Biodiesel fuel additive

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a composition and method for decreasing the emissions from combustion of fuel that contains biodiesel, where the composition contains at least one ignition accelerator and at least one plant extract or synthetic component similar to a portion of a plant extract. The ignition accelerator is preferably a peroxide, for example, di-tert-butyl peroxide. The composition may optionally contain meadowfoam oil or jojoba oil. The composition may also enhance the lubricity of the fuel that contains biodiesel.

1 . A fuel additive for biodiesel fuel, said fuel additive comprising: 
 a first component comprising an ignition accelerator;    and,    a second component selected from the group consisting of a plant extract, a synthetic form of a plant extract, and a combination thereof.    
   
   
       2 . The fuel additive of  claim 1 , wherein said ignition accelerator comprises a peroxide.  
   
   
       3 . The fuel additive of  claim 2 , wherein said peroxide is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, benzoyl peroxide, di-tert-butyl peroxide, cumene hydroperoxide, di-oleal peroxide, soybean hydroperoxide, di-ethyl peroxide and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       4 . The fuel additive of  claim 2 , wherein said peroxide comprises di-tert-butyl peroxide.  
   
   
       5 . The fuel additive of  claim 1 , further comprising a third component, said third component comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of long chain fatty acids, long chain fatty esters, and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The fuel additive of  claim 5 , comprising a synthetic long chain fatty acid, a synthetic long chain fatty ester, or both a synthetic long chain fatty acid and a synthetic long chain fatty ester.  
   
   
       7 . The fuel additive of  claim 5 , wherein said third component further comprises an oil selected from the group consisting of meadowfoam oil, jojoba oil, and a combination thereof.  
   
   
       8 . The fuel additive of  claim 1 , further comprising a solvent.  
   
   
       9 . The fuel additive of  claim 8 , wherein said solvent comprises an aromatic solvent.  
   
   
       10 . The fuel additive of  claim 1 , further comprises an alkyl nitrate.  
   
   
       11 . The fuel additive of  claim 10 , wherein said alkyl nitrate comprises 2-ethylhexylnitrate.  
   
   
       12 . The fuel additive of  claim 1 , wherein said plant extract comprises a green extract of a plant.  
   
   
       13 . The fuel additive of  claim 12 , wherein said green extract is chlorophyll.  
   
   
       14 . The fuel additive of  claim 1 , wherein the plant extract comprises an extract of a plant of the Leguminosae family.  
   
   
       15 . The fuel additive of  claim 1 , wherein said second component is selected from the group consisting of beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, a carotenoid, a chlorophyll, a color body, isomixtene, and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       16 . The fuel additive of  claim 1 , wherein said plant extract comprises one or more chlorophylls.  
   
   
       17 . The fuel additive of  claim 16 , wherein said fuel additive has a ratio of chlorophyll a to chlorophyll b of approximately 0.1 to approximately 80.  
   
   
       18 . The fuel additive of  claim 1 , wherein said second component comprises chlorophyll and carotenoid.  
   
   
       19 . The fuel additive of  claim 18 , wherein said fuel additive has a ratio of chlorophyll to carotenoid of approximately 0.1 to approximately 100.  
   
   
       20 . The fuel additive of  claim 1 , further comprising a stabilizing component.  
   
   
       21 . The fuel additive of  claim 19 , wherein said stabilizing component comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of: 2,2,4-trimethyl-6-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline; ethoxyquinoline; 2-tert-butylphenol; 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol; 2-tert-butyl-4-n-butylphenol; 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenol; 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-n-butylphenol; 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-methylphenol; 2,6-di-t-butylphenol; 2,2′-methylene-bis(6-t-butyl-4-methylphenol); n-octadecyl 3-(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate; 1,1,3-tris(3-t-butyl-6-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) butane; pentaerythrityltetrakis[3-(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate]; di-n-octadecyl(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)phosphonate; 2,4,6-tris(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl) mesitylene; tris(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)isocyanurate; N,N′-diphenylphenylenediamine; p-octyldiphenylamine; p,p-dioctyldiphenylamine; N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine; N-phenyl-2-naphthylamine; N-(p-dodecyl)phenyl-2-naphthylamine; di-1 -naphthylamine; and di-2naphthylamine; phenothazines; N-alkylphenothiazines; imino(bisbenzyl); 6-(t-butyl)phenol; 2,6-di-(t-butyl)phenol; 4-methyl-2,6-di-(t-butyl) phenol; 4,4′-methylenebis(-2,6-di-(t-butyl)phenol); a diphenylamine; a dinaphthylamine; and a phenylnaphthylamine.  
   
   
       22 .  
   
   
       23 . A fuel composition comprising: 
 about 0.32 to about 799 g of ignition accelerator;    about 0.001 g to about 60 g of plant extract or synthetic form of a plant extract, or mixtures thereof per gallon of the fuel comprising biodiesel.    
   
   
       24 . The fuel composition of  claim 22 , further comprising 2-ethylhexylnitrate.  
   
   
       25 . The fuel composition of  claim 23 , wherein the level of said 2-ethylhexylnitrate is about 1 ppm to about 5000 ppm.  
   
   
       26 . A method of decreasing pollutant emissions in the combustion of biodiesel fuel comprising combusting a fuel comprising: 
 combining said biodiesel fuel with a fuel additive, said fuel additive comprising:    a first component comprising an ignition accelerator; and    a second component selected from the group consisting of a plant extract, a synthetic form of a plant extract, and mixtures thereof.    
   
   
       27 . A method of increasing lubricity of a fuel comprising biodiesel comprising: 
 adding an additive to said fuel comprising biodiesel, said additive comprising:    a first component comprising an ignition accelerator;    a second component selected from the group consisting of a plant extract, a synthetic form of a plant extract, and mixtures thereof; and,    at least one oil selected from the group consisting of meadowfoam oil, jojoba oil, and mixtures thereof.