Abstract: The present invention relates to the manufacture of ferrous picrate and the preparation of fuel additives containing ferrous picrate. A process for producing ferrous picrate includes dissolving picric acid in a mixture of an aromatic hydrocarbon and an aliphatic alcohol in the presence of a trace amount of water and a metallic iron, thus forming a ferrous picrate solution. The ferrous picrate solution is blended with an organic solvent to form the fuel additive. Ferrous picrate produced by the product is also described.

Abstract: A fuel additive containing ferrous picrate produced by a process involving placing a non-powdered metallic iron, such as wire composed of an alloy of iron or steel wool, in any solution of picric acid in a solvent that is known in the art for reacting with iron to produce ferrous picrate. The wire can be suspended in the solution or placed upon the bottom of a reaction vessel that holds the solution. Preferably the wire is loosely coiled, at least when placed upon the bottom of a reaction vessel.

Abstract: A fuel additive containing ferrous picrate produced by a process involving placing wire composed of an alloy of iron in any solution of picric acid in a solvent that is known in the art for reacting with iron to produce ferrous picrate. The wire can be suspended in the solution or placed upon the bottom of a reaction vessel that holds the solution. Preferably the wire is loosely coiled, at least when placed upon the bottom of a reaction vessel. Also preferably, after a concentrated fuel additive has been prepared, to the concentrate is added so much of a pre-mix solution produced by the steps of (a) dissolving picric acid in the same kind of solvent that was utilized to produce the solution into which the steel wool was placed and (b) removing water from the precursor to the pre-mix solution thus produced and so much of the same kind of alcohol that was utilized to produce the solution into which the steel wool was placed that the final product produced thereby contains approximately 1.

Abstract: A fuel additive containing ferrous picrate produced by a process comprising placing an enclosed iron containing metallic source in a solution of picric acid in a solvent that reacts with iron to produce ferrous picrate. Enclosure of the iron containing metallic source is accomplished with an isolating material. Enclosure may be achieved by completely surrounding the iron containing metallic source with the isolating material or by installing a filter comprising the isolating material on the downstream or the upstream side of a vessel holding the iron containing metallic source and through which the picric acid and liquid containing the picric acid are circulated. If the iron containing metallic source has been completely surrounded, it is placed into the solution. The solution may be agitated. If a filter or filters are utilized, the solution is circulated through the vessel holding the iron containing metallic source.