Soni Oyekan

Last updated

Soni Olufemi Olubunmi Oyekan
Born(1946-06-01)1 June 1946
Aba, Abia State, Nigeria
Died18 September 2021(2021-09-18) (aged 75)
Alma mater Yale University, Carnegie Mellon University
Awards Percy Lavon Julian Award, William W. Grimes Award

Soni Olufemi Olubunmi Oyekan was a Nigerian-American chemical engineer, inventor, entrepreneur, author, mentor and educator. [1] Oyekan was the President and CEO of Prafis Energy Solutions, an oil refining and energy consulting company. [2] During his career, he has been involved in both research and development and management at a number of major oil companies. He held patents and has made other contributions in the areas of chemical engineering, oil refining, and catalytic systems, including the publication of Catalytic Naphtha Reforming Process (2018). [3]

Contents

Oyekan was both a Fellow and a Trustee of the AIChE, and has served on its Fuels and Petrochemicals Division and Minority Affairs Committees. Awards received include the William W. Grimes award from the AIChE and the Percy Lavon Julian Award from the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE). [4] . He was a mentor to many young professionals.

Early life and education

Soni Oyekan was born in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria on 1 June 1946 [5] and came to the United States to study in 1966. [6] [7] Soni completed his high school studies at St. Paul's College, Zaria, in 1963, and his advanced high school education at Olivet Baptist High School in Oyo, Oyo State in 1965. He is of Yoruba descent.

Oyekan was a recipient of an African Scholarship Program of American Universities (ASPAU) award which was administered by the Africa-America Institute (AAI) in 1966. The scholarship award enabled Soni to pursue his studies in Engineering and Applied Sciences with specialization in Chemical Engineering at Yale University. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree program at Yale University in 1970. [7]

After his undergraduate studies at Yale, Soni moved on to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and completed graduate studies in chemical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. He was awarded the Master of Science (MS) degree in 1972 and the doctoral (PhD) degree in 1977. [7] During this time he taught at the University of Pittsburgh. [8]

His MS degree thesis title was on "The Stability of Low Tension Interfaces—Effects of layers of Discrete Dipoles and Charges". The title of his doctoral thesis was "An Infrared Spectroscopic Study of the Isomerization and Hydrogenation of Cyclic Olefins Over Zinc Oxide". [9] He conducted his doctoral research studies under the tutelage of Professor Anthony L. Dent. [7]

Career

Soni Oyekan was the President and CEO of Prafis Energy Solutions. Prafis Energy Solutions is an oil refining and energy consulting services company. The company is located in Richmond, Texas. [7] Prior to starting up his oil and gas processing consulting services company in 2013, Oyekan contributed to chemical engineering and oil refining with his inventions and studies on catalytic systems and the catalytic naphtha reforming process. His patents are used for enhanced profitability in reactor engineering and catalysis for the processing of crude oil to meet consumer demands for transportation fuels, heating oil, propane and butane gases. Dr. Oyekan provides his expertise as expert witness in litigation cases for oil refining history, oil refining and related waste management challenges.

Soni has over 42 years of experience in petroleum refining technologies and operations. He worked at the Exxon Research and Development Laboratory in Baton Rouge, Louisiana between 1977 and 1980; at Engelhard Corporation between 1980 and 1990, and DuPont between 1991 and 1993, leading research and development programs in catalysis and reaction engineering. After 1993, Soni moved into the management of oil refineries, with technical management assignments as senior consultant/corporate process technologist at Sun Oil Company (Sunoco)1993 to 1997; BP-Amoco, 1997 to 1999, and Marathon Petroleum Corporation, 1999 to 2013. [7]

Honors and awards

Oyekan has received several awards and recognition for his contributions in oil refining, chemical engineering and in the mentoring of engineers and technical personnel. He was a member of the AIChE Foundation Board of Trustees [10] and was elected as a Fellow of the AIChE in 1999. [7] He was active in the AIChE Minority Affairs Committee (MAC) [11] and was honored with its Distinguished Service award in 2000. The Fuels and Petrochemicals Division honored him with its Distinguished Service award in 2002. Dr Soni Oyekan was named an Eminent Black Chemical Engineer at the AIChE Centennial Meeting in 2008. He was the recipient of the AIChE William W. Grimes award for excellence in chemical engineering and for the mentoring of under represented minority groups in 2008. [12]

Soni Oyekan was the recipient of the 2009 Percy Lavon Julian Award. [1] [13] The Percy Julian award is the most prestigious honor given by the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE). The award recognizes and honors a recipient's scientific contributions and achievements, dedication to research, commitment to the educational development of others and passion for the chemistry profession. [14]

Oyekan was also a member of the Foundation Board of Trustees of AIChE, and a member of Sigma Xi, Phi Kappa Phi honor societies, and of the Yale Manuscript Society. He was listed in the 2000 13th edition of Who's Who Among African Americans. [12]

Patents & publications

Soni Oyekan has 15 patents including 5 US patents and over 70 publications on a variety of topics in petroleum refining and catalysis. He has contributed over the years in numerous technical discussions on petroleum refining at the annual National Petroleum Refiners Association (NPRA) Q&A conferences. NPRA is now the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM). [15]

He is a co-author of "Catalyst Regeneration and Continuous Reforming Issues" with P. K. Doolin and D. J. Zalewski, in Catalytic Naphtha Reforming (2004). [16] Oyekan is the author of Catalytic Naphtha Reforming Process (2018). [17]

Personal life

Soni Oyekan married Priscilla Ann Parker on 6 June 1970. Priscilla Ann graduated in the first female graduating class at Yale University in 1973. [18] Oyekan died on 18 September 2021. [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oil refinery</span> Facility that processes crude oil

An oil refinery or petroleum refinery is an industrial process plant where petroleum is transformed and refined into useful products such as gasoline (petrol), diesel fuel, asphalt base, fuel oils, heating oil, kerosene, liquefied petroleum gas and petroleum naphtha. Petrochemical feedstock like ethylene and propylene can also be produced directly by cracking crude oil without the need of using refined products of crude oil such as naphtha. The crude oil feedstock has typically been processed by an oil production plant. There is usually an oil depot at or near an oil refinery for the storage of incoming crude oil feedstock as well as bulk liquid products. In 2020, the total capacity of global refineries for crude oil was about 101.2 million barrels per day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cracking (chemistry)</span> Process whereby complex organic molecules are broken down into simpler molecules

In petrochemistry, petroleum geology and organic chemistry, cracking is the process whereby complex organic molecules such as kerogens or long-chain hydrocarbons are broken down into simpler molecules such as light hydrocarbons, by the breaking of carbon-carbon bonds in the precursors. The rate of cracking and the end products are strongly dependent on the temperature and presence of catalysts. Cracking is the breakdown of a large hydrocarbons into smaller, more useful alkanes and alkenes. Simply put, hydrocarbon cracking is the process of breaking a long chain of hydrocarbons into short ones. This process requires high temperatures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catalytic reforming</span> Chemical process used in oil refining

Catalytic reforming is a chemical process used to convert petroleum refinery naphthas distilled from crude oil into high-octane liquid products called reformates, which are premium blending stocks for high-octane gasoline. The process converts low-octane linear hydrocarbons (paraffins) into branched alkanes (isoparaffins) and cyclic naphthenes, which are then partially dehydrogenated to produce high-octane aromatic hydrocarbons. The dehydrogenation also produces significant amounts of byproduct hydrogen gas, which is fed into other refinery processes such as hydrocracking. A side reaction is hydrogenolysis, which produces light hydrocarbons of lower value, such as methane, ethane, propane and butanes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fluid catalytic cracking</span> Petroleum conversion process

Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) is the conversion process used in petroleum refineries to convert the high-boiling point, high-molecular weight hydrocarbon fractions of petroleum into gasoline, alkene gases, and other petroleum products. The cracking of petroleum hydrocarbons was originally done by thermal cracking, now virtually replaced by catalytic cracking, which yields greater volumes of high octane rating gasoline; and produces by-product gases, with more carbon-carbon double bonds, that are of greater economic value than the gases produced by thermal cracking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hydrodesulfurization</span> Chemical process used to remove sulfur in natural gas and oil refining

Hydrodesulfurization (HDS), also called hydrotreatment or hydrotreating, is a catalytic chemical process widely used to remove sulfur (S) from natural gas and from refined petroleum products, such as gasoline or petrol, jet fuel, kerosene, diesel fuel, and fuel oils. The purpose of removing the sulfur, and creating products such as ultra-low-sulfur diesel, is to reduce the sulfur dioxide emissions that result from using those fuels in automotive vehicles, aircraft, railroad locomotives, ships, gas or oil burning power plants, residential and industrial furnaces, and other forms of fuel combustion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UOP LLC</span>

Honeywell UOP, formerly known as UOP LLC or Universal Oil Products, is an American multi-national company developing and delivering technology to the petroleum refining, gas processing, petrochemical production, and major manufacturing industries.

The National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers or NOBCChE is a nonprofit, professional organization. NOBCChE's goal is to increase the number of minorities in science, technology, and engineering fields. The organization accomplishes this by creating bonds with professionals working at science-related companies and faculty at local school districts in order to get more minorities to pursue a career in science and engineering fields. NOBCChE focuses on establishing diversity programs for the professional development of young kids and to spread knowledge in science and engineering. NOBCChE chapters can be found nationwide.

Hydroskimming is one of the simplest types of refinery used in the petroleum industry and still represents a large proportion of refining facilities, particularly in developing countries. A hydroskimming refinery is defined as a refinery equipped with atmospheric distillation, naphtha reforming and necessary treating processes. A hydroskimming refinery is therefore more complex than a topping refinery and it produces gasoline. The addition of catalytic reformer enables a hydroskimming refinery to generate higher octane reformate; benzene, toluene, and xylene; and hydrogen for hydrotreating units. However, a hydroskimming refinery produces a surplus of fuel oil with a relatively unattractive price and demand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian Institute of Petroleum</span>

The Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), established in 1960, is one of the 37 constituent laboratories of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), dedicated to R&D in the hydrocarbon sector.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William C. Pfefferle</span> Inventor of Catalytic Combustion (1923-2010)

William C. Pfefferle was an American scientist and inventor.

Gdańsk oil refinery is a 10.5 million tonne per year refinery located near the Polish city of Gdańsk on the Baltic Sea. The refinery was established in 1975 to supply fuels and lubricants, and has undergone several upgrades and expansions to increase its capacity and the range of products available. It now has a Nelson complexity index of 11.1. It is one of two oil refineries in Poland, the other is Plock refinery.

Vladimir Haensel was an American chemical engineer who invented the platforming process - a platinum catalytic process for reforming petroleum hydrocarbons into gasoline. In addition, he was influential in the creation of catalytic converters for automobiles.

Donald Lewis Campbell was an American chemical engineer. He and his team of three other scientists are most known for having developed the fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) process in 1942. This process provided a more efficient method for petroleum refiners to obtain high-octane gasoline by through the conversion of crude oil. The team was awarded US Patent No. 2,451,804, A Method of and Apparatus for Contacting Solids and Gases, and eventually transformed the way petroleum was developed. Their invention was especially important in World War II, as refiners could finally provide enough fuel for the Allies’ fighter planes to battle against the Axis. For his significant contributions to the field of chemical engineering, Campbell was inducted in the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Petroleum refining processes</span> Methods of transforming crude oil

Petroleum refining processes are the chemical engineering processes and other facilities used in petroleum refineries to transform crude oil into useful products such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), gasoline or petrol, kerosene, jet fuel, diesel oil and fuel oils.

Petroleum naphtha is an intermediate hydrocarbon liquid stream derived from the refining of crude oil with CAS-no 64742-48-9. It is most usually desulfurized and then catalytically reformed, which rearranges or restructures the hydrocarbon molecules in the naphtha as well as breaking some of the molecules into smaller molecules to produce a high-octane component of gasoline.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BTX (chemistry)</span> Mixtures of benzene, toluene, and the three xylene isomers

In the petroleum refining and petrochemical industries, the initialism BTX refers to mixtures of benzene, toluene, and the three xylene isomers, all of which are aromatic hydrocarbons. The xylene isomers are distinguished by the designations ortho –, meta –, and para – as indicated in the adjacent diagram. If ethylbenzene is included, the mixture is sometimes referred to as BTEX.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Harcourt Refining Company</span> Crude oil refinery of Nigeria

The Port Harcourt Refining Company,, is a Nigeria-based oil and gas company primarily specializing in the refining of crude oil into petroleum products. It is headquartered in Port Harcourt metropolitan area of Rivers State, southeastern Nigeria. The company is a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The Dangote Refinery is an oil refinery owned by Dangote Group that was inaugurated on the 22nd of May 2023 in Lekki, Nigeria. When in full operation, it is expected to have the capacity to process about 650,000 barrels per day of crude oil, making it the largest single-train refinery in the world. The investment is over 19 billion US dollars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sharon Haynie</span> African-American chemist

Sharon Loretta Haynie is an American chemist who develops biocatalysis for green chemistry. She is a Fellow of the American Chemical Society. Haynie was the first woman to be awarded the NOBCChE Henry Aaron Hill Award in 2006 and the first woman to win the Percy L. Julian Award in 2008.

The Percy L. Julian Award was first given in 1975 by the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE). The award is given every one to two years. It honors black scientists who have made significant contributions to the areas of pure or applied research in science or engineering.

References

  1. 1 2 Lauren K. Wolf (5 November 2012). "Joining The NOBCChE Family: Nigeria-born student builds relationships at annual meeting of black chemists and chemical engineers". Chemical and Engineering News. American Chemical Society. 90 (45): 36–37.
  2. ↑ "Dr. Soni Olufemi Olubunmi Oyekan – DAWN Commission" . Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  3. ↑ "Soni O. Oyekan Inventions, Patents and Patent Applications - Justia Patents Search". patents.justia.com. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  4. ↑ "Soni Olufemi Olubunmi Oyekan". Africans in STEM. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  5. ↑ "Soni Olufemi Oyekan". DAWN. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  6. ↑ Soni Oyekan: Directory; www.LinkedIn.com/pub/dir/soni oyekan
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Edwards, Victor; Shelley, Suzanne (24 August 2018). Careers in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (1st ed.). CRC Press.
  8. ↑ "Transfer Students". Point Park University. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  9. ↑ OYEKAN, SONI OLUFEMI (1977). AN INFRARED-SPECTROSCOPIC STUDY OF THE ISOMERIZATION AND HYDROGENATION OF CYCLIC OLEFINS OVER ZINC-OXIDE.
  10. ↑ "Dr Soni Oyekan President & CEO". AICHE Engage. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  11. ↑ Ellis, Gordon. "nterview with Soni Olufemi Oyekan Conducted April 26, 2015 Edited transcript" (PDF). AICHE. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  12. 1 2 "Soni Olufemi Oyekan". Who's Who Among African Americans. Gale. 2019.
  13. ↑ "Chemical Engineering Graduate Dr. Soni Oyekan receives the Percy L. Julian Award". Carnegie Mellon University. 2005. Archived from the original on 19 June 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  14. ↑ "Dr. Percy L. Julian Distinguished Lecture and Award". National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  15. ↑ "Dr. Soni Olufemi Olubunmi Oyekan – DAWN Commission" . Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  16. ↑ Antos, George J.; Aitani, Abdullah M., eds. (2004). Catalytic Naphtha Reforming (2nd ed.). CRC Press. doi:10.1201/9780203913505-19.
  17. ↑ Oyekan, Soni O. (2018). Catalytic Naphtha Reforming Process (1st ed.). CRC Press.
  18. ↑ Camp, Hafiz Naim Ali (7 June 2019). Our Love for the "Lawnz": Like No Other Neighborhood - 2019. Trafford Publishing.
  19. ↑ "Dr. Soni Oyekan Obituary (1946 - 2021) | Richmond, Texas". echovita.com. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.