U.S. patent application number 10/488637 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-09 for strained ring compounds as combustion improvers for normally liquid fuels.
Invention is credited to Baker, Mark R., Daly, Daniel T..
Application Number | 20040244277 10/488637 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23232587 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040244277 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Baker, Mark R. ; et
al. |
December 9, 2004 |
Strained ring compounds as combustion improvers for normally liquid
fuels
Abstract
Fuel compositions comprising a major amount of a normally liquid
hydrocarbon based fuel and a minor amount of a compound having at
least one strained ring group containing from 3 to 5 ring
atoms.
Inventors: |
Baker, Mark R.; (Lyndhurst,
OH) ; Daly, Daniel T.; (Solon, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
The Lubrizol Corporation
Patent Administrator
Mail Drop 022B
29400 Lakeland Boulevard
Wickliffe
OH
44092-2298
US
|
Family ID: |
23232587 |
Appl. No.: |
10/488637 |
Filed: |
March 4, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
August 29, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US02/27673 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
44/300 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C10L 1/224 20130101;
C10L 1/2383 20130101; C10L 1/2431 20130101; C10L 1/10 20130101;
C10L 1/1963 20130101; C10L 1/221 20130101; C10L 10/02 20130101;
C10L 1/1881 20130101; C10L 1/238 20130101; C10L 1/1852 20130101;
C10L 1/2225 20130101; C10L 1/1883 20130101; C10L 1/226 20130101;
C10L 1/328 20130101; C10L 1/125 20130101; C10L 1/2437 20130101;
C10L 1/1824 20130101; C10L 1/19 20130101; C10L 1/2456 20130101;
C10L 1/1966 20130101; C10L 1/23 20130101; C10L 1/1811 20130101;
C10L 1/2443 20130101; C10L 1/245 20130101; C10L 1/1985 20130101;
C10L 1/1857 20130101; C10L 1/1266 20130101; C10L 1/143 20130101;
C10L 1/233 20130101; C10L 1/1608 20130101; C10L 1/188 20130101;
C10L 1/2283 20130101; C10L 1/1826 20130101; C10L 1/1855 20130101;
C10L 1/2222 20130101; C10L 1/2364 20130101; C10L 1/14 20130101;
C10L 1/1805 20130101; C10L 1/231 20130101; C10L 1/2366 20130101;
C10L 1/198 20130101; C10L 1/232 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
044/300 |
International
Class: |
C10L 001/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 5, 2001 |
US |
60317205 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. a fuel composition comprising a major amount of a normally
liquid hydrocarbon based fuel and a minor amount of a compound
having at least one strained ring group containing from 3 to 4 ring
atoms per ring.
2. The fuel composition of claim 1 wherein the ring group is a
hydrocarbyl group substantially free of heteroatoms.
3. The fuel composition of claim 1 wherein the ring contains both
carbon atoms and heteroatoms, said heteroatoms being selected from
the group consisting of O and N.
4. (canceled)
5. The fuel composition of claim 3 wherein the ring contains no
more than 2 heteroatoms.
6. The fuel composition of claim 5 wherein the ring contains only
one heteroatom being oxygen.
7. The fuel composition of claim 2 wherein the hydrocarbyl group is
a cyclopropyl group or a cyclobutyl group.
8. The fuel composition of claim 1, wherein said compound comprises
bicyclopropyl or a lower alkyl (C1-C5) mono or di-substituted
bycyclopropyl compound.
9. The composition of claim 6 wherein the ring is an epoxy group or
an oxetane group.
10. The fuel composition of claim 1 wherein the compound comprises
at least two strained ring groups.
11. The fuel composition of claim 10 wherein the compound has two
strained ring groups.
12. The fuel composition of claim 11 wherein the two strained ring
groups are fused bicyclo groups or spirocyclic groups.
13. The fuel composition of claim 10 wherein the strained ring
groups are hydrocarbyl groups substantially free of
heteroatoms.
14. The fuel composition of claim 13 wherein the compound comprises
dicyclopropyl ketone or dicyclobutyl ketone.
15. The fuel composition of claim 7 wherein the compound comprises
cyclopropyl methanol, cyclobutyl amine and cyclobutyl
hydroxylamine.
16. The fuel composition of claim 9 wherein the compound is
selected from the group consisting of 3,3-dimethyloxetane and
1-methoxy-2-methylpropyle- ne oxide.
17. The fuel composition of claim 8 wherein the compound comprises
3,3-dimethyloxetane.
18. The fuel composition of claim 1 further comprising a
hydroxylamine wherein the hydroxylamine has the general formula
5wherein each of R.sub.a and R.sub.b is, independently, a member
selected from the group consisting of H, a primary hydrocarbyl
group and a secondary hydrocarbyl group, and n ranges from 1 to
about 30.
19. The fuel composition of claim 1 further comprising a
hydroxylamine wherein the hydroxylamine has the general formula
6wherein each R.sub.c is, independently, H or a hydrocarbyl group,
each R.sub.d is, independently, a lower alkylene group and x ranges
from 1 to about 29.
20. The fuel composition of claim 1 further comprising a
hydroxylamine salt.
21. The fuel composition of claim 20 wherein the salt is at least
one member of the group consisting of nitrates, sulfates,
sulfonates, carbonates and carboxylates.
22. The fuel composition of claim 1 further comprising a nitro
compound.
23. (canceled)
24. (canceled)
25. (canceled)
26. The fuel composition of claim 1 wherein the fuel comprises
oxygenates.
27. The fuel composition of claim 26 wherein the oxygenates
comprise at least one member of the group consisting of lower
alkanols and ethers.
28. (canceled)
29. (canceled)
30. (canceled)
31. (canceled)
32. (canceled)
33. (canceled)
34. (canceled)
35. (canceled)
36. (canceled)
37. (canceled)
38. (canceled)
39. (canceled)
40. (canceled)
41. (canceled)
42. (canceled)
43. (canceled)
44. (canceled)
45. (canceled)
46. (canceled)
47. (canceled)
48. The fuel composition of claim 1 further comprising at least one
component selected from the group consisting of a) dispersants, b)
combustion modifiers, c) lubricity agents, d) cold flow improvers,
e) fluidizers, (f) surfactants and g) corrosion inhibitors.
49. (canceled)
50. (canceled)
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to combustion improving additives for
normally liquid fuels. In particular, the combustion improvers are
strained ring compounds.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The industry has continued to search for ways to improve
combustion of normally liquid fuels. These include fuels used in
heating systems, internal combustion engines and the like.
Government agencies have imposed regulations requiring continuing
reduction of emissions resulting from the combustion of fuels.
Improved fuel economy is also required, not only by government
regulations but also by consumers facing increased costs for fuels.
Improved combustion of fuels generally results in a reduction in
harmful emissions and more efficient utilization of fuels resulting
in greater fuel economy.
[0003] Combustion improvers of this invention improve combustion
characteristics of fuels. The improved combustion characteristics
include reduced particulate emissions, reduced CO emissions,
reduced NO.sub.x, emissions, reduced hydrocarbon emissions, greater
power output, reduced misfiring and improved fuel efficiency.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 4,670,131 relates to fouling of equipment used
for processing of organic feed streams containing olefinic
compounds controlled by inhibiting polymerization of the olefinic
compounds by carrying out the processing in the presence of from
about 20 ppb to less than 1,000 ppb of a stable free radical, such
as nitroxide.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,634 describes an additive package
comprising an oil-soluble, stable free radical, such as a
nitroxide, or a precursor therefor, used in a fuel oil to reduce,
on combustion of the fuel oil, one or more of particulate
emissions, hydrocarbon emissions, carbon monoxide emissions, and
oxides of nitrogen emissions.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,525,127 relates to hydrocarbonaceous
distillate fuel compositions and additive concentrates are
described as providing improved performance in evaporative burners.
The additive components comprise a mixture formed that at least (a)
a cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl compound; (b) a succinic
derivative ashless dispersant; (c) an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid
having at least 24 carbon atoms in the molecule, the two carboxyl
groups being separated from each other by at least 6 carbon atoms;
and (d) a metal deactivator of the chelation type. Preferably, the
compositions also contain (e) alkoxylated alkylphenol; (f) a
demulsifying agent; (g) a tertiary monoamine in which each
substituent on the nitrogen atom is a hydrocarbyl group; and (h)
liquid inert solvent having a final boiling point no higher than
approximately 600.degree. C. The compositions are devoid of any
metal-containing additive component other than the cyclopentadienyl
manganese tricarbonyl compound.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,529,706 describes tolyltriazole derived
esters of tri, tetra, and poly carboxylic acids or an acid
generating compound which are effective lubricity additives for
lube oils, greases, or distillate fuels.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,578,556 relates to triazole-dialkyl maleate
derivatives which are described as effective metal passivators and
antiwear additives for lubricants and fuels.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,237 describes a fuel additive
concentrate package comprising a detergent/dispersant, an organic
nitrate combustion improver, and a corrosion inhibitor comprising
dimer and/or trimer acid to provide enhanced shelf life stability
by treating the concentrate with a shelf life stability amount, for
example 1,500 and 10,000 ppm, respectively of acid selected from
the group consisting of nitric acid/hydrochloric acid.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,938 describes a fuel composition which
comprises a water-in-oil emulsion comprising a major proportion of
a hydrocarbonaceous middle distillate fuel and about 1 to about 40
volume percent water, and an emission reducing amount of at least
one fuel-soluble organic nitrate ignition improver such as
2-ethylhexyl nitrate providing reduction of exhaust emissions from
diesel engines.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,937 relates to fuel compositions
containing hydrocarbon fuels in the gasoline boiling range and
organic nitrogen-containing compounds selected from organic
nitrates and/or organic nitro compounds. The fuel compositions
exhibit improved ignition properties, including reduced emissions
and reduced misfires.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,858 relates to hydrocarbonaceous fuels
and additive compositions therefor which comprise: a) one or more
fuel-soluble manganese carbonyl compounds; and b) one or more fuel
soluble alkali or alkaline earth metal containing neutral or basic
detergent salts and preferably, also contain c) one or more of
fuel-soluble ashless dispersants; d) at least one fuel soluble
demulsifying agent; e) at least one aliphatic or cycloaliphatic
amine; and f) at least one metal deactivator. The fuel compositions
are said to possess improved combustion characteristics.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,928,392 describes a burner operated by
continuously feeding into its combustion zone while combustion is
occurring therein, (a) a middle distillate burner fuel with which
has been blended a minor combustion improving amount of manganese
polycarbonyl compound and a total amount of air above 100% of the
stoichiometric amount required for complete combustion of all fuel
being introduced into said zone but which is below 105% of such
stoichiometric amount. Preferably, alkali or alkaline earth metal
containing detergent and fuel soluble dispersant have been blended
into the fuel.
[0014] European Patent EP 0420581A1 describes an additive for
hydrocarbon fuels which includes ethanolamine nitrate as an
additive to reduce the quantity of smoke and improve the efficiency
of combustion. Fuels are improved by the addition of the additive,
which can be prepared by the reaction of ammonium nitrate and
anhydrous ethanol in the presence of one or more nitro compounds of
formula 1
[0015] where R is a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1-4 alkyl radical, at
a temperature of not more than 40-45.degree. C., the nitro
derivative being applied in a concentration of 1 to 3% by weight,
the molar ratio between the nitro compound(s) and the ammonium
nitrate being at least 0.05:1.
[0016] PCT Patent Publication WO 00/105740 describes an emulsified
water-blended fuel composition comprising: (A) a hydrocarbon
boiling in the gasoline or diesel range; (B) water; (C) a minor
emulsifying amount of at least one fuel-soluble salt made by
reacting (C)(I) at least one acylating agent having about 16 to 500
carbon atoms with (C)(II) ammonia and/or at least one amine; and
(D) about 0.001 to about 15% by weight of the water-blended fuel
composition of a water-soluble, ashless, halogen-, boron-, and
phosphorus-free amine salt, distinct from component (C). In one
embodiment, the composition further comprises (E) at least one
co-surfactant distinct from component (C); in one embodiment, (F)
at least one organic cetane improver; and in one embodiment, (G) at
least one antifreeze.
[0017] Several means are available for reducing emissions,
extending hydrocarbon based, especially hydrocarbon, fuels or both.
These include, for example, addition of oxygenates to the fuel or
incorporating therein significant amounts of water, usually as an
emulsion. Since oxygenates typically have reduced fuel value
compared to purely hydrocarbon fuels, and, of course, water has no
fuel value, the use thereof will often result in a noticeable loss
of `driveability`, i.e., performance. It is desirable to find
additive systems that provide combustion improvement to a wide
variety of normally liquid fuels, and particularly to fuels
containing oxygenates or water. The instant invention addresses
this need. The combustion improvers of this invention are also
useful to improve performance of poor driveability fuels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The instant invention is directed to fuel compositions
comprising a major amount of a normally liquid hydrocarbon based
fuel and a minor amount of a compound having at least one strained
ring group containing from 3 to 5 ring atoms. The strained ring
group containing compound provides improved combustion properties
to a wide variety of normally liquid hydrocarbon based fuels,
including fuels such as hydrocarbon fuels, biomass fuels,
oxygenates and water-containing emulsified fuels. The invention
also is directed to a method for improving the combustion
characteristics of a normally liquid hydrocarbon based fuel
comprising incorporating therein a combustion improving amount of a
compound having at least one strained ring group containing from 3
to 5 ring atoms.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] As used herein, the terms "hydrocarbyl" or "hydrocarbon
based" mean that the group being described has predominantly
hydrocarbon character within the context of this invention. These
include groups that are purely hydrocarbon in nature, that is, they
contain only carbon and hydrogen. They may also include groups
containing substituents or atoms which do not alter the
predominantly hydrocarbon character of the group. Such substituents
may include halo-, alkoxy-, nitro-, hydroxyl, etc. These groups
also may contain hetero atoms. Suitable hetero atoms will be
apparent to those skilled in the art and include, for example,
sulfur, nitrogen and oxygen. Therefore, while remaining
predominantly hydrocarbon in character within the context of this
invention, these groups may contain atoms other than carbon present
in a chain or ring otherwise composed of carbon atoms.
[0020] In general, no more than about three non-hydrocarbon
substituents or hetero atoms, and preferably no more than one, will
be present for every 10 carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon or
hydrocarbon based groups. Most preferably, the groups are purely
hydrocarbon in nature, that is they are essentially free of atoms
other than carbon and hydrogen.
[0021] It must be noted that as used in this specification and in
the appended claims, the singular forms also include the plural
unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus the singular
forms "a", "an", and "the" include the plural; for example "an
amine" includes mixtures of amines of the same type. As another
example the singular form "amine" is intended to include both
singular and plural unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise.
[0022] The expression `substantially free of` as used herein means
that the referred to material is entirely absent or present in an
amount so small as to be undetectable using ordinary means or is
present in no more than an impurity amount.
[0023] Compounds Containing Strained Ring Groups
[0024] The fuel compositions of this invention comprise at least
one compound having at least one strained ring group containing
from 3 to 5 ring atoms. The compounds can be monocyclic or
polycyclic compounds, having fused ring systems and/or ring systems
connected directly or via a bridge group, and/or spiro-compounds
which polycyclic compounds have, for example, from two to four
rings and which are unsubstituted or substituted and can contain
heteroatoms such as, for example, O, S, or N in one or more rings
and/or can contain fused thereto aromatic or heteroaromatic rings,
for example o-phenylene, o-naphthylene, o-pyridinylene or
o-pyrimidinylene. The individual strained cyclic rings contain from
3 to 5, preferably 3 to 4, more often 3, ring members. These
include cyclopropyl groups, cyclobutyl groups and cyclopentyl
groups as well as heteroatom-containing analogues thereof.
[0025] As defined herein, `strained ring` compounds include 3 and 4
membered rings containing olefinic unsaturation, but do not include
olefinically unsaturated 5-membered rings. Preferably, the strained
ring compounds used in this invention are substantially saturated
and most preferably are free of olefinic unsaturation.
`Substantially saturated` means no more than 5% of the strained
ring compounds contain ring unsaturated bonds. The expression `free
of olefinic unsaturation` means the strained ring compounds contain
no more than an impurity amount of unsaturated ring components.
[0026] In one embodiment, the ring group is a hydrocarbyl group
substantially free of heteroatoms. Examples include cyclopropyl
methanol, cyclobutyl amine and cyclobutyl hydroxylamine.
[0027] In another embodiment, the ring contains one or more
heteroatoms as mentioned hereinabove. Such heteroatom containing
compounds may be illustrated by, for example, furans, dioxolanes,
oxetanes, epoxides, aziridines, and thio-analogues thereof and
compounds containing one or more of these groups.
[0028] Heterocyclic ring groups contain at least 2 carbon atoms and
preferably no more than 2 heteroatoms, often but one
heteroatom.
[0029] Preferred heteroatoms are oxygen and nitrogen, although
compounds containing sulfur heteroatoms are also useful. Examples
of preferred oxygen containing compounds or groups are dioxolane,
epoxide, oxetane and furan. Specific examples include
3,3-dimethyloxetane, 1-methoxy-2-methylpropylene oxide,
2-methoxydioxolane and 2,5-dimethoxytetrahydrofuran, preferably,
3,3-dimethyloxetane.
[0030] As noted hereinabove, the compound may contain more than one
strained ring group, which groups may be present as fused, linked,
spiro- etc groups. Preferably, such compounds contain 2 strained
ring groups.
[0031] In one preferred embodiment, the compounds containing two or
more strained ring groups are substantially free of heteroatoms.
Examples include dicyclopropyl ketone, dicyclobutyl ketone and
compounds of the formula 2
[0032] The strained ring group containing compound is typically
used in amounts ranging from about 50 to about 50,000 parts by
weight per million parts by weight (ppm) of fuel, more often from
about 500 to about 20,000 ppm, typically about 5,000 ppm and in
another embodiment, about 2500 ppm.
[0033] In one embodiment, the fuel compositions of this invention
further comprise supplemental additives which serve to enhance to
the performance of the fuel compositions of this invention. In one
embodiment, the fuel compositions further comprise a hydroxylamine
having the general formula 3
[0034] wherein each of R.sub.a and R.sub.b is, independently, a
member selected from the group consisting of H, a primary
hydrocarbyl group and a secondary hydrocarbyl group, particularly,
H or a hydrocarbyl group containing from 1 to about 25 carbon
atoms, and especially a lower alkyl group, provided that neither of
R.sub.a nor R.sub.b is a strained ring group, and n ranges from 1
to about 30, preferably, from 1 to about 4, and most preferably, 1.
Of course, it is obvious that when R.sub.a is H, then n equals
1.
[0035] Particularly preferred is where each hydrocarbyl group is,
independently, a primary alkyl group, especially one containing
from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms.
[0036] In another embodiment, the hydroxylamine has the general
formula 4
[0037] wherein each R.sub.c is, independently, H or a hydrocarbyl
group, particularly, H or a lower alkyl group, provided that
neither R.sub.c is a strained ring group, each R.sub.d is,
independently, a lower alkylene group, preferably an ethylene or
propylene group, most preferably, an ethylene group, and x ranges
from 1 to about 29, preferably, from 1 to about 5.
[0038] Examples of hydroxylamines, which hydroxylamine have been
found to be useful as supplemental combustion improvers in the fuel
compositions of this invention, and methods for preparing them are
described in numerous Unites States patents including, for example,
U.S. Pat. No. 3,491,151; U.S. Pat. No. 4,017,512; U.S. Pat.
No.5,731,462; U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,935 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,031,130.
It should be noted that these patents also describe embodiments
which are not contemplated as being part of the instant invention
and it is not intended that such embodiments are to be considered
as being part of the instant invention. These patents are hereby
incorporated herein by reference for descriptions of the
hydroxylamines that are described herein as useful in this
invention.
[0039] In another preferred embodiment, the fuel composition
further comprises a hydroxylamine salt. Hydroxylamines from which
the hydroxylamine salts are derived are the same as the
hydroxylamines described hereinabove. Typically, the salt is at
least one member of the group consisting of nitrates, sulfates,
sulfonates, carbonates and carboxylates. Nitrates and carbonates
are preferred with nitrates being particularly preferred. The salts
are generally obtained by contacting a hydroxylamine with an
appropriate acid, optionally, in the presence of a diluent. Many of
these salts are commercially available, for example, from chemical
supply houses such as Aldrich Chemical Company, Milwaukee, Wis.,
USA.
[0040] Other supplemental combustion improvers may be used together
with the strained ring compounds of this invention including, for
example, peroxides, for example t-butylperoxide and nitro
compounds, usually lower alkyl nitro compounds, for example
nitropropane.
[0041] The Fuels
[0042] The fuels of this invention include all normally liquid
hydrocarbon based fuels known in the art. By `normally liquid` is
meant a fuel which is liquid or liquefiable at normal operating
temperatures. By `hydrocarbon `based` means the fuel contains
hydrocarbon moieties. These fuels include gasoline meeting ASTM
Specification D-4814, diesel fuel meeting ASTM Specification D-975,
heating oil meeting ASTM Specification D-396, oxygenates, mixtures
of predominantly hydrocarbon fuels and oxygenates, biomass fuel,
emulsified mixtures of water and hydrocarbon based fuel and
synthetic fuels.
[0043] Hydrocarbon based fuels are those fuels that contain
hydrocarbon groups, and especially those that are substantially
hydrocarbon, that is, those fuels derived from mineral oil sources
such as gasoline and middle distillate oils, for example, diesel
oil and heating oils, synthetic hydrocarbon fuels such as
polyolefins, alkylated aromatic hydrocarbon group containing fuels,
hydrocarbon fuels obtained by the Fischer-Tropsch process, and
others.
[0044] Mixtures of hydrocarbon based fuels and oxygenates include
mixtures of any of the aforementioned hydrocarbon based fuels with
any of alkanols, especially lower alkanols, and ethers, for
example, methyl-t-butyl ether, methyl-t-amyl ether,
dimethoxymethane and diethoxymethane, and particularly, lower
alkanols such as ethanol.
[0045] Biomass fuels are derived from organic materials, such as
seeds. Processes for obtaining these oils from biomass are
described in numerous U.S. Patents, many of which are listed in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,166,231 which is hereby incorporated herein by
reference for relevant disclosures of such oils and methods for
obtaining them. Examples of biomass fuels are biodiesel fuels,
fuels containing ethanol and methanol, and vegetable oil, for
example, sunflower oil and rapeseed oils.
[0046] Emulsified fuels are typically emulsions prepared from
hydrocarbon based fuels and water. Any type of emulsified fuel is
useful. The emulsions may be of the water in oil (water in
hydrocarbon based fuel) or oil in water (hydrocarbon based fuel in
water) type. Invert emulsions, that is, water in oil emulsions, are
preferred. The emulsified fuels may also comprise mixtures of fuels
as discussed hereinabove. Oxygenates, as described hereinabove, may
be included in the emulsified fuels.
[0047] As noted hereinabove, the fuel may be an emulsified mixture
of water and hydrocarbon fuel, and optionally, mixtures of
hydrocarbon fuels and any of the other types of fuels, such as
oxygenates, etc. enumerated hereinabove. The incorporation of water
is accomplished with an emulsifying agent. Many useful emulsifiers
are known in the art. Several types are described in the
aforementioned PCT Patent Publication WO 00/105740.
[0048] Emulsified fuels typically contain water in amounts ranging
from about 0.1% to about 40% by weight based on the total weight of
the emulsified fuel.
[0049] In one embodiment, the emulsion may be a microemulsion, an
emulsion that is generally clear in appearance. Such microemulsions
generally contain water in amounts ranging from about 0.1 to about
5% by weight based on the total weight of the emulsified fuel.
[0050] In another embodiment, the emulsion is a macroemulsion.
These are usually cloudy or milk-like in appearance. Such
macroemulsions can be prepared by vigorously mixing of the
components. Macroemulsion fuel compositions of this invention
usually contain water in amounts ranging from about 2% or from
about 5% to about 40% by weight based on the total weight of the
emulsified fuel, often from about 2% to about 30%, or from about
10% up to about 30% and often from about 15% up to about 25% by
weight.
[0051] A commercially available emulsified diesel fuel is marketed
by the Lubrizol Corporation, Wickliffe, Ohio, USA under the name
PuriNOx.TM. fuel.
[0052] The fuel compositions of the present invention may contain
other additives which are well known to those skilled in the art.
These can include supplemental combustion improvers such as those
mentioned hereinabove, combustion modifiers, such as octane number
enhancers for gasoline, foe example, anti-knock agents such as
tetra-alkyl lead compounds and certain ethers, cetane number
improvers for diesel fuels such as alkyl nitrates, lead scavengers
such as halo-alkanes, dyes, antioxidants such as hindered phenols,
lubricity agents, cold flow improvers, dispersants, surfactants,
rust inhibitors such as alkylated succinic acids and anhydrides and
derivatives thereof, bacteriostatic agents, auxiliary dispersants
and detergents, gum inhibitors, fluidizers, metal deactivators,
demulsifiers, anti-icing agents, corrosion inhibitors, and the
like. The fuel compositions of this invention may be
lead-containing or lead-free fuels. Preferred are lead-free
fuels.
[0053] The following examples illustrate several compositions of
this invention. All parts are parts by weight. These examples are
intended to be for the purpose of illustration only, and are not
intended to be limiting of the scope of the claims. Unless
indicated otherwise, all amounts of components are given on a neat,
diluent-free basis.
EXAMPLES 1-3
[0054] Fuel compositions are prepared by blending into a test
gasoline 5000 ppm of the indicated components:
1 Example Component 1 3,3-dimethoxyoxetane 2
1-methoxy-2-methylpropyleneoxide 3 2-methoxydioxolane
EXAMPLE 4
[0055] A fuel composition is prepared by blending into a test
gasoline 1% by weight (10,000 ppm) of
1-methoxy-2-methylpropyleneoxide.
EXAMPLES 5-7
[0056] Fuel compositions are prepared by blending into a test
gasoline the listed amounts of the indicated component(s):
2 Example Component 5 5000 ppm cyclopropylmethanol 6 2500 ppm
dimethoxytetrahydrofuran and 2500 ppm nitropropane 7 2500 ppm
1-methoxy-2-methylpropyleneoxi- de and 2500 ppm nitropropane
EXAMPLES 8-11
[0057] A mixture of 90% by weight gasoline and 10% by weight
anhydrous ethanol is prepared. Fuel compositions are prepared by
blending into the gasoline-ethanol mixture the listed amounts of
the indicated components:
3 Example Component 8 5000 ppm cyclopropyl methanol 9 2500 ppm
dicyclopropyl ketone 10 5000 ppm dicyclopropyl ketone 11 1% (10,000
ppm) dicyclopropyl ketone
EXAMPLES 12-14
[0058] A mixture of 75% by weight gasoline and 25% by weight
anhydrous ethanol is prepared. Fuel compositions are prepared by
blending into the gasoline-ehtanol mixture the listed amounts of
the indicated components:
4 Example Component 12 5300 ppm dicyclopropyl ketone 13 5000 ppm
dicyclopropyl ketone 14 repeat of Ex 13
EXAMPLES 15-16
[0059]
5 Example Component 15 5000 ppm cyclopropyl methanol 16 2500 ppm
cyclopropyl methanol + 2500 ppm t-butylperoxide
EXAMPLE 17
[0060] A fuel composition is prepared by blending into a low
sulfter #2 diesel fuel 5000 ppm of dicyclopropyl ketone.
EXAMPLE 18
[0061] A mixture of 85% by weight low sulfur #2 diesel fuel and 15%
by weight anhydrous ethanol is prepared. Blended into this mixture
is 5000 ppm dimethoxy tetrahydrofuran.
[0062] It is known that some of the materials described above may
interact in the final formulation, so that the components of the
final formulation may be different from those that are initially
added. For instance, metal ions (of, e.g., a detergent) can migrate
to other acidic sites of other molecules. The products formed
thereby, including the products formed upon employing the
composition of the present invention in its intended use, may not
susceptible of easy description. Nevertheless, all such
modifications and reaction products are included within the scope
of the present invention; the present invention encompasses the
composition prepared by admixing the components described
above.
[0063] Each of the documents referred to above is incorporated
herein by reference. Except in the examples, or where otherwise
explicitly indicated, all numerical quantities in this description
specifying amounts of materials, reaction conditions, molecular
weights, number of carbon atoms, and the like, are to be understood
as modified by the word "about". Unless otherwise indicated, each
chemical or composition referred to herein should be interpreted as
being a commercial grade material which may contain the isomers,
by-products, derivatives, and other such materials which are
normally understood to be present in the commercial grade. However,
the amount of each chemical component is presented exclusive of any
solvent or diluent oil which may be customarily present in the
commercial material, unless otherwise indicated. It is to be
understood that the upper and lower amount, range, and ratio limits
set forth herein may be independently combined. As used herein, the
expression "consisting essentially of" permits the inclusion of
substances which do not materially affect the basic and novel
characteristics of the composition under consideration.
[0064] While the invention has been explained in relation to its
preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that various
modifications thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the
art upon reading the specification. Therefore, it is to be
understood that the invention disclosed herein is intended to cover
such modifications that fall within the scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *