Treatment Method for Reducing Contaminating Agents in Liquid Mixtures of Substituted Hydrocarbons Used as Fuels

Abstract

A treatment method for reducing contaminating agents in liquid mixtures of substituted hydrocarbons used as fuels is provided. A supersaturated mixture of ferrous oxide is combined with the hydrocarbons and mixed to form a homogenous solution. The homogenous solution is allowed to separate by means of settling and an aqueous solution is decanted to thereby produce a refined liquid hydrocarbons.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for refining liquid hydrocarbons used as fuels, the method comprising:
 supersaturating ferrous oxide in water to produce a supersaturated solution;   combining and mixing the supersaturated solution with liquid hydrocarbons used as fuel to form a homogenous mixture,
 wherein the liquid hydrocarbons comprise one or more contaminating agents; 
   allowing the homogenous mixture to settle such that an aqueous solution separates from the liquid hydrocarbons, the aqueous solution comprising an amount of the one or more contaminating agents; and   decanting the aqueous solution from the liquid hydrocarbons to thereby produce refined liquid hydrocarbons having the amount of the one or more contaminating agents removed therefrom.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more contaminating agents are selected from the group consisting of: sulfur, aromatic compounds, benzenes, xylenes, and toluenes. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the homogenous mixture comprises 10% v/v supersaturated solution and 90% v/v liquid hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said combining and mixing is performed by at least one of: agitation, fluid recirculation, and barometric variation.