammonia from the reaction effluent and additional water is supplied to a portion of the reaction effluent prior to or during separation of unreacted ammonia from the reaction effluent.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2021Publication date: September 28, 2023Applicant: INV NYLON CHEMICALS AMERICAS, LLCInventors: Benjamin David HERZOG, Milind V. KANTAK, Gregory S. KIRBY, William J. TENN, III
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Publication number: 20230053970Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing adiponitrile from acrylonitrile in an electrolytic cell. An aqueous electrolyte comprising acrylonitrile converts to adiponitrile in the presence of a solid anode and in the absence of a solid cathode. The cathode comprises gas plasma.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2021Publication date: February 23, 2023Inventors: Sudhir N.V.K. AKI, Benjamin D. HERZOG, Milind V. KANTAK, Gregory S. KIRBY, William J. TENN, III
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Publication number: 20230047439Abstract: Disclosed is a method for purifying a crude adiponitrile stream by differential volatility comprising separating at least a portion of the components of the crude adiponitrile stream by flashing vapor from a liquid film.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2021Publication date: February 16, 2023Inventors: Benjamin David HERZOG, Milind V. KANTAK, William J. TENN, III
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Patent number: 10759741Abstract: A solvent is at least partially separated from a catalyst. The catalyst comprises nickel and a bidentate phosphorus-containing ligand. The method for separation involves distilling a catalyst solution. The ratio of 2-pentenenitrile to 3-pentenenitrile in distillation column bottoms is controlled to reduce the amount of 3-pentenenitrile which is isomerized to form 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile. Isomerization of 3-pentenenitrile to 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile and subsequent isomerization of 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile to 2-methyl-2-butenenitrile, and/or hydrocyanation of 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile to methylglutaronitrile represents a loss in adiponitrile yield in a process for making adiponitrile.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2014Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: INVISTA North America S.a r.l.Inventors: Sudhir N. V. K. Aki, James M. Garner, William J. Tenn, III, Thomas E. Vos
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Patent number: 10640459Abstract: Disclosed is a method for inhibiting the formation of by-products from dinitriles, such as the formation of cyclopentylideneimine (CPI) from Adiponitrile (ADN), comprising adding an effective amount of a Brønsted acid to the ADN. Also disclosed is a method of refining a dinitrile compound by distillation the method comprising the steps of: (a) supplying (i) a feedstream comprising the dinitrile compound and (ii) a Brønsted acid to a distillation apparatus; and (b) withdrawing from the distillation apparatus an overhead distillate stream comprising the dinitrile compound.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2016Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: INVISTA North America S.a.r.l.Inventor: William J. Tenn, III
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Publication number: 20180244607Abstract: Disclosed is a method for inhibiting the formation of by-products from dinitriles, such as the formation of cyclopentylideneimine (CPI) from Adiponitrile (ADN), comprising adding an effective amount of a Brønsted acid to the ADN. Also disclosed is a method of refining a dinitrile compound by distillation the method comprising the steps of: (a) supplying (i) a feedstream comprising the dinitrile compound and (ii) a Brønsted acid to a distillation apparatus; and (b) withdrawing from the distillation apparatus an overhead distillate stream comprising the dinitrile compound.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2016Publication date: August 30, 2018Applicant: INVISTA NORTH AMERICA S.A R.L.Inventor: WILLIAM J. TENN, III
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Patent number: 10035756Abstract: Phosphorus-containing ligands are recovered from mixtures comprising 3-pentenenitrile (3PN) and adiponitrile (ADN), using liquid-liquid extraction. ADN is produced by hydrocyanation of 3PN. The ADN is hydrogenated to produce a hexamethyiene diamine (HMD) and at least one byproduct including bis-hexamethylene triamine (BHMT) or 1,2-diaminocyclohexane. At least a portion of the HMD product or byproduct is used to enhance the liquid-liquid extraction to recover phosphorus-containing ligand.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2015Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: INVISTA NORTH AMERICA S.A.R.L.Inventor: William J. Tenn, III
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Patent number: 9914700Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for recovering phosphorus-containing ligand from mixtures comprising organic mononitriles and organic dinitriles, using liquid-liquid extraction. Also disclosed are treatments to enhance extractability of the phosphorus-containing ligand.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2015Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: INVISTA NORTH AMERICA S.A R.L.Inventor: William J. Tenn, III
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Patent number: 9834506Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for addition of hydrogen cyanide across olefins and, in particular, to the use of a specific aluminum oxide to catalyze the reaction. The aluminum oxide catalyst must have total alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal content, measured in the form of alkali metal oxide and/or alkaline earth metal oxide, of less than 3,000 ppm by weight.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2014Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: INVISTA NORTH AMERICA S.A.R.L.Inventors: William J. Tenn, III, Sudkir N. V. K. Aki
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Patent number: 9834505Abstract: A process of stabilizing a bidentate or tridentate phosphorus-based phosphite ester ligand or mixture thereof in a hydrocyanation reaction milieu comprising water, wherein the ligand or ligand mixture comprises one or more of (i) a bidentate biphosphite ligand of formula (III), (R12—X12) (R13—X13) P—X14—Y—X24—P(X22—R22) (X23—R23) or (ii) a tridentate triphosphite ligand of formula (IIIA) (R12—X12) (R13—X13) P—X14—Y—X32—P(X34—R34)—(X33—Y2—R24—P(X23—R23)—(X22—R22) where each X is oxygen or a bond and each Y is an optionally substituted C6-C20 arylene group, comprising admixing the bidentate and/or tridentate with a stabilizing amount of one or more monodentate phosphite ligand of formula P(X1—R1)(X2—R2)(X3—R3) where each X is oxygen or a bond, wherein the monodentate ligand has a rate of hydrolysis greater than the rate of hydrolysis of the bidentate or tridentate ligand in the presence of water in a hydrocyanation reaction milieu, and thereby preserve concentrations and proportions of the bidentate and/or tridType: GrantFiled: May 24, 2013Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: INVISTA NORTH AMERICA S.A.R.L.Inventors: Sudhir Aki, William J. Tenn, III, Thomas E. Vos
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Publication number: 20170197909Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for recovering phosphorus-containing ligand from mixtures comprising organic mononitriles and organic dinitriles, using liquid-liquid extraction. Also disclosed are treatments to enhance extractability of the phosphorus-containing ligand.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2015Publication date: July 13, 2017Applicant: INVISTA NORTH AMERICA S.A R.L.Inventor: William J. TENN, III
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Patent number: 9676800Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for recovering diphosphonite-containing compounds from mixtures comprising organic mononitriles and organic dinitriles, using multistage countercurrent liquid-liquid extraction. Recovery is enhanced with one or more method steps. In a first step, a portion of the heavy phase from the settling section of the first stage is recycled to the settling section of the first stage. In a second step, a portion of the light phase from the settling section of the first stage is recycled to the mixing section of the first stage. In a third step, the first stage takes place in a mixer-settler, a Lewis base is introduced into the settling section of the first stage, and a complex of Lewis acid and Lewis base is formed in this settling section. In a fourth step, a polyamine is added to the first stage.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2015Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: INVISTA NORTH AMERICA S.A.R.L.Inventors: William J. Tenn, III, Sudhir N. V. K. Aki, Thomas E. Vos, Tseng H. Chao
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Publication number: 20170152211Abstract: Phosphorus-containing ligands are recovered from mixtures comprising 3-pentenenitrile (3PN) and adiponitrile (ADN), using liquid-liquid extraction. ADN is produced by hydrocyanation of 3PN. The ADN is hydrogenated to produce a hexa-methyiene diamine (HMD) and at least one byproduct including bis-hexamethylene triamine (BHMT) or 1,2-diaminocyclohexane. At least a portion of the HMD product or byproduct is used to enhance the liquid-liquid extraction to recover phosphorus-containing ligand.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2015Publication date: June 1, 2017Applicant: INVISTA NORTH AMERICA S.A R.L.Inventor: William J. TENN, III
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Patent number: 9586892Abstract: Pentenenitrile oligomers formed in a process for isomerizing cis-2-pentenenitrile to 3-pentenenitrile are minimized in the presence of an aluminum oxide catalyst. The process comprises providing an aluminum oxide catalyst having an alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal and/or iron content, measured in the form of alkali metal oxide and/or alkaline earth metal oxide and/or iron oxide, respectively of less than 5000 ppm by weight.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2013Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: INVISTA NORTH AMERICA S.A.R.L.Inventors: Sudhir N. V. K. Aki, William J. Tenn, III, Thomas E. Vos
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Publication number: 20160311763Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for addition of hydrogen cyanide across olefins and, in particular, to the use of a specific aluminum oxide to catalyze the reaction. The aluminum oxide catalyst must have total alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal content, measured in the form of alkali metal oxide and/or alkaline earth metal oxide, of less than 3,000 ppm by weight.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2014Publication date: October 27, 2016Applicant: INVISTA NORTH AMERICA S.A R.L.Inventors: William J. TENN, III, Sudkir N.V.K. AKI
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Patent number: 9440912Abstract: Disclosed is a process for isomerizing cis-2-pentenenitrile to 3-pentenenitrile in the presence of a non-aluminum metal oxide catalyst, wherein: (a) the metal in the catalyst has an oxidation state in the range from +1 to +4; (b) the metal has a cation radius in the range from 0.35 to 1.0 ?; (c) the metal of the catalyst has a polarizing power, C/r, is in the range from 2 to >8, wherein C is the charge of the metal and r is the ionic radius in ?; (d) the bond network of the catalyst has a % ionicity of >20; (e) the metal oxide has an acidity strength in the range from strong to very weak; and (f) the metal oxide has a basicity (nucleophilicity) strength of weak to strong.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2013Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: INVISTA NORTH AMERICA S.A.R.L.Inventors: Sudhir N. V. K. Aki, William J. Tenn, III, Thomas E. Vos
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Publication number: 20160222040Abstract: The invention provides a method of forming a phosphonate diester compound from a ligand hydrolysis product (LHP) of a phosphite ligand used in a nickel-phosphite hydrocyanation catalyst, such as for conversion of 3-pentenenitrile to adiponitrile, which serves to eliminate acidic LHP compound for a hydrocyanation reaction milieu where the acidic LHP can catalyze further catalyst ligand destruction. The invention further provides phosphonate disester compounds prepared by alkylation of diarylphosphite LHP in the presence of a nickel-phosphite catalyst comprising a bidentate ligand, and a continuous hydrocyanation process for production of adiponitrile wherein catalyst ligand breakdown is inhibited through inactivation of ligand hydrolysis products towards further breakdown. A method of stabilizing a hydrocyanation catalyst is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2016Publication date: August 4, 2016Applicant: INVISTA NORTH AMERICA S.A R.L.Inventor: William J. TENN, III
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Patent number: 9388204Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for recovering diphosphite-containing compounds from mixtures comprising organic mononitriles and organic dinitriles, using liquid-liquid extraction. Also disclosed are treatments to enhance extractability of the diphosphite-containing compounds.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2012Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: INVISTA North America S.a.r.l.Inventors: William J. Tenn, III, Sudhir N. V. K. Aki, Thomas E. Vos, Tseng H. Chao
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Patent number: 9296768Abstract: The invention provides a method of forming a phosphonate diester compound from a ligand hydrolysis product (LHP) of a phosphite ligand used in a nickel-phosphite hydrocyanation catalyst, such as for conversion of 3-pentenenitrile to adiponitrile, which serves to eliminate acidic LHP compound for a hydrocyanation reaction milieu where the acidic LHP can catalyze further catalyst ligand destruction. The invention further provides phosphonate disester compounds prepared by alkylation of diarylphosphite LHP in the presence of a nickel-phosphite catalyst comprising a bidentate ligand, and a continuous hydrocyanation process for production of adiponitrile wherein catalyst ligand breakdown is inhibited through inactivation of ligand hydrolysis products towards further breakdown. A method of stabilizing a hydrocyanation catalyst is provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2013Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: INVISTA North America S.a r.l.Inventor: William J. Tenn, III
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Publication number: 20160083406Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for recovering diphosphonite-containing compounds from mixtures comprising organic mononitriles and organic dinitriles, using liquid-liquid extraction. Also disclosed are treatments to enhance extractability of the diphosphonite-containing compounds.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2015Publication date: March 24, 2016Applicant: INVISTA NORTH AMERICA S.A R.L.Inventors: William J. TENN, III, Sudhir N.V.K. AKI, Thomas E. VOS, Tseng H. CHAO