Gasoline fuel compositions having increased oxidative stability

Abstract

The present invention relates to gasoline or a gasoline and ethanol blend fuel compositions that have improved oxidation stability. More specifically, the gasoline or a gasoline and ethanol blend fuel compositions include at least one antioxidant that increases the oxidative stability of the fuel. The gasoline or a gasoline and ethanol blend fuel compositions may also include an antioxidant mixture, or an antioxidant mixture in combination with a polar and/or nonpolar solvent, that increases the oxidative stability of the fuel.

1 . A fuel composition, the composition comprising: 
 (a) A gasoline;    (b) An ethanol; and    (c) An antioxidant comprising Formula (I):                        wherein: 
 R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and an alkyl group having from 1 to about 6 carbons;  
 R 5  is an alkoxy group having from 1 to about 12 carbons.  
     
   
   
       2 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , comprising at least one additional antioxidant selected from the group consisting of butylated hydroxyanisole; butylated hydroxytoluene; octyl gallate; dodecyl gallate; 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid n-propyl ester; 1,2,3-trihydroxybenzene; methyl linoleate; methyl oleate; methyl stearate; 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinooxy; 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-hydroxypiperidine-1-oxyl; dimethyl-p-phenylaminophenoxysilane; di-p-anisylazoxides; p-hydroxydiphenylamine; ascorbyl palmitate; butylated hydroxyanisole; butylated hydroxytoluene; phenyl-alpha-naphthylamine; hydroquinone; 2-tert-butylhydroquinone; 3-tertiarybutyl-4-hydroxyanisole; 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxymethylphenol; 2-6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol; t-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol; 2-ter-butyl-4-methoxyphenol; polyphosphates; trihydroxy butyrophenone; and anoxomer.  
   
   
       3 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , comprising at least one additional antioxidant selected from the group consisting of 2-tert-butylhydroquinone; 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid n-propyl ester; mono tertiary butyl hydroquinone; di-tert-butyl hydroquinone; 1,2,3-trihydroxybenzene; 2-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole; t-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol; and 2,6-Di-tert-Butyl-1-Hydroxy-4-Methylbenzene.  
   
   
       4 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the antioxidant is 6-ethoxy-1,2-dihydro-2,2,4-trimethylquinoline.  
   
   
       5 . The fuel composition of  claim 4 , wherein the fuel contains from about 20 ppm to about 1500 ppm 6-ethoxy-1,2-dihydro-2,2,4-trimethylquinoline.  
   
   
       6 . The fuel composition of  claim 4 , wherein the fuel contains from about 50 ppm to about 500 ppm 6-ethoxy-1,2-dihydro-2,2,4-trimethylquinoline.  
   
   
       7 . The fuel composition of  claim 4 , further comprising 2-tert-butylhydroquinone.  
   
   
       8 . The fuel composition of  claim 4 , further comprising 2-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole; and 2,6-Di-tert-Butyl-1-Hydroxy-4-Methylbenzene  
   
   
       9 . The fuel composition of  claim 4 , further comprising 2-tert-butylhydroquinone, and a paraffin oil.  
   
   
       10 . The fuel composition of  claim 4 , further comprising 2-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole, 2,6-Di-tert-Butyl-1-Hydroxy-4-Methylbenzene, and a paraffin oil.  
   
   
       11 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel comprises from about 60% to about 99% by weight gasoline and from about 1% to about 40% by weight ethanol.  
   
   
       12 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel comprises from about 80% to about 90% by weight gasoline and from about 10% to about 20% by weight ethanol.  
   
   
       13 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel has substantially improved oxidative stability.  
   
   
       14 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel has an induction time of greater about than 1400 minutes.  
   
   
       15 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel has substantially reduced gumming.  
   
   
       16 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , further comprising an additive selected from the group comprising of octane improvers, drive ability additives, metal deactivators, corrosion inhibitors, thermal stabilizers, detergents, and demulsifiers.  
   
   
       17 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a solvent selected from the group consisting of a polar solvent and a non polar solvent.  
   
   
       18 . A fuel composition, the composition comprising: 
 (a) A gasoline in an amount ranging from about 60% to about 99% by weight of the composition;    (b) An ethanol in an amount ranging from about 1% to about 40% by weight of the composition; and    (c) 6-ethoxy-1,2-dihydro-2,2,4-trimethylquinoline in an amount ranging from about 20 to about 1500 ppm.    
   
   
       19 . The fuel composition of  claim 18 , wherein the composition comprises about 80% to about 90% by weight gasoline; from about 10% to about 20% by weight ethanol; and from about 50 ppm to about 500 ppm 6-ethoxy-1,2-dihydro-2,2,4-trimethylquinoline.  
   
   
       20 . The fuel composition of  claim 18 , comprising at least one additional antioxidant selected from the group consisting of butylated hydroxyanisole; butylated hydroxytoluene; octyl gallate; dodecyl gallate; 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid n-propyl ester; 1,2,3-trihydroxybenzene; methyl linoleate; methyl oleate; methyl stearate; 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinooxy; 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-hydroxypiperidine-1-oxyl; dimethyl-p-phenylaminophenoxysilane; di-p-anisylazoxides; p-hydroxydiphenylamine; ascorbyl palmitate; butylated hydroxyanisole; butylated hydroxytoluene; phenyl-alpha-naphthylamine; hydroquinone; 2-tert-butylhydroquinone; 3-tertiarybutyl-4-hydroxyanisole; 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxymethylphenol; 2-6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol; t-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol; 2-ter-butyl-4-methoxyphenol; polyphosphates; trihydroxy butyrophenone; and anoxomer.  
   
   
       21 . The fuel composition of  claim 18 , comprising at least one additional antioxidant selected from the group consisting of 2-tert-butylhydroquinone; 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid n-propyl ester; mono tertiary butyl hydroquinone; di-tert-butyl hydroquinone; 1,2,3-trihydroxybenzene, 2-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole; t-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol; and 2,6-Di-tert-Butyl-1-Hydroxy-4-Methylbenzene.  
   
   
       22 . The fuel composition of  claim 18 , further comprising 2-tert-butylhydroquinone.  
   
   
       23 . The fuel composition of  claim 18 , further comprising 2-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole; and 2,6-Di-tert-Butyl-1-Hydroxy-4-Methylbenzene  
   
   
       24 . The fuel composition of  claim 18 , further comprising 2-tert-butylhydroquinone, and a paraffin oil.  
   
   
       25 . The fuel composition of  claim 18 , further comprising 2-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole, 2,6-Di-tert-Butyl-1-Hydroxy-4-Methylbenzene, and a paraffin oil.  
   
   
       26 . The fuel composition of  claim 18 , wherein the fuel has an improved oxidative stability.  
   
   
       27 . The fuel composition of  claim 18 , wherein the fuel has an induction time of greater than 1400 minutes.  
   
   
       28 . The fuel composition of  claim 18 , wherein the fuel has substantially reduced gumming.  
   
   
       29 . The fuel composition of  claim 18 , wherein the ethanol is produced from a source selected from the group consisting of corn, plant-derived cellulose material, sugarcane, sugar beet, grain sorghum, sugar cane, sugar beet, wheat, barley, potatoes, and biomass.  
   
   
       30 . The fuel composition of  claim 18 , further comprising an additive selected from the group comprising of octane improvers, drive ability additives, metal deactivators, corrosion inhibitors, thermal stabilizers, detergents, and demulsifiers.  
   
   
       31 . The fuel composition of  claim 18 , further a solvent selected from the group consisting of a polar solvent and a non polar solvent.  
   
   
       32 . A method for increasing the oxidative stability of a fuel composition, the fuel composition comprising gasoline and ethanol, the method comprising contacting the fuel composition with an antioxidant comprising Formula (I):  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
       wherein: 
 R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and an alkyl group having from 1 to about 6 carbons;  
 R 5  is an alkoxy group having from 1 to about 12 carbons.  
 
     
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , comprising at least one additional antioxidant selected from the group consisting of butylated hydroxyanisole; butylated hydroxytoluene; octyl gallate; dodecyl gallate; 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid n-propyl ester; 1,2,3-trihydroxybenzene; methyl linoleate; methyl oleate; methyl stearate; 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinooxy; 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-hydroxypiperidine-1-oxyl; dimethyl-p-phenylaminophenoxysilane; di-p-anisylazoxides; p-hydroxydiphenylamine; ascorbyl palmitate; butylated hydroxyanisole; butylated hydroxytoluene; phenyl-alpha-naphthylamine; hydroquinone; 2-tert-butylhydroquinone; 3-tertiarybutyl-4-hydroxyanisole; 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxymethylphenol; 2-6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol; t-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol; 2-ter-butyl-4-methoxyphenol; polyphosphates; trihydroxy butyrophenone; and anoxomer.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 32 , comprising at least one additional antioxidant selected from the group consisting of 2-tert-butylhydroquinone; 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid n-propyl ester; mono tertiary butyl hydroquinone; di-tert-butyl hydroquinone; 1,2,3-trihydroxybenzene, 2-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole, t-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol; and 2,6-Di-tert-Butyl-1-Hydroxy-4-Methylbenzene.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the antioxidant is 6-ethoxy-1,2-dihydro-2,2,4-trimethylquinoline.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the fuel contains from about 20 ppm to about 1500 ppm 6-ethoxy-1,2-dihydro-2,2,4-trimethylquinoline.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the fuel contains from about 50 ppm to about 500 ppm 6-ethoxy-1,2-dihydro-2,2,4-trimethylquinoline.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising 2-tert-butylhydroquinone.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising 2-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole; and 2,6-Di-tert-Butyl-1-Hydroxy-4-Methylbenzene  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising 2-tert-butylhydroquinone, and a paraffin oil.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising 2-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole, 2,6-Di-tert-Butyl-1-Hydroxy-4-Methylbenzene, and a paraffin oil.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the fuel comprises from about 60% to about 99% by weight gasoline and from about 1% to about 40% by weight ethanol.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the fuel comprises from about 80% to about 90% by weight gasoline and from about 10% to about 20% by weight ethanol.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the fuel has an induction time of greater about than 1400 minutes.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the ethanol is produced from a source selected from the group consisting of corn, plant-derived cellulose material, sugarcane, sugar beet, grain sorghum, sugar cane, sugar beet, wheat, barley, potatoes, and biomass.