A method to generate dioxolanes from renewable feedstocks, and more specifically, these oxygenated hydrocarbons can be used as gasoline-range fuels and diesel additives.

A method of manufacturing an octane-boosting fuel additive, the method comprises reacting n-butyraldehyde, iso-butyraldehyde, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing with glycerol in the presence of an acidic catalyst to obtain an octane-boosting product mixture comprising 2-propyl-5-hydroxy-1,3-dioxane, 2-isopropyl-5-hydroxy-1,3-dioxane, 2-propyl-5-hydroxymethyl-1,3-dioxolane, 2-isopropyl-5-hydroxymethyl-1,3-dioxolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

Fuel and lubricant compositions are provided that contain an organic hydride-based reductant. Methods for preventing or reducing low speed pre-ignition events in an internal combustion engines using these compositions are also provided.

The present disclosure relates to processes for producing biofuel compositions by processing hydrocarbon co-feed and a bio-oil obtained via hydrothermal liquifaction (HTL) of a cellulosic biomass to form an HTL oil. The cellulosic mass can be processed at an operating temperature of about 425 C. or less and an operating pressure of about 200 atm or less. The HTL oil is co-processed with a hydrocarbon co-feed (e.g., petroleum fraction) in a cracking unit, such as an FCC unit, a coker unit or a visbreaking unit, in the presence of a catalyst to produce a cracked product (biofuel). The bio content of the cracked product provides RIN credits for the cracked product.

The invention relates to an integrated process for the production of fuel components starting from materials of a biological origin which comprises: (A) transformation of glycerine into an alkoxy-propanediol having formula ROCH.sub.2CHOHCH.sub.2OH, wherein R is a linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.8 alkyl, (B) transformation of glycerine into 1,2-propanediol CH.sub.3CHOHCH.sub.2OH, (C) dehydration of the 1,2-propanediol obtained in (B) to propionic aldehyde, (D) reaction of part of the propionic aldehyde obtained in (C) with the alkoxy-propanediol having formula ROCH.sub.2CHOHCH.sub.2OH obtained in (A) to give an acetal having formula (a) wherein R is a linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.8 alkyl, (E) transformation of part of the propionic aldehyde obtained in (C) to a propionate having formula CH.sub.3CH.sub.2COOR, wherein R is a linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.8 alkyl. Particular components for gasolines and/or diesel are also described.

A method is disclosed for converting biomass into a fuel additive, the method comprising: liquefying the biomass to form a liquor; neutralizing the liquor; precipitating lignin out of the liquor; extracting furfural (FF) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) from the liquor; and hydrodeoxygenating (HDO) the extracted furfurals over a CuNi/TiO.sub.2 catalyst. The catalyst for hydrodeoxygenating (HDO) furfural (FF) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to methylated furans comprises copper-nickel (CuNi) particles supported on titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2), and wherein the copper-nickel particles form core-shell structures in which copper (Cu) is enriched at a surface of the catalyst.

An additive composition improves the stability and the engine performances of gas oils, including gas oils of the non-road type in compliance with the decree of 10 Dec. 2010. The additive composition includes: at least one metal deactivator or chelating agent, at least one antioxidant of the hindered phenol type (alkylphenol), at least one dispersant and/or detergent, and at least one metal passivator, wherein the composition includes improved properties, in particular relative to the oxidation resistance, storage stability, thermal stability, reduction in fouling of the injectors, reduction in loss of power, reduction in the tendency of filters to clog.

A gasoline additive composition includes an oxygenate gasoline additive; and an optical brightener. The gasoline additive composition can be used in a gasoline blend.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing cyclic acetals having general formula (I) wherein Y and Y, equal to or different from each other, are selected from H and a group OR, R being a linear or branched alkyl containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, comprising at least the following phases: (i) providing a reaction mixture comprising at least one vicinal diol having formula (II) ZCH.sub.2CHOHCH.sub.2OH wherein Z is selected from H and a group OR, R being a linear or branched alkyl containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, said mixture being substantially free of aldehydes having general formula R.sup.ICHO, wherein R.sup.I is a linear or branched alkyl containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, possibly substituted by an alkoxide group OR111, wherein R.sup.III is an alkyl containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; (ii) thermally treating said reaction mixture at a temperature within the range of 100 C.-300 C. in the presence of at least one acid catalyst, obtaining said compound having formula (I). The acetals having formula (I) can be used as fuel components. ##STR00001##

A fuel additive composition comprising an anthocyanidin; an amino acid; and a catalyst. The anthocyanidin may comprise delphinidin chloride. The amino acid may comprise aspartic acid, leucine acid, glutamic acid, a non-natural amino acid, or a combination thereof. Embodiments of the present invention also relate to a method for making of fuel additive, the method comprising: providing an anthocyanidin; contacting the anthocyanidin with an amino acid to form an anthocyanidin-amino acid mixture; contacting the anthocyanidin-amino acid mixture with a catalyst. The method may further comprise contacting the anthocyanidin-amino acid mixture with ethanol and/or an acid. The method may further comprise adjusting the pH of the anthocyanidin-amino acid mixture to less than 7.