Patents by Inventor Ashley M. Wittrig

Ashley M. Wittrig 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: 11821868
    Abstract: A method for detecting and analyzing olefins in petroleum by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry can include obtaining a hydrocarbon sample comprising at least about 90 wt % of saturate compounds; producing a solution comprising the hydrocarbon sample and a metal salt, the metal salt comprising a metal ion; forming olefin-metal ion complexes by electrospray ionization; and detecting the olefin-metal ion complexes using mass spectrometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Ashley M. Wittrig, Kuangnan Qian, Thomas R. Fredriksen
  • Patent number: 11518725
    Abstract: Processes for producing alcohols from biomass are provided. The processes utilize supercritical methanol to depolymerize biomass with subsequent conversion to a mixture of alcohols. In particular the disclosure relates to continuous processes which produce high yields of alcohols through recycling gases and further employ dual reactor configurations which improve overall alcohol yields. Processes for producing higher ethers and olefins from the so-formed alcohols, through alcohol coupling and subsequent dehydration are also provided. The resulting distillate range ethers and olefins are useful as components in liquid fuels, such as diesel and jet fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Peter H. Galebach, Michael P. Lanci, George W. Huber, Wenzhao Wu, Ashley M. Wittrig, Nathaniel M. Eagan, Paolo Andres Cuello Penaloza, J. Scott Buchanan
  • Patent number: 11318413
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes the use of a specific adsorbent material in a rapid cycle swing adsorption to perform dehydration of a gaseous feed stream. The adsorbent material includes a zeolite 3A that is utilized in the dehydration process to enhance recovery of hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Yu Wang, Harry W. Deckman, Ashley M. Wittrig, Karl G. Strohmaier, Daniel P. Leta, Peter I. Ravikovitch
  • Publication number: 20210363080
    Abstract: Processes for producing alcohols from biomass are provided. The processes utilize supercritical methanol to depolymerize biomass with subsequent conversion to a mixture of alcohols. In particular the disclosure relates to continuous processes which produce high yields of alcohols through recycling gases and further employ dual reactor configurations which improve overall alcohol yields. Processes for producing higher ethers and olefins from the so-formed alcohols, through alcohol coupling and subsequent dehydration are also provided. The resulting distillate range ethers and olefins are useful as components in liquid fuels, such as diesel and jet fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Peter H. Galebach, Michael P. Lanci, George W. Huber, Wenzhao Wu, Ashley M. Wittrig, Nathaniel M. Eagan, Paolo Andres Cuello Penaloza, J. Scott Buchanan
  • Publication number: 20210302371
    Abstract: A method for detecting and analyzing olefins in petroleum by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry can include obtaining a hydrocarbon sample comprising at least about 90 wt % of saturate compounds; producing a solution comprising the hydrocarbon sample and a metal salt, the metal salt comprising a metal ion; forming olefin-metal ion complexes by electrospray ionization; and detecting the olefin-metal ion complexes using mass spectrometry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Ashley M. Wittrig, Kuangnan Qian, Thomas R. Fredriksen
  • Publication number: 20200179870
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes the use of a specific adsorbent material in a rapid cycle swing adsorption to perform dehydration of a gaseous feed stream. The adsorbent material includes a zeolite 3A that is utilized in the dehydration process to enhance recovery of hydrocarbons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Yu Wang, Harry W. Deckman, Ashley M. Wittrig, Karl G. Strohmaier, Daniel P. Leta, Peter I. Ravikovitch
  • Patent number: 10603626
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes the use of a specific adsorbent material in a rapid cycle swing adsorption to perform dehydration of a gaseous feed stream. The adsorbent material includes a zeolite 3A that is utilized in the dehydration process to enhance recovery of hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Yu Wang, Harry W. Deckman, Ashley M. Wittrig, Karl G. Strohmaier, Daniel P. Leta, Peter I. Ravikovitch
  • Publication number: 20190241707
    Abstract: Technical lignin compositions and pyrolysis methods for forming such technical lignin compositions from pyrolyzed biomass are provided. The technical lignin compositions can include at least about 50 wt % phenolic polymers and/or at least about 75 wt % combined phenolic monomers and phenolic polymers. In some aspects, less than about 50 wt % of the linkages between benzylic units in the phenolic polymers and/or in the composition can correspond to ?-O-4 linkages. At least about 50 wt % of the hydroxyl groups in the composition can correspond to phenolic hydroxyl groups. At least about 60 wt % of the phenolic hydroxyl groups and/or phenolic ether groups can correspond to phenolic hydroxyl groups and/or phenolic ether groups in an ortho position relative to at least one substituent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Virginia M. Reiner, Nabila Brabez, Ross Mabon, Ashley M. Wittrig
  • Publication number: 20180066116
    Abstract: Technical lignin compositions and pyrolysis methods for forming such technical lignin compositions from pyrolyzed biomass are provided. The technical lignin compositions can include at least about 50 wt % phenolic polymers and/or at least about 75 wt % combined phenolic monomers and phenolic polymers. In some aspects, less than about 50 wt % of the linkages between benzylic units in the phenolic polymers and/or in the composition can correspond to ?-O-4 linkages. At least about 50 wt% of the hydroxyl groups in the composition can correspond to phenolic hydroxyl groups. At least about 60 wt % of the phenolic hydroxyl groups and/or phenolic ether groups can correspond to phenolic hydroxyl groups and/or phenolic ether groups in an ortho position relative to at least one substituent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Virginia M. REINER, Nabila BRABEZ, Ross MABON, Ashley M. WITTRIG
  • Publication number: 20180056235
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes the use of a specific adsorbent material in a rapid cycle swing adsorption to perform dehydration of a gaseous feed stream. The adsorbent material includes a zeolite 3A that is utilized in the dehydration process to enhance recovery of hydrocarbons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Yu Wang, Harry W. Deckman, Ashley M. Wittrig, Karl G. Strohmaier, Daniel P. Leta, Peter I. Ravikovitch