Patent ID: 7223602

Claim:
A method for tagging gaseous or liquid carbonaceous feedstock with durable tracers of predetermined concentrations generated from existing components of the feedstock, comprising: a. withdrawing a carbonaceous feedstock sample from a carbonaceous feedstock source, b. measuring a flow rate of the carbonaceous feedstock sample flow, c. analyzing said carbonaceous feedstock sample to determine initial tracer concentration, d. introducing said carbonaceous feedstock sample into a catalytic or non-catalytic reaction zone, e. generating more tracers within said catalytic or non-catalytic reaction zone from said carbonaceous feedstock sample, f. analyzing said carbonaceous feedstock sample to determine added tracer concentration, g. reintroducing said carbonaceous feedstock sample into said carbonaceous feedstock source, h. adjusting the rate of withdrawing said carbonaceous feedstock sample from said carbonaceous feedstock source on the basis of measured initial and added tracer concentrations, thereby regulating the amount of carbonaceous feedstock sample introduced into said catalytic or non-catalytic reaction zone and thereby regulating the concentration of said tracers in said carbonaceous feedstock source to a predetermined level, using computer controlled feedback.