US4711713A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for enhancing the cetane number and color of diesel fuel
Assignee: RESOURCE ENGINEERING Inc A TEXAS CORP
•
Filing: 1987-02-09
•
Granted: 1987-12-08
•
Expires: 2007-02-09
Abstract
Abstract A process for enhancement of the cetane number of a diesel fuel which in one embodiment comprises: (1) treating a diesel oil with a nitrogenous treating agent in a nitrogen amount, equivalent on a 100% nitric acid basis, to about 10 weight percent or less of the diesel oil feed; (2) separating unreacted nitrogenous treating agent from the diesel oil of step (1); (3) treating the diesel oil of step (2) with an inorganic alkali to produce a treated diesel oil; and (4) blending the treated diesel oil of step (3) with an untreated diesel oil to produce a blended diesel fuel such that the added nitrogen content in the blended diesel fuel is (a) about 300 ppm or less of nitrogen added when the diesel oil treated in step (1) is obtained from virgin diesel oil stock; or (b) about 450 ppm or less of nitrogen added when the diesel oil treated in step (1) is obtained from hydrotreated diesel oil stock.
Inventors
- 👤 Hossein Zarrineghbal
- 👤 Charles W. Quinlan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 17:16
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10L; C10L1/00; C10L1/04; C10L1/08; C10G; C10G17/00; C10G17/02; C10G27/00; C10G27/04; C10G27/12; C10G29/00; C10G29/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 60
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
A process for enhancement of the cetane number of a diesel fuel comprising: (1) treating a diesel oil with a nitrogenous treating agent in a nitrogen amount, equivalent on a 100% nitric acid basis, of about 10 weight percent or less of the diesel oil feed; (2) separating unreacted nitrogenous treating agent from the diesel oil of step (1); (3) treating the diesel oil of step (2) with an inorganic alkali to produce a treated diesel oil; and (4) blending the treated diesel oil of step (3) with an untreated diesel oil which has not been treated as in step (1) above to produce a blended diesel fuel such that the added nitrogen content in the blended diesel fuel is (a) about 300 ppm or less nitrogen added when the diesel oil treated in step (1) is obtained from virgin diesel oil stock; or (b) about 450 ppm or less nitrogen added when the diesel oil treated in step (1) is obtained from hydrotreated diesel oil stock.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
A process for enhancement of the cetane number of a diesel fuel comprising: (1) treating a diesel oil with a nitrogenous treating agent in a nitrogen amount, equivalent on a 100% nitric acid basis, of about 10 weight percent or less of the diesel oil feed; (2) separating unreacted nitrogenous treating agent from the diesel oil of step (1); (3) treating the diesel oil of step (2) with an inorganic alkali to produce a treated diesel oil; and (4) blending the treated diesel oil of step (3) with an untreated diesel oil which has not been treated as in step (1) above to produce a blended diesel fuel such that the added nitrogen content in the blended diesel fuel is (a) about 300 ppm or less nitrogen added when the diesel oil treated in step (1) is obtained from virgin diesel oil stock; or (b) about 450 ppm or less nitrogen added when the diesel oil treated in step (1) is obtained from hydrotreated diesel oil stock.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said nitrogenous treating agent is a gaseous nitrogenous treating agent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said nitrogenous treating agent is a liquid nitrogenous treating agent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 2, wherein said gaseous nitrogenous treating agent is NO 2 or N 2 O 4 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 3, wherein said liquid nitrogenous treating agent is an aqueous solution of nitric acid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 5, wherein the nitric acid is an aqueous solution of nitric acid containing up to about 90% by weight water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 3, wherein the liquid nitrogenous treating agent is liquid NO 2 or N 2 O 4 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the inorganic alkali is sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or ammonium hydroxide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the inorganic alkali is ammonium hydroxide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the inorganic alkali is an aqueous solution of a concentration of about 0.01 to about 5M inorganic alkali.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the inorganic alkali is an aqueous solution of a concentration of about 0.05 to about 2M inorganic alkali.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the alkali is an aqueous solution of a concentration of about 0.5 to about 2M inorganic alkali.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the alkali is an aqueous solution of a concentration of about 0.5 to about 1M inorganic alkali.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of inorganic alkali to diesel oil of step (2) is about 0.01:1 to about 1:1.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of inorganic alkali to diesel oil of step (2) is about 0.08:1 to about 0.5:1.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of inorganic alkali to diesel oil of step (2) is about 0.08:1 to about 0.15:1.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said treatment step (1) is conducted in the presence of an organic acid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 17, wherein said organic acid is acetic acid or formic acid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said treatment step (1) is conducted in the presence of an inorganic acid.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 19, wherein said inorganic acid is sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of said nitrogenous treating agent, in an amount equivalent on a 100% HNO 3 basis, to said diesel oil feed of step (1) is about 0.0002:1 to about 0.1:1.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of said nitrogenous treating agent, in an amount equivalent on a 100% HNO 3 basis, to said diesel oil feed of step (1), is about 0.0005:1 to about 0.05:1.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the separating of unreacted nitrogenous treating agent in step (2) is by decanting.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the separating of the unreacted nitrogenous treating agent in step (2) is by stripping.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said process includes water washing the treated diesel oil of step (3) prior to blending the treated diesel oil of step (3) with untreated diesel oil in step (4).
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
82 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said process includes blending a stability additive with said blended fuel obtained in step (4) to achieve a particular level of stability and the amount of stability additive blended is about 25% to about 75% of the amount of stability additive necessary to be blended with a diesel fuel blend obtained by producing a diesel fuel blend by conducting only steps (1), (2) and (4) of claim 1 and achieve substantially said particular level of stability.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 26, wherein the amount of stability additive blended is about 33% to about 50%.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said blended diesel fuel obtained is a fuel meeting specifications for automotive diesel use.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said blended diesel fuel obtained is a fuel meeting spcifications for railroad diesel use.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said blended diesel fuel obtained is a fuel meeting specifications for motor truck diesel use.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said blended diesel fuel obtained is a fuel meeting specifications for marine diesel use.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
159 words
A process for the enhancement of the cetane number of a non-fungible diesel fuel comprising (1) treating a first diesel oil with a nitrogenous treating agent in a nitrogen amount, equivalent on a 100% nitric acid basis, of about 10 weight percent or less of the diesel oil feed; (2) separating unreacted nitrogenous treating agent from the diesel oil of step (1); (3) treatment the diesel oil of step (2) with an inorganic alkali to produce a treated diesel oil; and (4) blending the treated diesel oil of step (3) with a second diesel oil which has not been treated as in step (1) above to produce a blended diesel fuel such that the added nitrogen content in the blended diesel fuel is about 1000 ppm or less, and wherein the first diesel oil treated in step (1) and/or the second diesel oil blended in step (4) and/or the blended product of step (4) is a non-fungible diesel fuel.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
159 words
A process for the enhancement of the cetane number of a non-fungible diesel fuel comprising (1) treating a first diesel oil with a nitrogenous treating agent in a nitrogen amount, equivalent on a 100% nitric acid basis, of about 10 weight percent or less of the diesel oil feed; (2) separating unreacted nitrogenous treating agent from the diesel oil of step (1); (3) treatment the diesel oil of step (2) with an inorganic alkali to produce a treated diesel oil; and (4) blending the treated diesel oil of step (3) with a second diesel oil which has not been treated as in step (1) above to produce a blended diesel fuel such that the added nitrogen content in the blended diesel fuel is about 1000 ppm or less, and wherein the first diesel oil treated in step (1) and/or the second diesel oil blended in step (4) and/or the blended product of step (4) is a non-fungible diesel fuel.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 32, wherein said nitrogenous treating agent is a gaseous nitrogenous treating agent.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 32, wherein said nitrogenous treating agent is a liquid nitrogenous treating agent.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 33, wherein said gaseous nitrogenous treating agent is NO 2 or N 2 O 4 .
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 34, wherein said liquid nitrogenous treating agent is an aqueous solution of nitric acid.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 36, wherein the nitric acid is an aqueous solution of nitric acid containing up to about 90% by weight water.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 34, wherein said liquid nitrogeneous treating agent is liquid NO 2 or N 2 O 4 .
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 32, wherein the inorganic alkali is sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or ammonium hydroxide.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 32, wherein the inorganic alkali is ammonium hydroxide.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 32, wherein the inorganic alkali is an aqueous solution of a concentration of about 0.1 to about 5 molar inorganic alkali.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 32, wherein the alkali is an aqueous solution of a concentration of about 0.05 to about 2 molar inorganic alkali.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 32, wherein the inorganic alkali is an aqueous solution of a concentration of about 0.5 to about 2 molar inorganic alkali.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 32, wherein the alkali is an aqueous solution of a concentration of about 0.5 to about 1M inorganic alkali.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 32, wherein the weight ratio of inorganic alkali to diesel oil of step (2) is about 0.01:1 to about 1:1.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 32, wherein the weight ratio of inorganic alkali to diesel oil of step (2) is about 0.08:1 to about 0.5:1.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 32, wherein the weight ratio of inorganic alkali to diesel oil of step (2) is about 0.08:1 to about 0.15:1.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 32, wherein said treatment step (1) is conducted in the presence of an organic acid.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 48, wherein said organic acid is acetic acid or formic acid.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 32, wherein said treatment step (1) is conducted in the presence of an inorganic acid.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 50, wherein said inorganic acid is sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 32, wherein the weight ratio of said nitrogenous treating agent to said diesel oil feed to step (1), in an amount equivalent on a 100% HNO 3 basis, of about 0.0002:1 to about 0.1:1.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
42 words
The process of claim 32, wherein the weight ratio of said nitrogenous treating agent to said diesel oil feed of step (1), in an amount of nitrogenous treating agent equivalent on a 100% HNO 3 basis, is about 0.005:1 to about 0.05:1.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 32, wherein the separating of unreacted nitrogenous treating agent is by decanting.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 32, wherein the separating of unreacted nitrogenous treating agent is by stripping.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 32, wherein said process includes water washing the treated diesel oil of step (3) prior to blending the treated diesel oil of step (3) with untreated diesel oil in step (4).
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
82 words
The process of claim 32, wherein said process includes blending a stability additive with said blended fuel obtained in step (4) to achieve a particular level of stability and the amount of stability additive blended is about 25% to about 75% of the amount of stability additive necessary to be blended with a diesel fuel blend obtained by producing a diesel fuel blend by conducting only steps (1), (2) and (4) of claim 32 and achieve substantially said particular level of stability.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 57, wherein the amount of stability additive blended is about 33% to about 50%.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-12-07 | 1991-06-08 | 1991-12-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-12-07 | 1995-06-08 | 1995-12-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-12-07 | 1999-06-08 | 1999-12-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |