James M Willock, Age 77834 Windmill Dr, Wildwood, MO 63011

6342651, Jan 29, 2002

Aug 4, 2000

09/632999

Stephen J. Lorbert - St. Louis MO
James M. Willock - Ballwin MO
Lewis B. Irvine - Chesterfield MO
Shubhender Kapila - Rolla MO
Virgil J. Flanigan - Rolla MO
Paul K. S. Nam - Rolla MO
Yvonne M. Liske - Rolla MO

Novus International, Inc. - St. Louis MO

C01B 1700

588238, 588244, 423220, 42324409, 423523, 423563, 423564, 423443

A process is provided for the combustion of ammonium salts of sulfuric acid contained in aqueous media. More particularly, a reductive combustion process which produces a combustion gas containing a divalent sulfur compound having a high concentration of hydrogen sulfide. The process is suitable for combusting ammonium salts of sulfuric acid produced during manufacture of 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid (HMBA) or methionine. The divalent sulfur compounds in the combustion gas may be further converted to other useful sulfur products and recycled for use in the manufacture of HMBA or methionine.

6458997, Oct 1, 2002

Dec 22, 2000

09/748067

Yung C. Hsu - Chesterfield MO
Thomas F. Blackburn - Chesterfield MO
Paul F. Pellegrin - St. Louis MO
Allen H. Kranz - St. Charles MO
James M. Willock - Ballwin MO

Novus International, Inc. - St. Louis MO

C07C 5142

562581

A continuous process for the preparation of 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid which includes introducing sulfuric acid into a first reactor including a continuous stirred tank reactor and introducing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanenitrile into the first reactor. 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanenitrile is continually hydrolyzed within the first reactor to produce an intermediate aqueous hydrolysis solution containing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanamide. The intermediate aqueous hydrolysis solution is continuously introduced into a plug flow reactor. 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanamide is continually hydrolyzed within the plug flow reactor to produce an aqueous hydrolyzate product solution containing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid. 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid is recovered from the aqueous hydrolyzate product solution.

2001000, May 10, 2001

Dec 28, 2000

09/750584

Yung Hsu - Chesterfield MO, US
Thomas Blackburn - Chesterfield MO, US
Paul Pellegrin - St. Louis MO, US
Allen Kranz - St. Charles MO, US
James Willock - Ballwin MO, US

C07C051/42

562/580000

A continuous process for the preparation of 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid or a salt thereof which includes introducing an aqueous mineral acid into a nitrile hydrolysis reactor including a continuous stirred tank reactor and introducing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanenitrile into the nitrile hydrolysis reactor. 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanenitrile is continually hydrolyzed within the nitrile hydrolysis reactor to produce a nitrile hydrolysis reactor product stream containing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanamide. The nitrile hydrolysis reactor product stream is continuously introduced into an amide hydrolysis flow reactor. 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanamide is continually hydrolyzed within the amide hydrolysis flow reactor to produce an aqueous hydrolyzate product containing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid. 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid is recovered from the aqueous hydrolyzate product.

2003014, Jul 31, 2003

Aug 2, 2002

10/211808

Yung Hsu - Chesterfield MO, US
Thomas Blackburn - Chesterfield MO, US
Paul Pellegrin - St. Louis MO, US
Allen Kranz - St. Charles MO, US
James willock - Ballwin MO, US

Novus International, Inc.

C07C323/52

562/512000

A continuous process for the preparation of 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid which includes introducing sulfuric acid into a first reactor including a continuous stirred tank reactor and introducing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanenitrile into the first reactor. 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanenitrile is continually hydrolyzed within the first reactor to produce an intermediate aqueous hydrolysis solution containing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanamide. The intermediate aqueous hydrolysis solution is continuously introduced into a plug flow reactor. 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanamide is continually hydrolyzed within the plug flow reactor to produce an aqueous hydrolyzate product solution containing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid. 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid is recovered from the aqueous hydrolyzate product solution.

5856567, Jan 5, 1999

May 21, 1996

8/647161

Yung C. Hsu - Chesterfield MO
Thomas F. Blackburn - Chesterfield MO
Paul F. Pellegrin - St. Louis MO
Allen H. Kranz - St. Charles MO
James M. Willock - Ballwin MO

Novus International, Inc. - St. Louis MO

C07C38100
C07C 5142

562581

A continuous process for the preparation of 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid or a salt thereof which includes introducing an aqueous mineral acid into a nitrile hydrolysis reactor including a continuous stirred tank reactor and introducing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanenitrile into the nitrile hydrolysis reactor. 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanenitrile is continually hydrolyzed within the nitrile hydrolysis reactor to produce a nitrile hydrolysis reactor product stream containing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanamide. The nitrile hydrolysis reactor product stream is continuously introduced into an amide hydrolysis flow reactor. 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanamide is continually hydrolyzed within the amide hydrolysis flow reactor to produce an aqueous hydrolyzate product containing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid. 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid is recovered from the aqueous hydrolyzate product.

5998664, Dec 7, 1999

Jun 13, 1997

8/876011

Yung C. Hsu - Chesterfield MO
Thomas F. Blackburn - Chesterfield MO
Paul F. Pellegrin - St. Louis MO
Allen H. Kranz - St. Charles MO
James M. Willock - Ballwin MO

Novus International, Inc. - St. Louis MO

C07C 5142
C07C38100

562580

A continuous process for the preparation of 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid which includes introducing sulfuric acid into a first reactor including a continuous stirred tank reactor and introducing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanenitrile into the first reactor. 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanenitrile is continually hydrolyzed within the first reactor to produce an intermediate aqueous hydrolysis solution containing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanamide. The intermediate aqueous hydrolysis solution is continuously introduced into a plug flow reactor. 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanamide is continually hydrolyzed within the plug flow reactor to produce an aqueous hydrolyzate product solution containing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid. 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid is recovered from the aqueous hydrolyzate product solution.

6268531, Jul 31, 2001

Oct 2, 1998

9/165819

Yung C. Hsu - Chesterfield MO
Thomas F. Blackburn - Chesterfield MO
Paul F. Pellegrin - St. Louis MO
Allen H. Kranz - St. Charles MO
James M. Willock - Ballwin MO

Novus International, Inc. - St. Louis MO

C07C 5142
C07C 5108

562580

A continuous process for the preparation of 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid or a salt thereof which includes introducing an aqueous mineral acid into a nitrile hydrolysis reactor including a continuous stirred tank reactor and introducing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanenitrile into the nitrile hydrolysis reactor. 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanenitrile is continually hydrolyzed within the nitrile hydrolysis reactor to produce a nitrile hydrolysis reactor product stream containing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanamide. The nitrile hydrolysis reactor product stream is continuously introduced into an amide hydrolysis flow reactor. 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanamide is continually hydrolyzed within the amide hydrolysis flow reactor to produce an aqueous hydrolyzate product containing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid. 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid is recovered from the aqueous hydrolyzate product.

6166250, Dec 26, 2000

Oct 2, 1998

9/165806

Yung C. Hsu - Chesterfield MO
Thomas F. Blackburn - Chesterfield MO
Paul F. Pellegrin - St. Louis MO
Allen H. Kranz - St. Charles MO
James M. Willock - Ballwin MO

Novus International, Inc. - St. Louis MO

C07C 5142
C07C38100

562581

A continuous process for the preparation of 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid which includes introducing sulfuric acid into a first reactor including a continuous stirred tank reactor and introducing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanenitrile into the first reactor. 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanenitrile is continually hydrolyzed within the first reactor to produce an intermediate aqueous hydrolysis solution containing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanamide. The intermediate aqueous hydrolysis solution is continuously introduced into a plug flow reactor. 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanamide is continually hydrolyzed within the plug flow reactor to produce an aqueous hydrolyzate product solution containing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid. 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid is recovered from the aqueous hydrolyzate product solution.