GASOLINE COMPOSITIONS WITH IMPROVED OCTANE NUMBER

Abstract

The present invention aims a new gasoline composition comprising a gasoline fuel and from 0.05 to 1% of a specific low quantity of a glycerol ketal or acetal. The new gasoline composition shows a higher octane number compared to known gasoline compositions. The invention also aims at the use of said glycerol ketal or acetal as a metal free octane booster additive for octane adjustment of gasoline compositions.

Claims

1. A metal-free gasoline composition, comprising at least one gasoline fuel and from 0.05 to 1% by weight of an octane booster additive that comprises 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 C1-C12 alkyl, C4-C12 cycloalkyl, and aryl, R.sub.3 is H, linear or branched alkyl, cycloalkyl, or C(O)R.sub.4, and R.sub.4 is linear or branched C1-C4 alkyl or C5-C6 cycloalkyl.

2. A gasoline composition as claimed in 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 gasoline composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein R.sub.3 is H or C(O)R.sub.4 wherein R.sub.4 is methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, n-propyl, isobutyl, n-butyl or tert-butyl.

4. A gasoline composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each methyl and R.sub.3 is H.

5. A gasoline composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein R.sub.1 is methyl, R.sub.2 is isobutyl, and R.sub.3 is H.

6. A gasoline composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein R.sub.1 is methyl, R.sub.2 is phenyl, and R.sub.3 is H.

7. A gasoline composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each methyl, R.sub.3 is C(O)R.sub.4 and R.sub.4 is methyl.

8. A gasoline composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the octane booster additive comprises a blend of two or more compounds of formula I.

9. A gasoline composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the octane booster additive further comprises esters of C1-C6 carboxylic acids and/or ketones.

10. A gasoline composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the octane booster additive optionally further comprises esters of C1-C6 carboxylic acids and/or ketones, in a molar ratio of compound of formula I/esters of C1-C6 carboxylic acids and/or ketones of from 30:70 to 100:0.

11. A gasoline composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the octane booster additive is present in an amount of 0.1 to 1.0% by weight of the total weight of the gasoline composition.

12. A method for increasing the octane number of a gasoline composition, comprising adding to the gasoline composition from 0.05 to 1% by weight of a composition comprising 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 C1-C12 alkyl, C4-C12 cycloalkyl, and aryl, R.sub.3 is H, linear or branched alkyl, cycloalkyl, or C(O)R.sub.4, and R.sub.4 is linear or branched C1-C4 alkyl or C5-C6 cycloalkyl.

13. A gasoline composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the octane booster additive further comprises ethyl acetate.

14. A gasoline composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the octane booster additive further comprises esters of C1-C6 carboxylic acids and/or ketones, in a molar ratio of compound of formula I/esters of C1-C6 carboxylic acids and/or ketones of from 50:50 to 95:5.

15. A gasoline composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the octane booster additive is present in an amount of 0.1 to 1.0 by weight of the total weight of the gasoline composition.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0070] FIG. 1 to 3 correspond to octane number (RON and MON) measurement diagrams as a function of the quantity of Augeo SL191 added for three different gasoline fuels. Those figures are related to Examples 1 to 3.

[0071] FIGS. 4 and 5 are octane number (RON and MON) measurement diagrams as a function of the quantity of Augeo SL191 and ethyl acetate added to two different gasoline fuels, as described in Examples 4 and 5.

EXAMPLES

Methods of Measure

[0072] For the examples below, the parameters have been measured according to the standards indicated in the below table I.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE I methods of measure RON MON NF EN ISO 5164 NF EN ISO 5163

Tests and Results

[0073] Octane number results (RON and MON) have been measured for different types of gasoline, after addition of different additives, followed by a reasonable time of stirring (approximately 10 minutes). Results are as shown in examples 1 to 5 below.

Example 1: 95 RON Gasoline (Unleaded Oxy Free)Augeo SL191

[0074] This type of gasoline is indicated to high performance automobiles because its RON specification is minimum 95. It's availability will depend on each region needs and habits, but it is quite common in Europe and some countries of Latin America, for example.

[0075] Augeo SL191, which is commercially available, was added in the concentrations indicated below, and the octane numbers were measured according with the standard already mentioned. The table II below indicates the results obtained.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE II 95 RON Gasoline Details Gasoline Legislation NF EN ISO 5164 NF EN ISO 5163 % (w/w) Augeo SL191 RON MON 0.00 95.8 85.3 1.00 96.4 85.6

[0076] The diagram of this example is presented on FIG. 1.

Example 2: Unleaded Gasoline 91Augeo SL191

[0077] Gasoline that, despite of the minimum RON of 91 as specification, also requires no lead content. It's availability will depend on each region needs and habits, but it is quite common in Australia and New Zeland, for example.

[0078] Augeo SL191, which is commercially available, was added in the concentrations indicated below, and the octane numbers were measured according with the standard already mentioned. The table III below indicates the results obtained.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE III Unleaded Gasoline 91 Details Gasoline Legislation NF EN ISO 5164 NF EN ISO 5163 % (w/w) Augeo SL191 RON MON 0.00 90.4 83.3 0.20 90.7 83.8

[0079] The diagram of this example is presented on FIG. 2.

Example 3: SP95Augeo SL191

[0080] SP95 means sans plomb, which in french means unlead, and 95 is the minimum RON required. It's availability will depend on each region needs and habits, but it is quite common in Europe, for example.

[0081] Augeo SL191, which is commercially available, was added in the concentrations indicated below, and the octane numbers were measured according with the standard already mentioned. The table IV below indicates the results obtained.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE IV SP95 Details Gasoline Legislation NF EN ISO 5164 NF EN ISO 5163 % (w/w) Augeo SL191 RON MON 0.00 96.1 85.3 0.20 96.3 85.3

[0082] The diagram of this example is presented on FIG. 3.

Example 4: Unleaded Gasoline 91Augeo SL191 and Ethyl Acetate

[0083] A blend of 50% by weight of Augeo SL191 and 50% of ethyl acetate, which are both commercially available, was prepared and then was added in the concentrations indicated below, and the octane numbers were measured according with the standard already mentioned. The table V below indicates the results obtained.

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE V Unleaded Gasoline 91 Details Gasoline Legislation NF EN ISO 5164 NF EN ISO 5163 % (w/w) 50% Augeo SL191 50% Ethyl Acetate RON MON 0.00 90.4 83.3 0.20 90.9 83.9

[0084] The diagram of this example is presented on FIG. 4.

Example 5: SP95Augeo SL191 and Ethyl Acetate

[0085] A blend of 50% by weight of Augeo SL191 and 50% by weight of ethyl acetate, which are both commercially available, was prepared and then was added in the concentrations indicated below, and the octane numbers were measured according with the standard already mentioned. The table VI below indicates the results obtained.

TABLE-US-00006 TABLE VI SP95 Details Gasoline Legislation NF EN ISO 5164 NF EN ISO 5163 % (w/w) 50% Augeo SL191 50% Ethyl Acetate RON MON 0.00 96.40 85.00 0.50 96.90 85.40 1.00 97.10 85.50

[0086] The diagram of this example is presented on FIG. 5.

Comparative Example: Unleaded Gasoline Alcohol FreeAugeo SL191 1.45%

[0087] Augeo SL191, which is commercially available, was added in the concentrations indicated below, and the octane numbers were measured according with the standard already mentioned. The table VII below indicates the results obtained.

TABLE-US-00007 TABLE VII Unleaded gasoline Details Gasoline Legislation NF EN ISO 5164 NF EN ISO 5163 % (w/w) Augeo SL191 RON MON 0.00 94.9 85.7 1.45 94.8 85.5

[0088] The above results show that at quite low dosage of the components of Formula I by themselves or as a blend with esters are able to improve the octane number of different types of gasoline, and both the RON and MON parameters. On the contrary, by addition of a higher quantity of Augeo SL191 (see comparative example) in the gasoline the octane booster effect disappears.