Biofuel having improved cold flow properties

Abstract

A biodiesel may be prepared using an admixture of petroleum diesel and an algal derived hydrotreated renewable diesel which can be treated with petroleum diesel cold flow additives. The resulting diesel fuel may be employed even in cold climates despite the high paraffin content and high degree of saturation of the hydrotreated renewable diesel component of the fuel.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A biofuel comprising hydrotreated renewable diesel, and at least one petroleum diesel cold flow improver additive. 
     
     
         2 . The biofuel of  claim 1  wherein the at least one petroleum diesel cold flow improver additive is selected from the group consisting of:
 ethylene vinyl acetate co-polymers, 
 terpolymers of ethylene; vinyl acetate and a third monomer; 
 polyalkyl methacrylates; 
 alphaolefin maleic anhydride copolymers and ester or imide derivatives of alphaolefin maleic anhydride copolymers and 
 combinations thereof. 
 
     
     
         3 . The biofuel of  claim 2  wherein the additive is an ethylene vinyl acetate co-polymer. 
     
     
         4 . The biofuel of  claim 2  wherein the additive is a terpolymer of ethylene; vinyl acetate and a third monomer. 
     
     
         5 . The biofuel of  claim 4  wherein the third monomer is vinyl carboxylate. 
     
     
         6 . The biofuel of  claim 2  wherein the additive is a polyalkyl methacrylate. 
     
     
         7 . The biofuel of  claim 2  wherein the additive is a combination of at least two members selected from the group consisting of:
 ethylene vinyl acetate co-polymers, 
 terpolymers of ethylene; vinyl acetate and a third monomer; 
 polyalkyl methacrylates; and 
 combinations thereof. 
 
     
     
         8 . The biofuel of  claim 1  wherein the one petroleum diesel cold flow improver additive has a molecular weight (Mw) of from about 2,000 to about 30,000. 
     
     
         9 . The biofuel of  claim 8  wherein the additive has a molecular weight (Mw) of from about 3,000 to about 5,000. 
     
     
         10 . The biofuel of  claim 1  wherein the effective treat rate is from about 0.0025 vol-% to about 5% vol-%. 
     
     
         11 . The biofuel of  claim 1  further comprising a petroleum diesel. 
     
     
         12 . The biofuel of  claim 1  further comprising a synergist. 
     
     
         13 . The biofuel of  claim 12  wherein the synergist is an alkyl phenol resin. 
     
     
         14 . The biofuel of  claim 13  wherein the alkyl phenol resin is prepared from a formulation comprising an aldehyde having from about 2 to about 5 carbons. 
     
     
         15 . The biofuel of  claim 13  wherein the alkyl phenol resin is prepared from a formulation comprising formaldehyde. 
     
     
         16 . The biofuel of  claim 13  wherein the alkyl phenol resin has a molecular weight (Mw) of from about two thousand to about twenty five thousand Daltons. 
     
     
         17 . The biofuel of  claim 16  wherein the alkyl phenol resin has a molecular weight (Mw) of from about five to about ten thousand. 
     
     
         18 . The biofuel of  claim 11  wherein the ratio of hydrotreated renewable diesel to Petroleum diesel is from 75:25 to 25:75. 
     
     
         19 . The biofuel of  claim 11  wherein the ratio of hydrotreated renewable diesel to Petroleum diesel is about 1:1. 
     
     
         20 . The biofuel of  claim 1  wherein the hydrotreated renewable diesel is derived from algae. 
     
     
         21 . A method of preparing a biofuel comprising an admixture of petroleum diesel, hydrotreated renewable diesel, and at least one petroleum diesel cold flow improver wherein the at least one petroleum diesel cold flow improver is introduced into an admixture of petroleum diesel, hydrotreated renewable diesel at a temperature above the cloud point of the admixture of petroleum diesel, hydrotreated renewable diesel.