U.S. patent application number 16/065319 was filed with the patent office on 2019-05-23 for use of a detergent additive for fuel.
This patent application is currently assigned to TOTAL MARKETING SERVICES. The applicant listed for this patent is TOTAL MARKETING SERVICES. Invention is credited to Julie PREVOST.
Application Number | 20190153343 16/065319 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55806492 |
Filed Date | 2019-05-23 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190153343 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PREVOST; Julie |
May 23, 2019 |
USE OF A DETERGENT ADDITIVE FOR FUEL
Abstract
The use of one or more copolymers as a detergent additive in a
liquid fuel for internal combustion engines. The copolymer includes
at least one repeat unit having an ester of alkyl or alkyl ester
function and a repeat unit including at least one heterocycle
containing at least six atoms, including at least one nitrogen
atom, and at least one functionalization by at least one oxygen
atom.
Inventors: |
PREVOST; Julie; (Lyon,
FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TOTAL MARKETING SERVICES |
Puteaux |
|
FR |
|
|
Assignee: |
TOTAL MARKETING SERVICES
Puteaux
FR
|
Family ID: |
55806492 |
Appl. No.: |
16/065319 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
December 19, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FR2016/053558 |
371 Date: |
June 22, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C10L 2200/0423 20130101;
C10L 2200/0446 20130101; C10L 10/06 20130101; C10L 1/2368 20130101;
C10L 1/1963 20130101; C10L 10/02 20130101; C10L 10/04 20130101 |
International
Class: |
C10L 1/236 20060101
C10L001/236; C10L 1/196 20060101 C10L001/196; C10L 10/02 20060101
C10L010/02; C10L 10/04 20060101 C10L010/04; C10L 10/06 20060101
C10L010/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 22, 2015 |
FR |
1563101 |
Claims
1. A method for keeping clean and/or for cleaning at least one of
the internal parts of an internal combustion engine, said method
comprising the introduction in said internal combustion engine of a
liquid fuel comprising at least one copolymer comprising at least
one repeating unit comprising an alkyl ester or alkylester function
and one repeating unit comprising at least one heterocycle
comprising at least six atoms including at least one nitrogen atom,
and at least one functionalization with at least one oxygen atom,
and the functionalization with at least one oxygen atom consists of
the presence of at least one oxygen atom in the heterocyclic
chain.
2. (canceled)
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the copolymer is a
block copolymer comprising at least: one block A consisting of a
chain of structural units derived from an alkyl acrylate or alkyl
methacrylate monomer (m.sub.a), and one block B consisting of a
chain of structural units derived from an olefinic monomer
(m.sub.b) comprising at least one heterocycle comprising at least
six atoms including at least one nitrogen atom, and at least one
functionalization with at least one oxygen atom.
4. (canceled)
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the copolymer is
obtained by copolymerization of at least: one alkyl (meth)acrylate
monomer (m.sub.a), and one olefinic monomer (m.sub.b) comprising at
least one heterocycle comprising at least six atoms including at
least one nitrogen atom and at least one functionalization with at
least one oxygen atom.
6. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the alkyl
(meth)acrylate monomer (m.sub.a) is chosen from C.sub.1 to C.sub.34
alkyl (meth)acrylates.
7. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the monomer m.sub.b
corresponds to formula (I) below: ##STR00011## wherein: n
represents an integer chosen from 0 and 1, Ra represents a C1-C12
alkyl or C2-C12 alkenyl chain, optionally comprising one or more
substituents chosen from: OH, NH2, and optionally comprising one or
more groups chosen from: an ether bridge --O--, an amine bridge
--NH--, an imine bridge --N.dbd., an ester bridge --COO--, a
carbonyl bridge --CO--, an amide bridge --CONH--, a urea bridge
--NH--CO--NH--, a carbamate bridge --O--CO--NH--, or Ra represents
a group chosen from: an ether bridge --O--, an amine bridge --NH--,
an imine bridge --N.dbd., an ester bridge --COO--, a carbonyl
bridge --CO--, an amide bridge --CONH--, a urea bridge
--NH--CO--NH--, a carbamate bridge --O--CO--NH--, Rb represents a
nitrogenous heterocycle comprising at least six atoms including at
least one nitrogen atom and at least one functionalization with at
least one oxygen atom, R.sub.1 represents H or CH3.
8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein Rb is chosen from
rings comprising six atoms and rings comprising seven atoms, these
rings comprising one or two nitrogen atoms, one or two oxygen atoms
and three, four, five or six carbon atoms.
9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the monomer (m.sub.b)
is chosen from: ##STR00012##
10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the copolymer is a
block copolymer comprising at least: one block A consisting of a
chain of structural units derived from the alkyl (meth)acrylate
monomer (m.sub.a), and one block B.sub.1 consisting of a chain of
structural units derived from a monomer (m.sub.b) chosen from
N-acryloylmorpholine, N-methacryloylmorpholine and
N-vinyl-.epsilon.-caprolactam.
11. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising before the
introduction of the liquid fuel in the internal combustion engine:
1) the preparation of a concentrate for fuel comprising one or more
copolymers as described in claim 1, as a mixture with an organic
liquid, said organic liquid being inert with respect to the
copolymer(s) and miscible with said fuel, and 2) the introduction
of said concentrate for fuel in the liquid fuel.
12. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising, before the
introduction of the liquid fuel in the internal combustion engine,
the addition to the liquid fuel of one or more copolymers as
described in claim 1.
13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fuel composition
comprises at least 5 ppm of at least one copolymer comprising at
least one repeating unit comprising an alkyl ester or alkylester
function and one repeating unit comprising at least one heterocycle
comprising at least six atoms including at least one nitrogen atom,
and at least one functionalization with at least one oxygen atom,
and the functionalization with at least one oxygen atom consists of
the presence of at least one oxygen atom in the heterocyclic
chain.
14. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fuel is chosen
from hydrocarbon-based fuels and fuels that are not essentially
hydrocarbon-based, alone or as a mixture.
15. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the copolymer is
added to the liquid fuel to: keep clean and/or to clean up at least
one of the internal parts of said internal combustion engine, an/or
to prevent and/or reduce the formation of deposits in at least one
of the internal parts of said engine and/or to reduce the existing
deposits in at least one of the internal parts of said engine,
and/or for reducing the fuel consumption of the internal combustion
engine, and/or for limiting and/or reducing and/or avoiding and/or
preventing the pollutant emissions of the internal combustion
engine.
16-18. (canceled)
19. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the internal
combustion engine is a spark ignition engine.
20. The method as claimed in claim 19, for limiting and/or reducing
and/or avoiding and/or preventing the formation of deposits in at
least one internal part of a spark ignition engine chosen from the
engine intake system, the combustion chamber, the fuel injection
system.
21. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the internal
combustion engine is a diesel engine.
22. The method as claimed in claim 21, for limiting and/or reducing
and/or avoiding and/or preventing the formation of deposits in the
injection system of the diesel engine, and/or on an internal part
of an injector of said injection system.
23. The method as claimed in claim 22, for limiting and/or reducing
and/or avoiding and/or preventing the formation of deposits
associated with coking and/or deposits of soap or lacquering
type.
24. The method as claimed in claim 22, for limiting and/or reducing
and/or avoiding and/or preventing power loss due to the formation
of said deposits in the internal parts of a direct-injection diesel
engine, said power loss being determined according to the
standardized engine test method CEC F-98-08.
25. The method as claimed in claim 22, for limiting and/or reducing
and/or avoiding and/or preventing restriction of the fuel flow
emitted by the injector of a direct-injection diesel engine during
its functioning, said flow restriction being determined according
to the standardized engine test method CEC F-23-1-01.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to the use of copolymers based
on monomers comprising an ester function, for instance
(meth)acrylates or olefinic alkylesters, and on monomers comprising
a heterocycle comprising at least six atoms, including at least one
nitrogen atom and at least one functionalization with at least one
oxygen atom, as detergent additives in a liquid fuel for an
internal combustion engine.
PRIOR ART
[0002] Liquid fuels for internal combustion engines contain
components that can degrade during the functioning of the engine.
The problem of deposits in the internal parts of combustion engines
is well known to motorists. It has been shown that the formation of
these deposits has consequences on the performance of the engine
and in particular has a negative impact on consumption and particle
emissions. Progress in the technology of fuel additives has made it
possible to confront this problem. "Detergent" additives used in
fuels have already been proposed to keep the engine clean by
limiting deposits ("keep-clean" effect) or by reducing the deposits
already present in the internal parts of the combustion engine
("clean-up" effect). Mention may be made, for example, of U.S. Pat.
No. 4,171,959 which describes a detergent additive for gasoline
fuel containing a quaternary ammonium function. WO 2006/135 881
describes a detergent additive containing a quaternary ammonium
salt used for reducing or cleaning deposits, especially on the
intake valves.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 3,015,546 describes the use of polymeric
additives in fuel compositions as dispersants for preventing the
formation of deposits, sludge and lacquering in engines. These
terpolymers result from the copolymerization of a long-chain ester
of a conjugated unsaturated diacid, of a short-chain fatty acid
vinyl ester and of an N-vinylamide which may be a heterocyclic
compound.
[0004] WO 99/58580 describes polymeric compounds and the use
thereof in an oil as wax dispersant. These copolymers comprise an
unsaturated alcohol or acid or ester monomer, an unsaturated
carboxylic ester monomer with a polar group in the ester, and at
least one unsaturated amide. The use is directed toward reducing
wax deposits in these fuels when cold.
[0005] DE 15 45 342 describes lubricant and combustible
compositions in which are incorporated N-vinylpiperazinone
copolymers acting as dispersants.
[0006] However, engine technology is in constant evolution and the
stipulations for fuels must evolve to cope with these technological
advances of combustion engines. In particular, the novel gasoline
or diesel direct-injection systems expose the injectors to
increasingly severe pressure and temperature conditions, which
promotes the formation of deposits. In addition, these novel
injection systems have more complex geometries to optimize the
spraying, in particular more numerous holes having smaller
diameters, but which, on the other hand, induce greater sensitivity
to deposits. The presence of deposits may impair the combustion
performance and in particular increase pollutant emissions and
particle emissions. Other consequences of the excessive presence of
deposits have been reported in the literature, such as the increase
in fuel consumption and maneuverability problems.
[0007] Preventing and reducing deposits in these novel engines are
essential for optimum functioning of modern engines. There is thus
a need to propose detergent additives for fuel which promote
optimum functioning of combustion engines, especially for novel
engine technologies.
[0008] There is also a need for a universal detergent additive that
is capable of acting on deposits irrespective of the technology of
the engine and/or the nature of the fuel.
SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The invention relates to the use of copolymers comprising an
ester function, for instance (meth)acrylates or olefinic
alkylesters, especially vinyl esters, and on monomers
functionalized with a heterocycle comprising at least six atoms,
including at least one nitrogen atom and at least one
functionalization with at least one oxygen atom, as detergent
additives in a liquid fuel for an internal combustion engine. These
copolymers may be used in the form of an additive concentrate.
[0010] The Applicant has discovered that certain families of
copolymers, including the copolymers of the invention, have
noteworthy properties as detergent additives in liquid fuels for
internal combustion engines. The copolymers according to the
invention used in these fuels can keep the engine clean, in
particular by preventing or limiting the formation of deposits
("keep-clean" effect) and/or by reducing the deposits already
present in the internal parts of the combustion engine ("clean-up"
effect).
[0011] The advantages associated with the use according to the
invention of such copolymers are: [0012] optimum functioning of the
engine, [0013] reduction of the fuel consumption, [0014] better
maneuverability of the vehicle, [0015] reduced pollutant emissions,
and [0016] savings due to less engine maintenance.
[0017] The subject of the present invention consequently relates to
the use of a copolymer as detergent additive in a liquid fuel for
an internal combustion engine, said copolymer comprising at least
one repeating unit comprising an alkyl ester or alkylester function
and one repeating unit comprising at least one heterocycle
comprising at least six atoms including at least one nitrogen atom,
and at least one functionalization with at least one oxygen
atom.
[0018] According to a preferred embodiment, the functionalization
with at least one oxygen atom consists of the presence of at least
one oxygen atom in the heterocyclic chain.
[0019] According to a preferred embodiment, the copolymer is a
block copolymer comprising at least: [0020] one block A consisting
of a chain of structural units derived from an alkyl acrylate or
alkyl methacrylate monomer (m.sub.a), and [0021] one block B
consisting of a chain of structural units derived from an olefinic
monomer (m.sub.b) comprising at least one heterocycle comprising at
least six atoms including at least one nitrogen atom, and at least
one functionalization with at least one oxygen atom.
[0022] According to a more preferred embodiment, the block
copolymer is obtained by block polymerization, preferably by
controlled block polymerization, optionally followed by one or more
post-functionalizations.
[0023] According to a preferred embodiment, the copolymer is
obtained by copolymerization of at least: [0024] one alkyl
(meth)acrylate monomer (m.sub.a), and [0025] one olefinic monomer
(m.sub.b) comprising at least one heterocycle comprising at least
six atoms including at least one nitrogen atom and at least one
functionalization with at least one oxygen atom.
[0026] According to a preferred embodiment, the alkyl
(meth)acrylate monomer (m.sub.a) is chosen from C.sub.1 to C.sub.34
alkyl (meth)acrylates.
[0027] According to a preferred embodiment, the monomer m.sub.b
corresponds to formula (I) below:
##STR00001##
in which: n represents an integer chosen from 0 and 1, Ra
represents a C1-C12 alkyl or C2-C12 alkenyl chain, optionally
comprising one or more substituents chosen from: OH, NH2, and
optionally comprising one or more groups chosen from: an ether
bridge --O--, an amine bridge --NH--, an imine bridge --N.dbd., an
ester bridge --COO--, a carbonyl bridge --CO--, an amide bridge
--CONH--, a urea bridge --NH--CO--NH--, a carbamate bridge
--O--CO--NH--, or Ra represents a group chosen from: an ether
bridge --O--, an amine bridge --NH--, an imine bridge --N.dbd., an
ester bridge --COO--, a carbonyl bridge --CO--, an amide bridge
--CONH--, a urea bridge --NH--CO--NH--, a carbamate bridge
--O--CO--NH--, Rb represents a nitrogenous heterocycle comprising
at least six atoms including at least one nitrogen atom and at
least one functionalization with at least one oxygen atom, R.sub.1
represents H or CH3.
[0028] According to a more preferred embodiment, Rb is chosen from
rings comprising six atoms and rings comprising seven atoms, these
rings comprising one or two nitrogen atoms, zero, one or two oxygen
atoms and three, four, five or six carbon atoms.
[0029] According to an even more advantageous embodiment, Rb is
chosen from rings comprising six atoms and rings comprising seven
atoms, these rings comprising one or two nitrogen atoms, one or two
oxygen atoms and three, four, five or six carbon atoms.
[0030] Preferably, Rb is chosen from rings comprising six atoms,
these rings comprising at least one nitrogen atom and at least one
oxygen atom in the heterocyclic chain. According to an even more
advantageous embodiment, the monomer (m.sub.b) is chosen from
##STR00002##
[0031] Even more preferentially, the monomer (m.sub.b) is chosen
from
##STR00003##
[0032] According to a more preferred embodiment, the copolymer is a
block copolymer comprising at least: [0033] one block A consisting
of a chain of structural units derived from the alkyl
(meth)acrylate monomer (m.sub.a), and [0034] one block B.sub.1
consisting of a chain of structural units derived from a monomer
(m.sub.b) chosen from N-acryloylmorpholine,
N-methacryloylmorpholine and N-vinyl-.epsilon.-caprolactam; even
more preferentially, (m.sub.b) is chosen from N-acryloylmorpholine
and N-methacryloylmorpholine.
[0035] According to a preferred embodiment, the copolymer is used
in a concentrate for fuel comprising one or more copolymers as
described above, as a mixture with an organic liquid, said organic
liquid being inert with respect to the copolymer(s) and miscible
with said fuel.
[0036] According to a preferred embodiment, the copolymer is used
in a fuel composition which comprises:
(1) a fuel derived from one or more sources chosen from the group
consisting of mineral, animal, plant and synthetic sources, and (2)
one or more copolymers as described above.
[0037] According to a preferred embodiment, the fuel composition
comprises at least 5 ppm of at least one copolymer as defined
above.
[0038] According to a preferred embodiment, the fuel is chosen from
hydrocarbon-based fuels and fuels that are not essentially
hydrocarbon-based, alone or as a mixture.
[0039] According to a preferred embodiment, the copolymer is used
in the liquid fuel to keep clean and/or to clean up at least one of
the internal parts of said internal combustion engine.
[0040] According to a preferred embodiment, the copolymer is used
in the liquid fuel to avoid and/or reduce the formation of deposits
in at least one of the internal parts of said engine and/or to
reduce the existing deposits in at least one of the internal parts
of said engine.
[0041] According to a preferred embodiment, the copolymer is used
to reduce the fuel consumption of an internal combustion
engine.
[0042] According to a preferred embodiment, the copolymer is used
to limit and/or reduce and/or avoid and/or prevent pollutant
emissions, in particular the particle emissions of an internal
combustion engine.
[0043] According to a preferred embodiment, the internal combustion
engine is a spark ignition engine.
[0044] According to a more preferred embodiment, the copolymer is
used to limit and/or reduce and/or avoid and/or prevent the
formation of deposits in at least one internal part of a spark
ignition engine chosen from the engine intake system, in particular
the intake valves, the combustion chamber, the fuel injection
system, in particular the injectors of an indirect injection system
or the injectors of a direct injection system.
[0045] According to a preferred embodiment, the internal combustion
engine is a diesel engine.
[0046] According to a more preferred embodiment, the copolymer is
used to limit and/or reduce and/or avoid and/or prevent the
formation of deposits in the injection system of a diesel engine,
preferably on an external part of an injector of said injection
system, for example the fuel spray tip, and/or on an internal part
of an injector of said injection system, for example on the surface
of an injector needle.
[0047] According to a preferred embodiment, the copolymer is used
to limit and/or reduce and/or avoid and/or prevent the formation of
deposits associated with coking and/or deposits of soap and/or
lacquering type.
[0048] According to a preferred embodiment, the copolymer is used
to limit and/or reduce and/or avoid and/or prevent power loss due
to the formation of said deposits in the internal parts of a
direct-injection diesel engine, said power loss being determined
according to the standardized engine test method CEC F-98-08.
[0049] According to a preferred embodiment, the copolymer is used
to limit and/or reduce and/or avoid and/or prevent restriction of
the fuel flow emitted by the injector of a direct-injection diesel
engine during its functioning, said flow restriction being
determined according to the standardized engine test method CEC
F-23-1-01.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0050] Other advantages and characteristics will emerge more
clearly from the description that follows. The particular
embodiments of the invention are given as nonlimiting examples.
[0051] According to the invention, the copolymer comprises at least
one repeating unit comprising an alkyl ester or alkylester function
and one repeating unit comprising at least one heterocycle
comprising at least six atoms including at least one nitrogen atom,
and at least one functionalization with at least one oxygen
atom.
[0052] The term "alkyl ester" denotes an alkyl carboxylate
A.sub.1-CO--O-A.sub.2 with A.sub.2 an alkyl and A.sub.1 any
group.
[0053] The term "alkylester" denotes an alkylcarboxylate
A.sub.1-CO--O-A.sub.2 with A.sub.1 an alkyl and A.sub.2 any
group.
[0054] Advantageously, the repeating unit comprising an alkyl ester
or alkylester function is an olefinic unit.
[0055] Advantageously, the repeating unit comprising at least one
heterocycle comprising at least six atoms including at least one
nitrogen atom, and at least one functionalization with at least one
oxygen atom, is an olefinic unit.
[0056] For example, the repeating unit comprising an alkyl ester
function may be derived from an alkyl acrylate or alkyl
methacrylate monomer. For example, the repeating unit comprising an
alkylester function may be derived from a vinyl alkylester or
2-propenyl alkylester monomer.
[0057] Preferably, the repeating unit comprising an alkyl ester
function is derived from at least one monomer chosen from alkyl
acrylate and alkyl methacrylate monomers (m.sub.a).
[0058] For reasons of simplicity, in the rest of the description,
the term "alkyl (meth)acrylate" denotes a monomer chosen from alkyl
acrylates and alkyl methacrylates.
[0059] The monomer (m.sub.a) is preferably chosen from C.sub.1 to
C.sub.34, preferably C.sub.4 to C.sub.30, more preferentially
C.sub.6 to C.sub.24 and even more preferentially C.sub.8 to
C.sub.22 alkyl (meth)acrylates. The alkyl radical of the alkyl
acrylate or methacrylate is linear, branched, cyclic or acyclic,
preferably acyclic.
[0060] Among the alkyl (meth)acrylates that may be used in the
manufacture of the copolymer of the invention, mention may be made,
in a nonlimiting manner, of: n-octyl acrylate, n-octyl
methacrylate, n-decyl acrylate, n-decyl methacrylate, n-dodecyl
acrylate, n-dodecyl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate,
2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, isooctyl acrylate, isooctyl
methacrylate, isodecyl acrylate, isodecyl methacrylate.
[0061] The vinyl alkylester monomers correspond to the formula
R'CO--O--CH.dbd.CH.sub.2, in which R' represents a linear,
branched, cyclic or acyclic, preferably acyclic, alkyl group.
Preferably, R' is a linear C.sub.1 to C.sub.34, preferably C.sub.4
to C.sub.30, more preferentially C.sub.6 to C.sub.24 and even more
preferentially C.sub.8 to C.sub.22 alkyl.
[0062] Among the vinyl alkylester monomers, examples that may be
mentioned include vinyl octanoate, vinyl decanoate, vinyl
dodecanoate, vinyl tetradecanoate, vinyl hexadecanoate, vinyl
octadecanoate and vinyl docosanoate.
[0063] Preferably, the repeating unit comprising a heterocyclic
group is derived from at least one olefinic monomer (m.sub.b)
comprising at least one heterocycle comprising at six atoms
including at least one nitrogen atom and at least one
functionalization with at least one oxygen atom.
[0064] Preferably, the olefinic monomer (m.sub.b) comprising at
least one heterocyclic group corresponds to formula (I) below:
##STR00004##
in which: n represents an integer chosen from 0 and 1, Ra
represents a linear, branched or cyclic C1-C12 alkyl or C2-C12
alkenyl chain, optionally comprising one or more substituents
chosen from: OH, NH2, and optionally comprising one or more groups
chosen from: an ether bridge --O--, an amine bridge --NH--, an
imine bridge --N.dbd., an ester bridge --COO--, a carbonyl bridge
--CO--, an amide bridge --CONH--, a urea bridge --NH--CO--NH--, a
carbamate bridge --O--CO--NH--, or Ra represents a group chosen
from: an ether bridge --O--, an amine bridge --NH--, an imine
bridge --N.dbd., an ester bridge --COO--, a carbonyl bridge --CO--,
an amide bridge --CONH--, a urea bridge --NH--CO--NH--, a carbamate
bridge --O--CO--NH--, Rb represents a nitrogenous heterocycle
comprising at least six atoms including at least one nitrogen atom
and comprising at least one functionalization with at least one
oxygen atom, R1 represents H or CH3.
[0065] According to a first embodiment, n represents 0.
[0066] According to a second embodiment, n=1. In this case,
preferably, Ra represents a group chosen from --CO-- and a linear
or branched C1-C8 alkyl chain, optionally comprising a carbonyl
bridge. Even more preferentially, Ra represents --CO--.
[0067] Rb may be a monocycle or a polycyclic compound.
[0068] Preferably, Rb is monocyclic or bicyclic, and even more
preferentially Rb is monocyclic.
[0069] Rb may be saturated or unsaturated, optionally aromatic.
[0070] Preferably, Rb represents a heterocycle comprising at least
six atoms including at least one nitrogen atom and at least three
carbon atoms.
[0071] According to a first embodiment, the functionalization with
at least one oxygen atom consists of the presence of at least one
oxygen atom in the heterocyclic chain.
[0072] As examples of heterocycles illustrating this first
embodiment, mention may be made of:
##STR00005##
[0073] According to a second embodiment, the functionalization with
at least one oxygen atom consists of the presence of at least one
oxygen-based function on an atom of the heterocyclic chain.
According to this second embodiment, preferentially, the
heterocyclic chain comprises at least one group chosen from: a
carbonyl --CO--, an ester --COO--, an amide --CO--NH-- or
--CO--N.dbd., a urea --NH--CO--NH--, a carbamate --O--CO--NH--.
[0074] As examples of heterocycles illustrating this second
embodiment, mention may be made of:
##STR00006##
[0075] These two embodiments are not mutually exclusive, since
certain heterocycles comprise both an oxygen atom in the
heterocyclic chain and functionalization with an oxygen atom on
this chain.
[0076] An example of a vinyl monomer comprising a bicyclic group Rb
that may be mentioned is
5-ethenyl-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane-2-methanol (CAS No.
65266-34-4):
##STR00007##
[0077] Rb comprises at least six atoms. Preferentially, Rb is
chosen from rings comprising six atoms and rings comprising seven
atoms.
[0078] Even more advantageously, Rb is chosen from rings comprising
six atoms and rings comprising seven atoms, these rings comprising
one or two nitrogen atoms, zero, one or two oxygen atoms and three,
four, five or six carbon atoms.
[0079] Preferentially, Rb is chosen from rings comprising six atoms
and rings comprising seven atoms, these rings comprising one or two
nitrogen atoms, one or two oxygen atoms and three, four, five or
six carbon atoms.
[0080] The copolymer may be prepared according to any known
polymerization process. The various polymerization techniques and
conditions are widely described in the literature and fall within
the general knowledge of a person skilled in the art.
[0081] It is understood that it would not constitute a departure
from the scope of the invention if the copolymer according to the
invention were obtained from monomers other than (m.sub.a) and
(m.sub.b), provided that the final copolymer corresponds to that of
the invention, i.e. a polymer obtained by copolymerization of at
least (m.sub.a) and (m.sub.b). For example, it would not constitute
a departure from the scope of the invention if the copolymer were
obtained by copolymerization of monomers other than (m.sub.a) and
(m.sub.b) followed by post-functionalization.
[0082] For example, the units derived from an alkyl (meth)acrylate
monomer (m.sub.a) may be obtained from a polymethyl (meth)acrylate
fragment, by transesterification reaction using an alcohol of
chosen chain length to form the expected alkyl group.
[0083] For example, the repeating unit comprising a nitrogenous
heterocycle may be obtained from a polyvinyl fragment
functionalized with a precursor group of the heterocycle. For
example, the repeating unit comprising a nitrogenous heterocycle
may be obtained by reaction of a morpholine with chloromethyl
polystyrene divinylbenzene, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,506,701
(example 13). Such conversion reactions are well known to those
skilled in the art.
[0084] The copolymer may be a statistical copolymer or a block
copolymer.
[0085] Preferably, the copolymer is a block copolymer comprising at
least: [0086] one block A consisting of a chain of repeating units
comprising an alkyl ester function, and [0087] one block B
consisting of a chain of repeating units comprising at least one
heterocycle comprising at least 6 atoms including at least one
nitrogen atom, and comprising at least one functionalization with
at least one oxygen atom.
[0088] Preferably, the copolymer is a block copolymer comprising at
least: [0089] one block A consisting of a chain of structural units
derived from the monomer (m.sub.a), and [0090] one block B
consisting of a chain of structural units derived from the monomer
(m.sub.b).
[0091] According to a particular embodiment, the block copolymer is
obtained by copolymerization of at least the alkyl (meth)acrylate
monomer (m.sub.a) and of at least the heterocyclic monomer
(m.sub.b).
[0092] The block copolymer may be obtained by block polymerization,
preferably by controlled block polymerization, optionally followed
by one or more post-functionalizations.
[0093] According to a particular embodiment, the block copolymer
described above is obtained by controlled block polymerization. The
polymerization is advantageously chosen from controlled radical
polymerization; for example atom transfer radical polymerization
(ATRP); nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization (NMP);
degenerative transfer processes such as degenerative iodine
transfer polymerization (ITRP) or reversible addition-fragmentation
chain transfer radical polymerization (RAFT); polymerizations
derived from ATRP such as polymerizations using initiators for
continuous activator regeneration (ICAR) or using activators
regenerated by electron transfer (ARGET).
[0094] Mention will be made, by way of example, of the publication
"Macromolecular engineering by atom transfer radical
polymerization" JACS, 136, 6513-6533 (2014), which describes a
controlled block polymerization process for forming block
copolymers.
[0095] The controlled block polymerization is typically performed
in a solvent, under an inert atmosphere, at a reaction temperature
generally ranging from 0 to 200.degree. C., preferably from
50.degree. C. to 130.degree. C. The solvent may be chosen from
polar solvents, in particular ethers such as anisole
(methoxybenzene) or tetrahydrofuran, or apolar solvents, in
particular paraffins, cycloparaffins, aromatic and alkylaromatic
solvents containing from 1 to 19 carbon atoms, for example benzene,
toluene, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, n-butene, n-hexane,
n-heptane and the like.
[0096] For atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), the
reaction is generally performed under vacuum in the presence of an
initiator, a ligand and a catalyst. As examples of ligands, mention
may be made of N,N,N',N'',N''-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine
(PMDETA), 1,1,4,7,10,10-hexamethyltriethylenetetramine (HMTETA),
2,2'-bipyridine (BPY) and tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (TPMA).
Examples of catalysts that may be mentioned include: CuX,
CuX.sub.2, with X.dbd.Cl, Br and the ruthenium-based complexes
Ru.sup.2+/Ru.sup.3+.
[0097] The ATRP polymerization is preferably performed in a solvent
chosen from polar solvents.
[0098] According to the controlled block polymerization technique,
it may also be envisaged to work under pressure.
[0099] According to a particular embodiment, the number of
equivalents of monomer (m.sub.a) in block A and of monomer
(m.sub.b) in block B reacted during the polymerization reaction are
identical or different and independently range from 2 to 40,
preferably from 3 to 30, more preferentially from 5 to 20 and even
more preferentially from 5 to 10. The term "number of equivalents"
means the ratio between the amounts (in moles) of material of the
monomers (m.sub.a) of block A and of the monomers (m.sub.b) of
block B, used during the polymerization reaction.
[0100] The number of equivalents of monomer (m.sub.a) in block A is
advantageously greater than or equal to the number of equivalents
of the monomer (m.sub.b) in block B. In addition, the
weight-average molar mass M.sub.w of block A or of block B is
preferably less than or equal to 15 000 gmol.sup.-1, more
preferentially less than or equal to 10 000 gmol.sup.-1.
[0101] The block copolymer advantageously comprises at least one
sequence of blocks AB, ABA or BAB in which said blocks A and B form
a chain without the presence of an intermediate block of different
chemical nature.
[0102] Other blocks may optionally be present in the block
copolymer described previously provided that these blocks do not
fundamentally change the nature of the block copolymer. Block
copolymers solely containing blocks A and B will, nevertheless, be
preferred.
[0103] Preferably, the blocks A and B represent at least 70% by
mass of the total mass of monomers used in the polymerization
reaction, preferably at least 90% by mass, advantageously at least
95% by mass and better still at least 99% by mass.
[0104] According to a particular embodiment, the block copolymer is
a diblock copolymer.
[0105] According to another particular embodiment, the block
copolymer is a triblock copolymer with alternating blocks
comprising two blocks A and one block B (ABA) or comprising two
blocks B and one block A (BAB).
[0106] According to a particular embodiment, the block copolymer
also comprises an end chain I consisting of a saturated or
unsaturated, linear, branched or cyclic C.sub.1 to C.sub.32,
preferably C.sub.4 to C.sub.24, and more preferentially C.sub.10 to
C.sub.24 hydrocarbon-based chain.
[0107] The term "cyclic hydrocarbon-based chain" means a
hydrocarbon-based chain of which at least part is cyclic,
especially aromatic. This definition does not exclude
hydrocarbon-based chains comprising both an acyclic part and a
cyclic part.
[0108] The end chain I may comprise an aromatic hydrocarbon-based
chain, for example benzene-based, and/or a saturated and acyclic,
linear or branched hydrocarbon-based chain, in particular an alkyl
chain.
[0109] The end chain I is preferably chosen from alkyl chains,
which are preferably linear, more preferentially alkyl chains of at
least 4 carbon atoms and even more preferentially of at least 12
carbon atoms.
[0110] For the ATRP polymerization, the end chain I is located in
the end position of the block copolymer. It may be introduced into
the block copolymer by means of the polymerization initiator. Thus,
the end chain I may advantageously constitute at least part of the
polymerization initiator and is positioned in the polymerization
initiator so as to allow the introduction, during the first step of
polymerization initiation, of the end chain I in the end position
of the block copolymer.
[0111] The polymerization initiator is chosen, for example, from
the free-radical initiators used in the ATRP polymerization
process. These free-radical initiators well known to those skilled
in the art are described especially in the article "Atom-transfer
radical polymerization: current status and future perspectives,
Macromolecules, 45, 4015-4039, 2012".
[0112] The polymerization initiator is chosen, for example, from
alkyl esters of a carboxylic acid substituted with a halide,
preferably a bromine in the alpha position, for example ethyl
2-bromopropionate, ethyl .alpha.-bromoisobutyrate, benzyl chloride
or bromide, ethyl .alpha.-bromophenylacetate and
chloroethylbenzene. Thus, for example, ethyl 2-bromopropionate may
allow the introduction into the copolymer of the end chain I in the
form of a C.sub.2 alkyl chain and of benzyl bromide in the form of
a benzyl group.
[0113] For the RAFT polymerization, the transfer agent may
conventionally be removed from the copolymer at the end of
polymerization according to any known process.
[0114] According to a particular embodiment, the end chain I may be
obtained via the methods described in the article by Moad, G. et
al., Australian Journal of Chemistry, 2012, 65, 985-1076. For
example, the end chain I may be introduced by aminolysis when a
transfer agent is used. Examples that may be mentioned include
transfer agents of thiocarbonylthio, dithiocarbonate, xanthate,
dithiocarbamate and trithiocarbonate type, for example
S,S-bis(.alpha.,.alpha.'-dimethyl-.alpha.''-acetic acid)
trithiocarbonate (BDMAT) or 2-cyano-2-propyl benzodithioate.
[0115] According to a particular embodiment, the block copolymer is
a diblock copolymer. The block copolymer structure may be of the
IAB or IBA type, advantageously of the IAB type. The end chain I
may be connected directly to block A or B as the structure IAB or
IBA, respectively, or may be connected via a bonding group, for
example an ester, amide, amine or ether function. The bonding group
then forms a bridge between the end chain I and block A or B.
[0116] According to a particular embodiment, the block copolymer
may also be functionalized at the chain end according to any known
process, especially by hydrolysis, aminolysis and/or nucleophilic
substitution.
[0117] The term "aminolysis" means any chemical reaction in which a
molecule is split into two parts by reaction of an ammonia molecule
or an amine. A general example of aminolysis consists in replacing
a halogen of an alkyl group by reaction with an amine, with removal
of hydrogen halide. Aminolysis may be used, for example, for an
ATRP polymerization which produces a copolymer bearing a halide in
the end position or for a RAFT polymerization to remove the thio,
dithio or trithio bond introduced into the copolymer by the RAFT
transfer agent.
[0118] It is thus possible to introduce an end chain I' by
post-functionalization of the block copolymer obtained by
controlled block polymerization of the monomers m.sub.a and m.sub.b
described above.
[0119] The end chain I' advantageously comprises a linear, branched
or cyclic C.sub.1 to C.sub.32, preferably C.sub.1 to C.sub.24 and
more preferentially C.sub.1 to C.sub.10 hydrocarbon-based chain,
even more preferentially an alkyl group, optionally substituted
with one or more groups containing at least one heteroatom chosen
from N and O, preferably N.
[0120] For an ATRP polymerization using a metal halide as catalyst,
this functionalization may be performed, for example, by treating
the copolymer IAB or IBA obtained by ATRP with a primary C.sub.1 to
C.sub.32 alkylamine or a C.sub.1 to C.sub.32 alcohol under mild
conditions so as not to modify the functions present on the blocks
A, B and I.
[0121] According to a preferred embodiment, the monomer (m.sub.b)
is chosen from:
##STR00008##
[0122] Even more preferentially, the monomer (m.sub.b) is chosen
from
##STR00009##
[0123] According to a preferred embodiment, the block copolymer is
as described above and block B is a block B.sub.1 consisting of a
chain of structural units derived from a monomer chosen from
N-acryloylmorpholine, N-methacryloylmorpholine and
N-vinyl-.epsilon.-caprolactam, even more preferentially from
N-acryloylmorpholine and N-methacryloylmorpholine.
[0124] The block copolymer in particular comprises at least one
sequence of blocks AB.sub.1, AB.sub.1A or B.sub.1AB.sub.1 in which
blocks A and B.sub.1 form a chain without the presence of an
intermediate block of different chemical nature.
[0125] The block copolymer in particular comprises at least one
sequence of blocks AB.sub.1, AB.sub.1A or B.sub.1AB.sub.1 in which
blocks A and B.sub.1 form a chain without the presence of an
intermediate block of different chemical nature.
[0126] According to a preferred particular embodiment, the block
copolymer is represented by formula (IIa) or (IIb) below:
##STR00010##
in which: [0127] R.sub.1, Ra, Rb and n are as defined above in
formula (I), [0128] x=0 or 1, [0129] y is an integer ranging from 2
to 40, preferably from 3 to 30, more preferentially from 4 to 20,
even more preferentially from 5 to 10, [0130] z is an integer
ranging from 2 to 40, preferably from 3 to 30, more preferentially
from 4 to 20, even more preferentially from 5 to 10, [0131] R.sub.2
is chosen from linear, branched or cyclic, preferably acyclic,
C.sub.1 to C.sub.34, preferably C.sub.4 to C.sub.30, more
preferentially C.sub.6 to C.sub.24 and even more preferentially
C.sub.8 to C.sub.22 alkyl groups, [0132] R.sub.3 is chosen from
hydrogen and a methyl group, [0133] R.sub.4 is chosen from the
group constituted by: [0134] hydrogen; [0135] OH; [0136] halogens,
preferably bromine; and [0137] linear, branched or cyclic,
saturated or unsaturated C.sub.1 to C.sub.32, preferably C.sub.1 to
C.sub.24 and more preferentially C.sub.1 to C.sub.10
hydrocarbon-based chains, preferably alkyl groups, said
hydrocarbon-based chains being optionally substituted with one or
more groups containing at least one heteroatom chosen from N and 0,
[0138] R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are identical or different and chosen
independently from the group constituted by hydrogen and linear or
branched C.sub.1 to C.sub.10 and preferably C.sub.1 to C.sub.4
alkyl groups, even more preferentially a methyl group, [0139]
R.sub.7 is chosen from hydrocarbon-based chains, preferably cyclic
or acyclic, saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched C.sub.1 to
C.sub.32, preferably C.sub.4 to C.sub.24 and more preferentially
C.sub.10 to C.sub.24 alkyl groups, and groups derived from a
reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) radical
polymerization transfer agent, it being understood that if R.sub.7
is a group derived from a transfer agent, then x=0.
[0140] Transfer agents of RAFT type are well known to those skilled
in the art. A wide diversity of RAFT-type transfer agents are
available or are quite readily synthesizable. Examples that may be
mentioned include transfer agents of thiocarbonylthio,
dithiocarbonate, xanthate, dithiocarbamate and trithiocarbonate
type, for example
S,S-bis(.alpha.,.alpha.'-dimethyl-.alpha.''-acetic acid)
trithiocarbonate (BDMAT) or 2-cyano-2-propyl benzodithioate.
[0141] A synthesis of block copolymer using a RAFT agent is
described, for example, in the article by Zhishen Ge et al.
entitled "Stimuli-Responsive Double Hydrophilic Block Copolymer
Micelles with Switchable Catalytic Activity", Macromolecules 2007,
40, 3538-3546. This article describes in particular, on pages 3540
and 3541, the synthesis of a block polymer by RAFT/MADIX
polymerization. This article is cited as an example of synthesis of
block copolymers and/or incorporated by reference, in particular
pages 3540 and 3541.
[0142] In formulae (IIa) and (IIb), block A corresponds to the unit
repeated y times and block B to the unit repeated z times. In
addition, the group R.sub.1 may be constituted of the end chain I
as described above and/or the group R.sub.4 may be constituted of
the end chain I' as described above.
[0143] The copolymer described above is particularly advantageous
when it is used, alone or as a mixture, as detergent additive in a
liquid fuel for an internal combustion engine.
[0144] In particular, the block copolymer described above has
noteworthy properties as detergent additive in a liquid fuel for an
internal combustion engine.
[0145] The term "detergent additive for a liquid fuel" means an
additive which is incorporated in small amount into the liquid fuel
and produces an effect on the cleanliness of said engine when
compared with said liquid fuel not specially supplemented with
additive.
[0146] The liquid fuel is advantageously derived from one or more
sources chosen from the group consisting of mineral, animal, plant
and synthetic sources. Crude oil will preferably be chosen as
mineral source.
[0147] The liquid fuel is preferably chosen from hydrocarbon-based
fuels and fuels that are not essentially hydrocarbon-based, alone
or as a mixture.
[0148] The hydrocarbon-based fuels especially comprise middle
distillates with a boiling point of between 100 and 500.degree. C.
or lighter distillates with a boiling point in the gasoline range.
These distillates may be chosen, for example, from the distillates
obtained by direct distillation of crude hydrocarbons, vacuum
distillates, hydrotreated distillates, distillates derived from the
catalytic cracking and/or hydrocracking of vacuum distillates,
distillates resulting from conversion processes such as ARDS
(atmospheric residue desulfurization) and/or viscoreduction, and
distillates derived from the upgrading of Fischer-Tropsch
fractions. The hydrocarbon-based fuels are typically gasolines and
gas oils (also known as diesel fuel).
[0149] Gasolines in particular comprise any commercially available
fuel composition for a gasoline engine. Representative examples
that may be mentioned are the gasolines corresponding to standard
NF EN 228. Gasolines generally have octane numbers that are high
enough to avoid pinking. Typically, the fuels of gasoline type sold
in Europe, in accordance with standard NF EN 228, have a motor
octane number (MON) of greater than 85 and a research octane number
(RON) of at least 95. Fuels of gasoline type generally have an RON
of between 90 and 100 and an MON of between 80 and 90, the RON and
MON being measured according to standard ASTM D 2699-86 or D
2700-86.
[0150] Gas oils (diesel fuels) in particular comprise any
commercially available fuel composition for diesel engines.
Representative examples that may be mentioned are the gas oils
corresponding to standard NF EN 590.
[0151] Fuels that are not essentially hydrocarbon-based especially
comprise oxygenated fuels, for example distillates resulting from
BTL (biomass-to-liquid) conversion of plant and/or animal biomass,
taken alone or in combination; biofuels, for example plant and/or
animal oils and/or esters of plant and/or animal oils; biodiesels
of animal and/or plant origin and bioethanols.
[0152] The mixtures of hydrocarbon-based fuel and of fuel that is
not essentially hydrocarbon-based are typically gas oils of B.sub.x
type or gasolines of E.sub.x type.
[0153] The term "gas oil of B.sub.x type for diesel engines" means
a gas oil fuel which contains x % (v/v) of plant or animal ester
oils (including spent cooking oils) transformed via a chemical
process known as transesterification, obtained by reacting this oil
with an alcohol so as to obtain fatty acid esters (FAE). With
methanol and ethanol, fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and fatty
acid ethyl esters (FAEE) are obtained, respectively. The letter "B"
followed by a number indicates the percentage of FAE contained in
the gas oil. Thus, a B99 contains 99% of FAE and 1% of middle
distillates of fossil origin (mineral source), B20 contains 20% of
FAE and 80% of middle distillates of fossil origin, etc. Gas oils
of B.sub.0 type which do not contain any oxygen-based compounds are
thus distinguished from gas oils of Bx type which contain x % (v/v)
of plant oil esters or of fatty acid esters, usually methyl esters
(POME or FAME). When the FAE is used alone in engines, the fuel is
designated by the term B100.
[0154] The term "gasoline of E.sub.x type for gasoline engines"
means a gasoline fuel which contains x % (v/v) of oxygen-based
compounds, generally ethanol, bioethanol and/or tert-butyl ethyl
ether (TBEE).
[0155] The sulfur content of the liquid fuel is preferably less
than or equal to 5000 ppm, preferably less than or equal to 500 ppm
and more preferentially less than or equal to 50 ppm, or even less
than or equal to 10 ppm and advantageously sulfur-free.
[0156] The copolymer described above is used as detergent additive
in the liquid fuel in a content advantageously of at least 10 ppm,
preferably at least 50 ppm, more preferentially in a content
ranging from 10 to 5000 ppm, even more preferentially from 10 to
1000 ppm.
[0157] According to a particular embodiment, the use of a copolymer
as described previously in the liquid fuel makes it possible to
maintain the cleanliness of at least one of the internal parts of
the internal combustion engine and/or to clean at least one of the
internal parts of the internal combustion engine.
[0158] The use of the copolymer in the liquid fuel makes it
possible in particular to limit or prevent the formation of
deposits in at least one of the internal parts of said engine
("keep-clean" effect) and/or to reduce the existing deposits in at
least one of the internal parts of said engine ("clean-up"
effect).
[0159] Thus, the use of the copolymer in the liquid fuel makes it
possible, when compared with liquid fuel that is not specially
supplemented, to limit or prevent the formation of deposits in at
least one of the internal parts of said engine or to reduce the
existing deposits in at least one of the internal parts of said
engine.
[0160] Advantageously, the use of the copolymer in the liquid fuel
makes it possible to observe both effects simultaneously,
limitation (or prevention) and reduction of deposits ("keep-clean"
and "clean-up" effects).
[0161] The deposits are distinguished as a function of the type of
internal combustion engine and of the location of the deposits in
the internal parts of said engine.
[0162] According to a particular embodiment, the internal
combustion engine is a spark ignition engine, preferably with
direct injection (DISI: direct-injection spark ignition engine).
The deposits targeted are located in at least one of the internal
parts of said spark ignition engine. The internal part of the spark
ignition engine kept clean and/or cleaned up is advantageously
chosen from the engine intake system, in particular the intake
valves (IVD: intake valve deposit), the combustion chamber (CCD:
combustion chamber deposit, or TCD: total chamber deposit) and the
fuel injection system, in particular the injectors of an indirect
injection system (PFI: port fuel injector) or the injectors of a
direct injection system (DISI).
[0163] According to another particular embodiment, the internal
combustion engine is a diesel engine, preferably a direct-injection
diesel engine, in particular a diesel engine with a common-rail
injection system (CRDI: common-rail direct injection). The deposits
targeted are located in at least one of the internal parts of said
diesel engine.
[0164] Advantageously, the deposits targeted are located in the
injection system of the diesel engine, preferably located on an
external part of an injector of said injection system, for example
the fuel spray tip and/or on an internal part of an injector of
said injection system (IDID: internal diesel injector deposits),
for example on the surface of an injector needle.
[0165] The deposits may be constituted of coking-related deposits
and/or deposits of soap and/or lacquering type.
[0166] The copolymer as described previously may advantageously be
used in the liquid fuel to reduce and/or prevent and/or avoid power
loss due to the formation of deposits in the internal parts of a
direct-injection diesel engine, said power loss being determined
according to the standardized engine test method CEC F-98-08.
[0167] The copolymer as described previously may advantageously be
used in the liquid fuel to reduce and/or prevent and/or avoid
restriction of the fuel flow emitted by the injector of a
direct-injection diesel engine during its functioning, said flow
restriction being determined according to the standardized engine
test method CEC F-23-1-01.
[0168] The use of the copolymer as described above advantageously
makes it possible to limit or prevent the formation of deposits in
at least one of the internal parts of said engine or to reduce the
existing deposits in at least one of the internal parts of said
engine, on at least one type of deposit described previously.
[0169] According to a particular embodiment, the use of the
copolymer described above also makes it possible to reduce the fuel
consumption of an internal combustion engine.
[0170] According to another particular embodiment, the use of the
copolymer described above also makes it possible to reduce the
pollutant emissions, in particular the particle emissions of an
internal combustion engine.
[0171] Advantageously, the use of the copolymer makes it possible
to reduce both the fuel consumption and the pollutant
emissions.
[0172] The copolymer described above may be used alone, in the form
of a mixture of at least two of said copolymers or in the form of a
concentrate.
[0173] The copolymer may be added to the liquid fuel in a refinery
and/or may be incorporated downstream of the refinery and/or
optionally as a mixture with other additives in the form of an
additive concentrate, also known by the common name "additive
package".
[0174] The copolymer described above may be used as a mixture with
an organic liquid in the form of a concentrate.
[0175] According to a particular embodiment, a concentrate for fuel
comprises one or more copolymers as described above, as a mixture
with an organic liquid.
[0176] The organic liquid is inert with respect to the copolymer
described above and miscible in the liquid fuel described
previously. The term "miscible" describes the fact that the
copolymer and the organic liquid form a solution or a dispersion so
as to facilitate the mixing of the copolymer in the liquid fuels
according to the standard fuel supplementation processes.
[0177] For the purposes of the present invention, the term
"miscible" means that the organic liquid and the liquid fuel form a
solution when they are mixed, in all proportions, at room
temperature.
[0178] The organic liquid is advantageously chosen from aromatic
hydrocarbon-based solvents such as the solvent sold under the name
Solvesso, alcohols, ethers and other oxygen-based compounds and
paraffinic solvents such as hexane, pentane or isoparaffins, alone
or as a mixture.
[0179] The concentrate may advantageously comprise from 5% to 99%
by mass, preferably from 10% to 80% and more preferentially from
25% to 70% of copolymer(s) as described previously.
[0180] The concentrate may typically comprise from 1% to 95% by
mass, preferably from 10% to 70% and more preferentially from 25%
to 60% of organic liquid, the remainder corresponding to the
copolymer defined previously, it being understood that the
concentrate may comprise one or more copolymers as described
above.
[0181] In general, the solubility of the copolymer in the organic
liquids and the liquid fuels described previously will depend
especially on the weight-average and number-average molar masses
M.sub.w and M.sub.n, respectively, of the copolymer. The average
molar masses M.sub.w and M.sub.n of the copolymer will be chosen so
that the copolymer is soluble in the liquid fuel and/or the organic
liquid of the concentrate for which it is intended.
[0182] The average molar masses M.sub.w and M.sub.n of the
copolymer may also have an influence on the efficacy of this
copolymer as a detergent additive. The average molar masses M.sub.w
and M.sub.n will thus be chosen so as to optimize the effect of the
copolymer, especially the detergent effect (engine cleanliness) in
the liquid fuels described above.
[0183] Optimizing the average molar masses M.sub.w and M.sub.n may
be performed via routine tests accessible to those skilled in the
art.
[0184] According to a particular embodiment, the copolymer
advantageously has a weight-average molar mass M.sub.w ranging from
500 to 30 000 gmol.sup.-1, preferably from 1000 to 10 000
gmol.sup.-1, more preferentially less than or equal to 4000
gmol.sup.-1, and/or a number-average molar mass M.sub.n ranging
from 500 to 15 000 gmol.sup.-1, preferably from 1000 to 10 000
gmol.sup.-1, more preferentially less than or equal to 4000
gmol.sup.-1. The number-average and weight-average molar masses are
measured by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The operating
conditions of SEC, especially the choice of the solvent, will be
chosen as a function of the chemical functions present in the block
copolymer.
[0185] According to a particular embodiment, the copolymer is used
in the form of an additive concentrate in combination with at least
one other fuel additive for an internal combustion engine other
than the copolymer described previously.
[0186] The additive concentrate may typically comprise one or more
other additives chosen from detergent additives other than the
copolymer described above, for example from anticorrosion agents,
dispersants, de-emulsifiers, antifoams, biocides, reodorants,
proketane additives, friction modifiers, lubricant additives or
oiliness additives, combustion promoters (catalytic combustion and
soot promoters), agents for improving the cloud point, the flow
point or the FLT (filterability limit temperature),
anti-sedimentation agents, anti-wear agents and conductivity
modifiers.
[0187] Among these additives, mention may be made in particular of:
[0188] a) proketane additives, especially (but not limitingly)
chosen from alkyl nitrates, preferably 2-ethylhexyl nitrate, aryl
peroxides, preferably benzyl peroxide, and alkyl peroxides,
preferably tert-butyl peroxide; [0189] b) antifoam additives,
especially (but not limitingly) chosen from polysiloxanes,
oxyalkylated polysiloxanes and fatty acid amides derived from
plants or animal oils. Examples of such additives are given in EP
861 882, EP 663 000 and EP 736 950; [0190] c) CFI (Cold Flow
Improver) additives chosen from copolymers of ethylene and of
unsaturated ester, such as ethylene/vinyl acetate (EVA),
ethylene/vinyl propionate (EVP), ethylene/vinyl ethanoate (EVE),
ethylene/methyl methacrylate (EMMA) and ethylene/alkyl fumarate
copolymers described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,048,479,
3,627,838, 3,790,359, 3,961,961 and EP 261 957; [0191] d) lubricant
additives or anti-wear agents, especially (but not limitingly)
chosen from the group constituted by fatty acids and ester or amide
derivatives thereof, especially glyceryl monooleate, and monocyclic
and polycyclic carboxylic acid derivatives. Examples of such
additives are given in the following documents: EP 680 506, EP 860
494, WO 98/04656, EP 915 944, FR 2 772 783, FR 2 772 784; [0192] e)
cloud point additives, especially (but not limitingly) chosen from
the group constituted by long-chain olefin/(meth)acrylic
ester/maleimide terpolymers, and fumaric/maleic acid ester
polymers. Examples of such additives are given in FR 2 528 051, FR
2 528 051, FR2 528 423, EP 112 195, EP 172 758, EP 271 385 and EP
291 367; [0193] f) detergent additives, especially (but not
limitingly) chosen from the group constituted by succinimides,
polyetheramines and quaternary ammonium salts; for example those
described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,171,959 and WO 2006/135 881; [0194] g)
cold workability polyfunctional additives chosen from the group
constituted by polymers based on olefin and alkenyl nitrate as
described in EP 573 490.
[0195] These other additives are generally added in an amount
ranging from 100 ppm to 1000 ppm (each).
[0196] The mole ratio and/or mass ratio between monomer m.sub.b and
monomer m.sub.a and/or between block A and B or B.sub.1 in the
copolymer described above will be chosen so that the block
copolymer is soluble in the fuel and/or the organic liquid of the
concentrate for which it is intended. Similarly, this ratio may be
optimized as a function of the fuel and/or of the organic liquid so
as to obtain the best effect on the engine cleanliness.
[0197] Optimizing the mole ratio and/or mass ratio may be performed
via routine tests accessible to those skilled in the art.
[0198] The mole ratio between monomer m.sub.b and monomer m.sub.a
or between blocks A and B or B.sub.1 in the copolymer described
above is advantageously from 1:10 to 10:1, preferably from 1:2 to
2:1 and more preferentially from 1:0.5 to 0.5:2.
[0199] According to a particular embodiment, a fuel composition is
prepared according to any known process by supplementing the liquid
fuel described previously with at least one copolymer as described
above.
[0200] According to a particular embodiment, the fuel composition
comprises:
(1) a fuel as described above, and (2) one or more copolymers as
described previously.
[0201] The fuel (1) is chosen in particular from hydrocarbon-based
fuels and fuels that are not essentially hydrocarbon-based
described previously, alone or as a mixture.
[0202] The combustion of this fuel composition comprising such a
copolymer in an internal combustion engine produces an effect on
the cleanliness of the engine when compared with the liquid fuel
not specially supplemented and makes it possible in particular to
prevent or reduce the fouling of the internal parts of said engine.
The effect on the cleanliness of the engine is as described
previously in the context of using the copolymer.
[0203] According to a particular embodiment, combustion of the fuel
composition comprising such a copolymer in an internal combustion
engine also makes it possible to reduce the fuel consumption and/or
the pollutant emissions.
[0204] The copolymer (2) is preferably incorporated in small amount
into the liquid fuel described previously, the amount of copolymer
being sufficient to produce a detergent effect as described above
and thus to improve the engine cleanliness.
[0205] The fuel composition advantageously comprises at least 10
ppm, preferably at least 50 ppm, more preferentially from 10 to
5000 ppm and in particular from 10 to 1000 ppm of copolymer(s)
(2).
[0206] Besides the copolymer described above, the fuel composition
may also comprise one or more other additives other than the
copolymer according to the invention, chosen from the other known
detergent additives, for example from anticorrosion agents,
dispersants, de-emulsifiers, antifoams, biocides, reodorants,
proketane additives, friction modifiers, lubricant additives or
oiliness additives, combustion promoters (catalytic combustion and
soot promoters), agents for improving the cloud point, the flow
point or the FLT, anti-sedimentation agents, anti-wear agents
and/or conductivity modifiers.
[0207] The various additives of the copolymer according to the
invention are, for example, the fuel additives listed above.
[0208] According to a particular embodiment, a process for keeping
clean (keep-clean) and/or for cleaning (clean-up) at least one of
the internal parts of an internal combustion engine comprises at
least the following steps: [0209] the preparation of a fuel
composition by supplementation of a fuel with one or more
copolymers as described above, and [0210] the combustion of said
fuel composition in the internal combustion engine.
[0211] According to a particular embodiment, the internal
combustion engine is a spark ignition engine, preferably with
direct injection (DISI).
[0212] The internal part of the spark ignition engine that is kept
clean and/or cleaned is preferably chosen from the engine intake
system, in particular the intake valves (IVD), the combustion
chamber (CCD or TCD) and the fuel injection system, in particular
the injectors of an indirect injection system (PFI) or the
injectors of a direct injection system (DISI).
[0213] According to another particular embodiment, the internal
combustion engine is a diesel engine, preferably a direct-injection
diesel engine, in particular a diesel engine with a common-rail
injection system (CRDI).
[0214] The internal part of the diesel engine that is kept clean
(keep-clean) and/or cleaned (clean-up) is preferably the injection
system of the diesel engine, preferably an external part of an
injector of said injection system, for example the fuel spray tip
and/or one of the internal parts of an injector of said injection
system, for example the surface of an injector needle.
[0215] The keep-clean and/or clean-up process advantageously
comprises the successive steps of:
a) determination of the most suitable supplementation for the fuel,
said supplementation corresponding to the selection of the
copolymer(s) described above to be incorporated in combination,
optionally, with other fuel additives as described previously and
the determination of the degree of treatment necessary to achieve a
given specification relative to the detergency of the fuel
composition; b) incorporation into the fuel of the selected
copolymer(s) in the amount determined in step a) and, optionally,
of the other fuel additives.
[0216] The copolymer(s) may be incorporated into the fuel, alone or
as a mixture, successively or simultaneously.
[0217] Alternatively, the copolymer(s) may be used in the form of a
concentrate or of an additive concentrate as described above.
[0218] Step a) is performed according to any known process and
falls within the common practice in the field of fuel
supplementation. This step involves defining at least one
representative characteristic of the detergency properties of the
fuel composition.
[0219] The representative characteristic of the detergency
properties of the fuel will depend on the type of internal
combustion engine, for example a diesel or gasoline engine, the
direct or indirect injection system and the location in the engine
of the deposits targeted for cleaning and/or maintaining the
cleanliness.
[0220] For direct-injection diesel engines, the representative
characteristic of the detergency properties of the fuel may
correspond, for example, to the power loss due to the formation of
deposits in the injectors or restriction of the fuel flow emitted
by the injector during the functioning of said engine.
[0221] The representative characteristic of the detergency
properties may also correspond to the appearance of lacquering-type
deposits on the injector needle (IDID).
[0222] Other methods for evaluating the detergency properties of
fuels have been widely described in the literature and fall within
the general knowledge of a person skilled in the art. Nonlimiting
examples that will be mentioned include the tests standardized or
acknowledged by the profession or the following methods described
in the literature: [0223] For direct-injection diesel engines:
[0224] the DW10 method, standardized engine test method CEC
F-98-08, for measuring the power loss of direct-injection diesel
engines [0225] the XUD9 method, standardized engine test method CEC
F-23-1-01 Issue 5, for measuring the restriction of fuel flow
emitted by the injector [0226] the method described by the
Applicant in patent application WO2014/029 770, pages 17 to 20, for
the evaluation of lacquering deposits (IDID), this method being
cited by way of example. [0227] For indirect injection gasoline
engines: [0228] the Mercedes Benz M102E method, standardized test
method CEC F-05-A-93, and [0229] the Mercedes Benz M111 method,
standardized test method CEC F-20-A-98. [0230] These methods make
it possible to measure the intake valve deposits (IVD), the tests
generally being performed on a Eurosuper gasoline corresponding to
standard EN228. [0231] For direct injection gasoline engines:
[0232] the method described by the Applicant in the article
"Evaluating Injector Fouling in Direct Injection Spark Ignition
Engines", Mathieu Arondel, Philippe China, Julien Gueit;
Conventional and future energy for automobiles; 10th international
colloquium; Jan. 20-22, 2015 [in Stuttgart/Ostfildern; proceedings
2015]; International Colloquium Fuels/Technische Akademie Esslingen
by Techn. Akad. Esslingen, Ostfildern; 2015 (ISBN 9783943563160),
for evaluation of the coking deposits on the injector, this method
being cited by way of example; [0233] the method described in US
2013/0 104 826, for evaluation of the coking deposits on the
injector, this method being cited by way of example.
[0234] The determination of the amount of copolymer to be added to
the fuel composition to achieve the specification will typically be
performed by comparison with the fuel composition not containing
the copolymer according to the invention.
[0235] The amount of copolymer may also vary as a function of the
nature and origin of the fuel, in particular as a function of the
content of compounds bearing n-alkyl, isoalkyl or n-alkenyl
substituents. Thus, the nature and origin of the fuel may also be a
factor to be taken into consideration for step a).
[0236] The process for maintaining the cleanliness (keep-clean)
and/or for cleaning (clean-up) may also comprise an additional step
after step b) of checking the target reached and/or of adjusting
the amount of supplementation with the copolymer(s) as detergent
additive.
[0237] The copolymers according to the invention have noteworthy
properties as detergent additive in a liquid fuel, in particular in
a gas oil or gasoline fuel, in particular block copolymers.
[0238] The copolymers according to the invention, in particular the
block copolymers according to the invention, are particularly
noteworthy especially since they are efficient as detergent
additive for a wide range of liquid fuels and/or for one or more
types of engine specification and/or against one or more types of
deposit which become formed in the internal parts of internal
combustion engines.
* * * * *