Fuel additive

• US 20030154646A1
• Filed: 02/05/2003
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oxonica Energy Limited
• Original Assignee: Oxonica Energy Limited
• Inventors: Hazarika, Ronen, Morgan, Bryan Lawrence
• Granted Patent: US 7,195,653 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 44/321
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/10 containing additives
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/106 mixtures of inorganic compounds with organic macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/1233 oxygen containing compounds, e.g. oxides, hydroxides, acids and salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/1608 Well defined compounds, e.g. hexane, benzene
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/165 from compounds containing aromatic monomers
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/1881 carboxylic group attached to an aliphatic carbon atom
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/1883 polycarboxylic acid
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/1963 mono-carboxylic
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 10/02 for reducing smoke development
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 10/04 for minimising corrosion or incrustation
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 10/08 for improving lubricity; for reducing wear
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2982 Particulate matter [e.g., sphere, flake, etc.]

Abstract

This invention relates to a method for improving the efficiency with which fuel is burnt in a fuel burning apparatus, particularly an internal combustion engine, comprising dispersing an amount of at least one particulate lanthanide oxide, particularly cerium oxide, in the fuel. This invention further relates to tablets, capsules, compositions and liquid fuel additives suitable for dispersing a lanthanide oxide in fuel.

Claims

1. A method of improving the efficiency with which fuel is burnt in a fuel burning apparatus and/or a method of reducing the emissions produced by a fuel which is burnt in a fuel burning apparatus, said method comprising dispersing an amount of at least one particulate lanthanide oxide in the fuel.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one lanthanide oxide comprises a lanthanide selected from the group consisting of cerium, lanthanum, neodymium and praseodymium.

3. A method according to claims 1 or 2 wherein the at least one lanthanide oxide is CeO₂.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one lanthanide oxide has a particle size in the range of 1 to 50 nm.

5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one lanthanide oxide is made by plasma vapour synthesis or mechanical chemical processing.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one lanthanide oxide is coated with a substance which renders the surface of the lanthanide oxide lipophilic.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the substance which coats the lanthanide oxide is a surfactant having an HLB of 7 or less.

8. A method according to claims 6 or 7 wherein the substance which coats the lanthanide oxide is oleic acid or dodecenyl succinic anhydride.

9. A tablet suitable for dispersion of at least one lanthanide oxide in fuel comprising at least one lanthanide oxide as defined in any one of claims 2 to 8 and a tabletting aid which is dispersible in a fuel.

10. A tablet according to claim 9 wherein the tabletting aid is selected from the group consisting of a C₇-C₃₀ alkyl carboxylic acid, a C₆-C₃₀ aromatic compound, and polymeric tabletting aids.

11. A tablet according to claim 10 wherein the tabletting aid is tetradecanoic acid.

12. A tablet according to any one of claims 9 to 11 wherein the amount of lanthanide oxide is in the range of 1 to 99.99 wt. %, based on the total weight of the tablet.

13. A tablet according to any one of claims 9 to 12 wherein the amount of tabletting aid is in the range of 0.01 to 99 wt. %, based on the total weight of the tablet.

14. A method for producing a tablet according to any one of claims 9 to 13 comprising the steps of preparing a composition comprising a lanthanide oxide as defined in any one of claims 2 to 8 and a tabletting aid as defined in any one of claims 9 to 11 and applying a direct compression force to said composition.

15. A composition comprising a lanthanide oxide as defined in any one of claims 2 to 8 and a tabletting aid as defined in any one of claims 9 to 11.

16. A capsule suitable for dispersion of at least one lanthanide oxide in fuel comprising an outer case and a substance contained therein, wherein the outer case comprises at least one tabletting aid as defined in any one of claims 9 to 11 and the substance contained therein comprises at least one lanthanide oxide as defined in any one of claims 2 to 8.

17. A liquid fuel additive suitable for dispersion of at least one lanthanide oxide in fuel comprising a dispersion of at least one lanthanide oxide as defined in any one of claims 4 to 8 in an organic liquid medium.

18. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the fuel burning apparatus is an internal combustion engine.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein the lanthanide oxide which is dispersed in the fuel is in the form of a tablet according to any one of claims 9 to 13, a capsule according to claim 16 or a liquid fuel additive according to claim 17.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the amount of tablet, capsule or liquid fuel additive dispersed in the fuel is such that the concentration of lanthanide oxide in the fuel is in the range of 1 to 10 ppm.

21. An apparatus comprising an internal combustion engine and a fuel system, wherein said fuel system comprises a fuel tank containing fuel, and means for delivering said fuel from said fuel tank to said internal combustion engine, characterised in that said fuel has at least one lanthanide oxide as defined in any one of claims 2 to 8 dispersed therein.