Patents Assigned to Stepan Company
  • Patent number: 10676430
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to non-alpha-substituted, low molecular weight peracid compositions. The peracids have no or a negligible amount of odor, have good stability, and have antimicrobial properties. The peracid compositions can be formulated into a wide variety of end use products, including disinfectants, sanitizers, sporicides, fungicides, laundry products, hard surface cleaners, bleaching agents, personal cleansers, and water treatment products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Sangeeta Ganguly-Mink, Kenneth J. Littel, Shui Ping Zhu
  • Patent number: 10590749
    Abstract: Methods for making efficient use of steam in a steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) process for recovering heavy oils from tar sands and similar petroleum deposits are disclosed. The methods utilize a surfactant to generate steam foam in ways that maximize efficient use of steam. In some aspects, steam foam is used in water layers or gas caps that reside above steam chambers to prevent loss of steam from the steam chamber. The predominant use of relatively dry steam in SAGD processes makes it challenging to find ways to introduce surfactants and generate steam foam. However, decreasing the mobility of the steam by converting at least some of it to foam allows the wellbore and steam chambers above the injection site to be more fully developed, provides for more effective heat transfer to the heavy oil and rock, improves production, and allows recovery of the heavy oil with a minimum amount of steam usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Aaron Sanders, Gregory P. Dado, Brian Holland, Xue Min Dong, E. Carolina Rojas
  • Publication number: 20190345278
    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: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Applicant: 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: 10450479
    Abstract: Thermosetting powdered coating compositions comprising (a) a high Acid Value carboxylic acid functional polyester resin having an Acid Value of at least 100 mg KOH/g and a functionality of at least 4.5, (b) a low Acid Value carboxylic acid functional polyester resin having an Acid Value of 20 to 50 mg KOH/g and a functionality of about 2.5 or less, and (c) a cross-linking agent. The high Acid Value polyester resin is the reaction product of a polycarboxylic acid or its anhydride reacted with a polyester polyol obtained from reacting 0 mol % to 100 mol % of isophthalic acid and/or 0 to 100 mol % terephthalic acid, or a mixture thereof, with a polyol mixture comprising at least one diol and at least one polyol having at least three hydroxyl groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Thomas Stevenson, James Poole, Jackie Howell
  • Patent number: 10435618
    Abstract: Surfactant compositions useful for oil recovery are disclosed. The compositions comprise from 10 to 80 wt. % of a propoxylated C12-C20 alcohol sulfate, from 10 to 80 wt. % of a C12-C20 internal olefin sulfonate, and from 0.1 to 10 wt. % of an ethoxylated C4-C12 alcohol sulfate. Surprisingly, including a minor proportion of the ethoxylated alcohol sulfate reduces or eliminates the need to rely on costly cosolvents for achieving good performance in enhanced oil recovery processes. In particular, low interfacial tensions and low microemulsion viscosities can be achieved when the ethoxylated alcohol sulfate accompanies the propoxylated alcohol sulfate and internal olefin sulfonate. Aqueous concentrates comprising water and the surfactant compositions described above are also disclosed. Dilution of the surfactant composition or aqueous concentrate with water or brine to the desired anionic actives level provides an injectable composition useful for EOR applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Ramakrishna Ravikiran, Jieyuan Zhang
  • Patent number: 10322994
    Abstract: Fatty amide compositions and their derivatives are disclosed. The fatty amides comprise a reaction product of a metathesis-derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acid, octadecene-1,18-dioic acid, or their ester derivatives with a primary or secondary amine. Derivatives made by reducing, quaternizing, sulfonating, alkoxylating, sulfating, and sulfitating the fatty amide are also included. The amine reactant can be diethylenetriamine or (2-aminoethyl)ethanolamine, which provide imidazoline amides or esters, respectively. In one aspect, the ester derivative of the C10-C17 monounsaturated acid or octadecene-1,18-dioic acid is a lower alkyl ester. In other aspects, the ester derivative is a modified triglyceride made by self-metathesis of a natural oil or an unsaturated triglyceride made by cross-metathesis of a natural oil with an olefin. The compositions are valuable for cleaners, fabric treatment, hair conditioning, personal care, antimicrobial compositions, agricultural uses, and oil field applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Dave R. Allen, Marcos Alonso, Randal J. Bernhardt, Aaron Brown, Kelly Buchek, Sangeeta Ganguly-Mink, Brian Holland, Gary Luebke, Renee Luka, Andrew D. Malec, Ronald A. Masters, Dennis S. Murphy, Irene Shapiro, Patti Skelton, Brian Sook, Michael R. Terry, Gregory Wallace, Laura Lee Whitlock, Michael Wiester, Patrick Shane Wolfe, Lena Titievsky
  • Patent number: 10040964
    Abstract: Disclosed are the use of novel surfactants for the synthesis of emulsion polymer latexes, particularly those used in paints, coatings, and pressure sensitive adhesives. The surfactant compositions for emulsion polymer latexes comprise sterically bulky surfactants whose composition comprises at least one alkoxylated polyaryl substituted aromatic sulfosuccinate compound. The novel surfactants provide for the production of stable, small particle size distribution emulsion polymer latexes. The resulting latexes, when formulated into latex paint, impart improvements in water resistance as measured by film opacity, blister resistance and improved leveling characteristics, and when formulated into pressure sensitive adhesives, provide improved water resistance characteristics as measured by film opacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Gary Luebke, Keith Reschak, Renee Luka, Jarrod Kaltenbach
  • Patent number: 10011807
    Abstract: A fabric conditioning active composition comprising an esterquat mixture of quaternized mono-, di-, and tri-esters of alkanolamine in which the tri-esterquat content of the quaternized esterquat mixture is greater than 25% by weight of the esterquat mixture, and the combined di-esterquat and tri-esterquat content in the esterquat mixture is greater than 78% by weight of the esterquat mixture. Additionally, the free fatty acid content of the composition is greater than 1% by weight based on the weight of the esterquat mixture. The fabric conditioning active composition provides high viscosity when dispersed into water at low concentrations of 0.5% to 12%, without the need for additional polymeric thickeners or other thickening additives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Dennis R. Murphy, Leonard F. Zaporowski, Christopher A. Gariepy, Carmen Matache, Diana J. Dardugno
  • Patent number: 9828570
    Abstract: Fatty amine compositions made from a metathesis-derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acid, octadecene-1,18-dioic acid, or their ester derivatives are disclosed. In another aspect, fatty amidoamines made by reacting a metathesis-derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acid, octadecene-1,18-dioic acid, or their ester derivatives with an aminoalkyl-substituted tertiary amine are disclosed. The fatty amines or amidoamines are advantageously sulfonated, sulfitated, oxidized, or reduced. In other aspects, the ester derivative is a modified triglyceride made by self-metathesis of a natural oil or an unsaturated triglyceride made by cross-metathesis of a natural oil with an olefin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Dave R Allen, Marcos Alonso, Randal J Bernhardt, Aaron Brown, Kelly Buchek, Gary Luebke, Renee Luka, Andrew D. Malec, Ronald A. Masters, Lawrence A. Munie, Dennis S. Murphy, Irene Shapiro, Patti Skelton, Brian Sook, Michael R. Terry, Laura Lee Whitlock, Michael Wiester, Patrick Shane Wolfe
  • Patent number: 9815780
    Abstract: Quaternary ammonium, betaine, or sulfobetaine compositions derived from fatty amines, wherein the fatty amine is made by reducing the amide reaction product of a metathesis-derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acid, octadecene-1,18-dioic acid, or their ester derivatives and a secondary amine, are disclosed. Quaternary ammonium, betaine, or sulfobetaine compositions derived from fatty amidoamines, wherein the amidoamine is made by reacting of a metathesis-derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acid, octadecene-1,18-dioic acid, or their ester derivatives and an aminoalkyl-substituted tertiary amine, are also disclosed. The quaternized compositions are advantageously sulfonated or sulfitated. In one aspect, the ester derivative of the C10-C17 monounsaturated acid or octadecene-1,18-dioic acid is a lower alkyl ester. In other aspects, the ester derivative is a modified triglyceride N made by self-metathesis of a natural oil or an unsaturated triglyceride made by cross-metathesis of a natural oil with an olefin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Dave R Allen, Marcos Alonso, Randal J Bernhardt, Aaron Brown, Sangeeta Ganguly-Mink, Andrew Malec, Teresa Manuel, Ronald A. Masters, Lawrence A. Munie, Dennis S. Murphy, Patti Skelton, Brian Sook, Michael R. Terry, Jeremy Aaron Weitgenant, Laura Lee Whitlock, Michael Wiester, Patrick Shane Wolfe
  • Patent number: 9796662
    Abstract: Esteramine compositions and their derivatives are disclosed. The esteramines comprise a reaction product of a metathesis-derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acid, octadecene-1,18-dioic acid, or their ester derivatives with a tertiary alkanolamine. Derivatives made by quaternizing, sulfonating, alkoxylating, sulfating, and/or sulfitating the esteramines are also disclosed. In one aspect, the ester derivative of the C10-C17 monounsaturated acid or octadecene-1,18-dioic acid is a lower alkyl ester. In other aspects, the ester derivative is a modified triglyceride made by self-metathesis of a natural oil or an unsaturated triglyceride made by cross-metathesis of a natural oil with an olefin. The esteramines and derivatives are valuable for a wide variety of end uses, including cleaners, fabric treatment, hair conditioning, personal care (liquid cleansing products, conditioning bars, oral care products), antimicrobial compositions, agricultural uses, and oil field applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Dave R Allen, Randal J Bernhardt, Aaron Brown, Anatoliy A Dameshek, Brian Holland, Andrew D Malec, Ronald A Masters, Marshall J Nepras, Patti Skelton, Laura Lee Whitlock, Patrick Shane Wolfe
  • Patent number: 9777248
    Abstract: Aqueous hard surface cleaners and concentrates are disclosed. In one aspect, the cleaners comprise water, a monounsaturated C8-C14 fatty N,N-dialkylamide, and at least one anionic, cationic, nonionic, or amphoteric surfactant. The cleaners have a pH within the range of 6.0 to 9.0. Dilutable hard surface cleaner concentrates comprising the monounsaturated N,N-dialkylamide and a surfactant are also disclosed. Also included are aqueous hard surface cleaners which comprise a monounsaturated N,N-dialkylamide, and which by measure of ASTM D4488-95 A5 soil, provide superior percent cleaning at a pH less than 10 than they do at pH 10 and higher. Surprisingly, when a monounsaturated C8-C14 fatty N,N-dialkylamide is included in the aqueous hard surface cleaner or concentrate, rapid and thorough cleaning performance can be achieved even at relatively neutral pH. Consequently, the hard surface cleaners are effective on greasy soils, including baked-on soils, despite their low alkalinity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Ronald A. Masters, Wilma Gorman
  • Patent number: 9758751
    Abstract: Aqueous hard surface cleaner compositions useful for removing permanent ink are disclosed. The compositions comprise 75 to 99 wt. % of water; 0.1 to 5 wt. % of a monoterpene; 0.1 to 5 wt. % of a C10-C17 fatty acid derivative; and 0.1 to 5 wt. % of one or more surfactants. The fatty acid derivative is selected from N,N-dialkyl amides, N,N-dialkyl esteramines, and N,N-dialkyl amidoamines. Preferably, a base such as sodium carbonate or monoethanolamine is also included. The invention includes concentrates comprising the non-aqueous components recited above, as well as other applications for the cleaners and concentrates such as graffiti removers and permanent ink erasers. The combination of a monoterpene and certain fatty acid derivatives, especially fatty N,N-dialkyl amides, unexpectedly enables even dilute aqueous compositions to rapidly decolorize black permanent marker from hard, non-porous surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Aaron Brown, Wilma Gorman, Ronald A. Masters
  • Patent number: 9708251
    Abstract: Unsaturated fatty alcohol alkoxylates, processes for making them, and methods of using them are disclosed. In one aspect, a monounsaturated fatty alcohol alkoxylate is made by reducing a metathesis-derived monounsaturated alkyl ester, followed by alkoxylation of the resulting monounsaturated alcohol. Microscopy reveals that the monounsaturated alkoxylates have isotropic and lamellar phases over a wider range of actives levels compared with their saturated analogs. This attribute expands formulating latitude for many end-use applications. The unsaturated fatty alcohol alkoxylates are valuable in, for example, agricultural solvents, nonionic emulsifiers for agricultural compositions, hard surface cleaners, laundry detergents, specialty foams, additives or surfactants for paints or coatings, and surfactant compositions for enhanced oil recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: David R. Allen, Marcos Alonso, Mary Beddaoui, Randal J. Bernhardt, Aaron Brown, Xue Min Dong, Wilma Gorman, John Hutchison, Gary Luebke, Renee Luka, Franz Luxem, Andrew D. Malec, Ronald A Masters, Dennis S Murphy, Patti Skelton, Brian Sook, Chris Spaulding, Michael Wiester, Patrick Shane Wolfe
  • Patent number: 9688944
    Abstract: Synergistic surfactant blends are disclosed. In one aspect, the blend comprises an anionic surfactant and a metathesis-based cationic surfactant comprising a quaternized derivative. The quaternized derivative is a quaternized fatty amine, quaternized fatty amidoamine, imidazoline quat, or esteramine quat made from a metathesis-derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acid or its ester derivative. Also disclosed are synergistic surfactant blends comprising a cationic surfactant and a metathesisbased anionic surfactant comprising a sulfonated derivative. The sulfonated derivative is a fatty ester sulfonate, fatty acid sulfonate, sulfoestolide, fatty amide sulfonate, sulfonated fatty ester alkoxylate, imidazoline quat sulfonate, sulfonated amidoamine oxide, or sulfonated amidoamine betaine. The synergistic blends have a negative value or a reduced interfacial tension (IFT) when compared with an expected IFT value calculated from the individual surfactant components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Randal J. Bernhardt, Xue Min Dong
  • Patent number: 9668474
    Abstract: A structured surfactant system with a very high degree of clarity. The system comprises water and a mixture of at least one surfactant having a HLB (Hydrophilic Lipophilic Balance) value of less than 10, and at least one surfactant having an HLB value of 10 or greater. The structured surfactant system forms multilamellar vesicles and has suspending properties without added electrolytes, carbohydrates, or polymeric thickeners. This makes the structured surfactant system particularly useful in personal care compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: John Hawkins, Emilie Pace, Laetitia Lebert
  • Patent number: 9598359
    Abstract: Sulfonate compositions are disclosed. The compositions include alkanesulfonates, alkenesulfonates, sultones, and hydroxy-substituted alkanesulfonates. The sulfonates comprise a reaction product of a metathesis-derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acid, octadecene-1,18-dioic acid, or their ester derivatives with a sulfonating or sulfitating agent. In one aspect, the sulfonate composition is a sulfo-estolide made by reacting a metathesis-derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acid or octadecene-1,18-dioic acid with a sulfonating agent, optionally in the presence of a saturated fatty acid. The sulfonates are valuable for a wide variety of end uses, including cleaners, fabric treatment, hair conditioning, personal care (liquid cleansing products, conditioning bars, oral care products), paint additives, antimicrobial compositions, agricultural uses, and oil field applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Dave R. Allen, Randal J. Bernhardt, Aaron Brown, Gary Luebke, Renee Luka, Andrew D. Malec, Ronald A. Masters, Patti Skelton, Brian Sook, Jeremy Aaron Weitgenant, Patrick Shane Wolfe
  • Patent number: 9593072
    Abstract: N-Acyl amino acid salt compositions and an improved process for making them from fatty alkyl esters are disclosed. The process comprises reacting a fatty alkyl ester with an amino acid salt in the presence of an alkoxide catalyst at a pressure of at least 5 psig. At least 10 mole percent of catalyst is used based on the amount of fatty alkyl ester used as a reactant. Pressure and a minimum level of alkoxide catalyst are needed to give high fatty alkyl ester conversions and good yields of the desired N-acyl amino acid salt. The resulting N-acyl amino acid salt compositions have low color, an acceptable level of fatty acid soaps, and a small proportion of di-acylated by-products. Single-phase mixtures produced by combining various amino acid salts with glycinates, or by using an excess of either the fatty alkyl ester or amino acid salt, promote high conversions when the mixtures are reacted to give the desired N-acyl amino acid salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Bing Wang, Gregory P. Dado
  • Patent number: 9587106
    Abstract: Improved methods for preparing sulfonated block polymers with acyl sulfates in non-halogenated aliphatic solvents are provided. The methods include the sulfonation of a precursor block polymer with an acyl sulfate in a reaction mixture further comprising at least one non-halogenated aliphatic solvent to form a sulfonated block polymer, wherein the initial concentration of the precursor block polymer is in the range of from about 0.1 wt % to a concentration that is below the limiting concentration of the precursor block polymer based on the total weight of the reaction mixture. A sulfonation degree of greater than about 1.0 milliequivalent sulfonic acid per gram sulfonated block polymer can be achieved substantially free of polymer precipitation and free of disabling gelation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Gregory Paul Dado, Dale Lee Handlin, Jr., Carl Lesley Willis
  • Patent number: 9573884
    Abstract: Fatty amide compositions and their derivatives are disclosed. The fatty amides comprise a reaction product of a metathesis-derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acid, octadecene-1,18-dioic acid, or their ester derivatives with a primary or secondary amine. Derivatives made by reducing, quaternizing, sulfonating, alkoxylating, sulfating, and sulfitating the fatty amide are also included. The amine reactant can be diethylenetriamine or (2-aminoethyl)ethanolamine, which provide imidazoline amides or esters, respectively. In one aspect, the ester derivative of the C10-C17 monounsaturated acid or octadecene-1,18-dioic acid is a lower alkyl ester. In other aspects, the ester derivative is a modified triglyceride made by self-metathesis of a natural oil or an unsaturated triglyceride made by cross-metathesis of a natural oil with an olefin. The compositions are valuable for cleaners, fabric treatment, hair conditioning, personal care, antimicrobial compositions, agricultural uses, and oil field applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Dave R Allen, Marcos Alonso, Randal J Bernhardt, Aaron Brown, Kelly Buchek, Sangeeta Ganguly-Mink, Brian Holland, Gary Luebke, Renee Luka, Andrew D. Malec, Ronald A Masters, Dennis S Murphy, Irene Shapiro, Patti Skelton, Brian Sook, Michael R Terry, Gregory Wallace, Laura Lee Whitlock, Michael Wiester, Patrick Shane Wolfe, Lena Titievsky