Patent · US Expired

Tagging hydrocarbons for subsequent identification

US5710046A · kind A · utility

26Cited by
25References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 4, 1994
Grant dateJan 20, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 4, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T436/13
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method for tagging hydrocarbons and for detecting the presence of tagged hydrocarbons in a hydrocarbon mixture. The method can be utilized to tag gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil, lubricating oil or crude petroleum. The hydrocarbon to be tagged is blended with a relatively small amount of a fluorescent dye. The presence of the tagged hydrocarbon is subsequently determined by exciting the dye to fluoresce at wavelengths in the higher portion of the visible spectral region or the lower portion of the near infrared spectral region.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.