Patents by Inventor Joseph F. Rovani, Jr.
Joseph F. Rovani, Jr. 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: 20220154075Abstract: Methods of processing a coal-based feedstock to a high value product are provided. In one embodiment a method of processing a coal-based feedstock to a high value product, the method comprises the steps of: contacting the coal-based feedstock with one or more solvents under non-pyrolytic conditions thereby generating a liquid phase; and fractionating the liquid phase to generate at least two fractions under conditions such that at least one of the fractions is the high value product. The liquid phase may comprise 5 to 25 wt % oxygen and at least 70% of the oxygen in the liquid phase may be in the form of phenolic, carboxylic and ketone functional groups of hydrocarbon-based compounds.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2020Publication date: May 19, 2022Inventors: Jeramie J. ADAMS, Jianqiang HUO, Devang P. KHAMBHATI, Jean-Pascal PLANCHE, Joseph F. ROVANI, Jr.
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Patent number: 10662384Abstract: The present invention is generally related to the analysis of chemical compositions of hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon blends. This method applies specifically to the problem of analyzing extremely complex hydrocarbon-containing mixtures when the number and diversity of molecules makes it impossible to realistically identify and quantify them individually in a reasonable timeframe and cost. The advantage to this method over prior art is the ability to separate and identify chemical constituents and solvent fractions based on their solvent-solubility characteristics, their high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) adsorption and desorption behaviors, and their interactions with stationary phases; and subsequently identify and quantify them at least partially using various combinations of non-destructive HPLC, destructive HPLC, and stand-alone detectors presently not routinely used for HPLC but reconfigured to obtain spectra on the fly.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2018Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: The University of Wyoming Research CorporationInventors: Joseph F. Rovani, Jr., Jeramie Joseph Adams, Ryan Bradley Boysen, Jean-Pascal Planche, Nicholas David Bolton
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Patent number: 10449502Abstract: The present invention is generally related to the analysis of chemical compositions of hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon blends. This method, in particular embodiments, may apply specifically to the problem of analyzing extremely complex hydrocarbon-containing mixtures when the number and diversity of molecules makes it extremely difficult or impossible to realistically identify and quantify them individually in a reasonable timeframe. Particular SEC (size exclusion chromatography)-based methods and apparatus disclosed herein may be used to measure, e.g., the molecular size, weight, and/or volume, whether in absolute or relative manner, of the various components of eluate from the SEC stationary phase (e.g., a permeable gel). This analytical method is applicable on a wide variety of hydrocarbonaceous materials, and especially useful for, but not limited to oil, maltenes of oil, asphalt binders and asphalt binder blends, which may contain wide varieties of different types of additives, modifiers, and chemistries.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2018Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: The University of Wyoming Research CorporateionInventors: Joseph F. Rovani, Jr., Jean-Pascal Planche, Ryan Bradley Boysen
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Publication number: 20190299180Abstract: At least one embodiment of the inventive technology may involve the intentional changing of the stability of an emulsion from a first stability to a more desired, second stability upon the addition of a more aromatic asphaltene subfraction (perhaps even a most aromatic asphaltene subfraction), or a less aromatic asphaltene subfraction (perhaps even a least aromatic asphaltene subfraction) to a emulsion hydrocarbon of an oil emulsion, thereby increasing emulsion stability or decreasing emulsion stability, respectively. Precipitation and redissolution or sorbent-based techniques may be used to isolate a selected an asphaltene subfraction before its addition to an emulsion hydrocarbon when that hydrocarbon is part of an emulsion or an ingredient of a yet-to-be-formed emulsion.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2016Publication date: October 3, 2019Inventors: John F. Schabron, Jeramie J. Adams, Joseph F. Rovani, JR., Jean-Pascal Planche
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Publication number: 20190211272Abstract: A method for determining asphaltene stability in a hydrocarbon-containing material having solvated asphaltenes therein is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, it involves the steps of: (a) precipitating an amount of the asphaltenes from a liquid sample of the hydrocarbon-containing material with an alkane mobile phase solvent in a column; (b) dissolving a first amount and a second amount of the precipitated asphaltenes by changing the alkane mobile phase solvent to a final mobile phase solvent having a solubility parameter that is higher than the alkane mobile phase solvent; (c) monitoring the concentration of eluted fractions from the column; (d) creating a solubility profile of the dissolved asphaltenes in the hydrocarbon-containing material; and (e) determining one or more asphaltene stability parameters of the hydrocarbon-containing material.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2019Publication date: July 11, 2019Inventors: John F. Schabron, Joseph F. Rovani, JR., Jean-Pascal Planche
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Publication number: 20190106639Abstract: The present invention is generally related to the analysis of chemical compositions of hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon blends. This method applies specifically to the problem of analyzing extremely complex hydrocarbon-containing mixtures when the number and diversity of molecules makes it impossible to realistically identify and quantify them individually in a reasonable timeframe and cost. The advantage to this method over prior art is the ability to separate and identify chemical constituents and solvent fractions based on their solvent-solubility characteristics, their high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) adsorption and desorption behaviors, and their interactions with stationary phases; and subsequently identify and quantify them at least partially using various combinations of non-destructive HPLC, destructive HPLC, and stand-alone detectors presently not routinely used for HPLC but reconfigured to obtain spectra on the fly.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2018Publication date: April 11, 2019Inventors: Joseph F. Rovani, JR., Jeramie Joseph Adams, Ryan Bradley Boysen, Jean-Pascal Planche, Nicholas David Bolton
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Publication number: 20190091642Abstract: The present invention is generally related to the analysis of chemical compositions of hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon blends. This method, in particular embodiments, may apply specifically to the problem of analyzing extremely complex hydrocarbon-containing mixtures when the number and diversity of molecules makes it extremely difficult or impossible to realistically identify and quantify them individually in a reasonable timeframe. Particular SEC (size exclusion chromatography)-based methods and apparatus disclosed herein may be used to measure, e.g., the molecular size, weight, and/or volume, whether in absolute or relative manner, of the various components of eluate from the SEC stationary phase (e.g., a permeable gel). This analytical method is applicable on a wide variety of hydrocarbonaceous materials, and especially useful for, but not limited to oil, maltenes of oil, asphalt binders and asphalt binder blends, which may contain wide varieties of different types of additives, modifiers, and chemistries.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2018Publication date: March 28, 2019Inventors: Joseph F. Rovani, JR., Jean-Pascal Planche, Ryan Bradley Boysen
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Patent number: 10221363Abstract: The inventive technology may involve, in particular embodiments, novel use of a non-porous, high surface energy stationary phase to adsorb, in reversible fashion, the most polar component of a resins fraction of an input hydrocarbon when a mobile phase is passed over the stationary phase. Such reversible adsorption prevents irreversibly adsorption of such components on active stationary phase(s) downflow of the non-porous, high surface energy stationary phase, thereby conserving stationary phase costs and increasing resolution of resins elutions, and accuracy of hydrocarbon component results. Aspects of the inventive technology may also involve a novel combination of a solubility based asphaltene component fractionating and analysis method and an adsorption chromatography method for separating and/or analyzing saturate, aromatics and resins components of an input hydrocarbon.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2016Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: The University of Wyoming Research CorporationInventors: John F. Schabron, Ryan B. Boysen, Eric W. Kalberer, Joseph F. Rovani, Jr.
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Publication number: 20170072376Abstract: At least one embodiment of the inventive technology may involve the intentional changing of the stability of an emulsion from a first stability to a more desired, second stability upon the addition of a more aromatic asphaltene subfraction (perhaps even a most aromatic asphaltene subfraction), or a less aromatic asphaltene subfraction (perhaps even a least aromatic asphaltene subfraction) to a emulsion hydrocarbon of an oil emulsion, thereby increasing emulsion stability or decreasing emulsion stability, respectively. Precipitation and redissolution or sorbent-based techniques may be used to isolate a selected an asphaltene subfraction before its addition to an emulsion hydrocarbon when that hydrocarbon is part of an emulsion or an ingredient of a yet-to-be-formed emulsion.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2016Publication date: March 16, 2017Inventors: John F. Schabron, Jeramie J. Adams, Joseph F. Rovani, JR., Jean-Pascal Planche
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Patent number: 9458389Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of estimating a property of a hydrocarbon comprising the steps of: preparing a liquid sample of a hydrocarbon, the hydrocarbon having asphaltene fractions therein; precipitating at least some of the asphaltenes of a hydrocarbon from the liquid sample with one or more precipitants in a chromatographic column; dissolving at least two of the different asphaltene fractions from the precipitated asphaltenes during a successive dissolution protocol; eluting the at least two different dissolved asphaltene fractions from the chromatographic column; monitoring the amount of the fractions eluted from the chromatographic column; using detected signals to calculate a percentage of a peak area for a first of the asphaltene fractions and a peak area for a second of the asphaltene fractions relative to the total peak areas, to determine a parameter that relates to the property of the hydrocarbon; and estimating the property of the hydrocarbon.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2014Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: The University of Wyoming Research CorporationInventors: John F. Schabron, Joseph F. Rovani, Jr.
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Publication number: 20160272899Abstract: The inventive technology may involve, in particular embodiments, novel use of a non-porous, high surface energy stationary phase to adsorb, in reversible fashion, the most polar component of a resins fraction of an input hydrocarbon when a mobile phase is passed over the stationary phase. Such reversible adsorption prevents irreversibly adsorption of such components on active stationary phase(s) downflow of the non-porous, high surface energy stationary phase, thereby conserving stationary phase costs and increasing resolution of resins elutions, and accuracy of hydrocarbon component results. Aspects of the inventive technology may also involve a novel combination of a solubility based asphaltene component fractionating and analysis method and an adsorption chromatography method for separating and/or analyzing saturate, aromatics and resins components of an input hydrocarbon.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2016Publication date: September 22, 2016Applicant: University of Wyoming Research Corporation d/b/a Western Research InstituteInventors: John F. Schabron, Ryan B. Boysen, Eric W. Kalberer, Joseph F. Rovani, JR.
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Patent number: 9353317Abstract: The inventive technology may involve, in particular embodiments, novel use of a non-porous, high surface energy stationary phase to adsorb, in reversible fashion, the most polar component of a resins fraction of an input hydrocarbon when a mobile phase is passed over the stationary phase. Such reversible adsorption prevents irreversibly adsorption of such components on active stationary phase(s) downflow of the non-porous, high surface energy stationary phase, thereby conserving stationary phase costs and increasing resolution of resins elutions, and accuracy of hydrocarbon component results. Aspects of the inventive technology may also involve a novel combination of a solubility based asphaltene component fractionating and analysis method and an adsorption chromatography method for separating and/or analyzing saturate, aromatics and resins components of an input hydrocarbon.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2011Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: The University of Wyoming Research CorporationInventors: John F. Schabron, Ryan B. Boysen, Eric W. Kalberer, Joseph F. Rovani, Jr.
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Publication number: 20150218461Abstract: At least one embodiment of the inventive technology may involve the intentional changing of the stability of an emulsion from a first stability to a more desired, second stability upon the addition of a more aromatic asphaltene subfraction (perhaps even a most aromatic asphaltene subfraction), or a less aromatic asphaltene subfraction (perhaps even a least aromatic asphaltene subfraction) to a emulsion hydrocarbon of an oil emulsion, thereby increasing emulsion stability or decreasing emulsion stability, respectively. Precipitation and redissolution or sorbent-based techniques may be used to isolate a selected asphaltene subfraction before its addition to an emulsion hydrocarbon when that hydrocarbon is part of an emulsion or an ingredient of a yet-to-be-formed emulsion.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2012Publication date: August 6, 2015Applicant: The University of Wyoming Research Corporation d/b/a Western Research InstituteInventors: John F. Schabron, Jeramie J. Adams, Joseph F. Rovani, JR., Jean-Pascal Planche
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Publication number: 20140021101Abstract: In accordance with particular descriptions provided herein, certain embodiments of the inventive technology may be described as a hydrocarbon viscosity reduction method that comprises the steps of: treating a hydrocarbon having asphaltenes therein to generate a treated hydrocarbon, wherein said hydrocarbon has a first viscosity; contacting said treated hydrocarbon with a sorbent (whether as a result of pouring or other means); and adsorbing at least a portion of said asphaltenes onto said sorbent, thereby removing said at least a portion of said asphaltenes from said hydrocarbon so as to generate a viscosity reduced hydrocarbon having a second viscosity that is lower than said first viscosity.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2012Publication date: January 23, 2014Applicant: The University of Wyoming Research Corporation d/b/a Western Research InstituteInventors: John F. Schabron, Joseph F. Rovani, JR.
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Patent number: 8628970Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method involving the steps of (a) precipitating an amount of asphaltenes from a liquid sample of a first hydrocarbon-containing feedstock having solvated asphaltenes therein with one or more first solvents in a column; (b) determining one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes; (c) analyzing the one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes; and (d) correlating a measurement of feedstock reactivity for the first hydrocarbon-containing feedstock sample with a mathematical parameter derived from the results of analyzing the one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes. Determined parameters and processabilities for a plurality of feedstocks can be used to generate a mathematical relationship between parameter and processability; this relationship can be used to estimate the processability for hydroprocessing for a feedstock of unknown processability.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2013Date of Patent: January 14, 2014Assignee: The University of Wyoming Research CorporationInventors: John F. Schabron, Joseph F. Rovani, Jr.
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Patent number: 8530240Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method involving the steps of (a) precipitating an amount of asphaltenes from a liquid sample of a first hydrocarbon-containing feedstock having solvated asphaltenes therein with one or more first solvents in a column; (b) determining one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes; (c) analyzing the one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes; and (d) correlating a measurement of feedstock reactivity for the first hydrocarbon-containing feedstock sample with a mathematical parameter derived from the results of analyzing the one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2012Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: The University of Wyoming Research CorporationInventors: John F. Schabron, Joseph F. Rovani, Jr.
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Patent number: 8492154Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method involving the steps of (a) precipitating an amount of asphaltenes from a liquid sample of a first hydrocarbon-containing feedstock having solvated asphaltenes therein with one or more first solvents in a column; (b) determining one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes; (c) analyzing the one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes; and (d) correlating a measurement of feedstock fouling tendency for the first hydrocarbon-containing feedstock sample with a mathematical parameter derived from the results of analyzing the one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2012Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: The University of Wyoming Research CorporationInventors: John F. Schabron, Joseph F. Rovani, Jr.
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Publication number: 20130067991Abstract: The inventive technology may involve, in particular embodiments, novel use of a non-porous, high surface energy stationary phase to adsorb, in reversible fashion, the most polar component of a resins fraction of an input hydrocarbon when a mobile phase is passed over the stationary phase. Such reversible adsorption prevents irreversibly adsorption of such components on active stationary phase(s) downflow of the non-porous, high surface energy stationary phase, thereby conserving stationary phase costs and increasing resolution of resins elutions, and accuracy of hydrocarbon component results. Aspects of the inventive technology may also involve a novel combination of a solubility based asphaltene component fractionating and analysis method and an adsorption chromatography method for separating and/or analyzing saturate, aromatics and resins components of an input hydrocarbon.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2011Publication date: March 21, 2013Applicant: University of Wyoming Research Corporation d/b/a Western Research InstituteInventors: John F. Schabron, Ryan B. Boysen, Eric W. Kalberer, Joseph F. Rovani, JR.
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Patent number: 8367425Abstract: A method for determining asphaltene stability in a hydrocarbon-containing material having solvated asphaltenes therein is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, it involves the steps of: (a) precipitating an amount of the asphaltenes from a liquid sample of the hydrocarbon-containing material with an alkane mobile phase solvent in a column; (b) dissolving a first amount and a second amount of the precipitated asphaltenes by changing the alkane mobile phase solvent to a final mobile phase solvent having a solubility parameter that is higher than the alkane mobile phase solvent; (c) monitoring the concentration of eluted fractions from the column; (d) creating a solubility profile of the dissolved asphaltenes in the hydrocarbon-containing material; and (e) determining one or more asphaltene stability parameters of the hydrocarbon-containing material.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2012Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: The University of Wyoming Research CorporationInventors: John F. Schabron, Joseph F. Rovani, Jr.
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Patent number: 8273581Abstract: In at least one embodiment, the inventive technology relates to in-vessel generation of a material from a solution of interest as part of a processing and/or analysis operation. Preferred embodiments of the in-vessel material generation (e.g., in-vessel solid material generation) include precipitation; in certain embodiments, analysis and/or processing of the solution of interest may include dissolution of the material, perhaps as part of a successive dissolution protocol using solvents of increasing ability to dissolve. Applications include, but are by no means limited to estimation of a coking onset and solution (e.g., oil) fractionating.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2011Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: The University of Wyoming Research CorporationInventors: John F. Schabron, Joseph F. Rovani, Jr.