Stable Organic Markers for Fuel Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chemical markers for petroleum hydrocarbons, such as nitro-substituted esters, are unstable in the presence of moisture, making them unsuitable for marking fuels and oils in contact with water, and there is a need for additional marker compounds to enhance digital marking systems for fuels like biodiesel and ethanol.
Innovation Solution
A composition comprising petroleum hydrocarbons, biodiesel fuel, or ethanol fuel, combined with organic compounds having three-fold symmetry, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, or boron content of at least 3%, and a molecular weight of at least 240, which are stable and undetectable by visual means, allowing for their use in marking and identification through chromatographic techniques and mass spectral analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If nitro-substituted esters are used as chemical markers, then they provide effective marking capability, but they hydrolyze rapidly in the presence of trace moisture making them unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the marker compounds by specifying molecular weight ranges (200-500 Daltons), nitrogen/oxygen/phosphorus/sulfur content (1-20%), and structural characteristics (aromatic rings, heteroatoms). These parameter changes create markers that are stable in moisture-containing environments while maintaining detectability through mass spectrometry and chromatography.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite marker systems combining multiple compounds with different structural features (aromatic hydrocarbons, heterocyclic compounds, nitrogen-containing compounds). This composite approach ensures both stability in various fuel types and enhanced detectability through multiple analytical methods.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional marker compounds are added to maximize available codes, then digital marking system capacity increases, but the complexity of the marking system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the marker compound library into distinct categories based on structural characteristics: aromatic hydrocarbons (6-22 carbons), heterocyclic compounds (5-22 ring atoms), nitrogen-containing compounds (1-20% N content), and compounds with specific functional groups. This segmentation allows systematic selection and combination of markers to create codes without overwhelming complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal marker compound library that can be applied across multiple fuel types (petroleum hydrocarbons, biodiesel, ethanol fuels) and detected by multiple analytical methods (mass spectrometry, chromatography, NMR). This multi-functionality maximizes code capacity while maintaining a standardized, manageable system architecture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The proposed solution provides stable and effective markers for petroleum hydrocarbons, biodiesel, and ethanol fuels, enabling reliable identification and coding through chromatographic detection methods, enhancing the capability to track and differentiate these fuels even in the presence of water.
Implementation Method 1
detection of the markers, e.g., absorption spectroscopy and mass spectrometry
Implementation Method 2
detection of the markers, e.g., absorption spectroscopy and mass spectrometry
Data Source
AI summary
A composition containing a petroleum hydrocarbon, a biodiesel fuel or an ethanol fuel, and an organic marker compound.