Patents by Inventor Stephen Zushma

Stephen Zushma 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).

  • Publication number: 20130035431
    Abstract: Provided are compounds of the formula: wherein m=0-3 and n=0-3, and R1 represents CxH2x wherein x=0 to 4 or cyclohexane; R2 represents H, a C1-C6 alkyl group at any of the ortho-, meta- or para-positions, a residue including heteroatoms chosen from O, N, and S, or mixtures thereof; and R3 and R4 represent hydrocarbon residues of OXO-C5-C9 alcohols which are different isomers of equal carbon number or different in carbon number. Also provided are processes for making the compounds and plasticized polymer compositions containing said compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Jihad Mohammed Dakka, Stephen Zushma, Christine A. Costello, Edmund John Mozeleski, Diana S. Smirnova, Allen David Godwin, Pierre J. Osterrieth, Jörg Friedrich Wilhelm Weber, Paul Hamden Daniels, Thomas M. Larson, Catherine A. Faler
  • Publication number: 20120215025
    Abstract: In a process for oxidizing a hydrocarbon, the hydrocarbon is contacted with oxygen in the presence of an N-substituted cyclic imide and under conditions to oxidize the hydrocarbon to produce an oxidized hydrocarbon product and at least one decomposition product of the N-substituted cyclic imide. At least a portion of the at least one decomposition product is contacted with hydroxylamine or a salt thereof under conditions to convert the at least one decomposition product back to said imide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL CHEMICAL PATENTS INC.
    Inventors: Jihad M. Dakka, Stephen Zushma, Nicolas P. Coute, Francisco M. Benitez, Edmund J. Mozeleski
  • Publication number: 20120149941
    Abstract: In a process for oxidizing a hydrocarbon to a corresponding hydroperoxide, alcohol, ketone, carboxylic acid or dicarboxylic acid, the hydrocarbon is contacted with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst comprising a cyclic imide of the general formula (I): wherein each of R1 and R2 is independently selected from hydrocarbyl and substituted hydrocarbyl radicals having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or from the groups SO3H, NH2, OH and NO2, or from the atoms H, F, Cl, Br and I provided that R1 and R2 can be linked to one another via a covalent bond; each of Q1 and Q2 is independently selected from C, CH, N and CR3; each of X and Z is independently selected from C, S, CH2, N, P and elements of Group 4 of the Periodic Table; Y is O or OH; k is 0, 1, or 2; l is 0, 1, or 2; m is 1 to 3, and R3 can be any of the entities listed for R1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Kun Wang, Jihad M. Dakka, Stephen Zushma
  • Publication number: 20120108726
    Abstract: The invention relates to polyketone compounds and the at least partially hydrogenated products thereof, the use of said polyketone compounds and/or the at least partially hydrogenated products thereof as plasticizers, processes of making polyketone compounds and the at least partially hydrogenated products thereof, compositions comprising the polyketone compounds and/or the at least partially hydrogenated products thereof, and to articles formed from products of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Allen D Godwin, Kenneth J. Buturla, Karla S. Colle, Gabor Kiss, Kirk C. Nadler, Abhimanyu O. Patil, Edris Eileen Pike, Ramzi Y. Saleh, Jon E. Stanat, Manika Varma-Nair, Stephen Zushma
  • Patent number: 8115034
    Abstract: The invention relates to polyketone compounds and the at least partially hydrogenated products thereof, the use of said polyketone compounds and/or the at least partially hydrogenated products thereof as plasticizers, processes of making polyketone compounds and the at least partially hydrogenated products thereof, compositions comprising the polyketone compounds and/or the at least partially hydrogenated products thereof, and to articles formed from products of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Allen D. Godwin, Kenneth J. Buturla, Karla S. Colle, Gabor Kiss, Kirk C. Nadler, Abhimanyu O. Patil, Edris Eileen Pike, Ramzi Y. Saleh, Jon E. Stanat, Manika Varma-Nair, Stephen Zushma
  • Publication number: 20120035308
    Abstract: Mono- or diester plasticizers of the formula: wherein A is either —OC(O)R? or ?O, and X is either —COC(O)R or —C(O)OR, and R and R? are C3 to C13 alkyl, which are the same or different, formed from cyclohexylbenzene and processes of making them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Kun Wang, Jihad Mohammed Dakka, Edmund John Mozeleski, Francisco Manuel Benitez, Lisa Saunders Baugh, Allen David Godwin, Diana S. Smirnova, Stephen Zushma
  • Publication number: 20110301387
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing phenol or a substituted phenol and a co-product comprising the steps of (i) contacting a first stream comprising an alkylaromatic compound with a second stream comprising an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a first catalyst comprising a cyclic imide under conditions to convert at least a portion of said alkylaromatic compound to an alkylaromatic hydroperoxide, (ii) producing an effluent stream comprising said cyclic imide, said alkylaromatic hydroperoxide, and said alkylaromatic compound wherein said effluent stream has an alkylaromatic hydroperoxide concentration of from 10 to 40 wt %; and (iii) contacting in a second reactor at least a portion of said effluent stream with a second catalyst to convert said alkylaromatic hydroperoxide to a product stream comprising phenol and said co-product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Kun Wang, Francisco M. Benitez, James R. Lattner, Jihad M. Dakka, Edmund J. Mozeleski, Stephen Zushma
  • Publication number: 20110257317
    Abstract: Tetraesters of a C4-C5 aliphatic tetracarboxylic acid and OXO-alcohols and plasticized compositions containing said tetraesters are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Lisa Saunders Baugh, Enock Berluche, Karla Schall Colle, Manika Varma-Nair, Ramzi Yanni Saleh, Jon Edmond Randolph Stanat, Stephen Zushma, Victor DeFlorio
  • Publication number: 20110190546
    Abstract: In a process for producing phenol or a substituted phenol, an alkylaromatic hydroperoxide having a general formula (I): in which R1 and R2 each independently represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, provided that R1 and R2 may be joined to form a cyclic group having from 4 to 10 carbon atoms, said cyclic group being optionally substituted, and R3 represents hydrogen, one or more alkyl groups having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a cyclohexyl group, is contacted with a catalyst comprising an oxide of at least one metal from Groups 3 to 5 and Groups 7 to 14 of the Periodic Table of the Elements and an oxide of at least one metal from Group 6 of the Periodic Table of the Elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Jihad M. Dakka, Kun Wang, Edmund J. Mozeleski, Stephen Zushma
  • Publication number: 20110190543
    Abstract: In a process for oxidizing an alkylaromatic compound to the corresponding hydroperoxide, a feed comprising an alkylaromatic compound is contacted with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst comprising a cyclic imide. The contacting is conducted at a temperature of about 90° C. to about 150° C., with the cyclic imide being present in an amount between about 0.05 wt % and about 5 wt % of the alkylaromatic compound in the feed and the catalyst being substantially free of alkali metal compounds. The contacting oxidizes at least part of the alkylaromatic compound in said feed to the corresponding hydroperoxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Jihad M. Dakka, Stephen Zushma, Jon E.R. Stanat
  • Publication number: 20110172466
    Abstract: In a process for oxidizing a hydrocarbon to the corresponding hydroperoxide, alcohol, ketone, carboxylic acid or dicarboxylic acid, a reaction medium comprising a hydrocarbon is contacted with an oxygen-containing gas in a reaction zone and in the presence of a catalyst comprising a cyclic imide. During the oxidation process, a portion of the reaction medium is continuously or intermittently removed from the reaction zone, is stripped of water and organic acid impurities and then returned to the reaction zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL CHEMICAL PATENTS INC.
    Inventors: James R. Lattner, Mark Hagemeister, Jon E.R. Stanat, John S. Buchanan, Jihad M. Dakka, Stephen Zushma
  • Publication number: 20110160371
    Abstract: Provided is a process for making non-phthalate plasticizers, by acylating an aromatic compound with a succinic anhydride to form a keto-acid, and then esterifying the keto-acid with C4-C13 OXO-alcohols to form a plasticizer compound. The aromatic rings of the aromatic compound may also be optionally hydrogenated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: ExxonMobile Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Jihad Mohammed DAKKA, Edmund John Mozeleski, Lisa Saunders Baugh, Karla Schall Colle, Allen David Godwin, Diana S. Smimova, Jorg Friedrich Wilhelm Weber, Stephen Zushma
  • Publication number: 20110092742
    Abstract: In a process for producing alkylbenzene hydroperoxides, a feed comprising (i) sec-butylbenzene, (ii) cumene in an amount greater than 10 wt % of the total feed and (iii) at least one of iso-butylbenzene and tert-butylbenzene in an amount up to 20 wt % of the total feed is contacted with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst comprising a cyclic imide of the general formula (I): wherein each of R1 and R2 is independently selected from hydrocarbyl and substituted hydrocarbyl radicals having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or from the groups SO3H, NH2, OH, and NO2 or from the atoms H, F, Cl, Br, and I, provided that R1 and R2 can be linked to one another via a covalent bond; each of Q1 and Q2 is independently selected from C, CH, N and CR3; each of X and Z is independently selected from C, S, CH2, N, P and elements of Group 4 of the Periodic Table; Y is O or OH; k is 0, 1, or 2; l is 0, 1, or 2; m is 1 to 3; and R3 can be any of the entities listed for R1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: Jihad M. Dakka, Stephen Zushma
  • Publication number: 20100234589
    Abstract: In a process for oxidizing a hydrocarbon to a corresponding hydroperoxide, alcohol, ketone, carboxylic acid or dicarboxylic acid, the hydrocarbon is contacted with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst comprising a cyclic imide of the general formula (I): wherein each of R1 and R2 is independently selected from hydrocarbyl and substituted hydrocarbyl radicals having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or from the groups SO3H, NH2, OH and NO2, or from the atoms H, F, Cl, Br and I provided that R1 and R2 can be linked to one another via a covalent bond; each of Q1 and Q2 is independently selected from C, CH, N and CR3; each of X and Z is independently selected from C, S, CH2, N, P and an element of Group 4 of the Periodic Table; Y is O or OH; k is 0, 1, or 2; 1 is 0, 1, or 2; m is 1 to 3, and R3 can be any of the entities listed for R1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Jihad M. Dakka, James C. Vartuli, Stephen Zushma
  • Publication number: 20100228047
    Abstract: In a process for oxidizing a hydrocarbon to the corresponding hydroperoxide, alcohol, ketone, carboxylic acid or dicarboxylic acid, a reaction medium comprising a hydrocarbon is contacted with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst comprising a cyclic imide of the general formula (I): wherein each of R1 and R2 is independently selected from hydrocarbyl and substituted hydrocarbyl radicals having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or from the groups SO3H, NH2, OH and NO2, or from the atoms H, F, Cl, Br and I provided that R1 and R2 can be linked to one another via a covalent bond; each of Q1 and Q2 is independently selected from C, CH, N, and CR3; each of X and Z is independently selected from C, S, CH2, N, P and an element of Group 4 of the Periodic Table; Y is O or OH; k is 0, 1, or 2; l is 0, 1, or 2; m is 1 to 3; and R3 can be any of the entities listed for R1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Francisco M. Benitez, Jihad M. Dakka, Edmund J. Mozeleski, Stephen Zushma, John Scott Buchanan, Jon E. Stanat
  • Publication number: 20100222609
    Abstract: In a process for oxidizing a hydrocarbon to a corresponding hydroperoxide, alcohol, ketone, carboxylic acid or dicarboxylic acid, the hydrocarbon is contacted with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst comprising a cyclic imide of the general formula (I): wherein each of R1 and R2 is independently selected from hydrocarbyl and substituted hydrocarbyl radicals having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or from the groups SO3H, NH2, OH and NO2, or from the atoms H, F, Cl, Br and I provided that R1 and R2 can be linked to one another via a covalent bond; each of Q1 and Q2 is independently selected from C, CH, N and CR3; each of X and Z is independently selected from C, S, CH2, N, P and elements of Group 4 of the Periodic Table; Y is O or OH; k is 0, 1, or 2; 1 is 0, 1, or 2; m is 1 to 3, and R3 can be any of the entities listed for R1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Jihad M. Dakka, James C. Vartuli, Stephen Zushma
  • Patent number: 7759524
    Abstract: In a process for producing phenol and methyl ethyl ketone, benzene and a C4 olefin are contacted under alkylation conditions and in the presence of an alkylation catalyst to produce sec-butylbenzene. The sec-butylbenzene is then oxidized to produce an oxidation effluent comprising sec-butylbenzene hydroperoxide and acetophenone. At least part of the sec-butylbenzene hydroperoxide in the oxidation effluent is cleaved to produce phenol and methyl ethyl ketone, while at least part of the acetophenone is hydrogenated to produce at least one of methyl benzyl alcohol, styrene and ethylbenzene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: John Scott Buchanan, Jihad Mohammed Dakka, Stephen Zushma, Francisco Manuel Benitez, Steven E. Silverberg
  • Publication number: 20090270296
    Abstract: This invention relates to a hydroxyaromatic functionalized polyalpha-olefin comprising the product of the combination of: a) a polyalpha-olefin comprising one or more C3 to C20 linear alpha-olefins and having at least 10% vinylidene unsaturation, a viscosity index of 80 to 400, an Mn of 300 to about 20,000, and a pour point of 0° C. or less; and b) a hydroxyaromatic moiety; wherein the analine point of the functionalized polyalpha-olefin is at least 10° C. lower than the analine point of the polyalpha-olefin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Abhimanyu Onkar Patil, Margaret May-Som Wu, Stephen Zushma, Anura Abhimanyu Patil
  • Publication number: 20080306215
    Abstract: A process is described for functionalizing a copolymer comprising units derived from at least one ?-olefin and units derived from at least one diene, which copolymer contains at least one double bond. The process comprises reacting the copolymer with at least one functionalizing agent to introduce polar pendant oxygen-containing functional groups onto the copolymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: Abhimanyu Onkar Patil, Stephen Zushma, Steven P. Rucker, Christian Peter Mehnert, Raymond A. Cook, Lisa Saunders Baugh, Enock Berluche
  • Publication number: 20080300367
    Abstract: Disclosed is the preparation of compositions which are mixtures of certain types of epoxidized rigid copolymers of ?-olefins and diene-derived co-monomers in combination with elastomeric diene-based polymers or copolymers. These two types of rigid and elastomeric polymeric materials are placed in a common liquid reaction medium and contacted therein with an oxidizing agent. The oxidizing agent, which can be a peroxide or peracid, epoxidizes in-situ at least a portion of the residual double bonds of the rigid copolymer and preferably also introduces hydroxyl groups, e.g., diol moieties, (or derivatives thereof such as ester groups) onto the unsaturated moieties of the elastomeric diene-based polymers or copolymers. This combination of materials which has been oxidized in-situ can then be co-precipitated to form a polymeric mixture which can be melt-molded into polyolefin materials of improved structural, thermal and mechanical properties with desirable impact resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Abhimanyu Onkar Patil, Stephen Zushma