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CLAIMS
1. A method of increasing distillate yield in a crude oil distillation, comprising:
prior to distillation of the crude oil, adding at least one of metal and metaloxide nanoparticles of diameter between 1nm and 90nm to the crude oil to create a
crude oil/nanoparticle mixture where the nanoparticles are present in said mixture in a
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weight percentage of between 0.0004% and 0.02%; and
distilling said crude oil/nanoparticle mixture to generate at least light fractions
of hydrocarbons and a residue, where said residue is smaller than a residue which
would be generated from an identical distillation of the crude oil without said
nanoparticles.
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2. A method according to claim 1, wherein:
said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles are chosen from iron,
iron-oxide, and cobalt-oxide nanoparticles.
3. A method according to claim 2, wherein:
said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles are iron nanoparticles,
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and said iron nanoparticles are between 2nm and 76nm in diameter.
4. A method according to claim 3, wherein:
said iron nanoparticles are 43nm in diameter.
5. A method according to claim 4, wherein:
said iron nanoparticles constitute between .001% and .015% of said mixture.
6. A method according to claim 5, wherein:
said iron nanoparticles constitute between .002% and .01% of said mixture.
7. A method according to claim 6, wherein:
said iron nanoparticles constitute between .003% and .008% of said mixture.
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8. A method according to claim 2, wherein:
said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles are iron-oxide
nanoparticles, and said iron–oxide nanoparticles are between 20nm and 62nm in
diameter.
9. A method according to claim 8, wherein:
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said iron-oxide nanoparticles are 20nm in diameter.
10. A method according to claim 2, wherein:
said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles are cobalt-oxide
nanoparticles, and said cobalt–oxide nanoparticles are between 2nm and 84nm in
diameter.
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11. A method according to claim 10, wherein:
said cobalt-oxide nanoparticles constitute between .001% and .02% of said
mixture.
12. A method according to claim 11, wherein:
said cobalt-oxide nanoparticles constitute between .008% and .015% of said
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mixture.
13. A method according to claim 1, wherein:
said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles includes metal
nanoparticles and metal-oxide nanoparticles.
14. A method according to claim 13, wherein:
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said metal nanoparticles are iron nanoparticles, and said metal-oxide
nanoparticles are cobalt-oxide nanoparticles.
15. A method of increasing distillate yield in a crude oil distillation, comprising:
prior to distillation of the crude oil, adding at least one of metal and metaloxide nanoparticles of diameter between 1nm and 90nm to the crude oil and a solid
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acid micropowder of diameter between 20nm and 10 micrometers to create a crude
oil/nanoparticle/zeolite powder mixture where the nanoparticles are present in said
mixture in a weight percentage of between 0.0004% and 0.02% and said solid acid
micropowder is present in said mixture in a weight percentage of between 0.001% and
0.04%; and
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distilling said crude oil/nanoparticle/solid acid micropowder mixture to
generate at least light fractions of hydrocarbons and a residue, where said residue is
smaller than a residue which would be generated from an identical distillation of the
crude oil without said nanoparticles and solid acid micropowder.
16. A method according to claim 15, wherein:
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said solid acid micropowder is chosen from Faujasite, Mordenite, and HZSM5 micropowder.
17. A method according to claim 15, wherein:
said solid acid micropowder is present in said mixture in a weight percentage
between .01% and .04%.
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18. A method according to claim 15, wherein:
said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles are iron nanoparticles.
19. A method according to claim 15, wherein:
said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles are cobalt-oxide
nanoparticles.
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20. A method according to claim 18, wherein:
said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles are iron nanoparticles,
and said solid acid micropowder is an HZSM-5 micropowder.
21. A method according to claim 20, wherein:
said iron nanoparticles are 43nm diameter nanoparticles and constitute 0.004%
of said mixture, and said HZSM-5 micropowder constitutes 0.04% of said mixture.
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22. A method of increasing yield of diesel oil from a crude oil fraction that does not
contain gasoline after an initial partial distillation of crude oil, said method
comprising adding at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles of diameter
between 1nm and 90nm to the crude oil fraction to create a crude oil
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fraction/nanoparticle mixture where the nanoparticles are present in said mixture in a
weight percentage of between 0.0004% and 0.02%; and
distilling said crude oil fraction/nanoparticle mixture to generate at least light
fractions of hydrocarbons and a residue, where said residue is smaller than a residue
which would be generated from an identical distillation of the crude oil fraction
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without said nanoparticles.
23. A method according to claim 22, wherein:
said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles are chosen from iron,
iron-oxide, and cobalt-oxide nanoparticles.
24. A method according to claim 23, wherein:
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said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles are iron nanoparticles,
and said iron nanoparticles are between 2nm and 76nm in diameter.
25. A method according to claim 24, wherein:
said iron nanoparticles are 43nm in diameter.
26. A method according to claim 25, wherein:
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said iron nanoparticles constitute between .001% and .015% of said mixture.
27. A method according to claim 26, wherein:
said iron nanoparticles constitute between .002% and .01% of said mixture.
28. A method according to claim 27, wherein:
said iron nanoparticles constitute between .003% and .008% of said mixture.
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29. A method according to claim 23, wherein:
said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles are iron-oxide
nanoparticles, and said iron–oxide nanoparticles are between 20nm and 62nm in
diameter.
30. A method according to claim 23, wherein:
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said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles are cobalt-oxide
nanoparticles, and said cobalt–oxide nanoparticles are between 2nm and 84nm in
diameter.
31. A method according to claim 30, wherein:
said cobalt-oxide nanoparticles constitute between .001% and .02% of said
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mixture.
32. A method according to claim 21, wherein:
said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles includes metal
nanoparticles and metal-oxide nanoparticles.
33. A method of increasing yield of diesel oil from a crude oil fraction that does not
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contain gasoline after an initial partial distillation of crude oil, said method
comprising adding at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles of diameter
between 1nm and 90nm and a solid acid micropowder of diameter between 20nm and
10 micrometers to the crude oil fraction to create a crude oil fraction/nanoparticle
mixture where the nanoparticles are present in said mixture in a weight percentage of
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between 0.0004% and 0.02% and said solid acid micropowder is present in said
mixture in a weight percentage of between 0.001% and 0.04%; and
distilling said crude oil fraction/nanoparticle/solid acid micropowder mixture
to generate at least light fractions of hydrocarbons and a residue, where said residue is
smaller than a residue which would be generated from an identical distillation of the
crude oil fraction without said nanoparticles and solid acid micropowder.
34. A method according to claim 33, wherein:
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said solid acid micropowder is chosen from Faujasite, Mordenite, and HZSM5 micropowder.
35. A method according to claim 33, wherein:
said solid acid micropowder is present in said mixture in a weight percentage
between .01% and .04%.
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36. A method according to claim 33, wherein:
said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles are iron nanoparticles.
37. A method according to claim 33, wherein:
said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles are cobalt-oxide
nanoparticles.
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38. A method according to claim 33, wherein:
said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles are iron nanoparticles,
and said solid acid micropowder is an HZSM-5 micropowder.
39. A method according to claim 38, wherein:
said iron nanoparticles are 43nm diameter nanoparticles and constitute 0.004%
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of said mixture, and said HZSM-5 micropowder constitutes 0.04% of said mixture.
40. A mixture consisting essentially of crude oil in a weight percentage of between
99.9996% and 99.98% and at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles of
diameter between 1nm and 90nm in a weight percentage of between 0.0004% and
0.02%.
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41. A mixture consisting essentially of crude oil in a weight percentage of between
9.9986% and 99.94%, at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles of diameter
between 1nm and 90nm in a weight percentage of between 0.0004% and 0.02%, and a
solid acid micropowder in a weight percentage of between 0.001% and 0.04%.
42. A method of increasing distillate yield in a crude oil distillation, comprising:
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prior to distillation of crude oil, adding a plurality of solid acid nanoparticles
of diameter between 3nm and 1200nm to the crude oil to create a crude
oil/nanoparticle mixture, the solid acid nanoparticles comprising a weight percentage
of the crude oil/nanoparticle mixture between 0.001% and 0.2%; and
distilling said crude oil/nanoparticle mixture to generate at least one light
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hydrocarbon and a residue, whereby said residue generated from distilling said crude
oil/nanoparticle mixture is smaller than a residue which would be generated from an
identical distillation of the crude oil without said solid acid nanoparticles added
thereto.
43. A method according to claim 42, wherein:
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said plurality of solid acid nanoparticles are chosen from at least one of
sulphated zirconia, alumosilicate, Zeolite A, Zeolite Y, keggin acid, aluminum
trichloride, Faujasite, HZSM-5, Mordenite, and mcm-41.
44. A method according to claim 43, wherein:
said plurality of solid acid nanoparticles which comprise said weight
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percentage are no more than 150nm in diameter.
45. A method according to claim 44, wherein:
said solid acid nanoparticles which comprise said weight percentage are no
more than 100nm in diameter.
46. A method according to claim 45, wherein:
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said solid acid nanoparticles which comprise said weight percentage are no
more than 50nm in diameter.
47. A method according to claim 46, wherein:
said solid acid nanoparticles which comprise said weight percentage are no
more than 20nm in diameter.
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48. A method according to claim 42, wherein:
said weight percentage of said solid acid nanoparticles in said crude
oil/nanoparticle mixture is at least 0.005%.
49. A method according to claim 48, wherein:
said weight percentage of said solid acid nanoparticles in said crude
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oil/nanoparticle mixture is at least 0.01%.
50. A method according to claim 49, wherein:
said weight percentage of said solid acid nanoparticles in said crude
oil/nanoparticle mixture is at least 0.03%.
51. A method according to claim 50, wherein:
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said weight percentage of said solid acid nanoparticles in said crude
oil/nanoparticle mixture is at least 0.05%.
52. A method according to claim 51, wherein:
said weight percentage of said solid acid nanoparticles in said crude
oil/nanoparticle mixture is at least 0.1%.
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53. A method according to claim 42, wherein:
said plurality of solid acid nanoparticles are sulphated zirconia, have a
diameter of between 3nm and 4nm, and comprise a weight percentage of the crude
oil/nanoparticle mixture of at least 0.1%.
54. A method according to claim 42, wherein:
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said plurality of solid acid nanoparticles are H3PMo13O40, have a diameter of
substantially 1nm, and comprise a weight percentage of the crude oil/nanoparticle
mixture of at least 0.1%.
55. A method of increasing yield of hydrocarbons from a crude oil, said method
comprising:
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subjecting the crude oil to a partial initial distillation by heating the crude oil
to a temperature between 350°C and 360°C to generate an initial quantity of light
hydrocarbons and a residue from the crude oil;
adding nanoparticles of a solid acid micropowder to the residue of the partially
distilled crude oil to create a partially distilled crude oil residue/solid acid
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micropowder mixture; and
completing the initial distillation of the crude oil by heating said mixture to a
temperature above 360°C and below 450°C and distilling said mixture to generate
additional light hydrocarbons therefrom, whereby the total light hydrocarbons
generated from the initial partial distillation and the completing of the initial
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distillation is larger than the total light hydrocarbons which would be generated from
an identical initial distillation of the crude oil without said solid acid micropowder.
56. A method according to claim 55, wherein:
said solid acid micropowder is chosen from Zeolite A, Alumosilicate,
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Mordenite, Sulphated zirconia, aluminum trichloride, MCM-41, H3PMo13O40, and
HZSM-5 micropowder.
57. A mixture consisting essentially of:
crude oil in a weight percentage between 99.999% and 99.8%; and
a plurality of solid acid nanoparticles having a weight percentage between
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0.001% and 0.2% and having respective diameters between 3nm and 1200nm.
58. A mixture according to claim 57, wherein:
said nanoparticles have respective diameters of no more than 150nm.
59. A mixture according to claim 58, wherein:
said nanoparticles have respective diameters of no more than 50nm.
60. A mixture according to claim 57, wherein:
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said plurality of solid acid nanoparticles comprise a weight percentage of said
mixture of at least 0.005%.
61. A method according to claim 60, wherein:
said plurality of solid acid nanoparticles comprise a weight percentage of said
mixture of at least 0.01%.
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62. A method according to claim 61, wherein:
said plurality of solid acid nanoparticles comprise a weight percentage of said
mixture of at least 0.03%.
63. A method according to claim 62, wherein:
said plurality of solid acid nanoparticles comprise a weight percentage of said
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mixture of at least 0.05%.
64. A method according to claim 63, wherein:
said plurality of solid acid nanoparticles comprise a weight percentage of said
mixture of at least 0.1%.
65. A method of increasing distillate yield in a crude oil distillation, comprising:
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prior to distillation of crude oil, adding hexane and a plurality of solid acid
nanoparticles of diameter between 3nm and 1200nm to the crude oil to create a crude
oil/hexane/nanoparticle mixture; and
distilling the crude oil/hexane/nanoparticle mixture to generate at least one
light hydrocarbon and a residue, whereby said residue generated from distilling said
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crude oil/hexane/nanoparticle mixture is smaller than a residue which would be
generated from an identical distillation of the crude oil without said hexane and said
solid acid nanoparticles added thereto.
66. A method of increasing distillate yield in a crude oil distillation, comprising:
prior to distillation of crude oil, adding a plurality of solid acid nanoparticles
of diameter between 3nm and 1200nm to the crude oil to create a crude
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oil/nanoparticle mixture, the solid acid nanoparticles comprising a weight percentage
of the crude oil/nanoparticle mixture greater than 0.001% and
distilling said crude oil/nanoparticle mixture to generate a fractional amount of
hydrocarbons and a fractional amount of residue, whereby said fractional amount of
hydrocarbons generated from distilling said crude oil/nanoparticle mixture is larger
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than a fractional amount of hydrocarbons which would be generated from an identical
distillation of the crude oil without said solid acid nanoparticles added thereto.
67. A method according to claim 66, wherein:
said weight percentage of said solid acid nanoparticles in said crude
oil/nanoparticle mixture is no more than 0.2%.
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