Emulsifier package with a branched and optionally with a propoxylated 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 a branched surfactant of the formula (I) as defined below and optionally, a propoxylated surfactant of the formula (II) as defined below. A fuel emulsion for powering a diesel engine is also provided.

Claims

1. 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 a branched surfactant of the formula (I)
R.sup.aO-(AO.sup.a).sub.mR.sup.a(I), in which R.sup.a is a branched C.sub.6-32 alkyl, AO.sup.a is an ethylene oxide radical, propylene oxide radical, butylene oxide radical, pentylene oxide radical, styrene oxide radical, or mixture thereof, m is a number from 1 to 100, and R.sup.a is hydrogen or C.sub.1-4 alkyl; and wherein the emulsifier package additionally comprises a propoxylated surfactant of the formula (II)
R.sup.bO(AO.sup.b).sub.nR.sup.b(II), in which R.sup.b is a linear or branched C.sub.6-32 alkyl, AO.sup.b is a mixture of ethylene oxide radical and propylene oxide radical, n is a number from 1 to 100, and R.sup.b is hydrogen or C.sub.1-4 alkyl.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein R.sup.a is a branched C.sub.8-14 alkyl.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein R.sup.a is a branched tridecyl.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein AO.sup.a is an ethylene oxide radical.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein R.sup.b is a linear C.sub.10-22 alkyl.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein R.sup.b is a linear or branched C.sub.16-18 alkyl.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein R.sup.a and R.sup.b are hydrogen.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the emulsifier package comprises the branched surfactant and the propoxylated surfactant in a weight ratio of 10:1 to 1:10.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the emulsifier package comprises 1 to 99 wt %, 5 to 90 wt %, 10 to 80 wt %, or 20 to 70 wt % of the branched surfactant.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the emulsifier package comprises 1 to 99 wt %, 5 to 90 wt %, 10 to 80 wt %, or 20 to 70 wt % of the propoxylated surfactant.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the emulsifier package contains up to 10 wt % of an ionic surfactant.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the emulsifier package comprises at least 10, 30, or 50 wt % of water, an organic solvent, or a mixture of water and the organic solvent.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fuel emulsion comprises the emulsifier package in an amount of 0.05 to 0.4 wt %, based on the diesel.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fuel emulsion comprises 40 to 80 wt % water.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fuel is marine fuel.

16. A fuel emulsion for powering a diesel engine, as defined in claim 1.

17. The method according to claim 8, wherein the emulsifier package comprises the branched surfactant and the propoxylated surfactant in a weight ratio of 4:1 to 1:4.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the emulsifier package contains up to 1 wt % of the ionic surfactant.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the m and the n are each 3 to 60.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the molar ratio of the ethylene oxide radical:the propylene oxide radical in the AO.sup.b is 50:1 to 1:2.

Description

EXAMPLES

(1) 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.

(2) 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.

(3) 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.

(4) 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.

(5) 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.

(6) The following surfactants were used:

(7) Branched surfactants of formula (I):

(8) Nonionic A: C.sub.10 oxoalcohol ethoxylated, pure, hydroxy number about 150 mg KOH/g. Nonionic B: Isotridecanol ethoxylate, 70% active content in water, pour point about 0? C. according to ISO 3016. Nonionic C: Isotridecanol ethoxylate, 70% active content in water, HLB about 18.
Propoxylated Surfactants of Formula (II): Nonionic D: C.sub.16/18 Fatty alcohol alkoxylated, pour point about 15? C. (ASTM D 7346)

(9) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Additive Packages (all amounts in wt %) and Emulsion stability (lower part) Examples 1 2 3 4 5 Water 87.5 87.5 Nonionic A 100 Nonionic B 100 Nonionic C 12.5 100 10 Nonionic D 2.5 Ratio Fuel:Water 1:1.4 1:1.4 1:1.4 1:1.4 1:1.4 1 min. 99% 99% 99% 99% 99% 2 min. 97% 99% 99% 99% 99% 5 min. 82% 99% 99% 99% 96% 10 min. 80% 99% 99% 99% 91% 20 min. 70% 98% 99% 99% 83% 30 min. 64% 97% 98% 99% 73%