Process for making cerium dioxide nanoparticles

• US 9,221,032 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2013
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cerion, LLC (Revstone Industries LLC)
• Original Assignee: Cerion, LLC (Revstone Industries LLC)
• Inventors: Reed, Kenneth, DiFrancesco, Albert Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Goloboy, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): HINES, LATOSHA D
• Application Number:
  US13/865,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20130230444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 443/01, 432/263
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 method of improving the efficiency of a diesel engine provided with a source of diesel fuel includes the steps of: a) adding to the diesel fuel a reverse-micellar composition having an aqueous first disperse phase that includes a free radical initiator and a first continuous phase that includes a first hydrocarbon liquid, a first surfactant, and optionally a co-surfactant, thereby producing a modified diesel fuel, and b) operating the engine, thereby combusting the modified diesel fuel. The efficiency of a diesel engine provided with a source of diesel fuel and a source of lubricating oil can also be improved by modifying the lubricating oil by the addition of a stabilized nanoparticulate composition of cerium dioxide. The efficiency of a diesel engine can also be improved by adding to the diesel fuel a reverse-micellar composition that includes an aqueous disperse phase containing boric acid or a borate salt.

Claims

1. A process of making nanoparticles, comprising:

(a) forming an aqueous reaction mixture comprising cerous ion, hydroxide ion, an α

-hydroxy carboxylic acid, and an oxidant; and

(b) heating the reaction mixture to a temperature in the range of about 20°

C. to about 100°

C., thereby forming a product dispersion of cerium dioxide nanoparticles.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein said α

-hydroxy carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, gluconic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid and 2-hydroxybutanoic acid.

3. The process according to claim 2, wherein said α

-hydroxy carboxylic acid is lactic acid.

4. The process according to claim 1, wherein said reaction mixture further comprises a polyacid.

5. The process according to claim 4, wherein said polyacid is ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid.

6. The process according to claim 5, wherein said α

-hydroxy carboxylic acid is lactic acid and said polyacid is ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid.

7. The process according to claim 1, wherein said oxidant is hydrogen peroxide.

8. The process according to claim 4, wherein said α

-hydroxy carboxylic acid is citric acid.

9. The process according to claim 8, wherein said polyacid is ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid.