Patents by Inventor Xiaojin Harry Li

Xiaojin Harry Li 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: 9957437
    Abstract: Water-in-oil latices of water soluble or dispersible polymers and methods of using the same are presented. The latices include carbonyl functional inversion agents that provide rapid and complete inversion of the latices under conditions wherein the water source used to invert the latex is provided at high temperature, or includes a high level of total dissolved solids, or is both high temperature and high total dissolved solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaojin Harry Li, Anand Parthasarathy
  • Publication number: 20170081801
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of increasing retention and drainage in papermaking processes using high molecular-weight, water-soluble polymers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Applicant: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Brotherson, Peter E. Reed, Xiaojin Harry Li, William J. Andrews, Mingli Wei
  • Publication number: 20170037300
    Abstract: Water-in-oil latices of water soluble or dispersible polymers and methods of using the same are presented. The latices include phosphorus functional inversion agents that provide rapid and complete inversion of the latices under conditions wherein the water source used to invert the latex is provided at high temperature, or includes a high level of total dissolved solids, or is both high temperature and high total dissolved solids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Xiaojin Harry Li, Anand Parthasarathy
  • Publication number: 20170037298
    Abstract: Water-in-oil latices of water soluble or dispersible polymers and methods of using the same are presented. The latices include carbonyl functional inversion agents that provide rapid and complete inversion of the latices under conditions wherein the water source used to invert the latex is provided at high temperature, or includes a high level of total dissolved solids, or is both high temperature and high total dissolved solids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Xiaojin Harry Li, Anand Parthasarathy
  • Publication number: 20170037299
    Abstract: Water-in-oil latices of water soluble or dispersible polymers and methods of using the same are presented. The latices include nonionic inversion agents that provide rapid and complete inversion of the latices under conditions wherein the water source used to invert the latex is provided at high temperature, or includes a high level of total dissolved solids, or is both high temperature and high total dissolved solids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Xiaojin Harry Li, Anand Parthasarathy
  • Patent number: 9512568
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of increasing retention and drainage in papermaking processes using high molecular-weight, water-soluble polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Brett Brotherson, Peter E. Reed, Xiaojin Harry Li, William J. Andrews, Mingli Wei
  • Patent number: 9416490
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of improving the digestion of wood chips into pulp. The method involves: adding a cross-linked glycerol-based polymer additive to a solution used in the digestion process. This additive is unexpectedly effective at facilitating digestion. The branched and ether structure of the additive allows it to withstand the harsh nature of a high stress environment. In addition, it is more soluble in the harsh condition than other surfactants. The structure, resistance, and particular balance between hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, causes the additive to increases the interaction between the wood chips and the digestion chemicals. This in turn reduces the costs, the amount of additive needed, and the amount of reject wood chunks that result from the digestion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: NALCO COMPANY
    Inventors: Prasad Y. Duggirala, Xiaojin Harry Li
  • Publication number: 20160215449
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of improving the digestion of wood chips into pulp. The method involves: adding a cross-linked glycerol-based polymer additive to a solution used in the digestion process. This additive is unexpectedly effective at facilitating digestion. The branched and ether structure of the additive allows it to withstand the harsh nature of a high stress environment. In addition, it is more soluble in the harsh condition than other surfactants. The structure, resistance, and particular balance between hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, causes the additive to increases the interaction between the wood chips and the digestion chemicals. This in turn reduces the costs, the amount of additive needed, and the amount of reject wood chunks that result from the digestion process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Applicant: NALCO COMPANY
    Inventors: Prasad Y. Duggirala, Xiaojin Harry Li
  • Publication number: 20160122196
    Abstract: In the mining process, linear, branched, hyperbranched or dendrimeric polyols or mixtures thereof are employed as process stabilization aids for aqueous solutions and, or suspensions of metal salts. A specific application area of the polyols is the stabilization of bauxite liquor in the Bayer process of producing alumina from bauxite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: Nalco Company
    Inventors: Jing Wang, Xiaojin Harry Li, Heinrich Enoch Bode
  • Patent number: 9290620
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of efficiently producing branched, cyclic glycerol-based polyols with a co-product as anti-biodegrading agent from inexpensive readily available glycerol monomer. The method involves polymerizing glycerol or glycerol with at least another monomer to multiple other monomers in the presence of particular amount of a strong base as the catalyst under a particular distillation environment. The polyol produced by the inventive method is beneficial of reducing scales in Bayer liquid for aluminum production process and improving brightness of coated paper substrates without greening effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: NALCO COMPANY
    Inventors: Xiaojin Harry Li, Joanna L. Shih, Heinrich E. Bode, Jing Wang, Frederick J. Swiecinski
  • Patent number: 9284625
    Abstract: A hyperbranched polyglycerol is employed as a process stabilization aid of pregnant liquor of a Bayer process of producing alumina from bauxite. The hyperbranched polyglycerol has a molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 1,000,000.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: Jing Wang, Xiaojin Harry Li, Heinrich Enoch Bode
  • Publication number: 20160032170
    Abstract: Emulsions of mobility control polymers can be used to increase recovery of crude oil from a subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation. A flooding fluid comprising the polymer emulsions are injected into a well that is in contact with the subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation. The polymers can be temporarily cross-linked and have protected shear degradation and improved injectivity into the well; the shear resistance can be measured in terms of viscosity loss due to shear, and the improved injectivity can be measured in terms of the flooding fluid's filter ratio, flow rate, and viscosity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Xiaojin Harry Li, Peter E. Reed, William J. Andrews
  • Publication number: 20150284495
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are water-soluble polymers comprising hydrolyzable cross-linked monomer units, and methods for recovering hydrocarbon fluids from a subterranean formation using the water-soluble polymers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Peter E. Reed, William J. Andrews, Mingli Wei, Xiaojin Harry Li
  • Publication number: 20150267350
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of increasing retention and drainage in papermaking processes using high molecular-weight, water-soluble polymers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Brett Brotherson, Peter E. Reed, Xiaojin Harry Li, William J. Andrews, Mingli Wei
  • Patent number: 8884049
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of efficiently producing branched, cyclic glycerol-based polymer surface active products having ester and alkyl functional groups with a co-product as anti-biodegrading agent from inexpensive readily available glycerol monomer. The method involves polymerizing glycerol or glycerol with at least another monomer to multiple other monomers in the presence of particular amount of a strong base as the catalyst under a particular distillation environment. The polyol then undergoes esterification, alkylation and crosslinking in presence of particular amount of a catalyst under a particular low activity atmospheric environment. The glycerol-based polymer surface active products produced by the inventive method are beneficial for reducing lignin, extractives and rejects levels in pulping process of papermaking industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: Xiaojin Harry Li, Prasad Duggirala, Joanna L. Shih
  • Publication number: 20140262090
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of increasing retention and drainage in papermaking processes using high molecular-weight, water-soluble polymers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Brotherson, Peter E. Reed, Xiaojin Harry Li, William J. Andrews, Mingli Wei
  • Publication number: 20140209304
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are water-soluble polymers comprising hydrolyzable cross-linked monomer units, and methods for recovering hydrocarbon fluids from a subterranean formation using the water-soluble polymers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Peter E. Reed, William J. Andrews, Mingli Wei, Xiaojin Harry Li
  • Patent number: 8728275
    Abstract: Described herein are methods of reducing the deposition of organic contaminants, such as pitch and stickies, in papermaking processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaojin Harry Li, Paul F. Richardson, Sergey M. Shevchenko
  • Patent number: 8709209
    Abstract: The invention is directed to methods and compositions for reducing the deposition of pitches and stickies in a papermaking process. The method involves introducing an anionic glycerol-based polymer to the papermaking process. This anionic polymer prevents the pitches and stickies from depositing and agglomerating in papermaking processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: Xiaojin Harry Li, Paul Richardson, Qing Qing Yuan, Qun Dong
  • Publication number: 20140027079
    Abstract: Described herein are methods of reducing the deposition of organic contaminants, such as pitch and stickies, in papermaking processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventors: Xiaojin Harry Li, Paul F. Richardson, Sergey M. Shevchenko