GASOLINE EFFICACY PROMOTER (GEP) AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME

Abstract

The present invention discloses a gasoline efficacy promoter (GEP) boosting combustion efficiency of gasoline in internal combustion engines by a mechanism of micro-dissociation comprising a microemulsion of modified bio-carbon, a surfactant, water, a modified vegetable oil and a dispersant, and a method of making it. The gasoline efficacy promoter, environmentally friendly and stable for longer than six months, can increase the combustion efficiency by more than 10%, and reduce 80% of NO.sub.x formation in exhaust emission when an appropriate dosage is added to a fuel tank in a vehicle.

Claims

1. A microemulsion of a gasoline efficacy promoter comprising modified bio-carbon, a surfactant, water, a modified vegetable oil and a dispersant.

2. A microemulsion according to claim 1 wherein the modified bio-carbon is made from activated carbon of natural sources.

3. A microemulsion according to claim 1 wherein the modified bio-carbon has a bulk density in a range of 0.2 to 0.4 g/ml, a BET surface area of 1,700 to 3,200 m.sup.2/g, and a pore volume of 0.8 to 2.2 ml/g.

4. A microemulsion according to claim 1 wherein the modified bio-carbon is washed with at least one acidic solution to reduce calcined ash.

5. A microemulsion according to claim 1 wherein the modified bio-carbon is washed with at least one basic solution to reduce calcined ash.

6. A microemulsion according to claim 1 wherein the modified bio-carbon is 0.002% to 2% by weight.

7. A microemulsion according to claim 1 wherein the surfactant is an anionic surfactant containing anionic functional groups at the head, which are sulfate, sulfonate, phosphate and carboxylates, preferably containing alkyl sulfates including ammonium lauryl sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate and the related alkyl-ether sulfates such as sodium laureth sulfate, and sodium myreth sulfate.

8. A microemulsion according to claim 1 wherein the surfactant is 0.005% to 0.05% by weight.

9. A microemulsion according to claim 1 wherein the modified vegetable oil is made from triglyceride vegetable oils which are palm, soybean, and rapeseed oil.

10. A microemulsion according to claim 1 wherein the modified vegetable oil is made by removing glycol portion under a basic condition with a sodium hydroxide solution.

11. A microemulsion according to claim 1 wherein the modified vegetable oil is 93% to 98% by weight.

12. A microemulsion according to claim 1 wherein the dispersant is a mixture of a nonionic surfactant and a solvent which are polyoxyethylene glycol octylphenol ethers, glycerol alkyl esters, and sorbitan alkyl esters.

13. A microemulsion according to claim 1 wherein the dispersant is 0.06% to 0.5% by weight.

14. A microemulsion according to claim 1 wherein the water is 0.005% to 4.5% by weight.

15. A method of preparing a microemulsion of a gasoline efficacy promoter comprising the steps of (1) Modified bio-carbon is made from activated carbon with repeated purification in acidic solutions and basic solutions. (2) Microemulsion of modified bio-carbon and water is made by ultrasonication with an anionic surfactant. (3) The microemulsion of modified bio-carbon and water is dewatered and dried to an appropriate concentration. (4) Modification of a vegetable oil by a sodium hydroxide solution. (5) The microemulsion of a gasoline efficacy promoter is formed by mixing the microemulsion of modified bio-carbon, the modified vegetable oil, the dispersant and water.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the time for ultrasonication is 3 min to 360 min.

17. A method according to claim 15 wherein the modified bio-carbon in water is dewatered and dried at a temperature of 80 C. to 100 C. to a concentration of 33% to 65%.

18. A method according to claim 15 wherein the vegetable oil is modified by sodium hydroxide at a concentration of 5% to 20% with a reaction time of 50 min to 120 min at a temperature of 70 C. to 130 C.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The present invention provides a novel gasoline efficacy promoter (GEP) that boosts the gasoline combustion efficacy by incorporating modified bio-carbon in microemulsion and performs a micro-dissociation process in internal combustion engines. The invention permits a considerable improvement in combustion of gasoline.

[0015] The invention results from three improvements: (1) Modified bio-carbon is used as a water carrier and booster for micro-explosion. (2) Long term of stability of microemulsion of modified bio-carbon, water, modified vegetable oil, surfactants and dispersants is reached by ultrasonication. (3) A low water incorporation ratio, typically less than 0.5% in the invention, was found to be optimum water content for better gasoline combustion in internal combustion engines.

[0016] The invention includes two processes. First is to make a microemulsion of modified bio-carbon and water. Second is to make the GEP by mixing the microemulsion of modified bio-carbon, water, a modified vegetable oil and a dispersant.

[0017] The invention includes modified bio-carbon made from activated carbon (AC) as a water carrier which improves fuel combustion by micro-dissociation of water in bio-carbon to provide high momentum of carbon particles to bombard liquid fuel droplets and enhance atomization, thus increasing surface area and boosting fuel combustion. At engine temperature of 250 C. to 400 C., water will become vapor with a high pressure, which breaks down the bio-carbon to smaller particles. These micro particles will bombard the fuel droplets to decreased sizes and increased surface area. Therefore the process boosts the fuel combustion efficacy.

[0018] The AC made from natural sources, such as wood, coal, coconut shell, etc., is called as bio-carbon which is non-identical to the AC from other sources. Modification of bio-carbon to become modified bio-carbon is conducted by undergoing purifications of AC surfaces. The modified bio-carbon is typically attractive at a low cost and is available with sufficiently high surface areas.

[0019] In some embodiments, the AC has a bulk density in a range of about 0.2 to 0.4 g/ml; such as in the range of about 0.35 to 0.4 g/ml.

[0020] In some embodiments, the AC has a BET surface area of about 1,700 to 3,200 m.sup.2/g, such as about 1,700 to 2,500 m.sup.2/g; such as about 1,700 to 2,000 m.sup.2/g.

[0021] In some embodiments, the AC has a pore volume of about 0.8 to 2.2 ml/g, such as about 1.0 to 2.0 ml/g.

[0022] In some embodiments, the AC is washed with at least one acidic solution to reduce calcined ash.

[0023] In some embodiments, the AC is washed with at least one basic solution to reduce calcined ash.

[0024] In some embodiments, the AC is washed with a plurality of increasingly basic solutions to reduce calcined ash. In some embodiments, the AC is washed with at least one acid and at least one base to reduce calcined ash. In some embodiments, the AC is washed with at least one acid followed by at least one base to reduce calcined ash.

[0025] In some embodiments, the plurality of increasingly basic solutions includes three or more increasingly basic solutions. In some embodiments, the plurality of increasingly basic solutions comprises an aqueous ammonium hydroxide solution. In some embodiments, the plurality of increasingly basic solutions comprises an aqueous alkali or alkali earth hydroxide solution.

[0026] In some embodiments, the method further comprises washing the AC generated previously with at least one acidic solution prior to washing with said plurality of basic solutions. In some related embodiments, at least one acidic solution comprises an aqueous hydrochloric acid solution, an aqueous nitric acid solution, or a mixture thereof.

[0027] After the washing process is complete, the resulting AC may be dried by any method known in the art. In some embodiments, an indirectly heated rotary dryer may be used to dry the washed AC to reach desired moisture content. For example, the washed AC may be dried at a temperature of about 150 to 300 C. with a drying rate of about 200 to 500 kg/hr. After drying, the AC is physically stable black granules, preferably with moisture content of less than about 4%, such as a less than about 3%, such as less than about 2%.

[0028] Freshly dried bio-carbon is dispersed in water with an anionic surfactant under ultrasonication. Typically an anionic surfactant contains anionic functional group at its head, such as sulfate, sulfonate, phosphate, and carboxylate. A prefer surfactant containing alkyl sulfates includes ammonium lauryl sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate (SDS, sodium dodecyl sulfate, another name for the compound) and the related alkyl-ether sulfates such as sodium laureth sulfate, also known as sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES), and sodium myreth sulfate. The concentration of surfactant in water is in the range of 1% to 10% by weight, preferably in a range of 2% to 8%. The surfactant is mixed with the modified bio-carbon at a concentration of 100 ppm to 1,500 ppm, more preferably 200 ppm to 500 ppm.

[0029] The time for ultrasonication is 3 min to 360 min, preferably 5 min to 120 min, more preferably 6 min to 60 min.

[0030] The well dispersed suspension of the modified bio-carbon in water is dewatered and dried at a temperature of 80 C. to 100 C. to a concentration of 33% to 65%. The condensed AC suspension is dispersed in a surfactant solution at a concentration of 2% to 15%, typically 4% to 10%, more preferably 5% to 8%.

[0031] The well dispersed microemulsion is verified using Tyndall effect, and is left for sedimentation for about 48 hours. The supernatant of the suspension is collected for next process. The supernatant of the suspension is called as microemulsion of modified bio-carbon.

[0032] Vegetable oils used in the invention can be any triglyceride vegetable oils, typically such as palm, soybean, rapeseed oil, etc.

[0033] The vegetable oil is modified by removing the glycol portion under a basic condition, when heated with continuous agitation. The vegetable oil can be modified by sodium hydroxide at a concentration of 5% to 20%, preferably 5% to 8%. The reaction time can be 50 min to 2 hours with a heating temperature of 70 C. to 130 C., preferably 80 C. to 100 C. After reaction, the top portion of the solution is collected as modified vegetable oil.

[0034] The GEP is made from the microemulsion of modified bio-carbon, water, modified vegetable oil and a dispersant, with agitation at a high shear.

[0035] The dispersant is a mixture of a nonionic surfactant and a solvent. The surfactant can be any polyoxyethylene glycol octylphenol ethers, like triton X-100, glycerol alkyl esters, sorbitan alkyl esters. The solvent can be water and other solvents.

[0036] The weight ratio of the microemulsion of modified bio-carbon to the dispersant is 0.2 to 2, preferably 0.8 to 1.2.

[0037] The stability of the GEP in the invention showed pronounced stability for period of longer than 6 months.

[0038] The components of the invention are listed in Table 1.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 1 Components of Gasoline Efficacy Promoter (GEP) Components Weight % Modified bio-carbon 0.002-2 Water 0.005-4.5 Surfactant 0.005-0.05 Dispersant 0.06-0.5 Modified vegetable oil 93-98

[0039] Although preferred embodiments have been described and depicted in detail herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that various modifications, additions, substitutions, and the like can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention and these are therefore considered to be within the scope of the present invention as defined in the claims which follow.