Lower alcohol activated with plough catalyst and fuel additive comprising the same

Abstract

The present invention provides a fuel additive which can inhibit the emission of harmful gases from a fuel such as gasoline or gas oil without adversely influencing the consumption of the fuel and with which the fuel can be stably stored; and a fuel composition containing the fuel additive added thereto. Also provided are: a method of activating a lower alcohol which comprises bringing the lower alcohol into contact with a substance activated by heating and pressurizing in the presence of wood vinegar and/or bamboo vinegar or with a material formed by processing the substance; a lower alcohol activated by the method; and lower alcohols comprising the activated lower alcohol. The fuel additive comprises the one or more lower alcohols. The fuel composition comprises a fuel and the fuel additive.

1 . A method of activating a lower alcohol which comprises bringing the lower alcohol into contact with a substance activated by heating and pressurizing in the presence of wood vinegar and/or bamboo vinegar or with a material formed by processing the substance.  
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the substance is selected from the group consisting of inorganic substances such as ceramics, natural stones, glass and silicon dioxide; metals such as aluminum, titanium, stainless and iron; noble metals such as gold and silver; and organic substances such as resins.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the pressure is 5 to 50 atm.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1  or 2, wherein the wood vinegar is wood vinegar derived from a broadleaf tree, a needle-leaved tree, or the like.  
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1  or 2, wherein the activated substance is silicon dioxide and a material formed by processing the substance is glass.  
   
   
       6 . A lower alcohol which is activated by the method according to  claim 1  or  2 .  
   
   
       7 . The activated lower alcohol according to  claim 6 , wherein the lower alcohol is ethanol and/or isobutanol.  
   
   
       8 . A lower alcohol comprising the activated lower alcohol according to  claim 6  in an amount of 0.5% or more.  
   
   
       9 . The activated lower alcohol according to  claim 8 , wherein the content of the activated lower alcohol is 0.5 to 10 wt %.  
   
   
       10 . A fuel additive comprising the one or more lower alcohols according to  claim 8 .  
   
   
       11 . A fuel additive comprising the one or more lower alcohols according to  claim 8  in an amount of 1 to 80 wt %.  
   
   
       12 . The fuel additive according to  claim 10 , further comprising petroleum distillate.  
   
   
       13 . A fuel composition comprising a fuel and the fuel additive according to  claim 10 .  
   
   
       14 . The fuel composition according to  claim 13 , wherein the content of the fuel additive is 5 to 70 wt %.  
   
   
       15 . The fuel composition according to  claim 13 , wherein the fuel is gasoline, light oil, or heavy oil.