Method and composition for reducing emissions from a gasoline engine equipped with a three-way catalytic converter

Abstract

Gasoline engines equipped with three-way catalysts emit less NOx, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide when operated on fuels containing a bimetallic catalyst comprising rhodium acetylacetonate and a fuel-soluble platinum compound such as diphenyl cyclooctadiene platinum(II) or platinum acetyl acetonate. The total metals in the additive will be dosed at a concentration of less than about 2 ppm (milligrams of metal to liter of gasoline) based on the amount of gasoline burned in the engine. Preferred dosages will be from about 0.15 to about 1.5 ppm, with a ratio of platinum to rhodium of from about 3:1 to about 15:1.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to compositions and methods that enable reduction of emissions while permitting a gasoline engine to operate efficiently.[0002] The use of three-way catalytic converters for gasoline-powered engines has become the standard. The life of these converters is often less than the life expected of the vehicles in which they are installed, due to attrition, poisoning, masking, sintering and mechanical damage. But, even when they lack the requisite activity to meet regulatory compliance, they still contain significant amounts of catalytic metals. Replacement is expensive and wasteful. And, unfortunately, many vehicles are and will continue to be driven long after they become environmental hazards.[0003] The art has endeavored to provide an additive for gasoline, which could be used for an entire fleet to maintain a suitable level of catalyst activity. It has further looked for a specific additive that could be added to gasoline at a suitable dosage to renew the ...

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