Petrochemicals & Process Chemistry
Protecting Chemical Processes, Refinement Technologies, and Industrial Systems
Petrochemical innovation sits at the heart of global manufacturing—fueling products, materials, and energy systems across industries. At Schmeiser Olsen, we help chemical and energy companies protect the innovations that optimize refining, improve catalysts, enhance throughput, and enable cleaner, more efficient production of fuels, intermediates, and advanced materials.
Our attorneys work closely with chemical engineers, process technologists, and in-house legal teams to secure patents covering high-volume chemical processes, feedstock transformations, and plant-level system designs. We understand the intersection of scale, regulation, and commercial deployment that defines IP in this field.
We protect the core processes that drive efficiency, selectivity, and performance in global chemical operations.
Patent Strategy for Petrochemicals and Industrial Chemistry
Protecting petrochemical innovations demands precision in describing reaction kinetics, process conditions, material behavior, and systems integration—often within regulated, high-throughput environments. Our approach emphasizes claims that capture both the technical advantages and the commercial viability of process-level innovation. We help clients secure patents for core technologies used in production, refining, upgrading, separation, and emissions management. We have experience drafting and prosecuting patents for technologies such as:
Catalysis & Feedstock Conversion
– Catalytic cracking systems for heavier hydrocarbons
– Hydroprocessing (e.g., hydrocracking, hydrotreating) catalysts with improved sulfur or nitrogen removal
– Reforming and isomerization processes to improve octane or yield
– Fischer-Tropsch synthesis for gas-to-liquids (GTL) conversion
Separation & Recovery Processes
– Distillation and fractionation tower internals for energy efficiency
– Membrane separation systems for hydrogen, olefins, or CO₂
– Adsorption-based purification (e.g., PSA, TSA) for gas or vapor phase separation
– Solvent extraction and phase behavior optimization for refinery streams
Reactor & Equipment Design
– Slurry-phase, fluidized bed, or fixed-bed reactor systems
– Heat exchanger innovations and fouling reduction techniques
– Inline blending and reactor feed control systems for improved selectivity
– Real-time reaction monitoring and feedback-controlled processing
Emissions & Environmental Control
– Flue gas treatment and sulfur recovery units (SRUs)
– NOx, SOx, and particulate removal systems
– Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) processes
– Process intensification strategies for reduced energy input and waste generation
Advanced Materials & Downstream Derivatives
– Polyolefin polymerization systems (e.g., Ziegler-Natta, metallocene catalysts)
– Plasticizer, elastomer, and specialty resin synthesis pathways
– Fuel additives, detergents, and lubricant base stock innovation
– Renewable feedstock adaptation for legacy petrochemical platforms
practical insight
Navigating Challenges in Industrial Chemistry Patents
Patents in petrochemicals must often overcome challenges related to enablement, industrial applicability, and claiming process parameters without overgeneralization. We support clients through:
– Experimental support and scale-up data: reinforcing claimed operating ranges with pilot or modeled performance
– Process claims with commercial relevance: capturing efficiencies in throughput, yield, or selectivity
– Regulatory alignment: supporting EPA, DOE, and international emissions or materials handling frameworks
– International protection: managing portfolios across jurisdictions with differing process patentability standards
– Trade secret integration: advising when proprietary conditions or optimization algorithms are best protected outside patent filings
We work with operational teams, technical counsel, and global partners to protect process knowledge in a way that’s enforceable, confidential when necessary, and commercially aligned.
Partner with Counsel Who Understand Chemical Process Innovation
At Schmeiser Olsen, we provide patent counsel to some of the most advanced chemical, energy, and manufacturing operations. From refining technologies and process-scale innovation to catalyst development and emissions control, we deliver IP strategies that reflect the realities of plant-scale innovation and regulatory demands.
Protect the processes that power your production—with patent counsel fluent in chemical engineering, industrial systems, and strategic IP protection.
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