Fuel Borne Catalysts for Sulfur Rich Fuels

Abstract

Fuel Borne Catalysts of use in High Sulfur Fuels are disclosed, where formulations may include any number of suitable platinum group metals, transition metals, rare earth metals, and alkaline earth metals, including platinum, palladium, iron, manganese, cerium, yttrium, lithium, sodium, calcium, strontium, vanadium, silver and combinations thereof.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method of improving the operation of a diesel engine operating with high sulfur fuel, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing for adding to a diesel fuel of a fuel borne catalyst in an effective amount to lower the emissions of unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide, the fuel borne catalyst comprising:
 a platinum group metal composition comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of platinum, and palladium, or mixtures thereof; 
 at least one rare earth metal selected from the group consisting of cerium, and yttrium, or mixtures thereof; and 
 at least one transition metal compound comprising iron, and manganese, or mixtures thereof, and 
   providing for operating of the diesel engine by burning the fuel over a sufficient period of time to produce exhaust gases and achieve a sustained reduction in unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel borne catalyst comprises about 1 to about 10 ppm of the at least one rare earth metal. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel borne catalyst comprises about 0.5 ppm of the platinum group metal composition. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel borne catalyst comprises about 1 to about 10 ppm of the at least one transition metal compound. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein total concentration of the at least one rare earth metal, the platinum group metal composition, and the at least one transition metal compound is less than about 15 ppm. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel borne catalyst further comprises less than about 3 ppm of at least one material selected from the group consisting of silver, vanadium, and palladium, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel borne catalyst further comprises less than about 3 ppm of at least one material selected from the group consisting of calcium, and strontium, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel borne catalyst further comprises less than about 3 ppm of at least one material selected from the group consisting of sodium, and lithium or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one rare earth metal is fuel soluble. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fuel soluble transition metal compound is fuel soluble. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the platinum group metal composition is fuel soluble. 
     
     
         12 . A method for improving operation of a diesel engine by lowering emissions of unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing for a presence of a diesel fuel and combustion air;   providing a fuel borne catalyst comprising a platinum group metal composition comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of platinum, and palladium, or mixtures thereof, at least one rare earth metal selected from the group consisting of cerium, and yttrium, or mixtures thereof, and at least one transition metal compound comprising iron, and manganese, or mixtures thereof;   providing for combusting of the fuel in a diesel engine to produce exhaust gases; and,   providing for directing of exhaust gases into an exhaust system;   wherein the fuel borne catalyst is introduced into the fuel, the exhaust gases or the combustion air, in amounts effective to provide the fuel borne catalyst in the exhaust system at a level of up to 1 ppm based on a volume of fuel burned to produce the exhaust gases.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of: providing at least one filter comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium or mixtures thereof, and having a particle size less than about 40 nm. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the fuel borne catalyst comprises about 1 to about 10 ppm of the at least one rare earth metal. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the fuel borne catalyst comprises about 0.5 ppm of the platinum group metal composition. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the fuel borne catalyst comprises about 1 to about 10 ppm of the at least one transition metal compound. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein total concentration of the at least one rare earth metal, the platinum group metal composition, and the at least one transition metal compound is less than about 15 ppm. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the fuel borne catalyst further comprises less than 3 ppm of at least one material selected from the group consisting of silver, vanadium, and palladium, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the fuel borne catalyst further comprises less than 3 ppm of at least one material selected from the group consisting of calcium, and strontium, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the fuel borne catalyst further comprises less than 3 ppm of at least one material selected from the group consisting of sodium, and lithium, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one rare earth metal is fuel soluble. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one transition metal compound is fuel soluble. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the platinum group metal composition is fuel soluble.