New compositions and certain corresponding components are useful for reducing crystallization of paraffin crystals in fuels.

An additive composition for a marine fuel or a heating oil comprising a stabilized colloidal dispersion of catalytic metal particles, a neutral or overbased alkaline earth metal detergent and a carrier fluid miscible with a marine fuel oil, a heavy fuel oil, a marine distillate fuel, and/or a residual fuel oil. Also provided are marine fuel and/or heating oil compositions having the additive composition described above and associated methods and uses.

Provided are water-based fuel additive compositions that, when combusted with a fuel containing vanadium in a gas turbine, inhibit vanadium hot corrosion in the gas turbine. The water-based fuel additive compositions include at least one rare earth element compound or alkaline earth element compound that retards vanadium corrosion resulting from combustion of vanadium rich fuel.

Provided are oil-based fuel additive compositions that, when combusted with a fuel containing vanadium in a gas turbine, inhibit vanadium hot corrosion in the gas turbine. The oil-based fuel additive compositions include at least one rare earth element compound or alkaline earth element compound that retards vanadium corrosion resulting from combustion of vanadium rich fuel.

A combustion process wherein a fuel, a comburent and a component B), sulphur or sulphur containing compounds, are fed to the combuster in an amount to have a molar ratio B/A.sup.I0.5, wherein: B is the sum by moles between the amount of sulphur present in component B)+the amount of sulphur (component B.sup.II)) contained in the fuel, A.sup.I is the sum by moles between the amount of alkaline and/or alkaline-earth metals (component A.sup.II)) contained in the fuel+the amount of the alkaline and/or alkaline earth metals (component A)) in the form of salts and/or oxides contained in component B), being the combustor isothermal and flameless.

The present invention relates to an additive for fuels such as diesel fuel and fuel oil, used respectively for diesel engines and boilers of various types, comprising a metal oxidation catalyst, an organic nitrate and a dispersing agent in suitable ratios, capable of improving combustion efficiency in such a way as to reduce the formation of particulate matter and consumption.

A gasoline additive composition includes an oxygenate gasoline additive; and an optical brightener. The gasoline additive composition can be used in a gasoline blend.

An additive formulation suitable for antistatic modification and improving the electrical conductivity of inanimate organic material, consisting essentially of (A) from 1 to 50% by weight of an olefin-sulfur dioxide copolymer, (B) from 1 to 50% by weight of a compound which comprises one or more basic nitrogen atoms and has at least one relatively long-chain linear or branched hydrocarbon radical having at least four carbon atoms or an equivalent structural element which ensures the solubility of component (B) in the inanimate organic material, (C) from 0.1 to 30% by weight of an oil-soluble acid and (D) from 1 to 80% by weight of a high-boiling organic solvent which consists of one or more molecule types, where at least 80% by weight of these molecule types have a boiling point of more than 150 C. at standard pressure,
where the sum of all components adds up to 100% by weight.

Aqueous dispersion of paraffine inhibitors, comprising a continuous aqueous phase comprising water and a water-miscible organic solvent, a dispersed phase comprising at least one paraffin inhibitor component, and at least one anionic surfactant, methods of manufacturing such aqueous dispersions, and the use of such aqueous dispersions as paraffin inhibitor or pour point depressant for crude oil or other hydrocarbon fluids, such as fuel oils or diesel.

A method of making cerium dioxide nanoparticles includes: a) providing an aqueous reaction mixture having a source of cerous ion, a source of hydroxide ion, a nanoparticle stabilizer, and an oxidant at an initial temperature no higher than about 20 C.; b) mechanically shearing the mixture and causing it to pass through a perforated screen, thereby forming a suspension of cerium hydroxide nanoparticles; and c) raising the initial temperature to achieve oxidation of cerous ion to eerie ion and thereby form cerium dioxide nanoparticles having a mean diameter in the range of about 1 nm to about 15 nm. The cerium dioxide nanoparticles may be formed in a continuous process.