Carl T Lira

US Patent:

7652167, Jan 26, 2010

Filed:

Jul 19, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/894307

Inventors:

Dennis J. Miller - Okemos MI, US
Navinchandra Asthana - East Lansing MI, US
Aspi Kolah - East Lansing MI, US
Carl T. Lira - East Lansing MI, US

Assignee:

Board of Trustees of Michigan State University - East Lansing MI

International Classification:

C07C 69/66

US Classification:

560179

Abstract:

A process for producing organic acid esters using continuous countercurrent reactive distillation using acid catalysts in a structured packing in a single column () is described. In the reactive distillation an organic acid ester is formed by chemical reaction and can be purified to its final state within the single column. Organic acid esters are produced at relatively low cost, with less waste production, and in a less complicated manner than prior processes. Organic acid ester have uses as solvents, as intermediate chemicals, and in consumer products.

US Patent:

7667068, Feb 23, 2010

Filed:

Apr 28, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/414672

Inventors:

Dennis J. Miller - Okemos MI, US
Navinchandra Asthana - East Lansing MI, US
Aspi Kolah - East Lansing MI, US
Dung T. Vu - Grand Rapids MI, US
Carl T. Lira - East Lansing MI, US

Assignee:

Board of Trustees of Michigan State University - East Lansing MI

International Classification:

C07C 67/08

US Classification:

560204

Abstract:

A process for producing organic acid di- or tri-esters, particularly citric acid tri-esters, with the available acid groups esterified using countercurrent reactive distillation using acid catalysts in a structured packing is described. In the reactive distillation an organic acid di- or tri-ester is formed by chemical reaction and purified to its final state within the single column. Organic acid di- or tri-esters are produced at relatively low cost, with less waste production in by-products of the reaction, and in a less complicated manner than prior processes. Organic acid di- and tri-esters have uses as solvents, as plasticizers and in conversion products.

US Patent:

8293935, Oct 23, 2012

Filed:

Dec 2, 2010

Appl. No.:

13/145731

Inventors:

Alvaro Orjuela - Bogata, CO
Carl Lira - East Lansing MI, US
Dennis Miller - Okemos MI, US

Assignee:

Board of trustees of Michigan State University - East Lansing MI

International Classification:

C07C 69/66
C07C 69/40
C07C 69/34

US Classification:

560179, 560190, 560191

Abstract:

A method of producing an alkyl ester of a carboxylic acid is provided, the method comprising: adding an alkanol and a mineral acid to a carboxylic acid salt to provide a carboxylic acid/alkanol solution and a precipitated mineral acid salt; separating the mineral acid salt from the carboxylic acid/alkanol solution; esterifying the carboxylic acid; and isolating an alkyl ester of the carboxylic acid.

US Patent:

8613780, Dec 24, 2013

Filed:

Nov 19, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/313343

Inventors:

Navinchandra S. Asthana - Evansville IN, US
Dennis J. Miller - Okemos MI, US
Carl T. Lira - East Lansing MI, US
Evan Bittner - East Lansing MI, US

Assignee:

Board of Trustees of Michigan State University - East Lansing MI

International Classification:

C10L 1/18

US Classification:

44388

Abstract:

A process for producing mixed esters of fatty acids as biofuel or additive to a petroleum fuel for use in a compression ignition (CI) engine. The process preferably provides a partial transesterification of a mixture of fatty acid methyl esters with at least one alkyl alcohol containing 2 to 8 carbon atoms in the presence of a heterogeneous solid acid catalyst to produce a mixture of the fatty acid methyl esters and alkyl alcohol esters of the fatty acids.

US Patent:

20060199970, Sep 7, 2006

Filed:

Feb 28, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/364241

Inventors:

Dennis Miller - Okemos MI, US
Lars Peereboom - Haslett MI, US
Aspi Kolah - East Lansing MI, US
Navinchandra Asthana - East Lansing MI, US
Carl Lira - East Lansing MI, US

Assignee:

Michigan State University, Board of Trustees operating - East Lansing MI

International Classification:

C07C 51/43

US Classification:

554174000

Abstract:

A process for the preparation of a fuel oil (diesel fuel or heating oil) composition which is a mixture of an alkanol tranesterified fatty acid ester triglyceride and an acetal of glycerol is described. The process preferably provides a prestep of the formation of at least some of the alkanol transesterified triglyceride containing the glycerol for use in the formation of the acetal of glycerol. The composition can also be formed from a reaction of 1,1- dimethoxy- or 1,1-diethoxyethane and glycerol to form the acetal in the alkanol transesterified triglyceride.

US Patent:

20120014889, Jan 19, 2012

Filed:

Jul 14, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/183114

Inventors:

Dennis Miller - Okemos MI, US
Xi Hong - Lansing MI, US
Carl Lira - East Lansing MI, US
Omar McGiveron - Lansing MI, US

International Classification:

C07C 45/42
A61Q 15/00
A61Q 17/04
A61Q 19/00
A61K 8/35
A61K 31/401

US Classification:

424 59, 568391, 568405, 424 65, 514423

Abstract:

A method comprising reacting glycerol with acetaldehyde or 1,1-diethoxyethane to produce 1,3-dihydroxyacetone (DHA), without using fermentation or direct oxidation of the glycerol is provided. DHA is useful in various products, including as a sunless tanning agent.

US Patent:

20130150619, Jun 13, 2013

Filed:

Dec 7, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/707735

Inventors:

BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY - East Lansing MI, US
Carl T. Lira - East Lansing MI, US
Lars Peereboom - Haslett MI, US
Aspi K. Kolah - Mason MI, US

Assignee:

BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY - East Lansing MI

International Classification:

C07C 67/08

US Classification:

560266

Abstract:

The disclosure relates to a process for forming an acyloxy carboxylic acid or a derivative of the acid. A hydroxy acid compound is reacted with a carboxylic acid in a reaction vessel and in the presence of a catalyst, such as in a reactive distillation column containing the catalyst. The reaction product formed in the reaction vessel includes an acyloxy carboxylic acid compound, which can be removed continuously from the vessel in a product stream. Another product stream containing unreacted (excess) carboxylic acid and/or reaction byproducts such as water can be separately removed continuously from the reaction vessel.

US Patent:

20140059924, Mar 6, 2014

Filed:

Nov 12, 2013

Appl. No.:

14/077897

Inventors:

Dennis J. Miller - Okemos MI, US
Carl T. Lira - East Lansing MI, US
Evan Bittner - East Lansing MI, US

Assignee:

BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY - East Lansing MI

International Classification:

C10L 1/19

US Classification:

44388

Abstract:

A process for producing mixed esters of fatty acids as biofuel or additive to a petroleum fuel for use in a compression ignition (CI) engine. The process preferably provides a partial transesterification of a mixture of fatty acid methyl esters with at least one alkyl alcohol containing 2 to 8 carbon atoms in the presence of a heterogeneous solid acid catalyst to produce a mixture of the fatty acid methyl esters and alkyl alcohol esters of the fatty acids.