CERIUM DIOXIDE NANOPARTICLE-CONTAINING FUEL ADDITIVE

• US 20100199547A1
• Filed: 09/04/2007
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cerion, LLC (Revstone Industries LLC)
• Original Assignee: Cerion Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: REED, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US12/440,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20100199547A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 44/354
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/41 Emulsifying
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/812 the stirrers co-operating with surrounding stators, or with intermeshing stators, e.g. comprising slits, orifices or screens
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 13/0047 containing a metal oxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 13/0086 Preparation of sols by physical processes colloid mills B02C
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/10 of rare earths
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: C01F 17/235 Cerium oxides or hydroxides
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2002/72 by d-values or two theta-values, e.g. as X-ray diagram
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/04 obtained by TEM, STEM, STM or AFM
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/52 highly monodisperse size distribution
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/64 Nanometer sized, i.e. from 1-100 nanometer
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/10 containing additives
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/103 stabilisation of anti-knock agents
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/1233 oxygen containing compounds, e.g. oxides, hydroxides, acids and salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/125 water
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/1258 hydrogen peroxide, oxygenated water
• 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 1/1811 peroxides; ozonides
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/1824 mono-hydroxy
• 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 1/19 : Esters ester radical containing compounds; ester ethers; carbonic acid esters C10L1/1802, C10L1/1805, C10L1/1808, C10L1/1811, C10L1/1814, C10L1/1817 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/1985 : polyethers, e.g. di- polygylcols and derivatives; ethers - esters
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/2222 : (cyclo)aliphatic amines; polyamines (no macromolecular substituent 30C); quaternair ammonium compounds; carbamates C10L1/221 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/2437 : Sulfonic acids; Derivatives thereof, e.g. sulfonamides, sulfosuccinic acid esters
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 10/02 : for reducing smoke development
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 10/08 : for improving lubricity; for reducing wear
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 10/12 : for improving the cetane number
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/062 : Oxides; Hydroxides; Carbonates or bicarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2010/06 : Groups 3 or 13
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2020/06 : Particles of special shape or size
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2030/06 : Oiliness; Film-strength; Anti-wear; Resistance to extreme pressure
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2040/25 : Internal-combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/678 : Aviation using fuels of non-fossil origin

Abstract

A fuel additive composition includes: a) a reverse-micellar composition having an aqueous disperse phase that includes cerium dioxide nanoparticles in a continuous phase that includes a hydrocarbon liquid, a surfactant, and optionally a co-surfactant and b) a reverse micellar composition having an aqueous disperse phase that includes a cetane improver effective for improving engine power during fuel combustion. A method of making a cerium-containing fuel additive includes the steps of: a) providing a mixture of a nonpolar solvent, a surfactant, and a co-surfactant; and b) combining the mixture with an aqueous suspension of stabilized cerium dioxide nanoparticles.

Claims

1. A reverse-micellar composition for use as a fuel additive, said composition comprising:

a) cerium-containing nanoparticles;

b) a disperse phase comprising an aqueous composition that includes a free radical initiator providing cetane improvement; and

c) a continuous phase comprising a hydrocarbon liquid and a surfactant.

35. The reverse-micellar composition according to claim 1, wherein said free radical initiator is an azo compound or a peroxide compound selected from the group consisting of stabilized hydrogen peroxide and t-butyl hydroperoxide, and combinations thereof.

36. The reverse-micellar composition according to claim 1, comprising micelles having a mean hydrodynamic diameter of about 1 nm to about 50 nm.

37. The reverse-micellar composition according to claim 36, comprising micelles having a mean hydrodynamic diameter of about 2 nm to about 10 nm.

38. The reverse-micellar composition according to claim 1, wherein the cerium-containing nanoparticles are cerium dioxide nanoparticles having a mean hydrodynamic diameter of about 1 nm to about 15 nm.

39. The reverse-micellar composition according to claim 38, wherein the cerium dioxide nanoparticles have a mean hydrodynamic diameter of up to about 10 nm.

40. The reverse-micellar composition according to claim 39, wherein the cerium dioxide nanoparticles have a mean hydrodynamic diameter of about 6 nm.

41. The reverse-micellar composition according to claim 1, wherein said cerium-containing nanoparticles are disposed in micelles separate from the micelles containing said free radical initiator.

2-34. -34. (canceled)

42. A fuel additive composition comprising:

a) a first composition comprising an aqueous disperse phase that includes stabilized, non-agglomerated cerium dioxide nanoparticles in a continuous phase comprising a hydrocarbon liquid, a surfactant, and optionally a co-surfactant; and

b) a second composition comprising an aqueous disperse phase that includes a cetane improver effective for improving engine power during fuel combustion.

43. The fuel additive composition according to claim 42, wherein said cerium dioxide nanoparticles are surface stabilized in said continuous phase.

44. The fuel additive composition according to claim 42, wherein said cerium dioxide nanoparticles have a mean hydrodynamic diameter of about 1 nm to about 50 nm.

45. The fuel additive composition according to claim 44, wherein said cerium dioxide nanoparticles have a mean diameter of about 2 nm to about 10 nm.

46. A method of making a cerium-containing fuel additive comprising the steps of:

a) providing a mixture of a nonpolar medium, a surfactant, and a co-surfactant; and

b) combining said mixture with an aqueous suspension of cerium dioxide nanoparticles stabilized by a stabilizer or combination of stabilizers.

47. The method of making a cerium-containing fuel additive according to claim 46, wherein the stabilized cerium dioxide nanoparticles have a hydrodynamic diameter of about 1 nm to about 15 nm and a substantially monomodal size distribution.

48. The method of making a cerium-containing fuel additive according to claim 47, wherein the stabilized cerium dioxide nanoparticles have a hydrodynamic diameter of about 6 nm.

49. The method of making a cerium-containing fuel additive according to claim 46, wherein said stabilized cerium dioxide nanoparticles are prepared by the steps of:

a) providing an aqueous first reaction mixture comprising a source of cerous ion and a nanoparticle stabilizer or combination of stabilizers;

b) stirring said first reaction mixture while adding an oxidant, thereby producing a second reaction mixture;

c) adding a source of hydroxide ion to said second reaction mixture while subjecting said second reaction mixture to mechanical shearing;

thereby forming a third reaction mixture; and

d) heating said third reaction mixture to a temperature between about 50°

C. and about 100°

C., thereby producing said stabilized cerium dioxide nanoparticles.

50. The method of making a cerium-containing fuel additive according to claim 49, wherein said nanoparticle stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of 2-[2-(2- methoxyethoxy)ethoxy]acetic acid (MEEA), lactic acid, gluconic acid, pyruvic acid, EDTA, tartaric acid, citric acid, and combinations thereof.

51. The method of making a cerium-containing fuel additive according to claim 46, wherein said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of a polyoxyethylene-n-octylphenyl ether containing 4 to 6 oxyethylene moieties, a polyoxyethylene-n-dodecylphenyl ether containing 4 to 6 oxyethylene moieties, and mixtures thereof, and said co-surfactant comprises an alcohol.

52. The method of making a cerium containing fuel additive according to claim 46, wherein said nonpolar medium is a hydrocarbon that contains about six to about twenty carbon atoms and is selected from the group consisting of octane, decane, toluene, diesel fuel, ULSD fuel, biodiesel, and mixtures thereof

53. The method of making a cerium-containing fuel additive according to claim 49, wherein said nanoparticle stabilizer or stabilizer combination has a log(K_BC) of between 1 and 14, wherein K_BC is the binding constant of the nanoparticle stabilizer with cerium ion.