Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A FUEL ADDITIVE
This is a divisional application of Canadian Patent Application No. 2,413,744,
filed on
June 29, 2001.
This invention relates to a method for improving the efficiency of combustion
processes and/or reducing harmful emissions. This invention further relates to
a
composition, tablet, capsule or liquid fuel additive suitable for dispersing a
lanthanide
(rare earth) oxide in a fuel.
The subject of this divisional application is directed to at least one
particulate
lanthanide oxide obtained from plasma vapour synthesis or mechanical chemical
processing, as well as related aspects of the invention.
The subject matter of the parent application has been restricted to dispersing
lanthanide oxide in a fuel, wherein the lanthanide oxide is coated with alkyl
carboxylic
anhydride; a lanthanide oxide particulate dispersion wherein the particulate
lanthanide oxide is in the form of discrete particles; at least one lanthanide
oxide for
dispersion in a fuel, wherein the particulate lanthanide is coated; and
particulate
lanthanide oxide dispersions wherein the particulate is spheroidal. However,
it should
be understood that the expression "the invention", and the like, when used
herein
encompasses the subject matter of both the parent and this divisional
application.
Lanthanide compounds, particularly organometallic compounds of cerium, are
known
to be useful additives in fuel because they aid combustion. It is believed
that these
compounds adsorb onto the asphaltenes always present in fuel oil. During the
combustion process, metal oxides are formed and, because of the catalytic
effect of
rare earth oxides on the combustion of asphaltenes, they reduce the quantity
of solid
unburned components released during combustion. Hence, organometallic
lanthanide additives in fuel have an effect on improving combustion and
reducing
harmful emissions.
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Several documents in the prior art describe the use of lanthanide compounds as
fuel
additives. For example, French Patent 2,172,797 describes organic acid salts
prepared from rare earths, particularly from cerium, which are useful as
combustion
aids. The use of organic acid salts of rare earth compounds was necessary
since
these compounds were found to be soluble in fuels.
US patent 4,264,335 describes the use of cerium 2-ethylhexanoate for
suppressing
the octane requirement of a gasoline-fired internal combustion engine. Cerium
2-ethylhexanoate was found to be more soluble in gasoline than cerium
octanoate.
US patent 5,240,896 describes the use of a ceramic material containing a rare
earth
oxide. The ceramic material is insoluble in fuel. It is alleged that
combustion of the
liquid fuel is accelerated upon contact with the solid ceramic.
European patent 0485551 describes a device which conveys dry particles of a
rare
earth oxide directly to the combustion chamber of an internal combustion
engine via
the air intake.
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In general, the fuel additives described in the prior art employ organic acid
salts of rare
earth elements, which are soluble in fuel. It is believed that these compounds
are converted
to rare earth oxides. in the combustion chamber. Thus, the rare earth oxides
are the active
catalytic compounds.
Organic acid salts of lanthanides such as cerium are generally highly viscous
liquids or low
melting point solids. These compounds are inherently difficult to introduce
into fuel in a
convenient manner. Furthermore, such materials are expensive to manufacture
and difficult
to handle.
1.0
Although lanthanide oxides can be bought in large quantities at a relatively
low cost, these
:compounds are not considered to be suitable for use in. fuels for internal
combustion
engines. In general, it is desirable to avoid having particulate matter
dispersed in the fuel
system and in the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine.
Particulate
materials are known to block fuel filters' and also act as abrasive agents
which have
harmful effects on the pistons and combustion chamber of the engine. Cerium
oxide is a
particularly well known abrasive agent.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for improving the
combustion
efficiency of, for example, an internal combustion engine, which is less
costly and more
convenient than methods that are described in the prior art.
Accordingly, the present invention provides 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.
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According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
method of one or both of: (i) improving efficiency with which fuel is burnt in
a fuel
burning apparatus and (ii) reducing emissions produced by the fuel which is
burnt in
the fuel burning apparatus, said method comprising dispersing an amount of at
least
one particulate lanthanide oxide in the fuel, wherein the at least one
lanthanide oxide
is coated with an alkyl carboxylic anhydride.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a tablet for dispersion of at least one lanthanide oxide in a fuel comprising
at least
one lanthanide oxide as described herein and a tabletting aid which is
dispersible in
the fuel.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a method for producing a tablet as described herein comprising the
steps of
preparing a composition comprising at least one lanthanide oxide as described
herein
and a tabletting aid as described herein and applying a direct compression
force to
said composition.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a composition comprising at least one lanthanide oxide as described
herein
and a tabletting aid as described herein.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a capsule for dispersion of at least one lanthanide oxide in a fuel comprising
an outer
case and a substance contained therein, wherein the outer case comprises at
least
one tabletting aid as described herein and the substance contained therein
comprises
at least one lanthanide oxide as described herein.
According to yet a further aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a liquid fuel additive for dispersion of at least one lanthanide
oxide in fuel
comprising a dispersion of at least one lanthanide oxide as described herein
in an
organic liquid medium.
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According to still a further aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a fuel for an internal combustion engine, said fuel having at least
one
lanthanide oxide as described herein dispersed therein.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a tablet for dispersion of at least one lanthanide oxide in fuel comprising at
least one
lanthanide oxide selected from cerium oxide, lanthanum oxide, neodymium oxide
and
praseodymium oxide, and a tabletting aid which is dispersible in a fuel.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a method for producing the tablet as described herein comprising the
steps
of preparing a composition comprising a lanthanide oxide as described herein
and a
tabletting aid as described herein and applying a direct compression force to
said
composition.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a composition comprising a lanthanide oxide as described herein and a
tabletting aid as described herein.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided
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 described herein and the substance contained
therein
comprises at least one lanthanide oxide as described herein.
According to yet a further aspect of the present invention, there is
provided 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 described
herein in
an organic liquid medium.
According to still a further aspect of the present invention, there is
provided at least one particulate lanthanide oxide for dispersion in a fuel
for improving
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fuel efficiency and/or reducing fuel emissions of a fuel burning apparatus,
wherein the
particulate of lanthanide oxide is coated with an alkyl carboxylic anhydride.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a tablet, capsule, powder or liquid fuel additive comprising at least one
particulate
lanthanide oxide as described herein.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided at least one particulate lanthanide oxide for dispersion in a fuel
for improving
fuel emissions and/or reducing fuel emissions of a fuel burning apparatus,
wherein
the particulate lanthanide oxide is in the form of discrete particle of
lanthanide oxide.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided
at least one particulate lanthanide oxide obtained from plasma vapour
synthesis or
mechanical chemical processing.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided at least one particulate lanthanide oxide for dispersion in a fuel
for improving
fuel efficiency and/or reducing fuel emissions of a fuel burning apparatus,
wherein the
particulate lanthanide oxide is substantially spheroidal.
According to one aspect of the present divisional application, there is
provided at least one particulate lanthanide oxide obtained from plasma vapour
synthesis or mechanical chemical processing.
When the method of the present invention is employed, the fuel burning
apparatus may be, for example, a boiler, furnace, jet engine or internal
combustion
engine. A fuel which contains a dispersion of the lanthanide oxide as
hereinbefore
described is delivered to the combustion chamber of an internal combustion
engine
or fire box or nozzle head of a burner unit. Preferably, the fuel burning
apparatus is
an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine may be of any
type
including spark ignition engines and
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compression ignition engines. Similarly, the fuel may be of any type,
including
petrol/gasoline (both leaded and unleaded), diesel and LPG (liquid petroleum
gas) fuel.
When the method of the present invention is used, particularly in an internal
combustion
engine, the amount of harmful pollutants is reduced. These pollutants include,
for example,
CO, CO2, hydrocarbons (HCs) and NOR. The reduction in the amount of harmful
pollutants
may obviate the need for a catalytic converter in some vehicles. Moreover, the
reduction in
the amount of harmful pollutants may be effected at a significantly lower cost
using the
method of the present invention as compared to, for example, the use of a
catalytic
converter, which requires precious metals such as rhodium, platinum and
palladium.
Furthermore, the method of the present invention improves combustion
efficiency in, for
example, an internal combustion engine ("engine"). Accordingly, an engine will
benefit
from reduced carbon build up in injectors and combustion chambers, an increase
in power
and torque, a reduction in engine wear, a reduction in fuel consumption and a
reduction in
the number of partial misfires which occur in most engines. Additional
benefits include a
decrease in lubrication oil consumption and extended oil life. When present,
catalytic
converter life is also extended due to the reduction of unburned hydrocarbons
entering the
catalyst and also a recharging of the catalyst through lanthanide oxide
deposits.
It is an important advantage of the method of the present invention that it
can be applied to
existing vehicles, even vehicles driven by engines which use unleaded fuel.
Moreover,
vehicles that are unable to use unleaded fuel due to soft valve seats will be
able to use
unleaded fuel by employing the method of the present invention. Cerium oxide,
for
example, in the fuel will provide the same protective properties as tetraethyl
lead in
preventing valve seat recession. In addition, cerium oxide can suppress the
octane
requirement of an engine, acting as an octane improver.
As used herein, the term "lanthanide" includes any of the rare earth elements;
that is any
element from atomic number 58 to 71, and also including scandium, yttrium and
lanthanum.
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Preferably, the lanthanide oxide comprises a lanthanide selected from cerium,
lanthanum,
neodymium and praseodymium. Preferably, the lanthanide oxide is CeO2.
As used herein, the term "dispersion" means a persistent suspension or
emulsion of solid
particles in a liquid medium, or a solution of a solid dissolved in a liquid
medium. The
term "dispersion" does not include a liquid comprising solid particles which
initially
disperse, but then settle out.
The particulate nature of the lanthanide oxide facilitates its dispersion in
fuel. The particles
of lanthanide oxide added to the fuel are discrete particles, rather than
aggregates. Hence,
the term "particle size" as used herein refers to the primary particle size.
Preferably, the
mean particle size of the lanthanide oxide is in the range of 1 nm to 100
microns. More
preferably, the mean particle size is in the range of 1 urn to 5 microns, more
preferably 1
nm to 0.5 microns, more preferably 1 nm to 50 nn-4 and more preferably 1 nm to
10 run.
The particle size of the lanthanide oxide affects the extent to which the
compound is
dispersed in fuel. In general, a small mean particle size (less than 5
microns), is preferred
since small particles are usually more readily dispersed in fuels than large
particles.
The particles of lanthanide oxide may be produced by methods known in the art,
such as
mechanical grinding. The grinder may impart a high frequency, low amplitude
vibration to
the lanthanide oxide as it is ground. Other suitable methods known in the art
include
vapour condensation, combustion synthesis, thermochemical synthesis, sol-gel
processing
and chemical precipitation. Preferred methods for producing particles of
lanthanide oxide
are mechanical chemical processing (see US 6,203,768) and plasma vapour
synthesis (see
US 5,874,684, US 5,514,349 and US 5,460,701).
Preferably, the particles are generally spheroidal.
The particle size of the lanthanide oxide may be measured by any convenient
method, such
as laser diffraction analysis or ultrasonic spectrometry.
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The amount of lanthanide oxide required will depend on the total surface area
of the
lanthanide oxide particles and also fuel tank capacity. Accordingly, the
smaller the particle
size, the smaller the amount of lanthanide oxide required, since smaller
smaller particles have a
higher ratio of surface area to volume and have enhanced catalytic abilities
due to their
5 highly stressed surface atoms which are extremely reactive. Preferably, the
particles of
lanthanide oxide have a surface area of at least about 20 m2/g, more
preferably at least
about 50 m2/g, and. more preferably at least about 80 m2/g. Preferably, the
amount of
lanthanide oxide added to the fuel is such that its concentration is in range
of 0.1 to 400
ppm. More preferably, the concentration of lanthanide oxide is in the range of
0.1 to 100
ppm, more preferably 1 to 50 ppm, and more preferably I to 10 ppm.
It has been found that particles of cerium oxide produced by plasma vapour
synthesis
retain their high surface area at high temperature. By high temperature, it is
meant the
typical combustion temperature of an internal combustion engine. Generally,
surface area
tends to decrease at high temperature in most particles. However, it is a
further advantage
of the present invention that the particles of cerium oxide produced by plasma
vapour
synthesis or mechanical chemical processing do not lose surface area at high
temperature.
This allows them to be used at concentrations as low as I to 10 ppm.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the lanthanide oxide is coated
with a
substance which renders the surface of the lanthanide compound lipophilic. The
lipophilic
coating aids dispersion of lanthanide oxides in fuels and also helps to
prevent
agglomeration of the particles. In some cases, the lipophilic coating allows
complete
solubilisation of the lanthanide oxide in fuel. The lipophilic coating also
prevents the
particles of lanthanide oxide from reacting with the fuel during storage in a
fuel tank.
Reaction of the lanthanide oxide and the fuel during storage is highly
undesirable, since it
leaves solid deposits in the fuel.
The particles may be coated by any suitable coating method known in the art.
Suitable
coating methods are described in US 5,993,967 and US 6,033,781.
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The substance used to coat the surface of the lanthanide oxide is preferably a
surfactant.
The lipophobic part of the surfactant molecule is embedded into the lanthanide
oxide
particle, leaving the lipophilic part of the surfactant to interact with the
fuel.
Preferably, the surfactant has a low HLB (hydrophilic/lipophilic balance).
Surfactants
having a low HLB are generally more oil soluble than those surfactants having
a high
HLB. Suitable low HLB surfactants will be readily apparent to the person
skilled in the art.
Preferably, the HLB of the surfactant is 7 or less, more preferably 4 or less.
Examples of
low HLB surfactants are alkyl carboxylic acids, anhydrides and esters having
at least one
C10-C30 alkyl group, such as dodecenyl succininc anhydride (DDSA), stearic
acid, oleic
acid, sorbitan tristearate and glycerol monostearate. Other examples of low
HLB
surfactants are hydroxyalkyl carboxylic acids and esters having at least one
Clo-C30
hydroxyalkyl group, such as Lubrizoll OS 11211. More preferably, the substance
used to
coat the lanthanide oxide is dodecenyl succinic anhydride (DDSA) or oleic
acid.
In this embodiment of the present invention, the coated particles of
lanthanide oxide
dispersed in the fuel break down immediately upon entering the combustion
chamber of an
internal combustion engine. The lipophilic coating decomposes quickly in the
combustion
chamber, so ensuring that the catalytic activity of the lanthanide oxide is
not harmed.
In the method of the present invention other materials may be added to the
fuel in addition
to the lanthanide oxide. These other materials should all disperse in fuel and
not interfere
with the combustion process or block filters. Suitable materials include
alternative
combustion aids that are well known in the art. Examples of alternative
combustion aids
include compounds of manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, barium, strontium,
calcium and
lithium. Such combustion aids are described in US Patents 6,096,104 and
4,568,360, the
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
In addition, compounds such as fragrances may also be added to the fuel in the
method of
the present invention. Examples of suitable fragrances are jasmine oil,
vanilla oil and
eucalyptus oil.
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Preferably, the fuel is one suitable for use in an internal combustion engine.
Examples of
such fuels include petrol/gasoline, diesel or LPG (liquid petroleum gas) fuel.
In a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tablet
suitable for dispersion
of at least one lanthanide oxide in fuel comprising at least one lanthanide
oxide as
hereinbefore described and at least one tabletting aid which is dispersible in
the fuel. The
term "tablef' as used herein has its usual meaning of a solid tablet of a
compressed
material.
Known methods for tabletting are principally directed to water-soluble
pharmaceuticals.
Such methods are well known in the art and are exemplified by the use of
tabletting aids
such as cellulose, lactose, silica, polyvinylpyrrolidone and citric acid.
These and other
tabletting aids are described in, for example, US Patents 5,840,769 and
5,137,730.
However, these known tabletting aids are unsuitable for preparing lanthanide
oxide tablets
which are dispersible in fuel. The use of binders such as magnesium stearate,
methyl
cellulose or silica produces tablets which either do not disperse in fuel, or
tablets in which
the binder(s) settle out after the tablet has dispersed in the fuel. Such
tablets are unsuitable
for use as fuel additives since the solid deposits block filters or build up
on pistons and
combustion chambers.
Preferably, the tabletting aid used in the tablet of this aspect of the
present invention is a
C7-C30 alkyl carboxylic acid, a C6-C30 aromatic compound or a polymeric
tabletting aid.
More preferably, the tabletting aid is tetradecanoic acid.
When the tabletting aid is polymeric, polymers or copolymers of styrene, C1-C6
alkyl-
substituted styrenes and C1-C6 alkyl methacrylates are preferred. More
preferably, the
polymeric tabletting aid is poly(t-butylstyrene), poly(isobutyl methacrylate)
or poly(n-
butyl methacrylate).
As used herein, the term "alkyl" means a branched or unbranched, cyclic or
acyclic,
saturated or unsaturated (e.g. alkenyl or alkynyl) hydrocarbyl radical.
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As used herein, the term "aromatic compound" means an aromatic hydrocarbon
compound, such as benzene or naphthalene, optionally substituted with one or
more C1-C6
alkyl group(s). An example of a substituted aromatic compound suitable for use
as a
tabletting aid in the present invention is durene (1,2,4,5-
tetramethylbenzene).
Preferably, the amount of lanthanide oxide in the tablet of the present
invention is in the
range of I to 99.99 wt. %, based on the total weight of the tablet. More
preferably, the
amount of lanthanide oxide is in the range of 30 to 80 wt. % and more
preferably 40 to 60
wt. %. More preferably, the amount of lanthanide oxide in the tablet is about
50 wt. %.
Preferably, the amount of tabletting aid in the tablet of the present
invention is in the range
of 0.01 to 99 wt. %, based on the total weight of the tablet. More preferably,
the amount of
tabletting aid is in the range of 20 to 70 wt. % and more preferably 40 to 60
wt. %. More
preferably, the amount of tabletting aid in the tablet is about 50 wt. %.
The tablet of the present invention may be obtained by application of a direct
compression
force to a composition comprising a lanthanide oxide as hereinbefore described
and a
tabletting aid as hereinbefore described. When the tablet is obtained by
direct compression,
single stroke presses or rotary head presses may be employed. Alternatively,
the tablet may
be obtained by injection moulding or normal die moulding. These and other
methods of
tabletting will be well known to the person skilled in the art. Generally, it
is desirable to
maximise the amount of lanthanide oxide in the tablet, whilst still being able
to form
tablets from the composition-
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a
capsule suitable
for dispersion of at least one lanthanide oxide in fuel, the tablet comprising
an outer case
and a substance contained therein, wherein the outer case comprises at least
one tabletting
aid as hereinbefore described and the substance contained therein comprises at
least one
lanthanide oxide.
Capsules are well known for the delivery of, for example, pharmaceuticals.
Generally, the
outer case has two parts which engage to enclose the substance contained
therein. The
outer case should generally be dispersible to allow the release of the
substance contained
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therein into a liquid medium. Accordingly, in the present invention, the outer
case of the
capsule is dispersible in fuel, such as fuel for internal combustion engines.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a liquid
fuel additive
suitable for dispersion of at least one lanthanide oxide in fuel, comprising a
dispersion of at
least one coated lanthanide oxide as hereinbefore described in an organic
liquid medium.
Preferably, the lanthanide oxide is coated with a lipophilic coating as
hereinbefore
described, such as DDSA or oleic acid. The liquid fuel additive may be blended
into bulk
supplies of fuel or provided in the form of a one shot liquid additive to be
added, for
example, to the fuel tank of a vehicle. The liquid fuel additive may
additionally comprise
stabilising surfactants such as the low BLB surfactants described
hereinbefore.
Accordingly, the lanthanide oxide may be in the form of a loose powder,
tablet, capsule or
liquid fuel additive. These may be dispensed into fuels manually (e.g. by
addition to the
fuel tank at the time of refuelling) or with the aid of a suitable mechanical
or electrical
dosing device that may be utilised to automatically dose an appropriate amount
of
lanthanide oxide into the fuel.
This invention further relates to 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 dispersed
therein.
Preferably, the apparatus is a ship, aeroplane or motor vehicle, such as a
motor car
(automobile), lorry or motor cycle.
Specific embodiments of the present invention are now described by way of
example only.
Example I
A tablet was prepared from cerium oxide and tetradecanoic acid by direct
compression.
The amount of cerium oxide in the tablet was 60 wt. %. The amount of
tetradecanoic acid
in the tablet was 40 wt. %. The particle size of cerium oxide was about 0.3
m. This
particle size gives a surface area of approximately 20 m2 per gram, as
measured by a
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standard nitrogen adsorption method. The cerium oxide was prepared by
mechanical
grinding.
The tablet was added to the fuel tank of a 1988 Metro 1300 cc car, running on
unleaded
5 petrol, to give a concentration of about 30 ppm of cerium oxide in the fuel.
In normal operation of the vehicle, fuel consumption was reduced by about 40%.
In
addition, the use of the choke was greatly reduced and the overall performance
of the
vehicle was drastically improved.
Example 2
A tablet was prepared according to Example 1. The tablet was added to the fuel
tank of a
1990 petrol Ford Transit, running on unleaded fuel, to give a concentration of
about 30
ppm of cerium oxide in the fuel. Before addition of the tablet, the engine of
the vehicle was
known to suffer from pinking.
After 10 miles of normal operation, the pinking had been eradicated. In
addition,
performance of the vehicle had improved markedly.
Example 3
A tablet was prepared according to Example 1. The tablet was added to the fuel
tank of a
1987 Mercedes 300E 2.8L, running on unleaded fuel, to give a concentration of
about 30
ppm of cerium oxide in the fuel.
Before addition of the tablet, the following emission levels were measured
from the
exhaust:
co-0.15%, Hydrocarbons-211 ppm, CO2 - 14.37%.
After addition of the tablet, the following emission levels were measured:
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CO-0.01%, Hydrocarbons- 50 ppm, CO2 -13.97%.
Example 4
Cerium oxide particles were coated with stearic acid. A tablet was prepared
from the
coated cerium oxide particles and poly(isobutyl methacrylate) by die moulding.
The
amount of coated cerium oxide particles in the tablet was 30 wt. %. The amount
of
poly(isobutyl methacrylate) in the tablet was 70 wt. %. The particle size of
cerium oxide
was about 0.3 pm. This particle size gives a surface area of approximately 20
m2 per gram,
as measured by a standard nitrogen adsorption method. The cerium oxide was
prepared by
mechanical grinding.
The tablet was added to the fuel tank of a 1986 Ford Sierra 1.8L giving a
concentration of
30 ppm of cerium oxide in the fuel. The vehicle was previously using leaded
fuel and was
not specially adapted for the use of unleaded fuel.
The vehicle was able to use unleaded fuel without any observable problems
after addition
of the cerium oxide tablet. Furthermore, the performance and fuel economy of
the vehicle
were increased. In addition, more torque was available when towing a caravan.
Example 5
A tablet was prepared according to Example 4. The tablet was used in a 1997
Ford
Scorpio, running on unleaded fuel, at a concentration of 30 ppm of cerium
oxide.
The fuel economy of the vehicle was increased by 10-12% and the performance of
the
vehicle was noticeably improved.
f
Example 6
Cerium oxide coated with DDSA was added to diesel fuel at a concentration of 4
ppm. The
mean particle size of cerium oxide prior to coating was 10 nm. This particle
size gives a
surface area of approximately 80 m2 per gram, as measured by a standard
nitrogen
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adsorption method. The particles were made by plasma vapour synthesis. The
fuel was
used on a static diesel engine coupled to a dynamometer and- smoke emission
equipment.
After adding the dosed fuel, increased torque and power was observed. In
addition, smoke
opacity was reduced to zero between 1000 and 2000 rpm. At 2000 to 2500 rpm,
smoke was
reduced by 30%-
Example 7
Cerium oxide coated with DDSA was added to the fuel of a 1998 Jaguar S type
3.0 vehicle
at a concentration of 4 ppm. The particle size of cerium oxide prior to
coating was 5 nm.
This particle size gives a surface area of approximately 150 m2 per gram, as
measured by a
standard nitrogen adsorption method. The particles were made by plasma vapour
synthesis.
Average fuel economy increased from 27.1 mpg to 30.5 mpg after the coated
cerium oxide
had been added to the fuel.
The above examples clearly demonstrate that the addition of a lanthanide oxide
according
to the present invention to the fuel of vehicles improves their performance,
reduces pinking
and reduces emissions. In addition, no blocking of filters or excessive piston
wear was
observed.
It will, of course, be understood that the present invention has been
described merely by
way of example and that modifications of detail can be made within the scope
of the
invention.
F
