Low temperature stable diesel oil/alcohol mixtures

Abstract

A low temperature stable diesel fuel composition includes diesel oil, ethanol, and a solubliser of C 14 -C 18 fatty acids from biodegradable sources e.g. tall oil or depitched tall oil. This fuel remains stable at temperatures as low as −20° C.

1 . A low temperature stable diesel fuel composition which comprises: 
 (a) diesel oil;    (b) ethanol; and    (c) a solubliser comprising fatty acids derived from biodegradable sources having chain lengths of C 14-18 .    
     
     
         2 . A low temperature stable diesel fuel composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the fuel remains stable at temperatures lower than 0° C.  
     
     
         3 . A low temperature stable fuel composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the ethanol and diesel oil are present in the proportion of from about 5% to about 85% by weight ethanol and from about 15% to about 95% by weight diesel oil.  
     
     
         4 . A low temperature stable diesel fuel composition according to  claim 3 , wherein the solubliser is present in an amount of up to 20% by weight based on the total fuel composition.  
     
     
         5 . A low temperature stable diesel fuel composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the ethanol is substantially anhydrous.  
     
     
         6 . A low temperature stable diesel fuel composition according to  claim 5 , wherein the ethanol comprises about 5% to 20% by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         7 . A low temperature stable diesel fuel composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the solubliser comprises fatty acids derived from tall oil.  
     
     
         8 . A low temperature stable diesel fuel composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the solubliser comprises depitched tall oil.  
     
     
         9 . A low temperature stable diesel fuel composition according to  claim 1 , with a cetane number of more than 40.