Patents by Inventor Steven W. Levine

Steven W. Levine 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: 12115492
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to processes for desulfurizing hydrocarbon feedstocks. The processes may include introducing a feedstock comprising hydrogen sulfide to an absorber comprising a metal chelate to form a reduced metal chelate. The processes may further include introducing the reduced metal chelate to a photobioreactor comprising a phototrophic bacterium. The present disclosure also relates to apparatuses for desulfurizing hydrocarbon feedstock. An apparatus may include and absorber and a photobioreactor fluidly connected to the absorber. The photobioreactor may be an anaerobic vessel with a light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Mark L Heinnickel, Steven W Levine, Robert D Nielsen, Yuchen Liu, Joseph C Weissman
  • Patent number: 11936081
    Abstract: A redox flow battery may include: a positive half-cell comprising a catholyte; a negative half-cell comprising an anolyte; and an ion permeable membrane, wherein the ion permeable membrane separates the catholyte and the anolyte, and wherein the catholyte, the anolyte, or both comprise a low-transition temperature material comprising: a redox-active phase; and an ionically conducting organic salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Exxon Mobil Technology and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Divyaraj Desai, Michael R. Harper, Jr., Heather A. Elsen, Jonathan D. Saathoff, Mehmet D. Ertas, Steven W. Levine
  • Publication number: 20220255105
    Abstract: A redox flow battery may include: a positive half-cell comprising a catholyte; a negative half-cell comprising an anolyte; and an ion permeable membrane, wherein the ion permeable membrane separates the catholyte and the anolyte, and wherein the catholyte, the anolyte, or both comprise a low-transition temperature material comprising: a redox-active phase; and an ionically conducting organic salt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2021
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Divyaraj Desai, Michael R. Harper, JR., Heather A. Elsen, Jonathan D. Saathoff, Mehmet D. Ertas, Steven W. Levine
  • Publication number: 20210220770
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to processes for desulfurizing hydrocarbon feedstocks. The processes may include introducing a feedstock comprising hydrogen sulfide to an absorber comprising a metal chelate to form a reduced metal chelate. The processes may further include introducing the reduced metal chelate to a photobioreactor comprising a phototrophic bacterium. The present disclosure also relates to apparatuses for desulfurizing hydrocarbon feedstock. An apparatus may include and absorber and a photobioreactor fluidly connected to the absorber. The photobioreactor may be an anaerobic vessel with a light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Mark L Heinnickel, Steven W Levine, Robert D Nielsen, Yuchen Liu, Joseph C Weissman
  • Patent number: 10870610
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for producing neopentane. The processes generally relate to demethylating isooctane to produce neopentane. The isooctane may be provided by the alkylation of isobutane with butylenes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Kun Wang, Lorenzo C. DeCaul, Steven W. Levine, Etienne Mazoyer, James R. Lattner, Helge Jaensch, Ali A. Kheir
  • Patent number: 10414991
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for hydroconversion of a heavy oil feed under slurry hydroprocessing conditions and/or solvent assisted hydroprocessing conditions. The systems and methods for slurry hydroconversion can include the use of a configuration that can allow for improved separation of catalyst particles from the slurry hydroprocessing effluent. In addition to allowing for improved catalyst recycle, an amount of fines in the slurry hydroconversion effluent can be reduced or minimized. This can facilitate further processing or handling of any “pitch” generated during the slurry hydroconversion. The systems and methods for solvent assisted hydroprocessing can include processing of a heavy oil feed in conjunction with a high solvency dispersive power crude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Benjamin S. Umansky, Himanshu Gupta, John D. Nelson, Cindy J. Hughart, Jane C. Cheng, Steven W. Levine, Stephen H. Brown, Todd P. Marut, David C. Dankworth, Stuart L. Soled, Thomas F. Degnan, Jr., Robert J. Falkiner, Mohsen N. Harandi, Juan D. Henao, Lei Zhang, Chuansheng Bai, Richard C. Dougherty
  • Publication number: 20190225561
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for producing neopentane. The processes generally relate to demethylating isooctane to produce neopentane. The isooctane may be provided by the alkylation of isobutane with butylenes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Kun Wang, Lorenzo C. DeCaul, Steven W. Levine, Etienne Mazoyer, James R. Lattner, Helge Jaensch, Ali A. Kheir
  • Patent number: 8951409
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for reducing fouling, including particulate-induced fouling, in a hydrocarbon refining process including the steps of providing a crude hydrocarbon for a refining process and adding an antifouling agent containing a polymer base unit and a polyamine group to the crude hydrocarbon. The antifouling agent can be obtained by reacting an epoxidation reagent with a vinyl-terminated polymer, such as polypropylene or poly(ethylene-co-propylene), to form a terminal epoxy group, followed by reacting a polyamine with the epoxy group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Man Kit Ng, Glen B. Brons, Steven W. Levine, Kevin Mallory, Hong Cheng, Patrick Brant, Donna J. Crowther
  • Patent number: 8852427
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Mohsen S. Yeganeh, Peter W. Jacobs, Ian A. Cody, Steven W. Levine, Eric B. Sirota, Ramesh Gupta, Walter Weissman
  • Patent number: 8663455
    Abstract: High molecular weight naphthenic tetra-acids are added to a base crude oil to prevent and/or reduce fouling of crude oil refinery equipment. The method includes adding an effective amount of a high molecular weight naphthenic tetra-acid to the base crude oil to form a crude oil mixture and feeding the crude oil mixture to a crude oil refinery component. Particularly, the high molecular weight naphthenic tetra-acids include ARN acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Steven W. Levine, Glen B. Brons, George A. Lutz, Daniel P. Leta, Clifford C. Walters
  • Patent number: 8329941
    Abstract: A method for recovering high molecular weight naphthenic tetra-acids, particularly ARN acids from a calcium naphthenate deposit. Calcium naphthenate deposits contain large amounts of calcium naphthenate salts of ARN acids. The method dual solvent extraction process in which the naphthenic tetra-acids chemically bound as calcium naphthenate salts are converted into free acid monomers by an aqueous acid. The resulting free acid monomers are then dissolved into an organic solvent phase and the counterions dissolve in the aqueous acid phase. The naphthenic tetra-acids are then recovered from the organic solvent phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Steven W. Levine, Manuel A. Francisco, Sharon A. Feiller, Clifford C. Walters
  • Publication number: 20110147275
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for reducing fouling, including particulate-induced fouling, in a hydrocarbon refining process including the steps of providing a crude hydrocarbon for a refining process and adding an antifouling agent containing a polymer base unit and a polyamine group to the crude hydrocarbon. The antifouling agent can be obtained by reacting an epoxidation reagent with a vinyl-terminated polymer, such as polypropylene or poly(ethylene-co-propylene), to form a terminal epoxy group, followed by reacting a polyamine with the epoxy group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Man Kit NG, Glen B. Brons, Steven W. Levine, Kevin Mallory, Hong Cheng, Patrick Brant, Donna J. Crowther
  • Publication number: 20100170829
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for reducing fouling, including particulate-induced fouling, in a hydrocarbon refining process including the steps of providing a crude hydrocarbon for a refining process; adding at least one polyalkyl succinic anhydride derivative additive disclosed herein. The additive can be complexed with a boronating agent, such as boric acid, to yield a boron-containing polyalkyl succinic anhydride derivative.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Man Kit Ng, Glen B. Brons, Steven W. Levine, Kevin Mallory, Hong Cheng, Patrick Brant, Donna J. Crowther