Headwaters Technology Innovation, LLC

Hydrocarbon Technologies, Inc.

Headwaters Nanokinetix, Inc.

Headwaters Heavy Oil, LLC

Other

Wilmington Trust Fsb

Dalian Institute

Bing Zhou

Zhihua Wu

Michael A Rueter

Zhenhua Zhou

Cheng Zhang

Sukesh Parasher

Changkun Liu

Martin Fransson

Lap-Keung Lee

Horacio Trevino

Clementine Reyes

Gongquan Sun

Shiguo Sun

Qin Xin

Horacio Treviño

Shuihua Tang

Wei Wang

Yijun Lu

Bruce P Pelrine

Hongnan Zhang

He Qiu

Zhenyu Li

Raymond B Balée

Wei Zheng

Jeffrey J Hare

Stephanie E Black

Kenneth R Johnson

Naresh J Suchak

Ce Wang

N Stanley Harding

Hydrocarbon-soluble molybdenum catalyst precursors include a plurality of molybdenum cations and a plurality of carboxylate anions having at least 8 carbon atoms. The carboxylate anions are alicyclic, aromatic, or branched, unsaturated and aliphatic, and can derived from carboxylic acids selected from 3-cyclopentylpropionic acid, cyclohexanebutyric acid, biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid, 4-heptylbenzoic acid, 5-phenylvaleric acid, geranic acid, 10-undecenoic acid, dodecanoic acid, and combinations thereof. The molybdenum salts have decomposition temperatures higher than 210&#xb0; C. The catalyst precursors can form a hydroprocessing molybdenum sulfide catalyst in heavy oil feedstocks. Also disclosed are methods for making catalyst precursors and hydrocracking heavy oil using active catalysts.

Highly stable hydrocarbon-soluble molybdenum catalyst precursors and methods for making same

Hydrocarbon-soluble molybdenum catalyst precursors include a plurality of molybdenum cations that are each bonded with a plurality of organic anions to form an oil soluble molybdenum salt. A portion of the molybdenum atoms are in the 3+ oxidation state such that the plurality of molybdenum atoms has an average oxidation state of less than 4+, e.g., less than about 3.8+, especially less than about 3.5+. The catalyst precursors can form a hydroprocessing molybdenum sulfide catalyst in heavy oil feedstocks. The oil soluble molybdenum salts are manufactured in the presence of a reducing agent, such as hydrogen gas, to obtain the molybdenum in the desired oxidation state. Preferably the reaction is performed with hydrogen or an organic reducing agent and at a temperature such that the molybdenum atoms are reduced to eliminate substantially all molybdenum oxide species.

Hydrocarbon-soluble molybdenum catalyst precursors and methods for making same

Powdered, amorphous carbon nanomaterials are formed from a carbon precursor in reverse microemulsion that includes organic solvent, surfactant and water. Methods for manufacturing amorphous, powdered carbon nanomaterials generally include steps of (1) forming a reverse microemulsion including at least one non-polar solvent, at least one surfactant, and at least one polar solvent, (2) adding at least one carbon precursor substance to the reverse microemulsion, (3) reacting the at least one carbon precursor substance so as to form an intermediate carbon nanomaterial, (4) separating the intermediate amorphous carbon nanomaterial from the reverse microemulsion, and (5) heating the intermediate amorphous carbon nanomaterial for a period of time so as to yield an amorphous, powdered carbon nanomaterial. Amorphous, powdered carbon nanomaterials manufactured according to the present disclosure typically have a surface area of at least 500 m/g, a graphitic content of at least 25%, and a conductivity of at least 150 S/m.

Preparation of a carbon nanomaterial using a reverse microemulsion

A self-cleaning humidity sensor based on Mg/Na-doped TiOnanofiber mats is provided. Examples show the response and recovery characteristic curves for ten circles with the RH changing from 11% to 95%. The nanofibers are manufactured by mixing together a metal salt comprising titanium, a magnesium compound, a sodium compound, and a high molecular weight material to form a mixture, electrospinning the mixture to form composite nanofibers, and calcining the composite nanofibers to yield a TiOnanofiber material doped with magnesium and sodium.

Nanofibers and methods of making same and using same in humidity sensors

Hydrocarbons containing polynuclear aromatics, such as cycle oil and pyrolysis fuel oil (PFO), are upgraded using an catalyst complex that selectively cracks the polynuclear aromatic compounds to form higher value mono-aromatic compounds, such as benzene toluene, xylenes and ethyl benzene (i.e., BTX). The catalyst complexes include a catalytic metal center and a plurality of organic ligands. During the hydrocracking procedure, the organic ligand preserves one of the aromatic rings of the polynuclear aromatic compounds while the catalytic metal breaks the other aromatic rings thereby yielding a monoaromatic compound.

Process for increasing the mono-aromatic content of polynuclear-aromatic-containing feedstocks

The fuel cells include electrode membrane assemblies having a nanoparticle catalyst supported on carbon nanorings. The carbon nanorings are formed from one or more carbon layers that form a wall that defines a generally annular nanostructure having a hole. The length of the nanoring is less than or about equal to the outer diameter thereof. The nanorings exhibit high surface area, high porosity, high graphitization, and/or facilitate mass transfer and electron transfer in fuel cell reactions.

Fuel cells and fuel cell catalysts incorporating a nanoring support

Oil soluble catalysts are used in a process to hydrodesulfurize petroleum feedstock having a high concentration of sulfur-containing compounds and convert the feedstock to a higher value product. The catalyst complex includes at least one attractor species and at least one catalytic metal that are bonded to a plurality of organic ligands that make the catalyst complex oil-soluble. The attractor species selectively attracts the catalyst to sulfur sites in sulfur-containing compounds in the feedstock where the catalytic metal can catalyze the removal of sulfur. Because the attractor species selectively attracts the catalysts to sulfur sites, non-productive, hydrogen consuming side reactions are reduced and greater rates of hydrodesulfurization are achieved while consuming less hydrogen per unit sulfur removed.

Catalyst and method for hydrodesulfurization of hydrocarbons

Inorganic oxide substrates are functionalized with silicon-free organic functionalizing agents. The organic functionalizing agent has a bonding functional group for bonding to the substrate and a functionalizing moiety that is not bonded to the substrate for imparting a desired functionality to the substrate. The functionalized inorganic oxide substrates are manufactured by selecting a functionalizing agent and reaction conditions that allows the bonding functional group to bond to the inorganic material while leaving the functionalizing moiety available for providing the desired functionality. The functionalized inorganic oxides can be used as filler materials in polymers or to manufacture a supported nanoparticle catalyst.

Methods for manufacturing functionalized inorganic oxides and polymers incorporating same

Hydrogen is stored by adsorbing the hydrogen to a carbon nanomaterial that includes carbon nanospheres. The carbon nanospheres are multi-walled, hollow carbon nanostructures with a maximum diameter in a range from about 10 nm to about 200 nm. The nanospheres have an irregular outer surface with graphitic defects and an aspect ratio of less than 3:1. The carbon nanospheres can store hydrogen in quantities of at least 1.0% by weight.

Hydrogen storage apparatus using porous carbon nanospheres

The particle sizes of agglomerates of carbon nanospheres are reduced by dispersing the carbon nanospheres in an organic solvent. The carbon nanospheres are multi-walled, hollow, graphitic structures with an average diameter in a range from about 10 nm to about 200 nm, more preferably about 20 nm to about 100 nm. Spectral data shows that prior to being dispersed, the carbon nanospheres are agglomerated into clusters that range in size from 500 nm to 5 microns. The clusters of nanospheres are reduced in size by dispersing the carbon nanospheres in an organic solvent containing at least one heteroatom (e.g., NMP) using ultrasonication. The combination of organic solvent and ultrasonication breaks up and disperses agglomerates of carbon nanospheres.

Highly dispersible carbon nanospheres in an organic solvent and methods for making same

Oil soluble catalysts are used to convert polynuclear aromatic compounds in a hydrocarbon feedstock to higher value mono-aromatic compounds. The catalyst complex includes a catalytic metal center that is bonded to a plurality of organic ligands that make the catalyst complex oil-soluble. The ligands include an aromatic ring and a ligand spacer group. The ligand spacer group provides spacing of 2-6 atoms between the metal center and the aromatic ring. The spacing between the aromatic group and the catalytic metal center advantageously allows the catalyst to selectively crack polynuclear aromatic rings while preserving one of the aromatic rings, thereby increasing the content of mono-aromatic compounds in the hydrocarbon feedstock.

Catalyst for hydrocracking hydrocarbons containing polynuclear aromatic compounds

The present invention relates to novel composites that incorporate carbon nanospheres into a polymeric material. The polymeric material can be any polymer or polymerizable material compatible with graphitic materials. The carbon nanospheres are hollow, graphitic nanoparticles. The carbon nanospheres can be manufactured from a carbon precursor using templating catalytic nanoparticles. The unique size, shape, and electrical properties of the carbon nanospheres impart beneficial properties to the composites incorporating these nanomaterials.

Polymeric materials incorporating carbon nanostructures

Nanoparticle catalysts are manufactured by first preparing a solution of a solvent and a plurality of complexed and caged catalyst atoms. Each of the complexed and caged catalyst atoms has at least three organic ligands forming a cage around the catalyst atom. The complexed and caged catalyst atoms are reduced to form a plurality of nanoparticles. During formation of the nanoparticles, the organic ligands provide spacing between the catalyst atoms via steric hindrances and/or provide interactions with a support material. The spacing and interactions with the support material allow formation of small, stable, and uniform nanoparticles.

Supported nanoparticle catalysts manufactured using caged catalyst atoms

Nanoparticle catalysts are manufactured by first preparing a solution of a solvent and a plurality of complexed catalyst atoms. Each of the complexed catalyst atoms has at least three organic ligands. The complexed catalyst atoms are reduced to form a plurality of nanoparticles. During formation of the nanoparticles, the organic ligands provide spacing between the catalyst atoms via steric hindrances and/or provide interactions with a support material. The spacing and interactions with the support material allow formation of small, stable, and uniform nanoparticles. The supported nanoparticle catalyst is then incorporated into a fuel cell electrode.

Methods of manufacturing fuel cell electrodes incorporating highly dispersed nanoparticle catalysts

Methods for manufacturing carbon nanostructures include 1) forming intermediate carbon nanostructures by polymerizing a carbon precursor in the presence of templating nanoparticles, 2) carbonizing the intermediate carbon nanostructures to form an intermediate composite nanostructure, and 3) removing the templating nanoparticles from the intermediate composite nanostructure to form carbon nanorings. The carbon nanorings manufactured using the foregoing steps have one or more carbon layers forming a wall that defines a generally annular nanostructure having a hole. The length of the nanoring is less than or about equal to the outer diameter thereof. The carbon nanostructures are well-suited for use as a fuel cell catalyst support. The carbon nanostructures exhibit high surface area, high porosity, high graphitization, and facilitate mass transfer and electron transfer in fuel cell reactions. Carbon nanorings manufactured according to the present invention can be used as a substitute for more expensive and likely more fragile carbon nanotubes.

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Cranbury, NJ, United States of America

Bing Zhou