Gregory A Funk

US Patent:

57446849, Apr 28, 1998

Filed:

Jun 18, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/666699

Inventors:

Herman A. Zinnen - Evanston IL
Charles P. McGonegal - Addison IL
Hemant W. Dandekar - Roselle IL
Gregory A. Funk - Carol Stream IL
Ralph D. Gillespie - Gurnee IL

Assignee:

UOP - Des Plaines IL

International Classification:

C07C 522

US Classification:

585737

Abstract:

A process for isomerizing a mixture of alkanes containing pentanes and at least one alkane having from 6 to about 8 carbon atoms and no more than one methyl branch has been developed. The process includes: 1) separating the mixture in a first separation zone to produce two streams, a stream enriched in alkanes having from 6 to about 8 carbon atoms and a stream enriched in pentanes; 2) separating the stream enriched in pentanes in a second separation zone to produce two streams, a stream predominately comprising n-pentane and a stream predominately comprising branched pentanes; 3) passing the stream enriched in alkanes having from 6 to about 8 carbon atoms and the stream enriched in n-pentane to an isomerization zone of a simulated moving bed to produce two streams, a stream containing branched pentanes, n-pentane, and multi-methyl-branched alkanes having from 6 to about 8 carbon atoms, and a stream containing branched pentanes and n-pentane; 4) separating the stream containing branched pentanes, n-pentane, and multi-methyl-branched alkanes having from 6 to about 8 carbon atoms in a third separation zone to produce two streams, a stream enriched in multi-methyl-branched alkanes having from 6 to about 8 carbon atoms and a stream enriched in branched pentanes and n-pentane; and 5) collecting the stream predominately comprising branched pentanes from the second separation zone and the stream enriched in multi-methyl-branched alkanes having from 6 to about 8 carbon atoms from the third separation zone. The catalyst used in the simulated moving bed may be platinum on tungstated zirconia and the adsorbent used in the simulated moving bed may be one or more of the following adsorbents, zeolite beta exchanged with sodium, lithium, potassium, barium, calcium, strontium or combinations thereof, zeolite X exchanged with calcium and strontium, mordenite exchanged with sodium, lithium, potassium, barium, calcium, strontium, or combinations thereof, EU-1, ZSM-12, SAPO-5, Y-82, faujasite and erionite.

US Patent:

55301738, Jun 25, 1996

Filed:

Nov 3, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/333683

Inventors:

Gregory A. Funk - Des Plaines IL
Hemant W. Dandekar - Des Plaines IL

International Classification:

C07C 522

US Classification:

585737

Abstract:

A process for isomerizing a mixture of alkanes containing pentanes and at least one alkane having from 6 to about 8 carbon atoms and no more than one methyl branch has been developed. The process includes: 1) separating the mixture in a first separation zone to produce two streams, a stream enriched in alkanes having from 6 to about 8 carbon atoms and a stream enriched in pentanes; 2) separating the stream enriched in pentanes in a second separation zone to produce two streams, a stream predominately comprising n-pentane and a stream predominately comprising branched pentanes; 3) passing the stream enriched in alkanes having from 6 to about 8 carbon atoms and the stream enriched in n-pentane to an isomerization zone of a simulated moving bed to produce two streams, a stream containing branched pentanes, n-pentane, and multi-methyl-branched alkanes having from 6 to about 8 carbon atoms, and a stream containing branched pentanes and n-pentane; 4) separating the stream containing branched pentanes, n-pentane, and multi-methyl-branched alkanes having from 6 to about 8 carbon atoms in a third separation zone to produce two streams, a stream enriched in multi-methyl-branched alkanes having from 6 to about 8 carbon atoms and a stream enriched in branched pentanes and n-pentane; and 5) collecting the stream predominately comprising branched pentanes from the second separation zone and the stream enriched in multi-methyl-branched alkanes having from 6 to about 8 carbon atoms from the third separation zone.

US Patent:

55233260, Jun 4, 1996

Filed:

Oct 28, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/330780

Inventors:

Hemant W. Dandekar - Chicago IL
Gregory A. Funk - Carol Stream IL
John D. Swift - Hindhead, GB2
Richard T. Maurer - Nanuet NY

Assignee:

UOP - Des Plaines IL

International Classification:

C07C 2700

US Classification:

548706

Abstract:

A process is disclosed for the production of methanol from a synthesis gas stream comprising hydrogen and carbon dioxide in which an equilibrium reaction to methanol is achieved by conducting the reaction and the product separation in a pressure swing adsorption and reaction zone containing a uniformly distributed adsorbent for the selective adsorption of methanol and a catalyst for the equilibrium conversion of the synthesis gas to methanol. More specifically, the process achieves the production of methanol by the reaction of the hydrogen and the carbon oxide with the simultaneous adsorption of the product at the same temperature and pressure. The passing of the synthesis stream to the bed is terminated and the bed is purged and depressurized to desorb the methanol product. In one embodiment, the bed is cocurrently purged with at least a portion of an effluent stream prior to depressurizing the bed. In further embodiments, the pressure swing adsorption and reaction zone is employed in a methanol synthesis loop both with and without a secondary reforming step to provide a lean synthesis gas with a stoichiometric ratio of carbon to hydrogen.

US Patent:

58116303, Sep 22, 1998

Filed:

Apr 29, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/638705

Inventors:

Hemant W. Dandekar - Chicago IL
Gregory A. Funk - Carol Stream IL

Assignee:

UOP LLC - Des Plaines IL

International Classification:

C07C 522
C07C 712
C07C 914
B01D 53047

US Classification:

585738

Abstract:

A process is disclosed for the production of a high octane product from a feed mixture comprising C. sub. 5 -C. sub. 6 normal paraffins in which an equilibrium reaction to produce mono and dimethyl branched paraffins is achieved by conducting the reaction and the product separation in a pressure swing adsorption and reaction zone containing a uniformly distributed adsorbent for the selective adsorption of normal paraffins and a catalyst for the equilibrium conversion of normal paraffins to mono and dimethyl branched paraffins. More specifically, the process achieves the isomerization of the normal paraffins by the reaction of the normal paraffins in the presence of hydrogen with the simultaneous removal of the mono and dimethyl branched paraffin product at the same temperature and pressure. In one embodiment, the passing of the feed mixture to the bed is terminated and the bed is purged with one of the reactants which in turn further reacts to displace heavier paraffin and enhance the overall product octane. The advantage of the present invention over the conventional process is the higher octane of the product produced and that this higher octane can be achieved at lower severity since the product is removed from the reaction zone as soon as it is produced.

US Patent:

54495016, Sep 12, 1995

Filed:

Mar 29, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/219325

Inventors:

Charles P. Luebke - Mount Prospect IL
Terry L. Marker - Warrenville IL
Gregory A. Funk - Carol Stream IL

Assignee:

UOP - Des Plaines IL

International Classification:

B01J 804

US Classification:

422193

Abstract:

Hydrocarbons are converted in a novel catalytic distillation zone comprising two or more cylindrical beds of dense loaded catalyst. Each catalyst bed is penetrated by a plurality of vertical vapor passageways which provide a means for vapor communication between fractionation sections located above and below the catalyst beds. The dense loading of the catalyst provides a low cost method of placing a large quantity of catalyst into the apparatus.

US Patent:

54496969, Sep 12, 1995

Filed:

Aug 1, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/283890

Inventors:

Hemant W. Dandekar - Chicago IL
Gregory A. Funk - Carol Stream IL

Assignee:

UOP - Des Plaines IL

International Classification:

C07C 2706
C07C 2915

US Classification:

518706

Abstract:

A process for the continuous production of methanol through contacting at least one feed stream containing at least carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and optionally carbon dioxide, with a simulated moving bed acting as a catalyst for methanol synthesis and an adsorbent for the methanol formed has been developed. The carbon monoxide and hydrogen are catalytically reacted to form methanol which is separated from the carbon monoxide and hydrogen by concurrent adsorption. The methanol is desorbed using a carbon dioxide or hydrogen desorbent and collected. A specific embodiment is one where the feed stream is introduced to the simulated moving bed at a temperature from about 210. degree. to about 270. degree. C. and the desorbent is introduced to the simulated moving bed at a temperature of about 150. degree. to about 250. degree. C.

US Patent:

54897327, Feb 6, 1996

Filed:

Oct 14, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/323437

Inventors:

Scott Y. Zhang - Chicago IL
Christopher D. Gosling - Roselle IL
Paul A. Sechrist - Des Plaines IL
Gregory A. Funk - Carol Stream IL

Assignee:

UOP - Des Plaines IL

International Classification:

C07C 258
C07C 266

US Classification:

585467

Abstract:

Hydrocarbons are alkylated in a fluidized riser-reactor using a solid catalyst which is regenerated within the process by contact with hydrogen. The alkylation and regeneration steps are separated to prevent the admixture of hydrogen and any olefins present in the process. Two separate modes of regeneration are performed simultaneously: a mild liquid-phase washing and a vapor-phase hot hydrogen stripping operation.

US Patent:

20230078452, Mar 16, 2023

Filed:

Sep 2, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/901924

Inventors:

- Des Plaines IL, US
Cora Wang Ploentham - Elk Grove Village IL, US
Gregory A. Funk - Carol Stream IL, US
Priyesh Jayendrakumar Jani - Gurugram, IN

International Classification:

C10G 45/58
C10G 9/36

Abstract:

A process for increasing conversion and selectivity to normal paraffins is achieved by reducing the hydrogen to hydrocarbon ratio for paraffin feeds with substantial butanes. A separator may be used to remove excess hydrogen from a first isomerate before a second isomerization step that may isomerize additional butanes perhaps generated in the first isomerization step.