Patents by Inventor Willibald Dafinger

Willibald Dafinger 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: 10947178
    Abstract: Fouling of the acetic acid saturator by recycle gas in the continuous gas phase process for manufacture of vinyl acetate is reduced by adding an N-oxyl fouling inhibitor to the saturator and/or at one or more other addition sites in the process, in amounts such that the concentration of N-oxyl compound which accumulates in the saturator bottoms is from 10 to 100 ppm. The amount of N-oxyl compound in the saturator is preferably from 10-50 ppm. The reduction in fouling is evidenced by lessening the lowering of the heat transfer coefficient of the saturator over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: WACKER CHEMIE AG
    Inventors: Willibald Dafinger, Brigitte Patsch, Guenther Rudolf
  • Publication number: 20200277249
    Abstract: Addition of an N-oxyl compound to points in the VAM synthesis process such that from 10 to 100 ppm of N-oxyl compound is present in the column bottoms of the acetic acid separator markedly reduce fouling in the separator, thus allowing long and efficient VAM production campaigns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicant: WACKER CHEMIE AG
    Inventors: Willibald DAFINGER, Brigitte PATSCH, Guenther RUDOLF
  • Patent number: 10717045
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for removing oxygen from hydrocarbon-containing gas mixtures, characterized in that a hydrocarbon-containing gas mixture containing 50 vol % of one or more hydrocarbons, 2 to 10 vol % of oxygen, and possibly one or more gases from the group comprising nitrogen, noble gases, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and water is introduced into an isothermally operated reactor, in which the oxygen contained in the hydrocarbon-containing gas mixture is at least partially converted into carbon dioxide and water in the presence of one or more catalysts, wherein the specifications in vol % relate to the total volume of the hydrocarbon-containing gas mixture introduced into the reactor and add up to 100 vol % in total.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Wacker Chemie AG
    Inventors: Peter Schultheiss, Willibald Dafinger, Marc Eckert, Friedrich Frank
  • Patent number: 10363524
    Abstract: Oxygen is effectively removed from hydrocarbon-containing gas streams while minimizing danger of explosion by contacting the gas stream with a catalyst comprising shaped bentonite supports having an outer shell containing catalytic metals gold, and at least one of palladium platinum, rhodium, or iridium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: WACKER CHEMIE AG
    Inventors: Willibald Dafinger, Marc Eckert, Guenther Rudolf
  • Publication number: 20180185787
    Abstract: Oxygen is effectively removed from hydrocarbon-containing gas streams while minimizing danger of explosion by contacting the gas stream with a catalyst comprising shaped bentonite supports having an outer shell containing catalytic metals gold, and at least one of palladium platinum, rhodium, or iridium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Applicant: Wacker Chemie AG
    Inventors: Willibald DAFINGER, Marc ECKERT, Guenther RUDOLF
  • Publication number: 20170341023
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for removing oxygen from hydrocarbon-containing gas mixtures, characterized in that a hydrocarbon-containing gas mixture containing 50 vol % of one or more hydrocarbons, 2 to 10 vol % of oxygen, and possibly one or more gases from the group comprising nitrogen, noble gases, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and water is introduced into an isothermally operated reactor, in which the oxygen contained in the hydrocarbon-containing gas mixture is at least partially converted into carbon dioxide and water in the presence of one or more catalysts, wherein the specifications in vol % relate to the total volume of the hydrocarbon-containing gas mixture introduced into the reactor and add up to 100 vol % in total.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Peter Schultheiss, Willibald Dafinger, Marc Eckert, Friedrich Frank
  • Patent number: 9561997
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing vinyl acetate in a heterogeneously catalyzed, continuous gas phase process by reacting ethylene with acetic acid and oxygen and subsequently working up the product gas stream, with inhibition of the polymerization of vinyl acetate during the workup of the product gas mixture by addition of one or more N-oxyl compounds which contain at least one N-oxyl radical group —N—O. as inhibitors which comprises adding the N-oxyl compound as a 50 to 85% by weight strength aqueous solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Wacker Chemie AG
    Inventors: Willibald Dafinger, Marc Eckert
  • Publication number: 20160311752
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing vinyl acetate in a heterogeneously catalyzed, continuous gas phase process by reacting ethylene with acetic acid and oxygen and subsequently working up the product gas stream, with inhibition of the polymerization of vinyl acetate during the workup of the product gas mixture by addition of one or more N-oxyl compounds which contain at least one N-oxyl radical group —N—O. as inhibitors which comprises adding the N-oxyl compound as a 50 to 85% by weight strength aqueous solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Applicant: WACKER CHEMIE AG
    Inventors: Willibald Dafinger, Marc Eckert
  • Patent number: 8765995
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) by reacting ethylene with acetic acid and oxygen in a tube bundle reactor in a heterogeneously catalysed, continuous gas phase process, characterized in that a high-performance catalyst with a space-time yield of more than 700 g of VAM/l of catalyst×hour is used for catalysis, and in that the tube bundle reactor comprises tubes with a ratio of inner surface area to volume of ?130 m?1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Wacker Chemie AG
    Inventors: Willibald Dafinger, Peter Holl, Günther Rudolf, Martin Schönleben
  • Patent number: 8710259
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing vinyl acetate in a heterogeneously catalyzed, continuous gas-phase process by reacting ethylene with acetic acid and oxygen in a reactor, and a) separating the product gas flow essentially containing ethylene, vinyl acetate, acetic acid, water, carbon dioxide, and other inert gases, and b) feeding a circulating gas flow containing ethylene and CO2 back into the reactor, c) the circulating gas flow being compressed in a circulating gas compressor before being fed back into the reactor, and d) a partial flow of the circulating gas is branched off on the suction side or the pressure side of the circulating gas compressor and is fed to a CO2 scrubbing process, and e) is scrubbed in a water scrubber before the CO2 scrubbing process, characterized in that f) after the CO2 scrubbing process, the partial flow, together with ethylene as a propellant, is fed, by means of a jet compressor, to the circulating gas on the pressure side of the circulating gas compressor and do
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Wacker Chemie AG
    Inventors: Willibald Dafinger, Peter Holl, Johann Wagner
  • Patent number: 8410307
    Abstract: A method for producing vinyl acetate in a heterogeneously catalyzed, continuous gas phase process by reacting ethylene with acetic acid and oxygen in a reactor and separating the product gas stream substantially comprising ethylene, vinyl acetate, acetic acid, water, carbon dioxide and inert gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Wacker Chemie AG
    Inventors: Mehmet Guenaltay, Willibald Dafinger, Peter Holl
  • Publication number: 20120310007
    Abstract: A method for producing vinyl acetate in a heterogeneously catalyzed, continuous gas phase process by reacting ethylene with acetic acid and oxygen in a reactor and separating the product gas stream substantially comprising ethylene, vinyl acetate, acetic acid, water, carbon dioxide and inert gases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: Wacker Chemie AG
    Inventors: Mehmet Guenaltay, Willibald Dafinger, Peter Holl
  • Patent number: 8258336
    Abstract: A process for preparing unsaturated carboxylic esters includes reaction of alkenes having 2 to 6 carbon atoms with alkanecarboxylic acids having 1 to 6 carbon atoms in the presence of an oxygenous gas and in the presence of a heterogeneous noble metal catalyst by means of a continuous homogeneous gas phase process in a reactor. A gaseous phase (cycle gas) is circulated, and the cycle gas is laden with alkanecarboxylic acid in an acid saturator before entry into the reactor. In a presaturator connected upstream of the acid saturator, the cycle gas is laden with a portion of the amount of alkanecarboxylic acid used for saturation, and then it is transferred to the acid saturator and laden there with the remaining amount of alkanecarboxylic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Wacker Chemie AG
    Inventors: Heribert Westermayer, Johann Wagner, Willibald Dafinger, Peter Holl
  • Publication number: 20120053361
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing vinyl acetate in a heterogeneously catalyzed, continuous gas-phase process by reacting ethylene with acetic acid and oxygen in a reactor, and a) separating the product gas flow essentially containing ethylene, vinyl acetate, acetic acid, water, carbon dioxide, and other inert gases, and b) feeding a circulating gas flow containing ethylene and CO2 back into the reactor, c) the circulating gas flow being compressed in a circulating gas compressor before being fed back into the reactor, and d) a partial flow of the circulating gas is branched off on the suction side or the pressure side of the circulating gas compressor and is fed to a CO2 scrubbing process, and e) is scrubbed in a water scrubber before the CO2 scrubbing process, characterized in that f) after the CO2 scrubbing process, the partial flow, together with ethylene as a propellant, is fed, by means of a jet compressor, to the circulating gas on the pressure side of the circulating gas compressor and do
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: Wacker Chemie AG
    Inventors: Willibald Dafinger, Peter Holl, Johann Wagner
  • Publication number: 20120041231
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) by reacting ethylene with acetic acid and oxygen in a tube bundle reactor in a heterogeneously catalysed, continuous gas phase process, characterized in that a high-performance catalyst with a space-time yield of more than 700 g of VAM/l of catalyst×hour is used for catalysis, and in that the tube bundle reactor comprises tubes with a ratio of inner surface area to volume of ?130 m-1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Willibald Dafinger, Peter Holl, Gunther Rudolf, Martin Schönleben
  • Publication number: 20110054210
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing unsaturated carboxylic esters by means of reaction of alkenes having 2 to 6 carbon atoms with alkanecarboxylic acids having 1 to 6 carbon atoms in the presence of an oxygenous gas and in the presence of a heterogeneous noble metal catalyst by means of a continuous homogeneous gas phase process in a reactor, wherein a gaseous phase (cycle gas) is circulated, and the cycle gas is laden with alkanecarboxylic acid in an acid saturator before entry into the reactor, characterized in that, in a presaturator connected upstream of the acid saturator, the cycle gas is laden with a portion of the amount of alkanecarboxylic acid used for saturation, then it is transferred to the acid saturator and laden there with the remaining amount of alkanecarboxylic acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Heribert Westermayer, Johann Wagner, Willibald Dafinger, Peter Holl
  • Patent number: 7803965
    Abstract: The efficiency of vinyl acetate production is increased by scrubbing of off gas followed by CO2 absorption. A portion of the off gas containing substantial quantities of ethylene is recycled to the process, whereas another portion is employed in another ethylene consuming reaction. Despite not removing non-reactive gases, selectivity and yield based on ethylene are both increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Wacker Chemie AG
    Inventors: Willibald Dafinger, Peter Holl, Wilhelm Kaiser, Jürgen Guba
  • Publication number: 20080004467
    Abstract: The efficiency of vinyl acetate production is increased by scrubbing of off gas followed by CO2 absorption. A portion of the off gas containing substantial quantities of ethylene is recycled to the process, whereas another portion is employed in another ethylene consuming reaction. Despite not removing non-reactive gases, selectivity and yield based on ethylene are both increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: WACKER CHEMIE AG
    Inventors: Willibald Dafinger, Peter Holl, Wilhelm Kaiser, Jurgen Guba
  • Patent number: 5166120
    Abstract: A carrier catalyst containing copper and alkali ions on an annular carrier of surface-active material is defined by the dimensions of the carrier body and the porosity of the finished catalyst. Its total pore volume is 0.6-1.0 ml/g, pores smaller than 4 nm diameter are not present, pores of 8-20 nm diameter constitute at least 80% of the total pore volume and the remainder consists of macropores with a diameter greater than 20 nm (i.e., up to 200 nanometers). The catalyst is suitable for the production of 1,2-dichloroethane by means of the oxychlorination of ethylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Assignees: Degussa Aktiengesellschaft, Wacker-Chemie GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Deller, Helmfried Krause, Ludwig Schmidhammer, Willibald Dafinger
  • Patent number: RE34761
    Abstract: In the process, a copper/rhodium catalyst impregnated with 0.1 to 10.0% by weight, based on the total weight of active charcoal catalyst support and active components, of a water-soluble phosphonium halide is employed for the preparation of trichloroelethylene from perchloroethylene and hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Wacker-Chemie GmbH
    Inventors: Willibald Dafinger, Wolfdietrich Gabler, Eduard Pichl, Roman Hierzegger