Reduced-emissions combustion utilizing multiple-component metallic combustion catalyst

A process for improving combustion of distillate fuel oils, which can result in lesser, but significant production of carbonaceous soot, to reduce soot formation initially and/or to aid auto combustion of soot in the combustor, on the heat transfer surfaces, or in the ductwork downstream of the combustor, comprising:

• adding to a light fuel, a multi catalyst composition comprising platinum at concentrations of from only 0.0005 to less than 0.15 ppm and cerium and/or iron at total concentrations of from only 0.5 to less than 8 ppm, wherein the ratio of cerium and/or iron to platinum is within the range of from 50,000:1 to 500:1.

A process for improving combustion of pilot fuel in a dual-fuel diesel engine, which operates principally on natural gas, comprising:

• adding to a pilot fuel, a multi catalyst composition comprising platinum at concentrations of from only 0.0005 to less than 0.15 ppm and cerium and/or iron at total concentrations of from only 0.5 to less than 8 ppm, wherein the ratio of cerium and/or iron to platinum is within the range of from 50,000:1 to 500:1.

A process for combusting a carbonaceous fuel comprising:

• mixing with fuel or combustion air a multi-component combustion catalyst comprising a platinum composition and cerium and/or iron compositions at levels reduced to as low as 0.0005 ppm for platinum and levels as low as 0.5 ppm for the cerium and iron;
• and combusting fuel with air in the presence of the catalyst in a regimen of treatment that will utilize effective catalyst levels for a time and under conditions, which will achieve one or more of the noted improvements, wherein the ratio of cerium and/or iron to platinum is within the range of from 50,000:1 to 500:1.

A process for combusting a carbonaceous fuel comprising:

• for at least a part of a treatment regimen utilizing higher catalyst concentrations, mixing with fuel a multi-component combustion catalyst comprising a platinum composition and cerium and/or iron compositions at levels of 0.0005 to less than 0.15 ppm for platinum and levels of 5 to 10 ppm for the cerium and iron;
• and combusting the fuel with air in a regimen of treatment that will achieve one or more of the noted improvements, wherein the ratio of cerium and/or iron to platinum is within the range of from 50,000:1 to 500:1.