Patents by Inventor Willibrord A. Groten

Willibrord A. Groten 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: 20090069608
    Abstract: A process for the production of tertiary ethers, including: feeding a hydrocarbon stream comprising isoolefins and propionitrile to a distillation column reactor system containing at least one etherification reaction zone; feeding a C2 to C6 monoalcohol or mixture thereof to the distillation column reactor; concurrently in the distillation column reactor system: reacting a portion of the isoolefins with a portion of the alcohols to form a tertiary ether; and separating the tertiary ether from unreacted isoolefins; withdrawing the tertiary ether and propionitrile from the distillation column reactor system as a bottoms; withdrawing the unreacted isoolefins from the distillation column reactor system as an overheads; and operating the distillation column reactor system such that the etherification reaction zone is substantially free of propionitrile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Christopher C. Boyer, Mitchell E. Loescher, Willibrord A. Groten, Mario J. Maraschino, Kerry L. Rock
  • Patent number: 7410555
    Abstract: A process for reacting a first component with itself or a second component to produce a third component in which a first material comprising a first component or said first component and a second component is fed to divided wall column having a catalytic distillation structure in at least one of the separate vertical sections of the divided wall column where concurrently: (1) a first component alone or with a second component is contacted with a catalytic distillation structure in a distillation reaction zone thereby catalytically reacting at least a portion of the first component with itself or with the second component to form a product and (2) a first mixture comprising the first component and the product or the first component, the second component and the product; and withdrawing the product from the distillation column reactor; while within the column concurrently with the catalytic reaction and fractionation a second mixture is fractionated, which contains the first component and the product or first a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventors: Willibrord A. Groten, Mario J. Maraschino
  • Patent number: 7351327
    Abstract: A process for concurrently fractionating and treating a full range naphtha stream. The full boiling range naphtha stream is first subjected to simultaneous thioetherification and splitting into a light boiling range naphtha, an intermediate boiling range naphtha and a heavy boiling range naphtha. The intermediate boiling range naphtha containing thiophene and thiophene boiling range mercaptans is passed on to a polishing hydrodesulfurization reactor where a low sulfur, low olefin gas oil is concurrently fed to the polishing reactor to insure that a liquid phase is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventors: Gary G. Podrebarac, Willibrord A. Groten, Lawrence A. Smith, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7319176
    Abstract: A process for removing acetylenic compounds using unsulfided metallic nickel or unsulfided metallic nickel modified with metallic Mo, Re, Bi or mixtures in which the catalyst is used alone or is used in combination with other acetylenic selective catalysts. The unsulfided metallic nickel catalyst or modified catalyst must be the first catalyst to contact the hydrocarbon stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventors: J. Yong Ryu, John R. Adams, Willibrord A. Groten
  • Patent number: 7175754
    Abstract: A process for the production of low benzene content gasoline is disclosed wherein a full boiling range naphtha is fractionated to produce a light naphtha, a medium naphtha and a heavy naphtha. The benzene is contained in the medium naphtha and this stream is subjected to hydrogenation to convert the benzene to cyclohexane which may be isomerized to improve the octane. The valuable olefins are removed in the light naphtha and the valuable heavier aromatics (toluene and xylenes) are removed in the heavy naphtha. In a preferred embodiment all of the reactions are carried out in distillation column reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventors: Willibrord A. Groten, Kerry L. Rock
  • Patent number: 7153415
    Abstract: A light cracked naphtha is treated to convert mercaptans to sulfides and saturate dienes and then subjected to destructive hydrodesulfurization (HDS) to convert the organic sulfur compounds to hydrogen sulfide. The recombinant mercaptans formed by reaction of hydrogen sulfide and olefins at the outlet of the HDS are generally heavier than the light cracked naphtha is fractionated in admixture with a heavy cracked naphtha. A low sulfur content light cracked naphtha is produced as an overheads and the major portion of the mercaptans leave with heavy cracked naphtha as bottoms. It also advantageous to pass the heavy cracked naphtha through the HDS in admixture with the light cracked naphtha, since the recombinant mercaptans formed with the heavy cracked naphtha olefins (which displace some of the lower mercaptans which would form the light cracked naphtha olefins) will be even higher boiling and easier to separate by fractionation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventors: Gary G. Podrebarac, Willibrord A. Groten, Manoj Som, Martinus J. Almering
  • Patent number: 7030277
    Abstract: A process for reacting a first component with itself or a second component to produce a third component in which a first material comprising a first component or said first component and a second component is fed to divided wall column having a catalytic distillation structure in at least one of the separate vertical sections of the divided wall column where concurrently: (1) a first component alone or with a second component is contacted with a catalytic distillation structure in a distillation reaction zone thereby catalytically reacting at least a portion of the first component with itself or with the second component to form a product and (2) a first mixture comprising the first component and the product or the first component, the second component and the product; and withdrawing the product from the distillation column reactor; while within the column concurrently with the catalytic reaction and fractionation a second mixture is fractionated, which contains the first component and the product or first a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Inventors: Willibrord A. Groten, Mario J. Maraschino
  • Patent number: 7026517
    Abstract: A process for reacting a first component with itself or a second component to produce a third component in which a first material comprising a first component or said first component and a second component is fed to divided wall column having a catalytic distillation structure in at least one of the separate vertical sections of the divided wall column where concurrently: (1) a first component alone or with a second component is contacted with a catalytic distillation structure in a distillation reaction zone thereby catalytically reacting at least a portion of the first component with itself or with the second component to form a product and (2) a first mixture comprising the first component and the product or the first component, the second component and the product; and withdrawing the product from the distillation column reactor; while within the column concurrently with the catalytic reaction and fractionation a second mixture is fractionated, which contains the first component and the product or first a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventors: Willibrord A. Groten, Mario J. Maraschino
  • Patent number: 7014833
    Abstract: A process for reacting a first component with itself or a second component to produce a third component in which a first material comprising a first component or said first component and a second component is fed to divided wall column having a catalytic distillation structure in at least one of the separate vertical sections of the divided wall column where concurrently: (1) a first component alone or with a second component is contacted with a catalytic distillation structure in a distillation reaction zone thereby catalytically reacting at least a portion of the first component with itself or with the second component to form a product and (2) a first mixture comprising the first component and the product or the first component, the second component and the product; and withdrawing the product from the distillation column reactor; while within the column concurrently with the catalytic reaction and fractionation a second mixture is fractionated, which contains the first component and the product or first a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventors: Willibrord A. Groten, Mario J. Maraschino
  • Patent number: 6946068
    Abstract: A process for concurrently fractionating and hydrotreating of a full range naphtha stream. The full boiling range naphtha stream, for example which is derived from fluid catalytic cracking, is first subjected to simultaneous hydrogenation of the thiophene contained therein and thioetherification and fractionation to remove the mercaptans the light fraction and then to simultaneous hydrodesulfurization and splitting of the bottoms into an intermediate boiling range naphtha and a heavy boiling range naphtha. The three boiling range naphthas are treated separately according to the amount of sulfur in each cut and the end use of each fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventor: Willibrord A. Groten
  • Patent number: 6930206
    Abstract: A process for reacting a first component with itself or a second component to produce a third component in which a first material comprising a first component or said first component and a second component is fed to divided wall column having a catalytic distillation structure in at least one of the separate vertical sections of the divided wall column where concurrently: (1) a first component alone or with a second component is contacted with a catalytic distillation structure in a distillation reaction zone thereby catalytically reacting at least a portion of the first component with itself or with the second component to form a product and (2) a first mixture comprising the first component and the product or the first component, the second component and the product; and withdrawing the product from the distillation column reactor; while within the column concurrently with the catalytic reaction and fractionation a second mixture is fractionated, which contains the first component and the product or first a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventors: Willibrord A. Groten, Mario J. Maraschino
  • Publication number: 20050154241
    Abstract: A process for removing acetylenic compounds using unsulfided metallic nickel or unsulfided metallic nickel modified with metallic Mo, Re, Bi or mixtures in which the catalyst is used alone or is used in combination with other acetylenic selective catalysts. The unsulfided metallic nickel catalyst or modified catalyst must be the first catalyst to contact the hydrocarbon stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Inventors: J. Ryu, John Adams, Willibrord Groten
  • Publication number: 20050082201
    Abstract: A process for the production of low benzene content gasoline is disclosed wherein a full boiling range naphtha is fractionated to produce a light naphtha, a medium naphtha and a heavy naphtha. The benzene is contained in the medium naphtha and this stream is subjected to hydrogenation to convert the benzene to cyclohexane which may be isomerized to improve the octane. The valuable olefins are removed in the light naphtha and the valuable heavier aromatics (toluene and xylenes) are removed in the heavy naphtha. In a preferred embodiment all of the reactions are carried out in distillation column reactors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Publication date: April 21, 2005
    Inventors: Willibrord Groten, Kerry Rock
  • Patent number: 6855853
    Abstract: A process for the production of low benzene content gasoline is disclosed wherein a full boiling range naphtha is fractionated to produce a light naphtha, a medium naphtha and a heavy naphtha. The benzene is contained in the medium naphtha and this stream is subjected to hydrogenation to convert the benzene to cyclohexane which may be isomerized to improve the octane. The valuable olefins are removed in the light naphtha and the valuable heavier aromatics (toluene and xylenes) are removed in the heavy naphtha. In a preferred embodiment all of the reactions are carried out in distillation column reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventors: Willibrord A. Groten, Kerry L. Rock
  • Patent number: 6824676
    Abstract: A process for concurrently fractionating and treating a full range naphtha stream. The full boiling range naphtha stream is first subjected to simultaneous thioetherification and splitting into a light boiling range naphtha, an intermediate boiling range naphtha and a heavy boiling range naphtha. The intermediate boiling range naphtha containing thiophene and thiophene boiling range mercaptans is passed on to a polishing hydrodesulfurization reactor where a low sulfur, low olefin gas oil is concurrently fed to the polishing reactor to insure that a liquid phase is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventors: Gary G. Podrebarac, Willibrord A. Groten, Lawrence A. Smith, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20040210091
    Abstract: A process for reacting a first component with itself or a second component to produce a third component in which a first material comprising a first component or said first component and a second component is fed to divided wall column having a catalytic distillation structure in at least one of the separate vertical sections of the divided wall column where concurrently: (1) a first component alone or with a second component is contacted with a catalytic distillation structure in a distillation reaction zone thereby catalytically reacting at least a portion of the first component with itself or with the second component to form a product and (2) a first mixture comprising the first component and the product or the first component, the second component and the product; and withdrawing the product from the distillation column reactor; while within the column concurrently with the catalytic reaction and fractionation a second mixture is fractionated, which contains the first component and the product or first a
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: CATALYTIC DISTILLATION TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Willibrord A. Groten, Mario J. Maraschino
  • Publication number: 20040210092
    Abstract: A process for reacting a first component with itself or a second component to produce a third component in which a first material comprising a first component or said first component and a second component is fed to divided wall column having a catalytic distillation structure in at least one of the separate vertical sections of the divided wall column where concurrently: (1) a first component alone or with a second component is contacted with a catalytic distillation structure in a distillation reaction zone thereby catalytically reacting at least a portion of the first component with itself or with the second component to form a product and (2) a first mixture comprising the first component and the product or the first component, the second component and the product; and withdrawing the product from the distillation column reactor; while within the column concurrently with the catalytic reaction and fractionation a second mixture is fractionated, which contains the first component and the product or first a
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: CATALYTIC DISTILLATION TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Willibrord A. Groten, Mario J. Maraschino
  • Publication number: 20040210093
    Abstract: A process for reacting a first component with itself or a second component to produce a third component in which a first material comprising a first component or said first component and a second component is fed to divided wall column having a catalytic distillation structure in at least one of the separate vertical sections of the divided wall column where concurrently: (1) a first component alone or with a second component is contacted with a catalytic distillation structure in a distillation reaction zone thereby catalytically reacting at least a portion of the first component with itself or with the second component to form a product and (2) a first mixture comprising the first component and the product or the first component, the second component and the product; and withdrawing the product from the distillation column reactor; while within the column concurrently with the catalytic reaction and fractionation a second mixture is fractionated, which contains the first component and the product or first a
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: CATALYTIC DISTILLATION TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Willibrord A. Groten, Mario J. Maraschino
  • Publication number: 20040210090
    Abstract: A process for reacting a first component with itself or a second component to produce a third component in which a first material comprising a first component or said first component and a second component is fed to divided wall column having a catalytic distillation structure in at least one of the separate vertical sections of the divided wall column where concurrently: (1) a first component alone or with a second component is contacted with a catalytic distillation structure in a distillation reaction zone thereby catalytically reacting at least a portion of the first component with itself or with the second component to form a product and (2) a first mixture comprising the first component and the product or the first component, the second component and the product; and withdrawing the product from the distillation column reactor; while within the column concurrently with the catalytic reaction and fractionation a second mixture is fractionated, which contains the first component and the product or first a
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: CATALYTIC DISTILLATION TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Willibrord A. Groten, Mario J. Maraschino
  • Publication number: 20040204614
    Abstract: A process for reacting a first component with itself or a second component to produce a third component in which a first material comprising a first component or said first component and a second component is fed to divided wall column having a catalytic distillation structure in at least one of the separate vertical sections of the divided wall column where concurrently: (1) a first component alone or with a second component is contacted with a catalytic distillation structure in a distillation reaction zone thereby catalytically reacting at least a portion of the first component with itself or with the second component to form a product and (2) a first mixture comprising the first component and the product or the first component, the second component and the product; and withdrawing the product from the distillation column reactor; while within the column concurrently with the catalytic reaction and fractionation a second mixture is fractionated, which contains the first component and the product or first a
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Applicant: CATALYTIC DISTILLATION TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Willibrord A. Groten, Mario J. Maraschino