Patents by Inventor Eric B. Sirota
Eric B. Sirota 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).
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Publication number: 20240068132Abstract: Nucleation enhancement and/or growth rate improvement of mesophase in pitch compositions derived from hydrocarbon feedstocks can be achieved by: reacting in a reaction zone a blend comprising an isotropic feed and a seeding agent, to produce a reacted pitch having a mesophase content of about 10 vol % to 100 vol %, based on the total volume of the reacted pitch, and a softening point (Tsp) below 400° C.; wherein the seeding agent is about 50 wt % or less, based on the total weight of the blend; wherein the seeding agent has a mesophase content of about 0.01 vol % to 100 vol %, based on the total volume of the seeding agent.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2021Publication date: February 29, 2024Applicant: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering CompanyInventors: Manesh Gopinadhan, Stuart E. Smith, Nicole M. Callen, Clarence E. Chase, Kazem V. Edmond, Srinivasan Rajagopalan, Eric B. Sirota, Daniel J. Ryan
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Patent number: 11598758Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining an asphaltene solubility distribution for a petroleum sample and/or other hydrocarbon sample. A vessel for performing the method can include both packing material(s) and sidewall(s) that correspond to substantially inert materials. The vessel can initially contain a precipitating solvent suitable for causing precipitation of asphaltenes from a hydrocarbon sample. Examples of a precipitating solvents can correspond to n-heptane, toluene, and mixtures of n-heptane and toluene. The petroleum sample is then introduced into the vessel, along with a carrier solvent. The volume of the precipitating solvent can be large relative to the sample, so that the solubility of asphaltenes in the sample becomes dependent on the properties of the precipitating solvent. If asphaltenes are precipitated, the asphaltenes can be washed out of the column using a dissolution solvent.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2020Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering CompanyInventors: Eric B. Sirota, Bridget E. Lang, Birbal Chawla
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Publication number: 20210018477Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining an asphaltene solubility distribution for a petroleum sample and/or other hydrocarbon sample. A vessel for performing the method can include both packing material(s) and sidewall(s) that correspond to substantially inert materials. The vessel can initially contain a precipitating solvent suitable for causing precipitation of asphaltenes from a hydrocarbon sample. Examples of a precipitating solvents can correspond to n-heptane, toluene, and mixtures of n-heptane and toluene. The petroleum sample is then introduced into the vessel, along with a carrier solvent. The volume of the precipitating solvent can be large relative to the sample, so that the solubility of asphaltenes in the sample becomes dependent on the properties of the precipitating solvent. If asphaltenes are precipitated, the asphaltenes can be washed out of the column using a dissolution solvent.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2020Publication date: January 21, 2021Inventors: Eric B. Sirota, Bridget E. Lang, Birbal Chawla
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Publication number: 20190382664Abstract: Methods are provided for reducing or minimizing the temperature dependence of a pitch feed or fraction for use in carbon fiber production, such as a mesophase pitch feed or fraction or an isotropic pitch feed or fraction. A pitch sample can be characterized to determine a characteristic temperature and a characteristic viscosity for the sample. One or more solvent extraction processes can also be performed on the pitch and/or the extract and raffinate fractions formed by the solvent extraction(s). The resulting raffinate and extract fractions are then used to form a modified pitch fraction with a T0 value that is lower than the T0 value of the original pitch. The modified pitch fraction can optionally also have a different ?inf value relative to the original pitch.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2019Publication date: December 19, 2019Inventors: Stuart E. Smith, Eric B. Sirota, Stephen H. Brown
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Patent number: 10329427Abstract: Methods are provided for predicting the properties of an asphalt fraction that contains two or more asphalt components based on measurements of the viscosity versus temperature profile for the components of the asphalt fraction. The viscosity versus temperature profile for each component can be used to determine characteristic (such as limiting) values for the viscosity and temperature for a component. Based on this ability to determine characteristic values for an asphalt blend based on the properties of individual blend components, appropriate blends of asphalts can be selected in order to arrive at an asphalt blend with desired properties.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2018Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventor: Eric B. Sirota
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Publication number: 20180265703Abstract: Methods are provided for predicting the properties of an asphalt fraction that contains two or more asphalt components based on measurements of the viscosity versus temperature profile for the components of the asphalt fraction. The viscosity versus temperature profile for each component can be used to determine characteristic (such as limiting) values for the viscosity and temperature for a components. Examples of characteristic values for an asphalt component are the asymptotic values of viscosity at infinite temperature (?inf) and the finite temperature at which the viscosity diverges (T0). Once these characteristic values are determined, the characteristic values for each component can be combined in a weighted average to determine ?inf and T0 for the asphalt blend.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2018Publication date: September 20, 2018Inventor: Eric B. Sirota
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Patent number: 10005907Abstract: Methods are provided for predicting the properties of an asphalt fraction that contains two or more asphalt components based on measurements of the viscosity versus temperature profile for the components of the asphalt fraction. The viscosity versus temperature profile for each component can be used to determine characteristic (such as limiting) values for the viscosity and temperature for a component. Based on this ability to determine characteristic values for an asphalt blend based on the properties of individual blend components, appropriate blends of asphalts can be selected in order to arrive at an asphalt blend with desired properties.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2014Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventor: Eric B. Sirota
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Patent number: 9725657Abstract: Provided is a process for cracking a hydrocarbon feedstock. The process having the steps of (a) continuously passing the feedstock through a vapor-liquid separator in which the feedstock is separated into a volatile stream and a non-volatile stream; (b) continuously passing the non-volatile stream to a cracker; and (c) continuously recycling a portion of the volatile stream to the feedstock. There is also an apparatus for cracking a hydrocarbon feedstock.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2012Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventor: Eric B. Sirota
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Patent number: 9175240Abstract: Provided are ethylene-based copolymers, methods of preparing the same, lubricating oil compositions including the same, methods for preparing such lubricating oil compositions, and end uses for such ethylene-based copolymers and lubricating oil compositions. The ethylene-based copolymers may include from about 35 wt. % to about 60 wt. % of units derived from ethylene and at least 1.0 wt. % of one or more alpha-olefin comonomers having 3 to 20 carbon atoms. The ethylene-based copolymers are substantially amorphous and have a polydispersity index of about 2.8 or less.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2012Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: Rainer Kolb, Sudhin Datta, Liehpao O. Farng, Vera Minak-Bernero, Eric B. Sirota, Thomas T. Sun, Mun-Fu Tse
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Publication number: 20150191598Abstract: Methods are provided for predicting the properties of an asphalt fraction that contains two or more asphalt components based on measurements of the viscosity versus temperature profile for the components of the asphalt fraction. The viscosity versus temperature profile for each component can be used to determine characteristic (such as limiting) values for the viscosity and temperature for a components. Examples of characteristic values for an asphalt component are the asymptotic values of viscosity at infinite temperature (?inf) and the finite temperature at which the viscosity diverges (T0). Once these characteristic values are determined, the characteristic values for each component can be combined in a weighted average to determine ?inf and T0 for the asphalt blend.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2014Publication date: July 9, 2015Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventor: Eric B. Sirota
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Patent number: 9006161Abstract: Disclosed are rheology modifiers comprising compositionally disperse polymeric compositions and/or crystallinity disperse polymeric compositions that may be useful in modifying the rheological properties of lubrication fluids, and methods for making such compositions. The compositionally disperse polymeric composition are formed from at least two discrete compositions of ethylene copolymers. The crystallinity disperse polymeric composition are formed from ethylene copolymers having at least two discrete values of residual crystallinity.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2013Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: Sudhin Datta, JoAnn M. Canich, Liehpao O. Farng, Rainer Kolb, Vera Minak-Bernero, Eric B. Sirota, Thomas T. Sun, Mun F. Tse, Manika Varma-Nair
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Patent number: 8999907Abstract: Polymeric compositions and methods for making and using the same are provided. The polymeric composition can include a first ethylene-based copolymer and a second ethylene-based copolymer. The first ethylene-based copolymer can have a weight percent of ethylene-derived units based on a weight of the polymeric composition (EA) ranging from about 35 wt % to about 52 wt % and a weight-average molecular weight (MwA) of less than or equal to 130,000. The second ethylene-based copolymer can have a weight percent of ethylene-derived units based on the weight of the polymeric composition (EB) ranging from about 65 wt % to about 85 wt % and a weight-average molecular weight (MwB) of less than 130,000.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2011Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: Sudhin Datta, Rainer Kolb, Liehpao Oscar Farng, Vera Minak-Bernero, Mun Fu Tse, Eric B. Sirota, Diana Smirnova
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Publication number: 20150027849Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for removing polar molecule contaminants from a refinery stream in connection with the processing of hydrocarbon fluids, chemicals, whole crude oils, blends and fractions in refineries and chemical plants that include adding high surface energy and/or high surface area nanoparticle compounds to a refinery stream to remove the polar molecule contaminants.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2014Publication date: January 29, 2015Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Mohsen Shahmirzadi Yeganeh, Peter W. Jacobs, Ian Alfred Cody, Steven Webster Levine, Eric B. Sirota, Ramesh Gupta, Walter Weissman
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Patent number: 8852427Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for removing polar molecule contaminants from a refinery stream in connection with the processing of hydrocarbon fluids, chemicals, whole crude oils, blends and fractions in refineries and chemical plants that include adding high surface energy and/or high surface area nanoparticle compounds to a refinery stream to remove the polar molecule contaminants.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2010Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Mohsen S. Yeganeh, Peter W. Jacobs, Ian A. Cody, Steven W. Levine, Eric B. Sirota, Ramesh Gupta, Walter Weissman
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Patent number: 8752623Abstract: In solvent-dominated recovery processes for recovering In situ oil, including bitumen, the produced fluid stream includes oil and solvent. The solvent is preferably recovered and reinjected into the reservoir. In previously described methods, solvent is removed from the oil/solvent mixture. In the present method, the oil/solvent mixture is first separated into a heavier stream and a lighter stream from which solvent is independently removed.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2011Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Eric B. Sirota, Owen J. Hehmeyer
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Publication number: 20140083906Abstract: Provided is a process for cracking a hydrocarbon feedstock. The process having the steps of (a) continuously passing the feedstock through a vapor-liquid separator in which the feedstock is separated into a volatile stream and a non-volatile stream; (b) continuously passing the non-volatile stream to a cracker; and (c) continuously recycling a portion of the volatile stream to the feedstock. There is also an apparatus for cracking a hydrocarbon feedstock.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2012Publication date: March 27, 2014Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventor: Eric B. Sirota
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Patent number: 8613852Abstract: Self-compatible heavy oil streams are produced from converted and/or desulfurized fractions. In a preferred embodiment, an incompatibility stream is added to the converted and/or desulfurized stream to reduce the solubility number of the stream. After using a water wash to remove incompatible material, a lighter fraction is removed from the stream to increase the solubility number.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2010Date of Patent: December 24, 2013Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Daniel P. Leta, Walter D. Vann, David T. Ferrughelli, Eric B. Sirota, Howard Freund
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Publication number: 20130281339Abstract: Provided are ethylene-based copolymers, methods of preparing the same, lubricating oil compositions including the same, methods for preparing such lubricating oil compositions, and end uses for such ethylene-based copolymers and lubricating oil compositions. The ethylene-based copolymers may include from about 35 wt. % to about 60 wt. % of units derived from ethylene and at least 1.0 wt. % of one or more alpha-olefin comonomers having 3 to 20 carbon atoms. The ethylene-based copolymers are substantially amorphous and have a polydispersity index of about 2.8 or less.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2012Publication date: October 24, 2013Applicant: ExxonMobil Chemical CompanyInventors: Rainer KOLB, Sudhin DATTA, Liehpao O. FARNG, Vera MINAK-BERNERO, Eric B. SIROTA, Thomas T. SUN, Mun Fu TSE
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Publication number: 20130131256Abstract: Disclosed are rheology modifiers comprising compositionally disperse polymeric compositions and/or crystallinity disperse polymeric compositions that may be useful in modifying the rheological properties of lubrication fluids, and methods for making such compositions. The compositionally disperse polymeric composition are formed from at least two discrete compositions of ethylene copolymers. The crystallinity disperse polymeric composition are formed from ethylene copolymers having at least two discrete values of residual crystallinity.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2013Publication date: May 23, 2013Applicant: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: Sudhin Datta, Jo Ann M. Canich, Liehpao O. Farng, Rainer Kolb, Vera Minak-Bernero, Eric B. Sirota, Thomas T. Sun, Mun-Fu Tse, Manika Varma-Nair
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Patent number: 8431012Abstract: The present invention is directed to a heavy hydrocarbon composition useful as a heavy lubricant oil base stock and to a heavy lubricant composition derived from the heavy lubricant oil base stock that remains clear and bright even after being cooled to room temperature and stored for an extended period of time.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2009Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Eric B. Sirota, Roland Saeger