Fuel compositions

Abstract

A fuel composition containing a gas oil base fuel, an alkyl levulinate and a co-solvent, preferably an alcohol, which co-solvent has a polar interaction parameter (δp) in the range of from 1 to 7 MPa 1/2 and a hydrogen bonding parameter (δh) in the range of from 2 to 18 MPa 1/2 is provided.

1 . A fuel composition comprising a gas oil base fuel, an alkyl levulinate and a co-solvent having a polar interaction parameter (δp) in the range of from 1 to 7 MPa 1/2  and a hydrogen bonding parameter (δh) in the range of from 2 to 18 MPa 1/2 .  
   
   
       2 . A method of reducing the phase separation temperature of a fuel composition comprising a gas oil base fuel and an alkyl levulinate comprising the step of incorporating in the fuel composition a co-solvent having a polar interaction parameter (δp) in the range of from 1 to 7 MPa 1/2  and a hydrogen bonding parameter (δh) in the range of from 2 to 18 Mpa 1/2 .  
   
   
       3 . A method of reducing the phase separation temperature of a fuel composition containing a gas oil base fuel and an alkyl levulinate comprising the steps of (a) selecting by reference to its polar interaction parameter (δp) and hydrogen bonding parameter (δh) a co-solvent for which said polar interaction parameter is in the range of from 1 to 7 MPa 1/2  and said hydrogen bonding parameter is in the range of from 2 to 18 MPa 1/2  and (b) incorporating said selected co-solvent in the fuel composition.  
   
   
       4 . The fuel composition of  claim 1  wherein said alkyl levulinate is selected from C 2-8  alkyl levulinates.  
   
   
       5 . The fuel composition of  claim 4  wherein said alkyl levulinate is selected from the group consisting of ethyl levulinate, n-propyl levulinate, n-butyl levulinate, n-pentyl levulinate, 2-hexyl levulinate and 2-ethyl hexyl levulinate, more preferably ethyl levulinate, n-butyl levulinate or n-pentyl levulinate, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The fuel composition of  claim 5  wherein said alkyl levulinate is ethyl levulinate.  
   
   
       7 . The fuel composition of  claim 1  wherein the co-solvent comprises alcohol.  
   
   
       8 . A fuel composition of  claim 7  wherein said alkyl levulinate is selected from C 2-8  alkyl levulinates said co-solvent is selected from C 3-8  alcohols.  
   
   
       9 . The fuel composition of  claim 8  wherein the co-solvent is selected from the group consisting of isopropanol 1-butanol, isobutanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, 1-pentanol, 2-butoxy-ethanol, 4-methyl-2-pentanol, 2-ethyl hexanol, 2-[2-(1-butoxy)ethoxy]ethanol and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said alkyl levulinate is selected from C 2-8  alkyl levulinates.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said alkyl levulinate is selected from the group consisting of ethyl levulinate, n-propyl levulinate, n-butyl levulinate, n-pentyl levulinate, 2-hexyl levulinate and 2-ethyl hexyl levulinate, more preferably ethyl levulinate, n-butyl levulinate or n-pentyl levulinate, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said alkyl levulinate is selected from C 2-8  alkyl levulinates said co-solvent is selected from C 3-8  alcohols.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said alkyl levulinate is selected from C 2-8  alkyl levulinates.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said alkyl levulinate is selected from the group consisting of ethyl levulinate, n-propyl levulinate, n-butyl levulinate, n-pentyl levulinate, 2-hexyl levulinate and 2-ethyl hexyl levulinate, more preferably ethyl levulinate, n-butyl levulinate or n-pentyl levulinate, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said alkyl levulinate is ethyl levulinate.  
   
   
       16 . A method of operating a compression ignition engine and/or a vehicle which is powered by such an engine comprising introducing into a combustion chamber of the engine a fuel composition of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       17 . A method of operating a compression ignition engine and/or a vehicle which is powered by such an engine comprising introducing into a combustion chamber of the engine a fuel composition of  claim 2 .  
   
   
       18 . A method of operating a compression ignition engine and/or a vehicle which is powered by such an engine comprising introducing into a combustion chamber of the engine a fuel composition of  claim 3 .  
   
   
       19 . A method of operating a heating appliance provided with a burner, which method comprises supplying to said burner a fuel composition of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       20 . A process for the preparation of a fuel composition comprising blending a gas oil base fuel, an alkyl levulinate and a co-solvent having a polar interaction parameter (δp) in the range of from 1 to 7 MPa 1/2  and a hydrogen bonding parameter (δh) in the range of from 2 to 18 MPa 1/2 .