Patents by Inventor Kuangnan Qian
Kuangnan Qian 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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Patent number: 11821868Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 18, 2021Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering CompanyInventors: Ashley M. Wittrig, Kuangnan Qian, Thomas R. Fredriksen
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Patent number: 11674934Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for compositional analysis of algal biomass, specifically weight percent elemental composition. In at least one embodiment, a method for compositional analysis of an algae sample includes flash combusting a first portion of the algae sample to provide a carbon wt %, a hydrogen wt %, and a nitrogen weight %. The method includes pyrolysing a second portion of the algae sample to provide an oxygen wt %. The method includes scanning a third portion of the algae sample using x-ray fluorescence to provide an elemental intensity. The method includes normalizing the elemental intensity using the carbon wt %, the hydrogen wt %, the nitrogen wt %, and/or the oxygen wt %.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2021Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: EXXONMOBIL TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventors: Anding Zhang, Kuangnan Qian, Chengrong Wang, Amy C. Clingenpeel
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Publication number: 20210302371Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2021Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventors: Ashley M. Wittrig, Kuangnan Qian, Thomas R. Fredriksen
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Publication number: 20210262995Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for compositional analysis of algal biomass, specifically weight percent elemental composition. In at least one embodiment, a method for compositional analysis of an algae sample includes flash combusting a first portion of the algae sample to provide a carbon wt %, a hydrogen wt %, and a nitrogen weight %. The method includes pyrolysing a second portion of the algae sample to provide an oxygen wt %. The method includes scanning a third portion of the algae sample using x-ray fluorescence to provide an elemental intensity. The method includes normalizing the elemental intensity using the carbon wt %, the hydrogen wt %, the nitrogen wt %, and/or the oxygen wt %.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2021Publication date: August 26, 2021Inventors: Anding Zhang, Kuangnan Qian, Chengrong Wang, Amy C. Clingenpeel
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Publication number: 20210255125Abstract: A method and system for direct quantification of the concentration of biomolecules in algal biomass. The biomolecules include lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. An algae slurry is cultivated within a cultivation vessel, and algal biomass is harvested therefrom. A portion of biomass is analyzed using solvent-lipid analysis to extract lipids and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is used to quantify the biomolecular concentration of the biomass.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2021Publication date: August 19, 2021Inventors: Hao Wang, Chengrong Wang, Amy C. Clingenpeel, Kuangnan Qian
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Patent number: 10913909Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for modifying or selecting processing conditions for bright stock formation based on compositional characterization of the feedstock and/or bright stock products. In some aspects, the compositional information can include Z-class characterization of the components of a feed and/or bright stock product, optionally in combination with carbon number and/or molecular weight for the components. The compositional information can be used to select processing conditions to allow for removal and/or modification of selected components within a bright stock in order to improve throughput and/or provide desirable cold flow properties.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2019Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Liezhong Gong, Helen S. Wellons, Kuangnan Qian, Lisa I. Yeh, James W. Gleeson
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Publication number: 20200190415Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for modifying or selecting processing conditions for bright stock formation based on compositional characterization of the feedstock and/or bright stock products. In some aspects, the compositional information can include Z-class characterization of the components of a feed and/or bright stock product, optionally in combination with carbon number and/or molecular weight for the components. The compositional information can be used to select processing conditions to allow for removal and/or modification of selected components within a bright stock in order to improve throughput and/or provide desirable cold flow properties.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2019Publication date: June 18, 2020Inventors: Liezhong Gong, Helen S. Wellons, Kuangnan Qian, Lisa I. Yeh, James W. Gleeson
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Patent number: 10421921Abstract: This invention discloses an improved process which employs mixed alpha-olefins as feed over activated metallocene catalyst systems to provide essentially random liquid polymers particularly useful in lubricant components or as functional fluidsType: GrantFiled: January 30, 2017Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: Margaret M. Wu, Norman Yang, Phil Surana, Anura Patil, Steven P. Rucker, Kuangnan Qian, Shakeel Tirmizi, Mark P. Hagemeister
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Publication number: 20180143168Abstract: Methods to generate a model of composition for a petroleum sample can include providing a petroleum sample to a two-dimensional gas chromatograph coupled with at least one detector. The chromatograph can have first and second columns. The chromatograph can be adapted to output data for each detector representing first and second dimension retention times corresponding to the first and second columns, respectively. The data representing the first and second dimension retention times for each detector based on the petroleum sample can be obtained from the chromatograph. Molecular components of the petroleum sample can be identified based at least in part on the first and second dimension retention times for each detector. The identified molecular components of the petroleum sample can be quantified based at least in part on integrated peaks of the first and second dimension retention times for each detector to generate a model of composition of the petroleum sample.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2017Publication date: May 24, 2018Inventors: Frank Cheng-Yu Wang, Changyub Paek, Kuangnan Qian, Francis X. Kelly
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Publication number: 20170137737Abstract: This invention discloses an improved process which employs mixed alpha-olefins as feed over activated metallocene catalyst systems to provide essentially random liquid polymers particularly useful in lubricant components or as functional fluidsType: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2017Publication date: May 18, 2017Inventors: Margaret M. Wu, Norman Yang, Phil Surana, Anura Patil, Steven P. Rucker, Kuangnan Qian, Shakeel Tirmizi, Mark P. Hagemeister
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Patent number: 9593288Abstract: This invention discloses an improved process which employs mixed alpha-olefins as feed over activated metallocene catalyst systems to provide essentially random liquid polymers particularly useful in lubricant components or as functional fluids.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2014Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: Margaret M. Wu, Norman Yang, Phil Surana, Anura Patil, Steven P. Rucker, Kuangnan Qian, Shakeel Tirmizi, Mark P. Hagemeister
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Patent number: 9490109Abstract: A method to determine the model-of-composition of a vacuum resid in which the resid is separated into fractions including the DAO fraction which is then separated into chemical classes including saturates, aromatics, sulfides and polars by a combination of soft ionization methods. The results of the ionization analysis are reconciled with other analysis such as bulk analysis, then consolidated to generate the modeol-of composition.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2014Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventors: Kuangnan Qian, Kathleen E Edwards, Anthony S. Mennito, Roland B. Saeger
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Patent number: 9417220Abstract: Petroleum or other hydrocarbon samples can be analyzed in parallel by 1) GC-field ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer (GC-FI-TOF MS) and 2) two dimensional gas chromatography (2D-GC) equipped with a flame ionization detector (FID). The combined techniques allow for improved quantitative characterization of the compounds within a hydrocarbon sample. The techniques can be combined by correlating the 2D-GC FID data with the GC-FI-TOF MS data based on correlation of compound classes, correlation of retention windows within a compound class, correlation of individual compounds, such as paraffins, or a combination thereof.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2013Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventors: Frank C. Wang, Kuangnan Qian, Kathleen E. Edwards
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Patent number: 9418828Abstract: A method for characterizing the saturates portion of a petroleum or hydrocarbon sample that includes compounds with boiling points of 1000° F. (538° C.) or higher includes use of laser desorption ionization (LDI) to desorb and vaporize petroleum saturates into the gas phase. After ionization, the saturate compounds cations can be detected using mass spectrometry. The mass spectrum generated from the ionized saturated compounds is then characterized by assigning molecular formulas to any “detected” masses that exhibit a peak with an intensity greater than a defined signal to noise threshold. After making the molecular assignments, the abundance of each assigned molecule can be determined based on the signal magnitude of the peaks in the mass spectrum. The assigned molecules and the corresponding abundances can then be grouped based on a variety of factors.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Anthony S. Mennito, Kuangnan Qian
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Publication number: 20160060545Abstract: The stability of distillate type jet fuels is improved by cathodic hydrogenation in an electrolytic cell with a proton permeable membrane separating cathode and anode compartments; a source of hydrogen is oxidized in the anode compartment to form protons which permeate the membrane to effect a cathodic reduction of the nitrogenous components of the fuel in the cathode compartment.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2015Publication date: March 3, 2016Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Mark A. GREANEY, Richard J. QUANN, Heather A. ELSEN, Kuangnan QIAN, Anthony S. MENNITO
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Publication number: 20150252279Abstract: This invention discloses an improved process which employs mixed alpha-olefins as feed over activated metallocene catalyst systems to provide essentially random liquid polymers particularly useful in lubricant components or as functional fluidsType: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2014Publication date: September 10, 2015Inventors: Margaret M. Wu, Norman Yang, Phil Surana, Anura Patil, Steven P. Rucker, Kuangnan Qian, Shakeel Tirmizi, Mark P. Hagemeister
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Patent number: 9052296Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for analysis and/or profiling of petroleum samples. The systems and methods allow for compositional analysis of samples using techniques that can be implemented outside of a laboratory setting, such as in a refinery or even at a petroleum or hydrocarbon source. The techniques are enabled by using desorption electrospray ionization as a method for generating ions for detection by mass spectroscopy. Desorption electrospray ionization can be used to generate ions for detection from a liquid or solid petroleum (or other hydrocarbon) sample with minimal sample preparation. For solid samples, the technique can also be used to identify changes in composition of a petroleum sample relative to a dimension of the solid sample.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2013Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventors: Chunping Wu, Clifford C. Walters, Kuangnan Qian
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Publication number: 20150107331Abstract: Petroleum or other hydrocarbon samples can be analyzed in parallel by 1) GC-field ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer (GC-FI-TOF MS) and 2) two dimensional gas chromatography (2D-GC) equipped with a flame ionization detector (FID). The combined techniques allow for improved quantitative characterization of the compounds within a hydrocarbon sample. The techniques can be combined by correlating the 2D-GC FID data with the GC-FI-TOF MS data based on correlation of compound classes, correlation of retention windows within a compound class, correlation of individual compounds, such as paraffins, or a combination thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2013Publication date: April 23, 2015Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Frank C. WANG, Kuangnan QIAN, Kathleen E. EDWARDS
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Patent number: 8975084Abstract: A method for the determination of the aromatic cores or building blocks of a vacuum resid by controlled fragmentation. Molecules can be generated from these building blocks.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2011Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Kuangnan Qian, Kathleen E. Edwards, Anthony S. Mennito, Howard Freund
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Publication number: 20150041634Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for characterizing kerosene fractions in order to determine whether the fractions will satisfy a desired thermal breakpoint specification. Additionally, hydrotreating conditions can be determined that will result in a hydrotreated kerosene fraction that satisfies the desired thermal breakpoint specification. The hydrotreating conditions can be determined based on a model constructed from data corresponding to a plurality of reference samples. The model can include data for compositional groups within the reference samples. The data for compositional groups can be derived from Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry data or from another suitable characterization technique.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2013Publication date: February 12, 2015Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventors: Richard J. Quann, William J. Novak, Kuangnan Qian, William E. Riedinger, Roger G. Gaughan, Beatrice M. Gooding