The present invention discloses a novel transition metal(s) catalyst supported on nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon and a process for the preparation of the same. Further, the present invention discloses use of transition metal(s) supported on nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon catalyst in catalytic transfer hydrogenation reaction. The invention also discloses an improved process for the synthesis of 2,5-Dimethylfuran (DMF) and 2-Methylfuran (MF) from 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and furfural respectively, using alcohols as hydrogen donor over a transition metal supported on nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon, especially ruthenium supported on nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon without using any co-catalysts.

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.

A clean, high efficient and environmentally friendly gasoline product with main fractions of C6-C11 has a low octane rating and a low spontaneous ignition temperature. It can be compressively ignited within an internal combustion engine with a compression ratio of 16-19. Small amount of ethanol or dimethyl ether can be added into the gasoline product.

A bio-organic composition includes residues of a fatty acid glyceride-containing composition, residues of a first epoxide or glycol, and the residues of a second epoxide. The fatty acid glyceride-containing composition is characterized by the viscosity at room temperature. The first epoxide or glycol and second epoxides are present in a sufficient amount that the room temperature viscosity of the bio-organic composition is lower than the room temperature viscosity of the vegetable oil prior to formulation and/or the first epoxide or glycol and second epoxides are present in a sufficient amount that the pour point of the bio-organic composition is lower than the pour point of the fatty acid glyceride-containing composition prior to formulation.

The present invention relates to a process for upgrading a petroleum product comprising mixing the petroleum product with an upgrading solution to provide a two-phase mixture consisting of an extract phase and a raffinate phase, wherein the upgrading solution comprises a pyrolysis oil and optionally a polar organic solvent. In other aspects, the invention provides an upgrading solution comprising a pyrolysis oil and optionally a polar organic solvent and uses thereof. Furthermore, an upgraded petroleum product and raffinate phase is provided.

A fuel composition for a spark-ignition internal combustion engine comprises a non-metallic octane-boosting additive. The non-metallic octane-boosting additive is an additive which, when used at a treat rate of 0.67 % by weight, increases the research octane number of a fuel by at least 1.8 whilst maintaining the T.sub.90 and/or the vapour pressure.

An additive composition for use in a fuel for a spark-ignition internal combustion engine comprises an octane-boosting additive and one or more further fuel additives. The octane-boosting additive has a chemical structure comprising a 6-membered aromatic ring sharing two adjacent aromatic carbon atoms with a 6- or 7-membered saturated heterocyclic ring, the 6- or 7-membered saturated heterocyclic ring comprising a nitrogen atom directly bonded to one of the shared carbon atoms to form a secondary amine and an atom selected from oxygen or nitrogen directly bonded to the other shared carbon atom, the remaining atoms in the 6- or 7-membered heterocyclic ring being carbon. The additive composition increases the octane number of the fuel, thereby proving the auto-ignition characteristics of a fuel.

A method for preparing a fuel composition which comprises a base fuel, an oxygenate and an octane-boosting additive comprises: blending an additised oxygenate with a base fuel, wherein the additised oxygenate comprises an oxygenate and an octane-boosting additive. The method enables suitable amounts of octane-boosting additives to be incorporated into a fuel composition, whilst enabling fuels having a range of properties to be prepared.

A fuel composition for a spark-ignition internal combustion engine comprises an additive having a chemical structure comprising a 6-membered aromatic ring sharing two adjacent aromatic carbon atoms with a 6- or 7-membered saturated heterocyclic ring, the 6- or 7-membered saturated heterocyclic ring comprising a nitrogen atom directly bonded to one of the shared carbon atoms to form a secondary amine and an atom selected from oxygen or nitrogen directly bonded to the other shared carbon atom, the remaining atoms in the 6- or 7-membered heterocyclic ring being carbon. The additive increases the octane number of the fuel, thereby improving the auto-ignition characteristics of the fuel.

Methods of making a diesel fuel blend having enhanced cold properties; methods of lowering the cloud point of a mineral middle distillate fuel; and diesel fuel blends having a blend of a renewable fuel and a mineral middle distillate fuel.