Nano-sized zinc oxide particles for fuel
AssigneeJames K. and Mary A. Sanders Family LLC
InventorsRichard W. Tock, Arlene Hernandez, James Kenneth Sanders, Duck Joo Yang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fuel composition contains a liquid fuel and a specific amount of nano-sized zinc oxide particles and a surfactant that does not contain sulfur atoms. The nano-sized zinc oxide particles can be used to either improve combustion or increase catalytic chemical oxidation of fuel.
Claims19
A fuel composition having reduced nitrogen oxides emissions from an exhaust comprising:
- a hydrocarbon fuel;
- suspended within the hydrocarbon fuel from about 5 ppm to about 60 ppm of nano-sized zinc oxide particles to reduce nitrogen oxides emissions by at least about 30% by weight from exhaust as compared to corresponding emissions from use of the same fuel composition without inclusion of the nano-sized zinc oxide particles, wherein at least about 95% by weight of the nano-sized zinc oxide particles having a size from about 1 nm to about 50 nm;
- and
- from about 0.001% to about 0.5% by weight of a surfactant that does not contain sulfur atoms.
A method of improving combustion by reducing nitrogen oxides emissions from an exhaust, comprising:
- providing an internal combustion engine with a fuel composition comprising a hydrocarbon fuel and suspended therein from about 5 ppm to about 60 ppm of nano-sized zinc oxide particles to reduce nitrogen oxides emissions by at least about 30% by weight from exhaust as compared to corresponding emissions from use of the same fuel composition without inclusion of the nano-sized zinc oxide particles, the liquid fuel further comprising from about 0.001% to about 0.5% by weight of a surfactant that does not contain sulfur atoms, wherein at least about 95% by weight of the nano-sized zinc oxide particles have a size from about 1 nm to about 50 nm.
A method of making a fuel composition having reduced nitrogen oxides emissions from an exhaust comprising:
- suspending from about 5 ppm to about 60 ppm of nano-sized zinc oxide particles in a hydrocarbon fuel to reduce nitrogen oxides emissions by at least about 30% by weight from exhaust as compared to corresponding emissions from use of the same fuel composition without inclusion of the nano-sized zinc oxide particles and combining from about 0.001% to about 0.5% by weight of a surfactant that does not contain sulfur atoms with the hydrocarbon fuel, wherein at least about 95% by weight of the nano-sized zinc oxide particles have a size from about 1 nm to about 50 nm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.