Fuel composition

Abstract

A gasoline fuel composition for a spark ignition internal combustion engine comprising (a) gasoline blending components, (b) renewable naphtha at a level of 10 to 30% v/v and (c) oxygenated hydrocarbon at a level of 20% v/v or less, wherein the gasoline blending components comprise (a) 0-30% v/v alkylate, (b) from 0 to 15% v/v isomerate; (c) 0 to 20% v/v catalytic cracked tops naphtha; and (d) 20% to 40% v/v of heavy reformate, wherein the total amount of alkylate, isomerate, catalytic cracked tops naphtha and heavy reformate is at least 50% v/v based on the total fuel composition, and wherein the gasoline fuel composition meets the EN228 specification. While the low octane number of renewable naphtha would normally severely restrict its blendability in gasoline to low levels, it has now been found that renewable naphtha can be included in, for example, ethanol-containing gasoline fuel compositions, in surprisingly and significantly high blend ratios of renewable naphtha to ethanol.

1 . A gasoline fuel composition for a spark ignition internal combustion engine comprising (a) gasoline blending components, (b) renewable naphtha at a level of 10 to 30% v/v and (c) oxygenated hydrocarbon at a level of 20% v/v or less, wherein the gasoline blending components comprise (a) 0 to 30% v/v alkylate, (b) 0 to 15% v/v isomerate, (c) 0 to 20% v/v catalytic cracked tops naphtha; and (d) 20% to 40% v/v of heavy reformate, wherein the total amount of alkylate, isomerate, catalytic cracked tops naphtha and heavy reformate is at least 50% v/v based on the total fuel composition, and wherein the gasoline fuel composition meets the EN228 specification. 
     
     
         2 . A gasoline fuel composition according to  claim 1  which comprises from 5 to 15% v/v of oxygenated hydrocarbon, based on the gasoline fuel composition. 
     
     
         3 . A gasoline fuel composition according to  claim 1  wherein the gasoline blending components comprise from 30 to 35 vol % of heavy reformate, based on the gasoline fuel composition. 
     
     
         4 . A gasoline fuel composition according to  claim 1  wherein the gasoline blending components comprise from 20 to 25 vol % of heavy reformate, based on the gasoline fuel composition. 
     
     
         5 . A gasoline fuel composition according to  claim 1  wherein the gasoline blending components comprise from 5 to 20 vol % of catalytic cracked tops naphtha, based on the gasoline fuel composition. 
     
     
         6 . A gasoline fuel composition according to  claim 1  wherein the gasoline blending components comprise from 15 to 30 vol % of alkylate, based on the gasoline fuel composition. 
     
     
         7 . A gasoline fuel composition according to  claim 1  wherein the oxygenated hydrocarbon is selected from alcohols, ethers, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         8 . A gasoline fuel composition according to  claim 1  wherein the oxygenated hydrocarbon is an alcohol. 
     
     
         9 . A gasoline fuel composition according to  claim 1  wherein the oxygenated hydrocarbon is an ether. 
     
     
         10 . A gasoline fuel composition according to  claim 1  wherein the oxygenated hydrocarbon is a mixture of alcohols and ethers. 
     
     
         11 . A gasoline fuel composition according to  claim 1  wherein the alcohols are selected from methanol, ethanol, propanol, 2-propanol, butanol, tert-butanol, iso-butanol and 2-butanol, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         12 . A gasoline fuel composition according to  claim 11  wherein the alcohol is ethanol. 
     
     
         13 . A gasoline fuel composition according to  claim 12  where the ethanol is present at a level of from 5% v/v to 10% v/v, based on the total fuel composition. 
     
     
         14 . A gasoline fuel composition according to  claim 9  wherein the ether is ETBE. 
     
     
         15 . Process for preparing a gasoline fuel composition comprising blending (a) gasoline blending components, (b) renewable naphtha at a level of 10 to 30% v/v and (c) oxygenated hydrocarbon at a level of 20% v/v or less, wherein the gasoline blending components comprise (a) 0 to 30% v/v alkylate, (b) from 0% v/v to 15% v/v of isomerate; (c) 0 to 20% v/v catalytic cracked tops naphtha; and (d) 20% to 40% v/v of heavy reformate, wherein the total amount of alkylate, isomerate, catalytic cracked tops and heavy reformate is at least 50% v/v based on the gasoline fuel composition, and wherein the gasoline fuel composition meets the EN228 specification. 
     
     
         16 . A method for for fuelling a spark ignition internal combustion engine, comprising providing a gasoline composition according to  claim 1 , and fuelling the spark ignition combustion engine. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the spark ignition combustion engine is in a passenger car.