Stafford W Sheehan

US Patent:

20230060945, Mar 2, 2023

Filed:

Jul 27, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/815332

Inventors:

- Brooklyn NY, US
Stafford W. Sheehan - Tiverton RI, US

International Classification:

C07C 29/158
C25B 1/04
C07C 29/151

Abstract:

Methods for producing alcohols by deriving carbon dioxide from air or another dilute source, and supplying water, which is converted to hydrogen and oxygen, with subsequent conversion of the carbon dioxide and hydrogen into alcohols is disclosed. The method includes, but is not limited to including, a direct air capture system carbon dioxide, a water electrolysis unit powered by electricity, a hydrogenation reactor to convert carbon dioxide and hydrogen gases into alcohols, and a distillation system to separate alcohols or a single constituent alcohol from other hydrogenation products. Optionally, these methods may include systems capture water from air, if water or hydrogen is not available on-site, and the distillation system may use propylene glycol as an extraction solvent. This process can be used for on-site production of feedstock alcohols such as ethanol at high purity, and many other applications.

US Patent:

20210147326, May 20, 2021

Filed:

Jun 29, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/627925

Inventors:

- BROOKLYN NY, US
Stafford W. Sheehan - Tiverton RI, US

International Classification:

C07C 29/158
C25B 1/04

Abstract:

Methods for producing alcohols by deriving carbon dioxide from air or another dilute source, and supplying water, which is converted to hydrogen and oxygen, with subsequent conversion of the carbon dioxide and hydrogen into alcohols is disclosed. The method includes, but is not limited to including, a direct air capture system carbon dioxide, a water electrolysis unit powered by electricity, a hydrogenation reactor to convert carbon dioxide and hydrogen gases into alcohols, and a distillation system to separate alcohols or a single constituent alcohol from other hydrogenation products. Optionally, these methods may include systems capture water from air, if water or hydrogen is not available on-site, and the distillation system may use propylene glycol as an extraction solvent. This process can be used for on-site production of feedstock alcohols such as ethanol at high purity, and many other applications.

US Patent:

20190233952, Aug 1, 2019

Filed:

Apr 12, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/383373

Inventors:

Stafford Wheeler Sheehan - Tiverton RI, US

International Classification:

C25B 3/04
C12G 3/04
C25B 9/20
C25B 15/08

Abstract:

Electrochemical devices, such as membrane electrode assemblies and electrochemical reactors, are described herein, as well as and methods for the conversion of reactants such as carbon dioxide to value-added products such as ethanol. In certain aspects, the membrane electrode assemblies are configured to allow for distributed pressure along the cathodic side of a membrane electrode assembly is described. The pressure vessel acts as a cathode chamber, both for the feed of reactant carbon dioxide as well as collection of products. The designs described herein improves the safety of high pressure electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction and allows for varied pressures to be used, in order to optimize reaction conditions. Configurations optimized for producing preferred products, such as ethanol, are also described.

US Patent:

20180362426, Dec 20, 2018

Filed:

Jun 19, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/012749

Inventors:

Chi Chen - Beijing, CN
Juliet Khosrowabadi Kotyk - Providence RI, US
Stafford Wheeler Sheehan - Tiverton RI, US

Assignee:

Catalytic Innovations, Inc - Fall River MA

International Classification:

C07C 29/157
B01J 23/89

Abstract:

Catalysts and methods for the selective conversion of carbon dioxide and hydrogen into methanol using heat and high pressure in a hydrogenation reactor are disclosed. Key to this process are catalysts, which are comprised of multimetallic, aluminum oxide-supported nanoparticles. In some embodiments of the invention, the catalytic nanoparticles are made from mixtures of zinc and copper, or mixtures of palladium and copper, in different stoichiometric equivalents. In others, stoichiometric additives or dopants are added in order to improve the rate of product formation, improve selectivity, or allow for flow configurations. Methods for the use of these catalysts for the synthesis of methanol, and for the purification of CO, H, or CO gas streams by transforming contaminants into liquid methanol are also described.

US Patent:

20170096742, Apr 6, 2017

Filed:

Oct 2, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/283403

Inventors:

Stafford Wheeler Sheehan - Tiverton RI, US

Assignee:

Waste Hub - Bristol RI

International Classification:

C25B 13/08
C25B 9/10
C25B 11/04
C02F 1/38
C02F 1/66
C02F 1/00
C02F 1/52
C25B 1/10
C02F 1/467

Abstract:

Electrochemical devices capable of converting acidic aqueous byproducts of strained yogurt production into value-added materials, as well as methods of making and using these devices, are described herein. Assembly of an electrolytic cell or series of cells that contain an anode that oxidizes organic substances in the aqueous byproduct stream and a cathode that either reduces organic species or water is described. Electrolysis serves to break down the organic matter present in the liquid, such as lactic acid and lactose, as well as aid in the separation of whey protein matter. Gaseous products of this electrolysis process can be either sold or used in waste-to-energy schemes, thereby introducing an environmentally-friendly method for the electrolytic treatment of acid whey.

US Patent:

20160152648, Jun 2, 2016

Filed:

Nov 24, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/950791

Inventors:

- New Haven CT, US
Stafford W. Sheehan - Tiverton RI, US
Samuel L. Collom - New Haven CT, US
Robert H. Crabtree - Bethany CT, US
Paul T. Anastas - Guilford CT, US

International Classification:

C07F 15/06
B01J 35/00
C07F 11/00
C07F 15/04
C25B 3/02
C07F 15/00
C07F 13/00
C25B 1/04
C25B 3/04
B01J 31/24
C07F 15/02

Abstract:

Catalysts prepared from abundant, cost effective metals, such as cobalt, nickel, chromium, manganese, iron, and copper, and containing one or more neutrally charged ligands (e.g., monodentate, bidentate, and/or polydentate ligands) and methods of making and using thereof are described herein. Exemplary ligands include, but are not limited to, phosphine ligands, nitrogen-based ligands, sulfur-based ligands, and/or arsenic-based ligands. In some embodiments, the catalyst is a cobalt-based catalyst or a nickel-based catalyst. The catalysts described herein are stable and active at neutral pH and in a wide range of buffers that are both weak and strong proton acceptors. While its activity is slightly lower than state of the art cobalt-based water oxidation catalysts under some conditions, it is capable of sustaining electrolysis at high applied potentials without a significant degradation in catalytic current. This enhanced robustness gives it an advantage in industrial and large-scale water electrolysis schemes.

US Patent:

20150065339, Mar 5, 2015

Filed:

Jul 2, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/322773

Inventors:

- New Haven CT, US
Stafford W. Sheehan - Tiverton RI, US
Samuel L. Collom - New Haven CT, US
Robert H. Crabtree - Bethany CT, US
Paul T. Anastas - Guilford CT, US

International Classification:

B01J 31/12
C01B 13/02
C07C 45/28
C07C 29/48
C07D 307/20
C07C 51/16
C07C 45/27
C07D 207/12
C07C 303/30
C07B 33/00
B01J 27/185
C02F 1/467
H01M 4/90
G01N 27/407
C07F 15/06

US Classification:

502155, 556 16, 423579, 568376, 568811, 549295, 562538, 568309, 568386, 548552, 562409, 568379, 558 56, 21074816, 210757, 429528, 204431

Abstract:

Catalysts prepared from abundant, cost effective metals, such as cobalt, nickel, chromium, manganese, iron, and copper, and containing one or more neutrally charged ligands (e.g., monodentate, bidentate, and/or polydentate ligands) and methods of making and using thereof are described herein. Exemplary ligands include, but are not limited to, phosphine ligands, nitrogen-based ligands, sulfur-based ligands, and/or arsenic-based ligands. In some embodiments, the catalyst is a cobalt-based catalyst or a nickel-based catalyst. The catalysts described herein are stable and active at neutral pH and in a wide range of buffers that are both weak and strong proton acceptors. While its activity is slightly lower than state of the art cobalt-based water oxidation catalysts under some conditions, it is capable of sustaining electrolysis at high applied potentials without a significant degradation in catalytic current. This enhanced robustness gives it an advantage in industrial and large-scale water electrolysis schemes.