Patents Assigned to Stepan Company
  • Patent number: 12043857
    Abstract: Provided is a method for improving the yield of rhamnolipids comprising culturing in medium containing a triglyceride containing oil and sweetener as a carbon source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventor: Nattaporn Lohitharn
  • Patent number: 11919993
    Abstract: Polyester polyols for use in low-VOC polyurethane compositions are disclosed. The polyester polyols are the reaction product of at least one aliphatic polycarboxylic acid, at least one alkoxylated polyalcohol having a functionality of 2.0 or greater, and one or more polyalcohols other than an alkoxylated polyalcohol. The polyester polyols can be formulated into polyurethane compositions to obtain a polyurethane having a low VOC content. The polyurethane composition is particularly suitable for polyurethane coating applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Michael E. O'Brien, Jeffrey R. Janos
  • Patent number: 11898096
    Abstract: A hydraulic fracturing method for recovering oil from a low-temperature subterranean oil formation is disclosed. Before, during, or after inducing hydraulic fracturing within the formation, a particulate, degradable polyester diverting agent is introduced into the formation in an amount effective to improve oil production from the formation. The diverting agent is allowed to degrade, and oil is recovered. The diverting agent has a melting point greater than the average temperature of the formation and is selected from: (i) ethylene glycol succinates; (ii) acid-terminated ethylene glycol succinates; (iii) acid-terminated polyglycolic acids; (iv) acid-terminated polylactic acids; (v) mixtures of any of (i) through (iv) with a half acid ester; and (vi) mixtures of polylactic acids or polyglycolic acids with a half acid ester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Douglas Kip Hillshafer, Sarah Wolek
  • Patent number: 11827544
    Abstract: A method of degrading 1,4-dioxane in the wastewater produced during the manufacture of alkyl ether sulfates is disclosed. The method includes the steps of (a) mixing from 100 to 10,000 ppm, preferably 1,000 to 4,000 ppm of ozone with the wastewater; (b) introducing H2O2 into the wastewater in an amount of 0.01 to 10, preferably 0.1 to 0.5 molar equivalents of H2O2 to ozone, and (c) mixing the ozone, H2O2, and wastewater to generate hydroxyl radicals reactive with the 1,4-dioxane, without the addition of a metal catalyst. The hydroxyl radicals react with the 1,4-dioxane and degrade it into carbon dioxide, water and/or carbonate. The method is effective to reduce a concentration of 1,4-dioxane in the wastewater from a range of about 10 ppm to about 1000 ppm of dioxane down to less than 5 ppb of 1,4-dioxane after treatment. The method is also effective for removing hydrocarbon species that may be present in the wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Matthew V. Vollmer, Donald E. Oulman, Aaron Brown, Dennis Smith, Doug Gustafson, Terry Applebury
  • Patent number: 11760889
    Abstract: Sulfate and sulfonate derivatives of unsaturated fatty alcohols, processes for making them, and methods of using them are disclosed. In one aspect, a monounsaturated fatty alcohol composition is made by reducing a metathesis-derived monounsaturated alkyl ester. The fatty alcohol composition is then converted to a sulfate or sulfonate derivative by one or more of alkoxylation, sulfation, sulfonation, and sulfitation. Of particular interest are the sulfate and ether sulfate derivatives. Microscopy studies indicate that the unsaturated sodium sulfates in particular have a lamellar phase that should enable formulation at high actives levels. Sulfate compositions comprising 40 to 60 wt. % of a monounsaturated fatty primary alcohol sulfate and 40 to 60 wt. % of a secondary hydroxyalkyl primary alcohol sulfate are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: David R. Allen, Marcos Alonso, Mary Beddaoui, Randal J. Bernhardt, Aaron Brown, Scott Dillavou, Xue Min Dong, Wilma Gorman, John C. Hutchison, Gary Luebke, Renee Luka, Franz Luxem, Andrew D. Malec, Ronald A. Masters, Dennis S. Murphy, Nicholas Pendleton, Irma Ryklin, Patti Skelton, Brian Sook, Chris Spaulding, Krista Turpin, Gregory Wallace, Michael Wiester, Patrick Shane Wolfe
  • Patent number: 11686575
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining the integrity of a manufactured board are disclosed. An example system includes a testing platform configured to secure the manufactured board, a sensor configured to measure a parameter corresponding to a flatness of a surface of the board, and a controller. The controller is configured to identify regions on the surface corresponding to one of a peak or a valley based on the parameter, and calculate a score representing the integrity of the manufactured board based on the identified peaks and valleys. The controller adjusts a flow rate, a pressure, a temperature, and position of a deposited substance in a manufacturing process based on a comparison with a height of the peak and/or a depth of the valley to stored peak heights and/or valley depths. In some examples, a mechanical tester determines a compressive strength and a density of the board at the identified regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Thomas K. Johnson, David J. Norberg, Daniel Yocius
  • Patent number: 11584872
    Abstract: A low-VOC, two-component polyurethane adhesive is provided. The polyurethane adhesive has an A-side that includes an isocyanate and a non-reactive plasticizer, and a B-side that includes an aliphatic polyester polyol, a non-polyester polyol, and a urethane catalyst. The A-side and the B-side are reacted at a volume ratio of 1:1 and formulated at an NCO/OH index within the range of 0.90 to 1.10. The polyurethane adhesive is solvent-free and is particularly suitable for adhering a polymeric membrane to a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Warren A. Kaplan, Sarah Wolek
  • Patent number: 11560530
    Abstract: Surfactant compositions comprising an alkoxylate, a sulfate, or ether sulfate of a C10-C12 monounsaturated alcohol are disclosed. The alkoxylate, sulfate, or ether sulfate may derive from undecylenic acid or undecylenic alcohol. Compared with their saturated analogs, the monounsaturated alkoxylates, sulfates, and ether sulfates are less irritating, making them valuable for personal care, laundry, cleaners, and other household applications. Microscopy studies show that the alkoxylates, sulfates, and ether sulfates have favorable phase behavior over a wide range of actives levels, expanding opportunities for products with greater compaction. When combined with cationic surfactants, the alkoxylates, sulfates, and ether sulfates exhibit synergy, and they have improved solubility compared with their saturated analogs. The surfactants find value for the personal care, laundry and cleaning, emulsion polymerization, agricultural products, oilfield applications, and specialty foams industries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Randal J. Bernhardt, Wilma Gorman, Ronald Masters
  • Patent number: 11543810
    Abstract: Methods and systems for manufacturing a foam board system are disclosed. In some examples, a system includes an applicator to distribute one or more fluids onto a substrate. One or more sensors configured to measure one or more characteristics of the one or more fluids. A control circuitry is configured to compare the one or more measured characteristics to one or more threshold characteristics, and to adjust one or more operating parameters of the system in response to a characteristic of the one or more measured characteristics falling outside a threshold of the one or more threshold characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Daniel Yocius, David J. Norberg, Sean O'Cuanaigh
  • Patent number: 11208522
    Abstract: Lactide-based random polyester polyols for use in polyurethane compositions are disclosed. The polyester polyols have an OH value in the range of greater than 400 mg KOH/g up to 1100 mg KOH/g and are the reaction product of at least one polycarboxylic acid, at least one lactide, and one or more polyalcohols. The polyester polyols can be formulated into the B-side of a two part polyurethane composition to obtain a polyurethane having improved hardness and solvent resistance and a low VOC content. The polyurethane composition is particularly suitable for polyurethane coating applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Michael Edward O'Brien, Jeffrey R. Janos, Scott Yin
  • Patent number: 11203811
    Abstract: A corrosion inhibitor active and method for reducing corrosion of a metal surface in contact with a corrosive environment is disclosed. The corrosion inhibitor active is an organic sulfonated compound that is derived from the sulfonation of one or more carboxylic acids, internal olefins, or alpha-olefins having a carbon chain length of 15 to 26 carbon atoms. The method of reducing corrosion includes contacting the metal surface with an effective amount of the corrosion inhibitor active. The corrosion inhibitor active is useful in high temperature corrosive environments, such as those found in oil and gas operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Alla Crabtree, Laura Lee Whitlock
  • Patent number: 11180588
    Abstract: Compositions may include those of the formula: (I) wherein R1 is an alkyl chain having a carbon number in the range of greater than 40 to 200, R2 is a multiester, R3 is hydrogen, an ion, or an alkyl chain having a carbon number in the range of 1 to 200, m is an integer selected from 0 to 4, and n is an integer selected from the range of 0 to 4, wherein the sum of m and n is 1 or greater. Compositions may include a reaction product of a polyisobutylene-substituted succinic anhydride and a hydroxy-functional dendrimer, wherein the molar ratio of polyisobutylene-substituted succinic anhydride to hydroxy-functional dendrimer is within the range of 10:1 to 30:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Rachael Anne Cole, Pradyumna Avinash Deshpande, Chandrashekhar Yeshwant Khandekar, Tore Nordvik, Loic Regnault De La Mothe, Elodie Shaw, Laure Canal, Marine Dugand, José Santiago
  • Patent number: 11168238
    Abstract: A low-VOC, two-component polyurethane adhesive is provided. The polyurethane adhesive has an A-side that includes an isocyanate and a non-reactive plasticizer, and a B-side that includes an aliphatic polyester polyol, a non-polyester polyol, and a urethane catalyst. The A-side and the B-side are reacted at a volume ratio of 1:1 and formulated at an NCO/OH index within the range of 0.90 to 1.10. The polyurethane adhesive is solvent-free and is particularly suitable for adhering a polymeric membrane to a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Warren A. Kaplan, Sarah Wolek
  • Patent number: 11142782
    Abstract: Provided is a method for improving the yield of rhamnolipids comprising culturing in medium containing a triglyceride containing oil and sweetener as a carbon source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventor: Nattaporn Lohitharn
  • Patent number: 11089779
    Abstract: A disinfectant composition that is effective against tuberculosis-causing bacteria is disclosed. The composition contains a disinfectant agent that is a combination of biocidal quaternary ammonium compound and an N,N-di-substituted alkylamide water insoluble solvent. The composition can be a concentrated formulation or a ready-to-use formulation. Methods of disinfecting surfaces containing tuberculosis-causing bacteria are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Sangeeta Ganguly-Mink, Kenneth J. Littel, Shui Ping Zhu
  • Patent number: 11008595
    Abstract: An enzymatic process for producing fatty acid triglycerides using a lipase catalyst system that includes a mixture of a supported lipase catalyst and an additive, such as silica gel. The additive is used without adsorbing any of the acyl group donor or acyl group acceptor reactants onto the additive. Use of the catalyst system decreases production reaction time, decreases the temperatures required for reaction, and allows for a single reaction vessel. The catalyst system can be used to efficiently produce medium chain triglycerides or conjugated linoleic acid triglycerides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventor: Vladimir Dragan
  • Patent number: 11009342
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining the integrity of a manufactured board are disclosed. An example system includes a testing platform configured to secure the manufactured board, a sensor configured to measure a parameter corresponding to a flatness of a surface of the board, and a controller. The controller is configured to identify regions on the surface corresponding to one of a peak or a valley based on the parameter, and calculate a score representing the integrity of the manufactured board based on the identified peaks and valleys. The controller adjusts a flow rate, a pressure, a temperature, and position of a deposited substance in a manufacturing process based on a comparison with a height of the peak and/or a depth of the valley to stored peak heights and/or valley depths. In some examples, a mechanical tester determines a compressive strength and a density of the board at the identified regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Thomas K. Johnson, Jr., David J. Norberg, Daniel Yocius
  • Publication number: 20210040131
    Abstract: Provided is a method for decolorizing and optionally neutralizing a rhamnolipid composition comprising treating said composition with a percarbonate salt as well as the decolorized and optionally neutralized composition obtainable therefrom. Also provided is a method for improving the quality of wastewater generated during said method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: Stepan Company
    Inventor: Nattaporn Lohitharn
  • Patent number: 10829507
    Abstract: Provided is a method for decolorizing and optionally neutralizing a rhamnolipid composition comprising treating said composition with a percarbonate salt as well as the decolorized and optionally neutralized composition obtainable therefrom. Also provided is a method for improving the quality of wastewater generated during said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventor: Nattaporn Lohitharn
  • Patent number: 10792632
    Abstract: A surfactant composition is disclosed comprising branched alkyl sulfate having 8 to 12 carbon atoms; optionally a linear alkyl sulfate having 8 to 12 carbon atoms; and optionally an alkyl ether sulfate having 8 to 13 carbon atoms. A gypsum slurry or gypsum board core is disclosed comprising gypsum, water, and a surfactant composition as described above. The foam voids in the core have a greater median diameter than foam voids made with corresponding linear alkyl sulfate. A method of controlling the median foam void diameter in a gypsum board is disclosed. A first foam water composition is provided comprising a linear alkyl sulfate surfactant. A second foam water composition is also provided comprising a branched alkyl sulfate surfactant. The proportions of the first and second foam water compositions employed in a gypsum composition are selected, or if desired changed, to provide the desired median foam void diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventor: Brian K. Mirous