Use of an alkoxylated polytetrahydrofuran to reduce fuel consumption

Abstract

The use of an alkoxylated polytetrahydrofurane of formula wherein m, m′, n, n′, p, p′ and k are integers in the range of ≧1, R 1 denotes an unsubstituted linear or branched alkyl radical, R 2 denotes —CH 2 —CH 3 , and R 3 denotes a hydrogen atom or —CH 3 , as an additive in a fuel for reducing fuel consumption in the operation of an internal combustion engine with this fuel.

1 . A method for reducing fuel consumption in an operation of an internal combustion engine with a fuel, the method comprising adding an alkoxylated polytetrahydrofurane of formula (I): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         to the fuel as an additive, 
         wherein 
         m is an integer in the range of ≧1 to ≦50, 
         m′ is an integer in the range of ≧1 to ≦50, 
         (m+m′) is an integer in the range of ≧1 to ≦90, 
         n is an integer in the range of ≧0 to ≦75, 
         n′ is an integer in the range of ≧0 to ≦75, 
         p is an integer in the range of ≧0 to ≦75, 
         p′ is an integer in the range of ≧0 to ≦75, 
         k is an integer in the range of ≧2 to ≦30, 
         R 1  is an unsubstituted, linear or branched, alkyl radical having 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 or 28 carbon atoms, 
         R 2  is —CH 2 —CH 3 , and 
         R 3  is identical or different, and is a hydrogen atom or —CH 3 , 
         whereby concatenations denoted by k are distributed to form a block polymeric structure and concatenations denoted by p, p′, n, n′, m and m′ are distributed to form a block polymeric structure or a random polymeric structure. 
       
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the alkoxylated polytetrahydrofurane of formula (I) is an additive in a fuel for minimization of power loss in internal combustion engines and for improving acceleration of internal combustion engines. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the alkoxylated polytetrahydrofurane of formula (I) is an additive in a fuel for improving lubricity of lubricant oils in an internal combustion engine for lubricating purposes by operating the internal combustion engine with a fuel comprising an effective amount of the alkoxylated polytetrahydrofurane of formula (I). 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein k is an integer in the range of ≧3 to ≦25. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the alkoxylated polytetrahydrofurane has a weight average molecular weight Mw in the range of 500 to 20000 g/mol determined according to DIN 55672-1 polystyrene calibration standard. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein (m+m′) is in the range of ≧3 to ≦65. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of (m+m′) to k is in the range of 0.3:1 to 6:1. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein m is an integer in the range of ≧1 to ≦25 and m′ is an integer in the range of ≧1 to ≦25. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein R 1  is an unsubstituted, linear alkyl radical having 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 or 18 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein R 3  denotes is —CH 3 . 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 m is an integer in the range of ≧1 to ≦30,   m′ is an integer in the range of ≧1 to ≦30,   (m+m′) is an integer in the range of ≧3 to ≦50,   n is an integer in the range of ≧3 to ≦45,   n′ is an integer in the range of ≧3 to ≦45,   (n+n′) is an integer in the range of ≧6 to ≦90,   p is an integer in the range of ≧0 to ≦75,   p′ is an integer in the range of ≧0 to ≦75,   k is an integer in the range of ≧3 to ≦25,   R 1  is an unsubstituted, linear or branched, alkyl radical having 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 or 18 carbon atoms,   R 2  is —CH 2 —CH 3 , and   R 3  is —CH 3 .   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein a ratio of (m+m′) to k is in the range of 0.3:1 to 6:1 and a ratio of (n+n′) to k is in the range of 1.5:1 to 10:1. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 m is an integer in the range of ≧1 to ≦30,   m′ is an integer in the range of ≧1 to ≦30,   (m+m′) is an integer in the range of ≧3 to ≦50,   n is an integer in the range of ≧0 to ≦45,   n′ is an integer in the range of ≧0 to ≦45,   p is an integer in the range of ≧3 to ≦45,   p′ is an integer in the range of ≧3 to ≦45,   (p+p′) is an integer in the range of ≧6 to ≦90,   k is an integer in the range of ≧3 to ≦25,   R 1  is an unsubstituted, linear or branched, alkyl radical having 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 or 18 carbon atoms,   R 2  is —CH 2 —CH 3 , and   R 3  is —CH 3 .   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein a ratio of (m+m′) to k is in the range of 0.3:1 to 6:1 and a ratio of (p+p′) to k is in the range of 1.5:1 to 10:1. 
     
     
         15 . A fuel composition comprising, in a major amount, a gasoline fuel and, in a minor amount, an alkoxylated polytetrahydrofurane of formula (I): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein 
         m is an integer in the range of ≧1 to ≦50, 
         m′ is an integer in the range of ≧1 to ≦50, 
         (m+m′) is an integer in the range of ≧1 to ≦90, 
         n is an integer in the range of ≧0 to ≦75, 
         n′ is an integer in the range of ≧0 to ≦75, 
         p is an integer in the range of ≧0 to ≦75, 
         p′ is an integer in the range of ≧0 to ≦75, 
         k is an integer in the range of ≧2 to ≦30, 
         R 1  is an unsubstituted, linear or branched, alkyl radical having 6, 7, 8,9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 or 28 carbon atoms, 
         R 2  is —CH 2 —CH 3 , and 
         R 3  is identical or different, and is a hydrogen atom or —CH 3 , 
         whereby concatenations denoted by k are distributed to form a block polymeric structure and concatenations denoted by p, p′, n, n′, m and m′ are distributed to form a block polymeric structure or a random polymeric structure, and 
         a fuel additive which is different from the alkoxylated polytetrahydrofurane of formula (I) and has detergent action. 
       
     
     
         16 . The fuel composition according to  claim 15 , comprising, as the fuel additive which is different from the alkoxylated polytetrahydrofurane of formula (I) and has detergent action, at least one representative (D) selected from the group consisting of:
 (Da) a mono- or polyamino group having up to 6 nitrogen atoms, in which a nitrogen atom has basic properties;   (Db) a nitro group, optionally in combination with a hydroxyl group;   (Dc) a hydroxyl group in combination with a mono- or polyamino group, in which a nitrogen atom has basic properties;   (Dd) a carboxyl group or its alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt;   (De) a sulfonic acid group or its alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt;   (Df) a polyoxy-C 2 -C 4 -alkylene moiety terminated by a hydroxyl group, or a mono- or polyamino group, in which a nitrogen atom has basic properties, or by a carbamate group;   (Dg) a carboxylic ester group;   (Dh) a moiety derived from succinic anhydride and having at least one group selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl, an amino, an amido, and an imido group; and   (Di) a moiety obtained by Mannich reaction of a substituted phenol with an aldehyde and a mono- or polyamine.   
     
     
         17 . The fuel composition according to  claim 15 , additionally comprising, as a further fuel additive in a minor amount, a carrier oil. 
     
     
         18 . The fuel composition according to  claim 15 , additionally comprising, as a further fuel additive in a minor amount, a tertiary hydrocarbyl amine of formula NR 4 R 5 R 6 ,
 wherein R 4 , R 5  and R 6  are the same or different, and are each independently C 1 - to C 20 -hydrocarbyl residues with the proviso that the overall number of carbon atoms in formula (I) does not exceed 30.   
     
     
         19 . The fuel composition according to  claim 16 , comprising a representative (D) selected from (Da) polyisobutene monoamines or polyisobutene poly-amines having M n =300 to 5000, having and at least 50 mol-% of vinylidene double bonds,
 wherein the representative (D) is prepared by hydroformylation of a respective polyiso-butene and subsequent reductive amination with ammonia, monoamines or poly-amines, in combination with a mineral or synthetic carrier oil.   
     
     
         20 . An additive concentrate comprising an alkoxylated polytetrahydrofurane of general formula (I): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein 
         m is an integer in the range of ≧1 to ≦50, 
         m′ is an integer in the range of ≧1 to ≦50, 
         (m+m′) is an integer in the range of ≧1 to ≦90, 
         n is an integer in the range of ≧0 to ≦75, 
         n′ is an integer in the range of ≧0 to ≦75, 
         p is an integer in the range of ≧0 to ≦75, 
         p′ is an integer in the range of ≧0 to ≦75, 
         k is an integer in the range of ≧2 to ≦30, 
         R 1  is an unsubstituted, linear or branched, alkyl radical having 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 or 28 carbon atoms, 
         R 2  is —CH 2 —CH 3 , and 
         R 3  is identical or different, and is a hydrogen atom or —CH 3 , 
         whereby concatenations denoted by k are distributed to form a block polymeric structure and concatenations denoted by p, p′, n, n′, m and m′ are distributed to form a block polymeric structure or a random polymeric structure, 
         and a fuel additive which is different from the alkoxylated polytetrahydrofurane (I) and has detergent action. 
       
     
     
         21 . The additive concentrate according to  claim 20 , further comprising a representative (D) selected from (Da) mono- or polyamino groups having up to 6 nitrogen atoms, in which a nitrogen atom has basic properties,
 wherein the representative (D) is a polyisobutene monoamine or polyisobutene poly-amine having M n =300 to 5000 and at least 50 mol-% of vinylidene double bonds, and   the representative (D) is prepared by hydroformylation of a respective polyisobutene and subsequent reductive amination with ammonia, monoamines or poly-amines, and further comprising a mineral or synthetic carrier oil.