Patents by Inventor Winston K. Robbins

Winston K. Robbins has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10315131
    Abstract: A method for preparing a crude oil solution for analysis, including adding water to a porous adsorbent to obtain a supported water substrate, having a plurality of water monolayers disposed on the porous adsorbent. The method further includes exposing the crude oil solution to the supported water substrate for a period of time; separating the supported water substrate from the crude oil solution; washing the supported water substrate with a water immiscible solvent to remove at least one hydrocarbon; displacing water from the plurality of water monolayers and the at least one interfacially active compound from the porous adsorbent with an alcohol and a co-solvent to obtain a displaced phase. The displaced phase can include the water, the at least one interfacially active compound, the alcohol, and the co-solvent. Finally, the method can include drying the displaced phase to isolate the at least one interfacially active compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Jacqueline M. Jarvis, Ryan P. Rodgers, Winston K. Robbins
  • Patent number: 10048244
    Abstract: A method to determine the distribution of non-reactive sulfur compounds and reactive sulfur compounds in petroleum samples by separating non-reactive sulfur compounds from reactive sulfur compounds in a petroleum composition includes the step of contacting the petroleum composition with a Ag-containing cation exchange media. The petroleum composition and the Ag-containing cation exchange media are contacted with a non-reactive sulfur compound solvent capable of eluting the non-reactive sulfur compounds in the presence of the Ag-containing cation exchange media and incapable of eluting the reactive sulfur compounds in the presence of the Ag-containing cation exchange media at the conditions of the exchange. The non-reactive sulfur compounds are eluted from the media with the non-reactive sulfur compound solvent to provide a first fraction. The amount of non-reactive sulfur compounds in the first fraction is then determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Ryan P. Rodgers, Winston K. Robbins, Vladislav V. Lobodin
  • Publication number: 20180088010
    Abstract: A method for preparing a crude oil solution for analysis, including adding water to a porous adsorbent to obtain a supported water substrate, having a plurality of water monolayers disposed on the porous adsorbent. The method further includes exposing the crude oil solution to the supported water substrate for a period of time; adjusting the pH of the water on the porous adsorbent; separating the supported water substrate from the crude oil solution; washing the supported water substrate with a water immiscible solvent to remove at least one hydrocarbon; displacing water from the plurality of water monolayers and the at least one interfacially active compound from the porous adsorbent with an alcohol and a co-solvent to obtain a displaced phase. The displaced phase can include the water, the at least one interfacially active compound, the alcohol, and the co-solvent. Finally, the method can include drying the displaced phase to isolate the at least one interfacially active compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Ryan P. RODGERS, Jacqueline M. JARVIS, Winston K. ROBBINS, Amy CLINGENPEEL
  • Publication number: 20160025699
    Abstract: A method to determine the distribution of non-reactive sulfur compounds and reactive sulfur compounds in petroleum samples by separating non-reactive sulfur compounds from reactive sulfur compounds in a petroleum composition includes the step of contacting the petroleum composition with a Ag-containing cation exchange media. The petroleum composition and the Ag-containing cation exchange media are contacted with a non-reactive sulfur compound solvent capable of eluting the non-reactive sulfur compounds in the presence of the Ag-containing cation exchange media and incapable of eluting the reactive sulfur compounds in the presence of the Ag-containing cation exchange media at the conditions of the exchange. The non-reactive sulfur compounds are eluted from the media with the non-reactive sulfur compound solvent to provide a first fraction. The amount of non-reactive sulfur compounds in the first fraction is then determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Ryan P. RODGERS, Winston K. ROBBINS, Vladislav V. LOBODIN
  • Publication number: 20150192501
    Abstract: A method for preparing a crude oil solution for analysis, including adding water to a porous adsorbent to obtain a supported water substrate, having a plurality of water monolayers disposed on the porous adsorbent. The method further includes exposing the crude oil solution to the supported water substrate for a period of time; adjusting the pH of the water on the porous adsorbent; separating the supported water substrate from the crude oil solution; washing the supported water substrate with a water immiscible solvent to remove at least one hydrocarbon; displacing water from the plurality of water monolayers and the at least one interfacially active compound from the porous adsorbent with an alcohol and a co-solvent to obtain a displaced phase. The displaced phase can include the water, the at least one interfacially active compound, the alcohol, and the co-solvent. Finally, the method can include drying the displaced phase to isolate the at least one interfacially active compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: Ryan P. RODGERS, Jacqueline M. JARVIS, Winston K. ROBBINS, Amy CLINGENPEEL
  • Publication number: 20140110343
    Abstract: A method for preparing a crude oil solution for analysis, including adding water to a porous adsorbent to obtain a supported water substrate, having a plurality of water monolayers disposed on the porous adsorbent. The method further includes exposing the crude oil solution to the supported water substrate for a period of time; separating the supported water substrate from the crude oil solution; washing the supported water substrate with a water immiscible solvent to remove at least one hydrocarbon; displacing water from the plurality of water monolayers and the at least one interfacially active compound from the porous adsorbent with an alcohol and a co-solvent to obtain a displaced phase. The displaced phase can include the water, the at least one interfacially active compound, the alcohol, and the co-solvent. Finally, the method can include drying the displaced phase to isolate the at least one interfacially active compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Inventors: Jacqueline M. JARVIS, Ryan P. RODGERS, Winston K. ROBBINS
  • Patent number: 7127959
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for simulating corrosion activity in liquid and vapor/condensate corrosion environments. The apparatus includes a container, including a lower region containing the liquid and an upper region, including a condenser, a heater for providing heat to the lower region such that the liquid is maintained at a given temperature, a vacuum pump for providing a partial vacuum at a given pressure in the upper region of the container, one corrosion probe removably positioned in the liquid, and a second corrosion probe removably positioned above the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Saul C. Blum, Guido Sartori, Winston K. Robbins, Liza Monette, Andreas Vogel, Mohsen S. Yeganeh
  • Publication number: 20060037414
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for simulating corrosion activity in liquid and vapor/condensate corrosion environments. The apparatus includes a container, including a lower region containing the liquid and an upper region, including a condenser, a heater for providing heat to the lower region such that the liquid is maintained at a given temperature, a vacuum pump for providing a partial vacuum at a given pressure in the upper region of the container, one corrosion probe removably positioned in the liquid, and a second corrosion probe removably positioned above the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Publication date: February 23, 2006
    Inventors: Saul C. Blum, Guido Sartori, Winston K. Robbins, Liza Monette, Andreas Vogel, Mohsen S. Yeganeh
  • Publication number: 20040107769
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for simulating corrosion activity in liquid and vapor/condensate corrosion environments. The apparatus includes a container, including a lower region containing the liquid and an upper region, including a condenser, a heater for providing heat to the lower region such that the liquid is maintained at a given temperature, a vacuum pump for providing a partial vacuum at a given pressure in the upper region of the container, one corrosion probe removably positioned in the liquid, and a second corrosion probe removably positioned above the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Saul C. Blum, Guido Sartori, Winston K. Robbins, Liza Monette, Andreas Vogel, Mohsen S. Yeganeh
  • Patent number: 6245223
    Abstract: The present invention is a process to remove a major portion of metals and coke precursors from a hydrocarbon stream. The steps of the process include contacting the feedstream with a hydrocarbon insoluble adsorbent, recovering the oil which does not adsorb and removing the metals and coke precursors from the adsorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Martin L. Gorbaty, David T. Ferrughelli, William N. Olmstead, Sabato Miseo, Stuart L. Soled, Winston K. Robbins
  • Patent number: 5897769
    Abstract: A process for selectively removing lower molecular weight naphthenic acids from an acidic crude by treating the crude with a small pore hydrotreating catalyst at temperatures of from about 200.degree. to 370.degree. C. Removing these lower molecular weight naphthenic acids reduces the corrosive nature of acidic crudes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Trachte, Winston K. Robbins
  • Patent number: 5644129
    Abstract: The present invention is a method to distinguish and measure normal paraffins, isoparaffins, and naphthenes in a saturated hydrocarbon mixture. The method includes the step of field-ionizing hydrocarbon mixture; separating the normal paraffins, isoparaffins and naphthenes as a separate saturates class; and detecting the normal paraffins as molecular ions, naphthenes as molecular ions, and isoparaffins as fragment ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Exxon Research & Engineering Company
    Inventors: Chang S. Hsu, Saul C. Blum, Zhenmin Liang, Peter B. Grosshans, Winston K. Robbins
  • Patent number: 5076909
    Abstract: A sample of a hydrocarbon oil containing asphaltenes is chromatographically analyzed by forming a mixture of the oil with a weak solvent. The mixture is passed in contact with a column of a stationary phase of fine solid particles of fully functionalized material, followed by a weak solvent. The solvent, after recovery from the column, is analyzed for aromatics by UV-absorption of UV radiation in the range 200 to 400 nm. The absorbance of the UV light by the irradiated eluents across the UV wavelength range is monitored and the integral of absorbance is derived as a function of photon energy across the wavelength range. The magnitude of the derived integral in at least one time interval corresponding with aromatics in the eluent from the stationary phase is measured as an indication of the level of aromatics in the oil sample. The weak solvent may be followed by a strong solvent which, in turn, may be followed by a strong solvent which is modified by the addition of a hydrogen bonding solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Overfield, Winston K. Robbins, Joel I. Haberman
  • Patent number: 4988446
    Abstract: A sample of a hydrocarbon oil containing asphaltenes is chromatographically analyzed by forming a mixture of the oil with a weak solvent. The mixture is passed in contact with a column of a stationary phase of fine solid particles of fully functionalized material, followed by a weak solvent. The solvent, after recovery from the column, is analyzed for aromatics by UV-absorption of UV radiation in the range 200 to 400 nm. The absorbance of the UV light by the irradiated eluents across the UV wavelength range is monitored and the integral of absorbance is derived as a function of photon energy across the wavelength range. The magnitude of the derived integral in at least one time interval corresponding with aromatics in the eluent from the stationary phase is measured as an indication of the level of aromatics in the oil sample. The weak solvent may be followed by a strong solvent which, in turn, may be followed by a strong solvent which is modified by the addition of a hydrogen bonding solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Joel I. Haberman, Robert E. Overfield, Winston K. Robbins