Ethyl Acetate As Fuel Or Fuel Additive

Abstract

A fuel blend consisting of a hydrocarbon-containing fuel component; and ethyl acetate is provided. The hydrocarbon-containing fuel component may be gasoline, diesel, bioethanol or biodiesel.

1 . A fuel blend consisting of:
 a hydrocarbon-containing fuel component; and   ethyl acetate.   
     
     
         2 . The fuel blend of  claim 1 , wherein said hydrocarbon-containing fuel component is selected from the group consisting of gasoline and diesel. 
     
     
         3 . The fuel blend of  claim 1 , wherein said hydrocarbon-containing fuel component is selected from the group consisting of petroleum gas, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and propane. 
     
     
         4 . The fuel blend of  claim 1 , wherein said hydrocarbon-containing fuel component is selected from the group consisting of bioethanol and biodiesel. 
     
     
         5 . The fuel blend of  claim 4  wherein ethyl acetate is added to mixtures of diesel fuel and biodiesel to reduce the cloud point to improve winter operation performance of said mixtures. 
     
     
         6 . The fuel blend of  claim 4  wherein ethyl acetate is added to biodiesel and mixtures of biodiesel to reduce the cloud point to improve winter operation and performance of said biodiesel or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The fuel blend of  claim 4  wherein ethyl acetate is added to diesel fuel, or mixtures of biodiesel and diesel fuel, or directly to biodiesel or mixtures of biodiesel to adjust the viscosity of said fuel mixtures. 
     
     
         8 . The fuel blends of  claim 5  wherein the application is for over the road diesel motor transport vehicles. 
     
     
         9 . The fuel blends of  claim 6  wherein the application is for over the road diesel motor transport vehicles. 
     
     
         10 . The fuel blends of  claim 7  wherein the application is for over the road diesel motor transport vehicles. 
     
     
         11 . The fuel blends of  claim 5  wherein the application is for private or commercial diesel passenger vehicles. 
     
     
         12 . The fuel blends of  claim 6  wherein the application is for private or commercial diesel passenger vehicles. 
     
     
         13 . The fuel blends of  claim 7  wherein the application is for private or commercial diesel passenger vehicles. 
     
     
         14 . The fuel blends of  claim 5  wherein the application is for marine diesel engines. 
     
     
         15 . The fuel blends of  claim 6  wherein the application is for marine diesel engines. 
     
     
         16 . The fuel blends of  claim 7  wherein the application is for marine diesel engines. 
     
     
         17 . The fuel blends of  claim 5  wherein the application is for diesel-electric train engines. 
     
     
         18 . The fuel blends of  claim 6  wherein the application is for diesel-electric train engines. 
     
     
         19 . The fuel blends of  claim 7  wherein the application is for diesel-electric train engines. 
     
     
         20 . The fuel blends of  claim 5  wherein the application is for diesel powered construction equipment. 
     
     
         21 . The fuel blends of  claim 6  wherein the application is for diesel powered construction equipment. 
     
     
         22 . The fuel blends of  claim 7  wherein the application is for diesel powered construction equipment. 
     
     
         23 . The fuel blends of  claim 5  wherein the application is for portable or stationary diesel powered electric generators. 
     
     
         24 . The fuel blends of  claim 6  wherein the application is for portable or stationary diesel powered electric generators. 
     
     
         25 . The fuel blends of  claim 7  wherein the application is for portable or stationary diesel powered electric generators. 
     
     
         26 . The fuel blend of  claim 1 , wherein said hydrocarbon-containing fuel component is selected from the group consisting of gasoline, diesel, petroleum gas, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, propane, bioethanol and biodiesel, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The fuel blend of  claim 1 , wherein said fuel blend comprises at least 5% ethyl acetate by volume. 
     
     
         28 . The fuel blend of  claim 1 , wherein said fuel blend comprises at least 10% ethyl acetate by volume. 
     
     
         29 . The fuel blend of  claim 1 , wherein said fuel blend is used in a marine application. 
     
     
         30 . The fuel blend of  claim 29 , wherein said marine application is selected from the group consisting of jet skis, outboard motors and inboard motors. 
     
     
         31 . The fuel blend of  claim 1 , wherein said fuel blend is used in a recreational application. 
     
     
         32 . The fuel blend of  claim 31 , wherein said recreational application is selected from the group consisting of snowmobiles, mopeds, and motorcycles. 
     
     
         33 . The fuel blend of  claim 1 , wherein said fuel blend is used in a residential application. 
     
     
         34 . The fuel blend of  claim 33 , wherein said residential application is selected from the group consisting of lawnmowers, string trimmers, and chain saws. 
     
     
         35 . The fuel blend of  claim 1 , wherein said ethyl acetate is a biomass intermediate product in the ethanol production process. 
     
     
         36 . The fuel blend of  claim 35 , wherein said ethyl acetate is formed by the acid catalyzed esterification of acetic acid with ethanol. 
     
     
         37 . The fuel blend of  claim 35 , wherein said ethyl acetate is formed by the direct esterification of acetic acid. 
     
     
         38 . The fuel blend of  claim 35 , wherein said ethyl acetate is formed by the inter-esterification of acetic acid. 
     
     
         39 . The fuel blend of  claim 35  wherein said ethyl acetate is formed by the dehydrogenation of ethanol.