AQUEOUS EMULSIFIER PACKAGE WITH ANIONIC SURFACTANT FOR FUEL EMULSION

Abstract

A method for powering a diesel engine with a fuel emulsion involves preparing the fuel emulsion by emulsifying a fuel and water in the presence of an emulsifier package, which contains an anionic surfactant selected from sulfates and sulfonates. The emulsifier package for emulsifying a fuel and water and the fuel emulsion for powering a diesel engine are also provided.

Claims

1-17. (canceled)

18. A method for powering a diesel engine with a fuel emulsion, the method comprising: preparing the fuel emulsion by emulsifying a fuel and water in the presence of an emulsifier package which comprises an anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of sulfates and sulfonates, and a nonionic surfactant which is an alkoxylated alkanol of the formula (I)
R.sup.eO-(AO).sub.mR.sup.f(1), in which R.sup.e is straight-chain or branched alkyl or alkylene with from 1 to 32 carbon atoms, AO is an ethylene oxide radical, propylene oxide radical, butylene oxide radical, pentylene oxide radical, styrene oxide radical or a mixture of the abovementioned radicals, in random or block sequence, m is a number from 1 to 100, and R.sup.f is hydrogen or alkyl with from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, wherein the emulsifier package comprises a mixture of anionic surfactants comprising at least one sulfate selected from C.sub.6-22 alkyl sulfates, and at least one alkyl ether sulfate of the general formula RO(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.mSO.sub.3, in which R is a linear or branched alkyl and/or alkenyl radical having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, and m is a number from 1 to 10.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein R.sup.e is straight-chain or branched alkyl or alkylene with from 10 to 22 carbon atoms, and R.sup.f is hydrogen.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein AO is an ethylene oxide radical, propylene oxide radical, butylene oxide radical, or a mixture of the abovementioned radicals.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein the emulsifier package comprises at least two nonionic surfactants which are alkoxylates selected from alkoxylated alkanols.

22. The method according to claim 18, wherein the emulsifier package comprises the anionic surfactant and the nonionic surfactant in a weight ratio of 2:1 to 1:10.

23. The method according to claim 18, wherein the anionic surfactant is a sulfate selected from the group consisting of C.sub.6-22 alkyl sulfates and alkyl ether sulfates of the general formula RO(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.mSO.sub.3, in which R is a linear or branched alkyl and/or alkenyl radical having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, and n is a number from 1 to 10.

24. The method according to claim 18, wherein the anionic surfactant is a sulfonate selected from di-(C.sub.8-10) alkyl sulfosuccinates.

25. The method according to claim 18, wherein the emulsifier package further comprises at least one aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, or aromatic mono-, di-, or polycarboxylic acid with at least 6 carbon atoms.

26. The method according to claim 18, wherein the emulsifier package comprises at least 10, 30, or 50 wt % of water, an organic solvent, or a mixture of water and an organic solvent.

27. The method according to claim 18, wherein the fuel emulsion comprises the emulsifier package in an amount of 0.01 to 0.4 wt % based on the fuel, and wherein the fuel is a diesel.

28. The method according to claim 18, wherein the fuel emulsion comprises 40 to 80 wt % water.

29. The method according to claim 18, wherein the fuel is marine fuel.

30. An emulsifier package for emulsifying a fuel and water, comprising: an anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of sulfates and sulfonates, comprising at least one sulfate selected from C.sub.6-22 alkyl sulfates, and at least one alkyl ether sulfate of the general formula RO(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.mSO.sub.3, in which R is a linear or branched alkyl and/or alkenyl radical having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, and m is a number from 1 to 10, and wherein the sulfonate is selected from di-(C.sub.8-10) alkyl sulfosuccinates, at least two nonionic surfactants which are alkoxylates, wherein the alkoxylates are selected from alkoxylated alkanols of the formula (I),
R.sup.eO-(AO).sub.mR.sup.f(I), in which R.sup.e is straight-chain or branched alkyl or alkylene with from 1 to 32 carbon atoms, AO is an ethylene oxide radical, propylene oxide radical, butylene oxide radical, pentylene oxide radical, styrene oxide radical, or a mixture of the abovementioned radicals, in random or block sequence, m is a number from 1 to 100, and R.sup.f is hydrogen or alkyl with from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and water.

31. An emulsifier package for emulsifying a fuel and water, comprising: a mixture of anionic surfactants, comprising at least one sulfate selected from C.sub.6-22 alkyl sulfates, and at least one alkyl ether sulfate of the general formula RO(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.mSO.sub.3, in which R is a linear or branched alkyl and/or alkenyl radical having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, and m is a number from 1 to 10, at least one nonionic surfactant which is an alkoxylated alkanol, and water.

32. The emulsifier package according to claim 31, wherein the emulsifier package comprises the anionic surfactant and the nonionic surfactant in a weight ratio of 2:1 to 1:10.

33. The emulsifier package according to claim 31, wherein the emulsifier package further comprises at least one aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, or aromatic mono-, di-, or polycarboxylic acid with at least 6 carbon atoms.

34. A fuel emulsion for powering a diesel engine, as defined in claim 18.

35. The emulsifier package according to claim 30, wherein R.sup.e is a straight-chain or branched alkyl or alkylene with from 10 to 22 carbon atoms and R.sup.f is hydrogen.

Description

EXAMPLES

[0188] Sulfate A: Sulphuric acid mono fatty alkyl ester, sodium salt, paste-like anionic surfactant, about 30 wt %, solubility in water at least 250 g/I at 20 C. [0189] Sulfate B: C.sub.12/C.sub.14-Fatty alcohol ethersulfate (ethoxylated), sodium salt, anionic surfactant, active content about 65 wt %, solubility in water at least 250 g/I at 20 C. [0190] Sulfonate A: Bis(octyl)sulfosuccinic acid sodium salt, dissolved in water and neopentylglycol, active content about 60 wt %. [0191] Nonionic A: Fatty alcohol alkoxylate, solidifcation temperature about 18 C., kinematic viscosity 30 mm.sup.2/s (40 C., ASTM D445). [0192] Nonionic B: Isotridecanol ethoxylate, 70% active content in water, solidification temperature about 7 C., water miscible in all proportions. [0193] Nonionic C: C.sub.13 oxoalcohol ethoxylated, pure, solidification point below 5 C. [0194] Nonionic D: Cao Guerbet alcohol, alkoxylated, average mass about 440, pure, solidification point below 0 C.

Examples 1 to 7

[0195] The emulsifier packages were prepared by mixing the emulsifiers and distilled water as indicated in Table 1 and an aqueous solution of emulsifiers was obtained.

[0196] The samples for testing the emulsion stability were prepared by mixing the additive package with diesel fuel. The amount of emulsifier used was 0.05% based on total volume of emulsion, including fuel and water, for all experiments in Table 1.

[0197] The used diesel fuel was a marine diesel oil of the type DMA according to DIN ISO 8217 a clear liquid diesel, free of additive packages and had a density of about 0.83 to 0.85.

[0198] The emulsion was prepared with a Silverson L5 high shear lab emulsifier based on rotor-stator principle within 10 sec at 7500 rpm at room temperature.

[0199] Then the emulsified samples were put in a graduated cylinder which was allowed to stand for up to 30 min. The amount of separated water phase was determined. For example, if 8 ml separated water phase was detected in the 80 ml total volume sample, it corresponded to an emulsion stability of 90%. If no separated water phase was detected this corresponded to 100% emulsion stability. The values are given in Table 1.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Additive Packages (all amounts in wt %) and Emulsion stability (lower part) Examples 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Water 87.5 87.5 87.5 87.5 87.5 87.5 87.5 Sulfate A 7.5 7.5 7.5 2.5 8.125 6.25 Sulfate B 1.25 1.25 1.25 Sulfonate A 2.5 6 Nonionic A 2.5 4 Nonionic B 7.5 6.25 Nonionic C 3.75 3.75 3.75 4.375 Nonionic D Ratio Fuel:Water 1:1 1:1.4 1:2.4 1:1.4 1:1.4 1:1.4 1:1.4 1 min. 99% 99% 99% 99% 99% 99% 99% 2 min. 99% 99% 99% 99% 99% 99% 99% 5 min. 99% 99% 99% 96% 98% 98% 98% 10 min. 99% 98% 97% 92% 96% 96% 96% 20 min. 96% 94% 93% 85% 90% 91% 91% 30 min. 92% 91% 89% 80% 86% 88% 87%
Steel Corrosion Test in Accordance with ASTM D 665

[0200] The fuel used was commercial DMA Bunker One marine diesel fuel. Added to the formulation were the additive packages specified in the tables that follow under the reaction conditions pointed out, and they were subjected to a corrosion test in accordance with ASTM D 665 A (twice distilled water) or B (synthetic sea water).

[0201] As Additive Package 1 a mixture of 18% Sulfate A, 3% Sulfate B, 9% Nonionic C in 70% mono ethyleneglycol was used.

[0202] As Additive Package 2 N,N-dimethyl-N-hexydecylamine quaternized with propylene oxide and polyisobutylenesuccinic acid obtained from succinic acid and polyisobutylene (Mn about 1000 g/mol) was used.

[0203] The assessment was made as follows: [0204] A 100% rust-free [0205] B++0.1% or less of the total surface area rusted [0206] B+0.1% to 5% of the total surface area rusted [0207] B 5% to 25% of the total surface area rusted [0208] C 25% to 50% of the total surface area rusted [0209] D 50% to 75% of the total surface area rusted [0210] E 75% to 100% of the total surface area rusted

ASTM D 665 a (Distilled Water, 4 Hours, 60 C.)

[0211]

TABLE-US-00002 500 vppm 1000 vppm Additive Package Additive Package 500 vppm 1000 vppm 1 + 10 vppm 1 + 10 vppm 2- Additive Additive isononanoic ethylhexanoic blank Package 1 Package 1 acid acid E A A A A

ASTM D 665 B (Synthetic Sea Water, 4 Hours, 60 C.)

[0212]

TABLE-US-00003 500 vppm 1000 vppm Additive Package Additive Package 500 vppm 1000 vppm 1 + 10 vppm 1 + 10 vppm 2- Additive Additive isononanoic ethylhexanoic blank Package 1 Package 1 acid acid E A A A A

ASTM D 665 a (Distilled Water, 72 Hours, 60 C.)

[0213]

TABLE-US-00004 500 vppm 1000 vppm Additive Additive Package Package 500 vppm 1000 vppm 1 + 10 vppm 1 + 10 vppm 2- Additive Additive isononanoic ethylhexanoic blank Package 1 Package 1 acid acid E A A A A

ASTM D 665 B (Synthetic Sea Water, 72 Hours, 60 C.)

[0214]

TABLE-US-00005 500 vppm 1000 vppm Additive Additive Package Package 500 vppm 1000 vppm 1 + 10 vppm 1 + 10 vppm 2- Additive Additive isononanoic ethylhexanoic blank Package 1 Package 1 acid acid E A A A A

Corrosion Test in WaterMethanol 2:1 Mixture

[0215] The corrosion test followed the conditions as pointed out in ASTM 0 665, however, not in a hydrocarbon fuel-water mixture but in a water-methanol 2:1 mixture. The rating followed the specification of ASTM D 665.

72 Hours, Room Temperature

[0216]

TABLE-US-00006 50 vppm 100 vppm 50 vppm 100 vppm Additive Additive Additive Additive blank Package 2 Package 2 Package 1 Package 1 D B++ B++ B++ B++