Diesel compositions with improved cetane number and lubricity performances

Abstract

The present invention aims a new diesel composition comprising a diesel fuel and from 0.01 to 0.8% by volume of a glycerol acetal or ketal. The new diesel composition shows a higher cetane number and better lubricity performances compared to known diesel compositions.

Claims

1. A diesel composition, comprising at least one diesel fuel and from 0.05 to 0.5% by volume of a total volume of the diesel composition of at least one compound according to formula I: ##STR00003## wherein: R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, independently from one another, are selected from the group consisting of linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.12 alkyl, C.sub.4-C.sub.12 cycloalkyl, and aryl, and R.sub.3 is H, a cetane number of the diesel composition containing the at least one compound according to formula I is higher than a cetane number of the diesel composition not containing the said compound, and the diesel fuel has a sulfur content of less than 15 ppm.

2. A diesel composition according to claim 1, wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, independently from one another, are selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, n-propyl, isobutyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, and phenyl.

3. A diesel composition according to claim 1, wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are methyl.

4. A diesel composition according to claim 1, wherein R.sub.1 is methyl, R.sub.2 is isobutyl.

5. A diesel composition according to claim 1, wherein R.sub.1 is methyl, R.sub.2 is phenyl.

6. A diesel composition according to claim 1, comprising a blend of two or more compounds according to formula I.

7. A diesel composition according to claim 1, wherein said diesel fuel comprises a diesel fuel of petroleum origin.

8. A diesel composition according to claim 1, wherein said diesel fuel comprises a mixture of alkylic esters derived from vegetable oils.

9. A method for increasing the cetane number of a diesel fuel, comprising adding to such diesel fuel from 0.05 to 0.5% by volume of at least one compound according to formula I: ##STR00004## wherein: R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, independently from one another, are selected from the group consisting of linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.12 alkyl, C.sub.4-C.sub.12 cycloalkyl, and aryl, and R.sub.3 is H, the cetane number of the diesel fuel containing the at least one compound is higher than the cetane number of the diesel fuel not containing such compound, and the diesel fuel has a sulfur content of less than 15 ppm.

10. A method for increasing the lubricity of a diesel fuel, comprising adding to such diesel fuel from 0.05 to 0.5% by volume of at least one compound according to formula I: ##STR00005## wherein: R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, independently from one another, are selected from the group consisting of linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.12 alkyl, C.sub.4-C.sub.12 cycloalkyl, and aryl, and R.sub.3 is H, the lubricity of the diesel fuel containing the at least one compound is higher than the lubricity of the diesel fuel not containing such compound, and the diesel fuel has a sulfur content of less than 15 ppm.

11. A method for increasing both the cetane number and the lubricity of a diesel fuel, comprising adding to such diesel fuel from 0.05 to 0.5% by volume of at least one compound according to formula I: ##STR00006## wherein: R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, independently from one another, are selected from the group consisting of linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.12 alkyl, C.sub.4-C.sub.12 cycloalkyl, and aryl, and R.sub.3 is H, and wherein: the cetane number of the diesel fuel containing the at least one compound is higher than the cetane number of the diesel fuel not containing such compound, the lubricity of the diesel fuel containing the at least one compound is higher than the lubricity of the diesel fuel not containing such compound, and the diesel fuel has a sulfur content of less than 15 ppm.

12. A diesel composition according to claim 1, wherein a concentration of the at least one compound according to formula I is selected within the concentration range of claim 1 to increase the cetane number of the diesel composition.

13. A diesel composition according to claim 1, wherein the diesel fuel has a sulfur content of less than 10 ppm.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIGS. 1 to 3 correspond to cetane number measurement diagrams as a function of the quantity of Augeo® SL191 added for three different diesel fuels. Those figures are related to Examples 1 to 3.

(2) FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are respectively lubricity, cetane number and sulfur content measurement diagrams as a function of the quantity of Augeo® SL191 added into a diesel fuel described in Example 4.

EXAMPLES

(3) Methods of Measure

(4) For the examples below, the parameters have been measured according to the standards indicated in the below table I.

(5) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE I methods of measure Analyses Legislation Density - 15° C. (kg/m3) NF EN ISO 12185 Sulfur Content (mg/kg) NF EN ISO 20846 Water Content (mg/kg) NF EN ISO 12937 Lubricity (μm) NF EN ISO 12156-1 Cold Flow Temp. (° C.) NF EN 116 Cetane Number NF EN ISO 5165 Viscosity at 40° C. (mm2/s) NF EN ISO 3104

(6) Tests and Results

(7) Cetane number and lubricity results have been measured for different types of diesel, including biodiesel, after the addition of Augeo SL191 or other Augeo components and a reasonable time of stirring (approximately ten minutes), to homogenize the solution.

Example 1

Gazole Biofree EN590

(8) Gazole Biofree EN590, also known as EN590 BO, it is a ultra low sulfur diesel, without the bio-component (biodiesel or FAME=fatty acid methyl ester). It is a traded cut globally, commercially available mainly in Europe. The table II below indicates its main specifications.

(9) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE II Lower Upper Property Unit limit limit Test method Cetane index 46.0 — EN ISO 4264 Cetane number 51.0, — EN ISO 5165 Density at 15° C. kg/ 820 845 EN ISO 3675, m.sup.3 EN ISO 12185 Polycyclic aromatic % — 11 EN ISO 12916 hydrocarbons (m/m) Sulphur content mg/ — 10.0 EN ISO 20846, kg EN ISO 20884 Flash point ° C. Above — EN ISO 2719 55 Carbon residue (on % — 0.30 EN ISO 10370 10% distillation m/m residue) Ash content % — 0.01 EN ISO 6245 (m/m) Water content mg/kg — 200 EN ISO 12937 Total contamination mg/kg — 24 EN ISO 12662 Copper strip rating Class Class EN ISO 2160 corrosion (3 1 1 hours at 50° C.) Oxidation Stability g/m.sup.3 — 25 EN ISO 12205 Lubricity, corrected μm — 460 EN ISO 12156-1 wear scar diameter (wsd 1, 4) at 60° C. Viscosity at 40° C. mm.sup.2/s 2.00 4.50 EN ISO 3104 Distillation % 85 <65 EN ISO 3405 recovered at 250° V/V C., 350° C. 95%(V/V) recovered ° C. — 360 at Fatty acid methyl % — 7 EN 14078 ester content (V/V) Viscosity at 40° C. mm.sup.2/s 2.00 4.50 EN ISO 3104

(10) Ex 1

(11) Augeo SL191 was added in the concentrations indicated below, and the cetane number was measured according with the standard already mentioned. The table III below indicates the results obtained.

(12) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE III Gazole Biofree EN590 Legislation NF EN ISO 5165 % (v/v) Augeo SL191 Cetane Number 0.00 53.5 0.04 53.7 0.08 54.3 0.12 54.8 0.16 55.1 0.23 55.2

(13) The diagram of this example is presented on FIG. 1.

(14) Ex1bis

(15) Augeo Film (formula I wherein R1 is methyl, R2 is isobutyl and R3 is H) was added in the concentrations indicated below, and the cetane number was measured according with the standard already mentioned. The table IIIbis below indicates the results obtained.

(16) TABLE-US-00004 TABLE IIIbis Gazole Biofree EN590 Legislation NF EN ISO 5165 % (v/v) Augeo Film Cetane Number 0.00 54.2 0.48 55.9

(17) Ex1ter

(18) Augeo Film HB (formula I wherein R1 is methyl, R2 is phenyl and R3 is H) was added in the concentrations indicated below, and the cetane number was measured according with the standard already mentioned. The table IIIter below indicates the results obtained.

(19) TABLE-US-00005 TABLE IIIter Gazole Biofree EN590 Legislation NF EN ISO 5165 % (v/v) Augeo Film HB Cetane Number 0.00 54.2 0.55 55.7

Example 2

Gazole Biofree US

(20) This type of diesel specifications are mentioned in ASTM D975 ULSD, and it also has no FAME content. The cetane number specification is minimum 40.

(21) Augeo SL191 was added in the concentrations indicated below, and the cetane number was measured according with the standard already mentioned. The table IV below indicates the results obtained.

(22) TABLE-US-00006 TABLE IV Gazole Biofree US Legislation NF EN ISO 5165 % (v/v) Augeo SL191 Cetane Number 0.00 46.7 0.16 48.8

(23) The diagram of this example is presented on FIG. 2.

Example 3

Biodiesel

(24) Biodiesel is also known as FAME, fatty acid methyl ester, and its specifications are mentioned at standard EN ISO 14214.

(25) Augeo SL191 was added in the concentrations indicated below, and the cetane number was measured according with the standard already mentioned. The table V below indicates the results obtained.

(26) TABLE-US-00007 TABLE V FAME Details Biodiesel Legislation NF EN ISO 5165 % (v/v) Augeo SL191 Cetane Number 0.00 54.5 0.04 55.5

(27) The diagram of this example is presented on FIG. 3.

Example 4

Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel

(28) This type of diesel requirement is ultra-low sulfur content, and the specific value will depend on the region. In USA the limit is 15 ppm, while in Europe is 10 ppm (as indicated in EN590). The table VI below is showing the results obtained for this diesel when in presence of Augeo SL191 as an additive.

(29) TABLE-US-00008 TABLE VI ULSD 10 ppm Details “Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel” - Europe 0% 0.4% Augeo Augeo SL191 SL191 Analyses Legislation (v/v) (v/v) Density - 15° C. (kg/m3) NF EN ISO 12185 839.0 839.6 Sulfur Content (mg/kg) NF EN ISO 20846 9.0 7.8 Water Content (mg/kg) NF EN ISO 12937 30.0 40.0 Lubricity (μm) NF EN ISO 12156-1 379.0 369.0 Cold Flow Temp. (° C.) NF EN 116 −20.0 −19.0 Cetane Number NF EN ISO 5165 52.6 54.6 Viscosity at 40° C. (mm2/s) NF EN ISO 3104 2.7 2.7

(30) The diagram of this example is presented on FIGS. 4, 5 and 6.

(31) The above results show that at very low dosage, as is being proposed, the component of Formula I is able to improve not only the cetane number of different types of diesel commercially available in the market, but also the lubricity.