Method and composition for reducing emissions from a gasoline engine equipped with a three-way catalytic converter

• US 20010001354A1
• Filed: 01/08/2001
• Published: 05/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Barry N. Sprague, James M. Valentine, Jeremy D. Peter-Hoblyn
• Original Assignee: Barry N. Sprague, James M. Valentine, Jeremy D. Peter-Hoblyn
• Inventors: Sprague, Barry N., Valentine, James M., Peter-Hoblyn, Jeremy D.
• Application Number:
  US09/756,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20010001354A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 44/362
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/14 Organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/1608 Well defined compounds, e.g. hexane, benzene
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/1616 fractions, e.g. lubricants, solvents, naphta, bitumen, tars, terpentine
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/1814 Chelates
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/1824 mono-hydroxy
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/305 organo-metallic compounds (containing a metal to carbon bond)
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 10/02 for reducing smoke development
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 10/06 for facilitating soot removal

Abstract

Gasoline engines equipped with three-way catalysts emit less NO_x, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide when operated on fuels containing a bimetallic catalyst comprising rhodium acetylacetonate and a fuel-soluble platinum compound such as diphenyl cyclooctadiene platinum(II) or platinum acetyl acetonate. The total metals in the additive will be dosed at a concentration of less than about 2 ppm (milligrams of metal to liter of gasoline) based on the amount of gasoline burned in the engine. Preferred dosages will be from about 0.15 to about 1.5 ppm, with a ratio of platinum to rhodium of from about 3:1 to about 15:1.

Claims

1. A composition for adding to gasoline for the purpose of maintaining or improving the performance of a three-way catalytic converter, comprising a blend of rhodium acetylacetonate and a fuel-soluble organo-platinum compound.

2. A composition according to

claim 1

wherein the platinum compound is a member selected from the group consisting of platinum acetylacetonate and compounds having the general formula XPtR₁R₂ wherein X is a ligand containing at least one unsaturated carbon-to-carbon bond with an olefinic, acetylenic or aromatic pi bond configuration and R₁ and R₂ are, independently, benzyl, phenyl, nitrobenzyl or alkyl having 1 to 10.

3. A composition according to

claim 1

wherein the platinum and rhodium compounds are present in amounts sufficient to provide a ratio of platinum to rhodium within the range of from about 3:

1 to about 15;

1.

4. A composition according to

claim 1

wherein the total metals in the additive will be dosed at a concentration of less than about 2 ppm (mg of metal to liter of fuel) based on the amount of gasoline burned in the engine.

5. A composition according to

claim 1

wherein the total metals in the additive will be dosed at a concentration of from about 0.15 to about 1.5 ppm.

6. A composition according to

claim 1

wherein the total metals in the additive will be dosed at a concentration of less than 2ppm and the platinum and rhodium compounds are present in amounts sufficient to provide a ratio of platinum to rhodium within the range of from about 3:

1 to about 15;

1.

7. A composition according to

claim 1

wherein the platinum compound comprises platinum acetylacetonate.

8. A composition according to

claim 1

wherein the platinum compound comprises diphenyl cyclooctadiene platinum(II).

9. A composition according to

claim 1

, which further comprises a fuel miscible solvent for the catalyst metal compounds.

10. A gasoline composition comprising gasoline and a bimetallic catalyst effective to maintain or improve the performance of a three-way catalytic converter, comprising a blend of rhodium acetylacetonate and a fuel-soluble organo-platinum compound.

11. A composition according to

claim 10

wherein the platinum compound comprises one selected from the group consisting of platinum acetylacetonate and compounds having the general formula XPtR₁R₂ wherein X is a ligand containing at least one unsaturated carbon-to-carbon bond with an olefinic, acetylenic or aromatic pi bond configuration and R₁ and R₂ are, independently, benzyl, phenyl, nitrobenzyl or alkyl having 1 to 10.

12. A composition according to

claim 11

wherein the platinum and rhodium compounds are present in amounts sufficient to provide a ratio of platinum to rhodium within the range of from about 3:

1 to about 15;

1.

13. A composition according to

claim 11

wherein the total metals in the additive will be dosed at a concentration of less than about 2 ppm (weight of metal to volume of fuel) based on the amount of gasoline burned in the engine.

14. A composition according to

claim 11

wherein the total metals in the additive will be dosed at a concentration of from about 0.15 to about 1.5 ppm.

15. A composition according to

claim 11

wherein the total metals in the additive will be dosed at a concentration of and the platinum and rhodium compounds are present in amounts sufficient to provide a ratio of platinum to rhodium within the range of from about 3:

1 to about 15;

1.

16. A composition according to

claim 11

wherein the platinum compound comprises platinum acetylacetonate.

17. A composition according to

claim 11

wherein the platinum compound comprises diphenyl cyclooctadiene platinum(II).

18. A method for renewing or improving the performance of a three-way catalytic converter operated on a gasoline engine, comprising:

feeding a gasoline composition, comprising a blend of rhodium acetylacetonate and a fuel-soluble organo-platinum compound, to a combustion chamber of the engine where the fuel is combusted and the organic portions of the rhodium and platinum compounds are oxidized, thereby releasing the rhodium and platinum as active catalyst species in exhaust gases generated by the combustion; and

passing the exhaust gases through the catalytic converter whereby rhodium and platinum are deposited in the catalytic converter.

19. A method according to

claim 18

, wherein:

the platinum compound is one selected from the group consisting of platinum acetylacetonate and compounds having the general formula XPtR₁R₂ wherein X is a ligand containing at least one unsaturated carbon-to-carbon bond with an olefinic, acetylenic or aromatic pi bond configuration and R₁ and R₂ are, independently, benzyl, phenyl, nitrobenzyl or alkyl having 1 to 10.

20. A method according to

claim 18

, wherein:

the total metals in the additive will be dosed at a concentration of less than 2ppm and the platinum and rhodium compounds are present in amounts sufficient to provide a ratio of platinum to rhodium within the range of from about 3;

1 to about 15;

1.