Diesel fuel additives containing cerium or manganese and detergents

Abstract

Provided herein is a diesel fuel additive composition comprising cerium oxide nanoparticles, optionally a manganese compound, a detergent, and a demulsifier. In one embodiment, the demulsifier has relatively low phosphorus concentration to thereby improve the solubility of the components and the thermal stability and clarity of the resulting diesel fuel. Also provided are methods for improving fuel economy, reducing smoke production, inhibiting deposition of sludge, and improved storage stability.

1 . A method of improving the efficiency of a diesel fuel for an internal combustion engine which comprises adding to the fuel prior to the introduction of the fuel to a vehicle or other apparatus comprising an internal combustion engine a diesel fuel additive package comprising cerium oxide nanoparticles, a detergent/dispersant and a demulsifier. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detergent/dispersant is present in the additive package in an amount of from about 5 to about 20 weight percent. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detergent/dispersant is selected from the group consisting of alkenyl-substituted succinimides, amides, amines, Mannich bases, and polyetheramines. 
     
     
         4 . The method of claim of  claim 1 , wherein the additive package further comprises one or more of a material selected from the group consisting of a cetane number improver, and a metal de-activator. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the additive package further comprises a source of manganese. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the additive package further comprises a demulsifier selected from the group consisting of an oxylated alkylphenolic resin, and formaldehyde polymer with 4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenol, methyloxirane and oxirane. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the demulsifier has a phosphorus content of up to about 24 mg/kg. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the demulsifier has a phosphorus content of about 8 mg/kg to about 24 mg/kg. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the demulsifier has a phosphorus content of from about 0.1 mg/kg to about 8 mg/kg. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the demulsifier has a phosphorus content of about 0.2 mg/kg. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel additive comprises 1 to 200 ppm cerium oxide nanoparticles of 1 to about 300 nm particle size; 5 to 15 wgt percent detergent/dispersant selected from the group consisting of alkylated succinimides, Mannich bases, amides, amines, and polyetheramines; and 1 to 10 wgt percent of a demulsifier selected from the group consisting of an oxylated alkylphenolic resin, and formaldehyde polymer with 4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenol, methyloxirane and oxirane, wherein the phosphorus level of the demulsifier is less than 8 mg/kg. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detergent/dispersant comprises a fuel-soluble alkali or alkaline earth metal-containing detergent. 
     
     
         13 . A fuel additive which comprises cerium oxide and/or a manganese source and a detergent. 
     
     
         14 . A fuel additive according to  claim 13 , wherein the concentration of cerium oxide and/or manganese is from 0.1 to 10% by weight. 
     
     
         15 . A fuel additive according to  claim 13 , wherein the concentration of cerium oxide nanoparticles and/or manganese is from 0.5 to 5% by weight. 
     
     
         16 . A fuel additive according to  claim 13 , wherein the detergent is a basic nitrogen-containing ashless detergent. 
     
     
         17 . A fuel additive according to  claim 13 , wherein the detergent is a succinimide which has an average of at least 3 nitrogen atoms per molecule. 
     
     
         18 . A fuel additive according to  claim 13 , wherein the succinimide is derived from an alkyl or alkenyl succinic acylating agent having at least 35 carbon 30 atoms in the alkyl or alkenyl part and an alkylene polyamine mixture having an average of at least 3 nitrogen atoms per molecule. 
     
     
         19 . A fuel additive according to  claim 13 , wherein the succinimide is derived from a polyisobutenyl succinic acylating agent obtainable from a polyisobutene having a number average molecular weight of 500 to 10,000 and an ethylene polyamine having an average composition from triethylene tetraamine to pentaethylene hexamine. 
     
     
         20 . A fuel additive according to  claim 13 , wherein the aliphatic chain of the succinimide has a molecular weight 500 to 2500. 
     
     
         21 . A fuel additive according to  claim 13  wherein the aliphatic chain of the succinimide has a molecular weight 750 to 1500. 
     
     
         22 . A fuel additive according to anyone of  claims 13  to  21  which also comprises one or more of a material selected form the group consisting of dehazer, anti-foaming agent, ignition improver, anti-rust agent, reodorant, anti-oxidant, metal deactivator, lubricity agent and demulsifier. 
     
     
         23 . A fuel additive according to  claim 13 , which comprises a solvent which is an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon or an aliphatic alcohol. 
     
     
         24 . A method for improving diesel fuel stability, said method comprising adding to the fuel prior to the introduction of the fuel to a vehicle or other apparatus comprising an internal combustion engine a diesel fuel additive package comprising cerium oxide nanoparticles, a detergent and a demulsifier. 
     
     
         25 . A method for improving combustion in a diesel engine, said method comprising adding to the fuel prior to the introduction of the fuel to a vehicle or other apparatus comprising an internal combustion engine a diesel fuel additive package comprising cerium oxide nanoparticles, a detergent and a demulsifier. 
     
     
         26 . A method for reducing smoke from combustion in a diesel engine, said method comprising a method for improving diesel fuel stability, said method comprising adding to the fuel prior to the introduction of the fuel to a vehicle or other apparatus comprising an internal combustion engine a diesel fuel additive package comprising cerium oxide nanoparticles, a detergent and a demulsifier. 
     
     
         27 . A method for improving the solubility of an organometallic fuel additive in a diesel fuel, said method comprising adding to the fuel prior to the introduction of the fuel to a vehicle or other apparatus comprising an internal combustion engine a diesel fuel additive package comprising cerium oxide nanoparticles, a detergent and a demulsifier. 
     
     
         28 . A method for reducing the haze in a diesel fuel having diesel fuel additives, said method comprising adding to the fuel prior to the introduction of the fuel to a vehicle or other apparatus comprising an internal combustion engine a diesel fuel additive package comprising cerium oxide nanoparticles, a detergent and a demulsifier. 
     
     
         29 . A method to reduce filter blockage of fuel filters in a vehicle or other apparatus employing a diesel engine combusting a diesel fuel and having a fuel filter, said method comprising adding to the diesel fuel prior to the introduction of the fuel to a vehicle or other apparatus a diesel fuel additive package comprising cerium oxide nanoparticles, a detergent and a demulsifier. 
     
     
         30 . A method to improve the demulsification of a fuel additive comprising adding to the fuel additive cerium oxide nanoparticles, a detergent and a demulsifier, wherein the demulsifier has less than about 30 mg/kg of phosphorus. 
     
     
         31 . An improved fuel additive composition of the present disclosure can comprise a material containing two or more metal-containing combustion catalysts, a detergent/dispersant, and a demulsifier having up to about 30 mg/kg of phosphorus. 
     
     
         32 . A method for foam reduction in a diesel fuel, said method comprising providing to the fuel a fuel additive package comprising cerium oxide nanoparticles and an alkyl nitrate cetane number improver additive. 
     
     
         33 . An emissions control system for the after-treatment of a diesel fuel combustion process exhaust stream comprising:
 an exhaust passageway for the passage of an exhaust stream containing exhaust byproducts from the combustion of a diesel fuel,   an oxidation catalyst,   a particulate filter selected from the group consisting of continuously regenerating technology diesel particulate filter, a diesel particular filter, and a catalyzed diesel particulate filter, located within the exhaust passageway and adapted to contact the exhaust stream,
 wherein the fuel has an additive package introduced into it, the additive package comprising cerium oxide and/or manganese, a detergent, an alkyl nitrate ignition improver, and optionally a demulsifier, whereby the operation of the particulate filter is enhanced. 
   
     
     
         34 . A method for improving an emissions control system for the after-treatment of a diesel fuel combustion process exhaust stream comprising:
 an exhaust passageway for the passage of an exhaust stream containing exhaust byproducts from the combustion of a diesel fuel,   a particulate filter selected from the group consisting of continuously regenerating technology diesel particulate filter, a diesel particular filter, and a catalyzed diesel particulate filter, located within the exhaust passageway and adapted to contact the exhaust stream,
 wherein the fuel has an additive package introduced into it, the additive package comprising cerium oxide and/or manganese, a detergent, an alkyl nitrate ignition improver, and optionally a demulsifier, whereby the operation of the particulate filter is enhanced. 
   
     
     
         35 . Use in a diesel engine having non-cylindrical injector nozzle holes of a diesel fuel additive package comprising cerium oxide, a detergent/dispersant, and a demulsifier having less than 24 mg/kg of phosphorus.