Philip Grosso, 89Tahoma, CA

6462243, Oct 8, 2002

Sep 11, 2001

09/951570

Xiao Ping Zhou - Goleta CA
Ivan Marc Lorkovic - Santa Barbara CA
Galen D. Stucky - Goleta CA
Peter C. Ford - Santa Barbara CA
Jeffrey H. Sherman - The Woodlands TX
Philip Grosso - Auburn CA

GRT, Inc. - The Woodland TX
The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

C07C 2700

568893, 568671, 568891, 568910

Alcohols and/or ethers are synthesized from alkanes by mixing an alkane and bromine in a reactor to form alkyl bromide and hydrogen bromide. The alkyl bromide is directed into contact with metal oxide to form alcohol and/or ether and a metal bromide. The metal bromide is oxidized to metal oxide and bromine, both of which are recycled.

6472572, Oct 29, 2002

Jun 20, 2001

09/886078

Xiao Ping Zhou - Goleta CA
Ivan Marc Lorkovic - Santa Barbara CA
Galen D. Stucky - Goleta CA
Peter C. Ford - Santa Barbara CA
Jeffrey H. Sherman - The Woodlands TX
Philip Grosso - Auburn CA

GRT, Inc. - The Woodlands TX
The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

C07C 2700

568893, 568671, 568891, 568910

Methanol and/or dimethyl ether are manufactured from methane by mixing methane and bromine in a reactor to form methyl bromide and hydrogen bromide. The methyl bromide only or the methyl bromide and the hydrogen bromide are directed into contact with metal oxide to form methanol and/or dimethyl ether and a metal bromide. The metal bromide is oxidized to form original metal oxide catalyst and bromine, both of which are recycled.

6525230, Feb 25, 2003

Apr 2, 2002

10/114579

Philip Grosso - Auburn CA

GRT, Inc. - The Woodlands TX

C07C 2700

568891, 568671, 568893, 568894, 568910

In a method of converting alkanes to their corresponding alcohols and ethers a vessel comprises a hollow, unsegregated interior defined first, second, and third zones. In a first embodiment of the invention oxygen reacts with metal bromide in the first zone to provide bromine; bromine reacts with the alkane in the second zone to form alkyl bromide; and the alkyl bromide reacts with metal oxide in the third zone to form the corresponding alcohol and/or ether. Metal bromide from the third zone is transported through the vessel to the first zone and metal oxide from the first zone is recycled to the third zone. A second embodiment of the invention differs from the first embodiment in that metal oxide is transported through the vessel from the first zone to the third zone and metal bromide is recycled from the third zone to the first zone. In a third embodiment of the invention the flow of gases through the vessel is reversed to convert the metal oxide back to metal bromide and to convert the metal bromide back to the metal oxide.

7019182, Mar 28, 2006

Oct 4, 2004

10/958519

Philip Grosso - Auburn CA, US

GRT, Inc. - The Woodlands TX

C07B 41/02

5689105, 568910, 585240, 585302

Gas phase hydrocarbons resulting from the operation of offshore petroleum wells are converted into corresponding liquid products which are mixed with liquid phased hydrocarbons resulting from operation of the offshore petroleum well for delivery therewith.

7230150, Jun 12, 2007

Jul 19, 2004

10/894165

Philip Grosso - Auburn CA, US
Jeffrey H. Sherman - Sebastian FL, US
Eric W. McFarland - Santa Barbara CA, US

GRT, Inc. - Santa Barbara CA

C07C 1/26

585323, 585641

In a method of converting alkanes to their corresponding alcohols, ethers, olefins, and other hydrocarbons, a vessel comprises a hollow, unsegregated interior defined first, second, and third zones. In a first embodiment of the invention oxygen reacts with metal halide in the first zone to provide gaseous halide; halide reacts with the alkane in the second zone to form alkyl halide; and the alkyl halide reacts with metal oxide in the third zone to form a hydrocarbon corresponding to the original alkane. Metal halide from the third zone is transported through the vessel to the first zone and metal oxide from the first zone is recycled to the third zone. A second embodiment of the invention differs from the first embodiment in that metal oxide is transported through the vessel from the first zone to the third zone and metal halide is recycled from the third zone to the first zone. In a third embodiment of the invention the flow of gases through the vessel is reversed to convert the metal oxide back to metal halide and to convert the metal halide back to the metal oxide.

7579510, Aug 25, 2009

Feb 5, 2007

11/703358

Sagar B. Gadewar - Goleta CA, US
Michael D. Wyrsta - Santa Barbara CA, US
Philip Grosso - Auburn CA, US
Aihua Zhang - Santa Barbara CA, US
Eric W. McFarland - Santa Barbara CA, US
Zachary J. A. Komon - Goleta CA, US
Jeffrey H. Sherman - Sebastian FL, US

GRT, Inc. - Santa Barbara CA

C07C 2/88
C07C 2/86

585310, 585943

An improved continuous process for converting methane, natural gas, or other hydrocarbon feedstocks into one or more higher hydrocarbons or olefins by continuously cycling through the steps of alkane halogenation, product formation (carbon-carbon coupling), product separation, and regeneration of halogen is provided. Preferably, the halogen is continually recovered by reacting hydrobromic acid with air or oxygen. The invention provides an efficient route to aromatic compounds, aliphatic compounds, mixtures of aliphatic and aromatic compounds, olefins, gasoline grade materials, and other useful products.

7838708, Nov 23, 2010

Jan 25, 2010

12/692831

Jeffrey H. Sherman - Vero Beach FL, US
Eric W. McFarland - Santa Barbara CA, US
Michael J. Weiss - Santa Barbara CA, US
Ivan Marc Lorkovic - Santa Barbara CA, US
Leroy E. Laverman - Santa Barbara CA, US
Shouli Sun - Santa Barbara CA, US
Dieter J. Schaefer - Goleta CA, US
Galen D. Stucky - Santa Barbara CA, US
Peter C. Ford - Santa Barbara CA, US
Philip Grosso - Auburn CA, US
Ashley W. Breed - Goleta CA, US
Michael F. Doherty - Santa Barbara CA, US

GRT, Inc. - Santa Barbara CA
The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

C07C 29/48
C07C 29/58

568893, 568910, 5689105

Improvements in previously disclosed methods of and apparatuses for converting alkanes, alkenes, and aromatics to olefins, alcohols, ethers, and aldehydes includes: safety improvements, use of alternative feedstocks, process simplification, improvements to the halogenation step, improvements to the reproportionation step, improvements to the solid oxide reaction, improvements to solid oxide regeneration, improvements in separations, maintenance, start-up, shut-down, and materials of construction.

7883568, Feb 8, 2011

Feb 5, 2007

11/703277

Sagar B. Gadewar - Goleta CA, US
Peter K. Stoimenov - Goleta CA, US
Philip Grosso - Auburn CA, US
Eric W. McFarland - Santa Barbara CA, US
Ashley W. Breed - Goleta CA, US
Michael J. Weiss - Santa Barbara CA, US
Michael D. Wyrsta - Santa Barbara CA, US

GRT, Inc. - Santa Barbara CA

B01D 53/02

95131, 95132, 423240 R, 423240 S, 423241

A process is provided for separating one or more light gases from bromine or chlorine using one or more physical separations and contact with a chemical scrubber to recover additional halogen. In one aspect, the process comprises (a) providing a feed of halogen containing one or more light gases to a distillation column or flash vaporizer; (b) operating the distillation column or flash vaporizer to separate the feed into (i) a first liquid containing a major amount of halogen and no more than a minor amount of light gas(es), and (ii) a first vapor containing a major amount of light gas(es) and no more than a minor amount of halogen; and (c) providing the vapor to a chemical scrubber to recover halogen from the vapor.