Fuel composition with low impact in terms of co2 emissions and use thereof, in particular, in new vehicles

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fuel composition comprising: (i) from 70 to 95% by weight of a mixture of hydrocarbons comprising: a) from 5 to 30% by weight of aromatic compounds; b) from 50 to 90% by weight of non-cyclic paraffins containing at least 4 carbon atoms made up of a mixture of n-paraffins and isoparaffins with a weight ratio of the quantity of iso-paraffins to the quantity of n-paraffins of 8 or higher; and c) from 1 to 15% by weight of naphthenes; and (ii) from 5 to 30% by weight of one or more ethers, this composition having a density at 15°C, measured according to standard EN ISO 12185, within the range from 720 to 745 kg / m3 and an olefin content of 2% or less by weight relative to the total weight of the composition. This composition is useful for powering a spark-ignition engine, and in particular as an "OEM" fuel for vehicles equipped with new engines.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE: Composition of fuel with low CO2 emissions impact, and its use particularly in new vehicles

[0003] The present invention relates to a fuel composition intended for vehicles comprising a spark-ignition engine (or gasoline engine), and which has particular properties.

[0004] The invention also relates to the use of such a composition for fueling a spark-ignition engine, both in a conventional vehicle, in particular an automobile, and in a competition vehicle. The invention particularly relates to the use of this composition as the first fuel in a new engine.

[0005] Gasoline fuels marketed in Europe and usable in spark-ignition engines, particularly those of motor vehicles, must meet the specifications of the EN 228 standard, which defines a certain number of criteria such as, for example, a motor octane number (MON) greater than 85 and a research octane number (RON) of at least 95. As is well known, the octane number measures the resistance of a fuel used in a spark-ignition engine to self-ignition.

[0006] These fuels are suitable for the vast majority of automobile engines.

[0007] However, special requirements arise when the gasoline fuel is a so-called "original equipment" fuel, or first fill fuel, i.e. a fuel intended to power a new engine, such as typically an engine fitted to a new vehicle.

[0008] A new engine is an engine that has not yet been used since its manufacture.

[0009] Particularly when leaving the motor vehicle assembly line, the tanks of new vehicles are filled in whole or in part with original equipment fuel, which corresponds to the very first fuel that powers the engine when the vehicle is put into circulation.

[0010] These original equipment fuels must meet very specific technical requirements.

[0011] A first set of requirements is imposed by the numerous starts and stops of vehicles carried out without the vehicle being driven off the assembly line, and which must be done without generating any engine fouling. Under these conditions, original equipment fuels must protect new engines, guaranteeing their cleanliness and proper functioning until the vehicle is delivered to the first customer.

[0012] In addition, after manufacture, motor vehicles are often stored and shipped around the world before they are first put into circulation. Original equipment fuel is thus stored for long periods, often several months, in the vehicle before being consumed by the vehicle's end user. Original equipment fuel must therefore have excellent long-term storage stability, including perfect oxidation stability.

[0013] Furthermore, the vehicle is often put into circulation in a place of sale very far from its place of manufacture: these may be different continents, with fundamentally different climatic conditions. Starting the vehicle by the end user should, however, pose no difficulty. For this, the original equipment fuel must allow immediate starting and good running of the vehicle regardless of its place of sale, both in hot regions and very cold countries.

[0014] Finally, since engines are started and stopped several times on assembly lines and until their final marketing, operators working on assembly lines are particularly exposed to emissions generated by fuel combustion. For this reason, it is also important that the original equipment fuel has a high level of safety. In particular, the health, safety and environmental constraints imposed by certain car manufacturers can be high in order to avoid any toxicity of the fuel for operators who have to handle it regularly.

[0015] Therefore, original equipment fuels are subject to technical, logistical and environmental requirements that are far superior to conventional fuels sold in service stations.

[0016] Furthermore, for all vehicles, and particularly those intended for consumer applications, there is an increasing desire to use fuels formulated from plant-based bases, particularly so-called "bio-sourced" bases, in order to address environmental concerns and limit the use of fossil resources. Current environmental concerns are therefore pushing consumers to seek more environmentally friendly fuels.

[0017] However, the use of fuel compositions from bio-sourced bases must not be at the expense of fuel performance.

[0018] There is therefore a need to develop new fuel compositions intended to power spark-ignition engines which meet the requirements of modern vehicles, while being formulated from bases and / or compounds of renewable origin, also called bio-sourced bases and compounds.

[0019] There is also a need to formulate fuels that meet the specific requirements of original equipment fuels, which can also be formulated from bio-based bases.

[0020] As is well known in the prior art, octane-enhancing additives (or octane boosters) are typically added to gasoline-type fuel compositions. Organometallic compounds, particularly including iron, lead, or manganese, are well-known octane-enhancing agents.

[0021] Thus, tetraethyl lead (TEL) has been widely used as a very effective octane improver. However, in most parts of the world, TEL and other organometallic compounds can now only be used in fuels in very small quantities, if at all, because they can be toxic, cause engine damage, and are harmful to the environment.

[0022] Non-metal-based octane improvers include oxygenates (e.g., ethers and alcohols) and aromatic amines. However, these additives also suffer from various disadvantages. For example, N-methylaniline (NMA), an aromatic amine, must be used at a relatively high treatment rate (1.5–2% by mass of additive / mass of fuel base) to have a significant effect on fuel octane. NMA can also be toxic.

[0023] For example, US-A-4812146 describes unleaded gasoline fuel compositions for racing engines which comprise at least four components selected from butane, isopentane, toluene, MTBE (methyl tert-butyl ether) and an alkylate.

[0024] Document WO2010 / 014501 describes unleaded gasoline fuel compositions comprising at least 45% by volume of branched paraffins, at most 34% by volume of one or more mono- and di-alkylated benzenes, from 5 to 6% by volume of at least one linear paraffin having from 3 to 5 carbon atoms (denoted C3-C5), one or more alkanols having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms (denoted C2-C4), in an amount sufficient to increase the AKI (Anti Knock Index) i.e. (RON+MON) / 2 by at least 93. These compositions are presented as having high torque and maximum power.

[0025] Thus, we are looking for fuel compositions with good intrinsic properties, that is to say without it necessarily being necessary to add additives improving the octane number such as those described above.

[0026] Continuing its research into the development of fuel formulations for gasoline engines, the Applicant has now discovered a composition which makes it possible to meet the above objectives.

[0027] The present invention therefore relates to a fuel composition comprising:

[0028] (i) from 70 to 95% by mass of a mixture of hydrocarbons comprising: a) from 5 to 30% by mass of aromatic compounds; b) from 50 to 90% by mass of non-cyclic paraffins containing at least 4 carbon atoms, consisting of a mixture of n-paraffins and isoparaffins with a mass ratio of the quantity of iso-paraffins to the quantity of n-paraffins greater than or equal to 8; and c) from 1 to 15% by mass of naphthenes; and

[0029] (ii) from 5 to 30% by mass of one or more ethers, this composition having a density at 15°C, measured according to standard EN ISO 12185, in the range from 720 to 745 kg / m 3 and an olefin content of less than or equal to 2% by mass, relative to the total mass of the composition.

[0030] The compositions according to the invention are intended to power spark-ignition engines (or gasoline engines). These engines can be present in any vehicle equipped with a thermal engine, including conventional vehicles as well as rechargeable and non-rechargeable hybrid electric vehicles. The compositions according to the invention are also useful for powering a compression-ignition engine with mixed carburetion (or “dual fuel” engine).

[0031] These compositions comply with the specifications of standard EN 228. In particular, they have high RON and MON octane ratings.

[0032] The compositions according to the invention are particularly suitable for uses in which the constraints and levels of requirement are extremely high, for example in uses in vehicles equipped with new engines. Thus, the compositions according to the invention constitute particularly high-performance so-called original equipment fuels.

[0033] They are extremely stable in storage and withstand very wide temperature variations. They can be used in a wide variety of climatic conditions, from hot to very cold regions. They do not clog engines and are very safe.

[0034] The composition according to the invention also has significant advantages for uses other than in vehicles equipped with new engines, such as for example so-called general public uses, in particular for light vehicles (or LVs). It must, where appropriate, meet the specifications of standard EN 228.

[0035] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the composition according to the invention may be, in whole or in part, prepared from biomass and in particular from bases and / or compounds of plant origin(s). In particular, the composition according to the invention may contain at least 30% by mass of one or more biosourced bases, preferably at least 50% by mass, more preferably at least 80% by mass and better still at least 90% by mass of one or more biosourced bases. According to a particular embodiment, the composition according to the invention is entirely composed of biosourced bases (content greater than 99.9% by mass).

[0036] Thus, it allows a very substantial gain in carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent compared to a fossil base, of the order of at least 20% compared to a conventional fuel not containing hydrocarbons from biomass such as a fuel based on hydrocarbons of fossil (oil) origin.

[0037] This CO2 equivalent gain is calculated over the entire life cycle of the fuel composition, from its manufacture to its use. It corresponds to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and can be determined by life cycle analysis, in accordance with ISO 14040-44.

[0038] The composition according to the invention also makes it possible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This reduction is determined in accordance with the method defined in Annex V Part C of EU Directive 2018 / 2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

[0039] The invention also relates to the use of the fuel composition defined above for supplying a spark-ignition engine.

[0040] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the composition according to the invention is used as a first-fill fuel for a new engine, i.e. as a "first-fit" fuel. In other words, the composition is used to fuel a new engine of a motor vehicle. Other objects, characteristics, aspects and advantages of the invention will appear even more clearly on reading the description and examples which follow.

[0041] In what follows, and unless otherwise indicated, the limits of a domain of values ​​are included in this domain, notably in the expressions: "between... and...", "in the range from... to...", and "ranging from... to...".

[0042] Furthermore, the expressions "at least one" and "at least" used in this description are respectively equivalent to the expressions "one or more" and "greater than or equal to".

[0043] Finally, in a manner known per se, a CN compound is a compound containing N carbon atoms in its chemical structure.

[0044] Fuel composition

[0045] The composition according to the invention contains a mixture (i) of hydrocarbons containing: a) from 5 to 30% by mass of aromatic compounds; b) from 50 to 90% by mass of non-cyclic paraffins containing at least 4 carbon atoms; and c) from 1 to 15% by mass of naphthenes.

[0046] These contents are expressed in mass, relative to the mass of the mixture (i) of hydrocarbons.

[0047] The mixture (i) of hydrocarbons represents from 70 to 95% by mass, relative to the total mass of the fuel composition, preferably from 75 to 85% by mass, relative to the total mass of the fuel composition.

[0048] The aromatic compound(s) (i)a) are preferably chosen from alkylbenzenes comprising from 7 to 12 carbon atoms. By alkylbenzenes is meant, in a manner known per se, benzene derivatives in which one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by one or more alkyl groups.

[0049] The aromatic compound(s) may in particular be chosen from toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes (and in particular 1,2-dimethylbenzene or ortho-xylene, 1,3-dimethylbenzene or meta-xylene and 1,4-dimethylbenzene or para-xylene), 1-ethyl-3-methylbenzene, mesitylene (1,3,5-trimethylbenzene), 1-ethyl-3,5-dimethylbenzene, and mixtures of these compounds.

[0050] Particularly preferred are mixtures of aromatic compounds, and more particularly mixtures of alkyl-benzenes comprising from 8 to 10 carbon atoms such as ethylbenzene, xylenes (and in particular 1,2-dimethylbenzene or ortho-xylene, 1,3-dimethylbenzene or meta-xylene and 1,4-dimethylbenzene or para-xylene), 1-ethyl-3-methylbenzene, mesitylene (1,3,5-trimethylbenzene), and 1-ethyl-3,5-dimethylbenzene.

[0051] The content of aromatic compounds (i)a) represents from 5 to 30% by mass, preferably from 10 to 30% by mass, better still from 15 to 25% by mass, and better still from 18 to 22% by mass, relative to the mass of the hydrocarbon mixture (i).

[0052] The composition according to the invention further contains non-cyclic paraffins (i)b) containing at least 4 carbon atoms.

[0053] The term "paraffins" denotes, in a manner known per se, branched alkanes (also called iso-paraffins or iso-alkanes) and unbranched alkanes (also called n-paraffins or n-alkanes). According to the invention, the non-cyclic paraffins (i)b) consist entirely of a mixture of n-paraffins and isoparaffins with a mass ratio of the quantity of iso-paraffins to the quantity of n-paraffins greater than or equal to 8.

[0054] Said paraffins (i)b) are preferably chosen from those comprising from 5 to 12 carbon atoms, more preferably from 5 to 10 carbon atoms.

[0055] Particularly preferred are mixtures of n-paraffins and iso-paraffins chosen from those described above, with a mass ratio of the quantity of iso-paraffins to the quantity of n-paraffins greater than or equal to 10, and preferably greater than or equal to 12. According to a preferred embodiment, this ratio is in the range from 8 to 20, preferably from 10 to 18, and better still from 12 to 17.

[0056] The hydrocarbon mixture (i) advantageously contains from 3 to 10% by mass of n-paraffins and from 40 to 87% by mass of iso-paraffins. Preferably, the content of paraffins (i)b) ranges from 50 to 90% by mass, more preferably from 60 to 80% by mass, relative to the mass of the hydrocarbon mixture (i).

[0057] The composition according to the invention further contains naphthenes (i)c).

[0058] The term "naphthenes" is used in a manner known per se to mean cyclic alkanes (or cycloalkanes) containing from 5 to 12 carbon atoms. Preferably, the naphthenes are chosen from cyclic alkanes containing from 5 to 12 carbon atoms, and more preferably from 6 to 9 carbon atoms.

[0059] Preferably, the content of naphthenes(i)c) ranges from 2 to 10% by mass, more preferably from 3 to 6% by mass, and better still from 3 to 5% by mass, relative to the mass of the hydrocarbon mixture (i).

[0060] According to a preferred embodiment, the mixture (i) of hydrocarbons is capable of being obtained at least 20% of its mass from the transformation of vegetable raw materials, preferably at least 30% of its mass, more preferably at least 50% of its mass, more preferably still at least 70% of its mass, and better still at least 80% of its mass.

[0061] In this embodiment, preferably the mixture (i) of hydrocarbons is derived at least 20% of its mass from the transformation of vegetable raw materials, preferably at least 30% of its mass, more preferably at least 50% of its mass, more preferably still at least 70% of its mass, and better still at least 80% of its mass.

[0062] Thus, the mixture (i) advantageously consists entirely or partly of bio-sourced hydrocarbons, and preferably entirely of bio-sourced hydrocarbons. The raw materials of plant origin may be chosen, for example, from cereals (wheat, corn), rapeseed, sunflower, soy, palm oil, sugar cane, beet, plant waste such as, for example, wood waste, straw, bagasse, grape marc, used vegetable cooking oils, algae, lignocellulosic materials.

[0063] The composition according to the invention also contains one or more ethers. Ethers, also called ether-oxides or alkoxy-alkyls, are compounds of formula RO-R', in which R and R', identical or different, represent an alkyl radical, typically a C1 to C7 radical.

[0064] The ether(s) are preferably selected from the following compounds: methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE), methyl tert-amyl ether (TAME), ethyl tert-amyl ether (TAEE), diisopropyl ether (DIPE), and mixtures of these compounds. Particularly preferred are methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE), and mixtures thereof, and even more preferably ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE).

[0065] According to a preferred embodiment, one or more bio-sourced ethers, i.e. of plant origin, are used.

[0066] The composition has an ether(s) content ranging from 5 to 30% by mass, preferably from 15 to 25% by mass, and more preferably from 20 to 25% by mass, relative to the total mass of the fuel composition.

[0067] According to an advantageous embodiment, the composition according to the invention has an olefin content of less than or equal to 1.5% by mass, preferably less than or equal to 1% by mass, relative to the total mass of the fuel composition.

[0068] According to a preferred embodiment, the composition according to the invention comprises at most 1% by mass of benzene, preferably at most 0.5% by mass and better still at most 0.1% by mass of benzene. In other words, its benzene content is less than or equal to 1% by mass, preferably less than or equal to 0.5% by mass and better still less than or equal to 0.1% by mass, relative to the total mass of the composition.

[0069] The composition according to the invention may further comprise one or more alcohols, preferably chosen from mono-alcohols comprising from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, more preferably from mono-alcohols comprising from 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Methanol and ethanol are preferred, ethanol being particularly preferred.

[0070] The composition has a density at 15°C, measured according to EN ISO 12185, in the range of 720 to 745 kg / m 3 . Preferably, the density is in the range of 720 to 730 kg / m 3 .

[0071] According to a preferred embodiment, the composition according to the invention has a final distillation point, measured according to standard EN ISO 3405, greater than 190°C, preferably greater than or equal to 195°C.

[0072] The composition as described above generally has a research octane number (RON number) greater than or equal to 95, preferably greater than or equal to 99, and more preferably greater than or equal to 100, the RON being measured according to standard EN ISO 5164.

[0073] It generally has a motor octane number (MON number) greater than or equal to 85, preferably greater than or equal to 88, and more preferably greater than or equal to 90, the MON being measured according to standard EN ISO 5163.

[0074] The above values ​​relate to the intrinsic octane number of the composition, i.e. without the addition of additional compounds such as octane booster additives.

[0075] In addition to the basic compounds described above, the fuel composition according to the invention may also comprise one or more additives, chosen from those usually used in gasoline fuels.

[0076] In particular, the composition according to the invention may comprise at least one detergent additive ensuring the cleanliness of the intake circuit. Such an additive may for example be chosen from the group consisting of succinimides optionally substituted by a polyisobutylene group, polyetheramines, betaines, Mannich bases and quaternary ammonium salts, for example those described in documents US4171959 and WO2006135881.

[0077] The composition may also comprise at least one lubrication additive or anti-wear agent, in particular (but not limited to) chosen from the group consisting of fatty acids and their ester or amide derivatives, in particular glycerol monooleate, and mono- and polycyclic carboxylic acid derivatives. Examples of such additives are given in the following documents: EP680506, EP860494, WO98 / 04656, EP915944, FR2772783, FR2772784. Other additives may also be incorporated into the fuel composition according to the invention, such as valve recession inhibitor additives and antioxidant additives, octane number improving additives where appropriate.

[0078] The additives described above can be added in an amount ranging, for each of them, from 10 to 5000 ppm by mass, preferably from 50 to 1000 ppm by mass in the fuel composition.

[0079] According to a preferred embodiment, the composition comprises an additive package, i.e. a combination of at least two different additives, advantageously chosen from detergent additives, lubrication additives, anti-valve recession additives and antioxidant additives. These additives are advantageously chosen from those mentioned above.

[0080] The fuel compositions according to the invention have a lead content generally less than or equal to 5 mg / L (present for example in the form of tetraethyl lead) and, preferably, are unleaded, that is to say they do not contain lead or any compound containing lead.

[0081] Preparation of fuel composition

[0082] The composition according to the invention can be prepared by simple mixing of its constituents.

[0083] A non-limiting embodiment comprises the following steps:

[0084] 1) preparation of a mixture of hydrocarbons (i) comprising from 5 to 30% by mass of aromatic compounds, from 50 to 90% by mass of non-cyclic paraffins containing at least 4 carbon atoms consisting of a mixture of n-paraffins and iso-paraffins with a mass ratio of the quantity of iso-paraffins to the quantity of n-paraffins greater than or equal to 8, and from 1 to 15% by mass of naphthenes; then

[0085] 2) mixture of 70 to 95% by mass of said mixture (i) with 5 to 30% by mass of one or more ethers.

[0086] The hydrocarbon mixture (i) preferably comprises one or more bio-sourced bases at least 20% by mass, i.e. at least 20% by mass of the hydrocarbons have been obtained from plant raw materials. More preferably, the hydrocarbon mixture (i) comprises one or more bio-sourced bases at least 30% by mass, more preferably at least 50% by mass, more preferably still at least 70% by mass and better still at least 80% by mass. These quantities are expressed relative to the total mass of the hydrocarbon mixture (i).

[0087] The hydrocarbon mixture (i) may further comprise non-biosourced hydrocarbons, such as hydrocarbons of fossil (petroleum) origin, preferably in a minor quantity, typically less than 80% by mass, preferably less than 70% by mass, more preferably less than 50% by mass, more preferably less than 50% by mass, and better still less than 20% by mass. These quantities are expressed relative to the total mass of the hydrocarbon mixture (i).

[0088] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the mixture of hydrocarbons (i) is entirely made up of one or more bio-sourced bases.

[0089] Preferred bio-sourced bases include those produced from biomass, converted into biohydrocarbons by known catalytic conversion processes.

[0090] Likewise, the ether(s) are preferably derived from biomass.

[0091] Thus, the composition according to the invention can be entirely prepared from raw materials of plant origin.

[0092] Uses

[0093] The invention also relates to the use of the composition as described above for supplying a spark-ignition engine. The engine may be of the direct injection or indirect injection type.

[0094] The fuel composition can be advantageously used both to power an engine of a conventional motor vehicle (known as "general public") and a high-power spark-ignition engine, such as a motor racing vehicle engine. This may in particular be a naturally aspirated or turbocharged engine used in a competition vehicle (circuits or rallies), or a hybrid engine, i.e. a thermal engine coupled to an electric motor, of the rechargeable type (or PHEV vehicle for "Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle") or non-rechargeable type (or HEV vehicle for "Hybrid Electric Vehicle").

[0095] According to a preferred embodiment, the composition according to the invention is used as "original equipment" fuel, that is to say as first fill fuel in a vehicle comprising a new engine. In other words, the composition is used to supply a new engine of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle or not (heavy goods vehicle, utility vehicle, public transport vehicle or other), preferably a motor vehicle.

[0096] The invention also relates to the use of the composition as described above for reducing the emissions of equivalent carbon dioxide, measured by life cycle analysis in accordance with the ISO 14040-44 standard. This reduction is typically determined relative to a fossil reference, in particular an equivalent fuel composition of petroleum origin, such as a composition comprising identical contents of hydrocarbons of fossil origin and the same ether(s) at the same content.

[0097] The invention finally relates to the use of the composition as described above to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, this reduction being determined in accordance with the method defined in Annex V Part C of EU Directive 2018 / 2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

[0098] The following examples are intended only to illustrate the invention, and should not be construed as limiting its scope.

[0099] Examples

[0100] The following examples were carried out using a base B comprising 22% by mass of bio-sourced hydrocarbons resulting from the transformation of bio-alcohol itself resulting from the transformation of biomass.

[0101] Base B has the following composition: [Table 1]

[0102] A fuel composition C was prepared by mixing:

[0103] - 77.6% by mass of base B, and

[0104] - 22.4% by mass of ETBE prepared from ethanol from biomass.

[0105] This composition has a density at 15°C, measured according to standard EN ISO 12185, of 722 kg / m 3 .

[0106] Its final distillation point, measured according to EN ISO 3405, is 195°C.

[0107] It has a research octane number (RON, measured according to EN ISO 5164) of 10 and a motor octane number (MON, measured according to EN ISO 5163) of 92.5.

[0108] Compared to a fuel of equivalent composition in which the hydrocarbons are of petroleum origin (i.e. comprising 77.6% by mass of fossil hydrocarbons and 22.4% by mass of ETBE), the composition C described above allowed a gain of 20% of CO2 equivalents. This gain was calculated by life cycle analysis, in accordance with the ISO 14040-44 standard.

Claims

DEMANDS 1. Fuel composition comprising: (i) 70 to 95% by mass of a hydrocarbon mixture comprising: (a) 5 to 30% by mass of aromatic compounds; (b) 50 to 90% by mass of non-cyclic paraffins containing at least 4 carbon atoms, consisting of a mixture of n-paraffins and isoparaffins with a mass ratio of isoparaffins to n-paraffins greater than or equal to 8; and (c) 1 to 15% by mass of naphthenes; and (ii) 5 to 30% by mass of one or more ethers, this composition having a density at 15°C, measured according to EN ISO 12185, in the range of 720 to 745 kg / m³ 3 , and an olefin content of less than or equal to 2% by mass, relative to the total mass of the composition.

2. Composition according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the mixture (i) of hydrocarbons represents 75 to 85% by mass, relative to the total mass of the fuel composition.

3. Composition according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aromatic compounds (i)a) are selected from alkylbenzenes comprising 7 to 12 carbon atoms, and preferably from mixtures of alkylbenzenes comprising 8 to 10 carbon atoms.

4. Composition according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the content of the aromatic compounds (i)a) ranges from 10 to 30% by mass, preferably from 15 to 25% by mass, and even better from 18 to 22% by mass, relative to the mass of the hydrocarbon mixture (i).

5. Composition according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the non-cyclic paraffins (i)b) are made up of a mixture of n-paraffins and iso-paraffins with a mass ratio of the amount of iso-paraffins to the amount of n-paraffins greater than or equal to 10, preferably greater than or equal to 12.

6. Composition according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mass ratio of the quantity of iso-paraffins to the quantity of n-paraffins is in the range of 8 to 20, preferably 10 to 18, and even better 12 to 17.

7. Composition according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the content of paraffins (i)b) ranges from 60 to 80% by mass, relative to the mass of the hydrocarbon mixture (i).

8. Composition according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the naphthenes (i)c) are selected from cyclic alkanes containing from 5 to 12 carbon atoms, and more preferably from 6 to 9 carbon atoms.

9. Composition according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the content of naphthenes (i)c) ranges from 2 to 10% by mass, preferably from 3 to 6% by mass, and more preferably from 3 to 5% by mass, relative to the mass of the hydrocarbon mixture (i).

10. Composition according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ether(s) are selected from compounds of formula RO-R', in which R and R', identical or different, represent a C1 to C7 alkyl radical; preferably selected from methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE), methyl tert-amyl ether (TAME), ethyl tert-amyl ether (TAEE), diisopropyl ether (DIPE), and mixtures of these compounds; more preferably methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE), and mixtures thereof; and even better ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE).

11. Composition according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that its ether(s) content ranges from 15 to 25% by mass, preferably from 20 to 25% by mass, relative to the total mass of the fuel composition.

12. Composition according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that its olefin content is less or equal to 1.5% by mass, preferably less than or equal to 1% by mass, relative to the total mass of the fuel composition.

13. Composition according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that its benzene content is less than or equal to 1% by mass, preferably less than or equal to 0.5% by mass and more preferably less than 0.1% by mass, relative to the total mass of the fuel composition.

14. Composition according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mixture of hydrocarbons (i) is derived at least 20% by mass from the transformation of vegetable raw materials, preferably at least 30% by mass, more preferably at least 50% by mass, more preferably still at least 70% by mass and better still at least 80% by mass.

15. Use of the composition as defined in any of the preceding claims to power a spark-ignition engine.

16. Use of the composition as defined in any one of claims 1 to 14, as first fill fuel in a vehicle comprising a new engine, preferably a motor vehicle.

17. Use of the composition as defined in claim 14 to reduce carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, measured by life cycle analysis in accordance with ISO 14040-44, compared to a fuel of equivalent composition in which the hydrocarbons are of petroleum origin.

Images