Biodiesel fuel additive

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a composition and method for decreasing the emissions from combustion of fuel that contains biodiesel, where the composition contains at least one ignition accelerator and at least one plant extract or synthetic component similar to a portion of a plant extract. The ignition accelerator is preferably a peroxide, for example, di-tert-butyl peroxide. The composition may optionally contain meadowfoam oil or jojoba oil. The composition may also enhance the lubricity of the fuel that contains biodiesel.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 322,048, filed on Dec. 29, 2005, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 171,507, filed Jun. 12, 2002, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 084,603, filed Feb. 26, 2002, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 278,011, filed Mar. 22, 2001; and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 084,838, filed Feb. 26, 2002, which claims priority to International Patent Application No. PCT / US01 / 40509, filed on Apr. 12, 2001 under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), which was published by the International Bureau in English on Oct. 25, 2001, which designates the U.S. and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 197,788, filed Apr. 14, 2000.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to a composition and a method for decreasing emissions from combustion of di...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] One aspect of the present invention involves a fuel additive for reducing the pollutant emission produced during the combustion of fuel comprising biodiesel. In one embodiment, there is a fuel additive for biodiesel fuel, the fuel additive comprising: a first component comprising an ignition accelerator; and, a second component selected from the group consisting of a plant extract, a synthetic form of a plant extract, and a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the ignition accelerator comprises a peroxide. In some embodiments, the peroxide is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, benzoyl peroxide, di-tert-butyl peroxide, cumene hydroperoxide, di-oleal peroxide, soybean hydroperoxide, di-ethyl peroxide and any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the peroxide comprises di-tert-butyl peroxide. In some embodiments, the fuel additive further comprises a third component, the third component comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of long chain fatty acids, long chain fatty esters, and any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the fuel additive comprises a synthetic long chain fatty acid, a synthetic long chain fatty ester, or both a synthetic long chain fatty acid and a synthetic long chain fatty ester. In some embodiments, the third component further comprises an oil selected from the group consisting of meadowfoam oil, jojoba oil, and a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the fuel additive further comprises a solvent. In some embodiments, the solvent comprises an aromatic solvent. In some embodiments, the fuel additive further comprises an alkyl nitrate. In some embodiments comprising an alkyl nitrate, the alkyl nitrate comprises 2-ethylhexylnitrate. In some embodiments, the plant extract comprises a green extract of a plant. In some embodiments comprising a green extract, the green extract is chlorophyll. In some embodiments, the plant extract comprises an extract of a plant of the Leguminosae family. In some embodiments, the second component is selected from the group consisting of beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, a carotenoid, a chlorophyll, a color body, isomixtene, and any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the plant extract comprises one or more chlorophylls. In some embodiments, the fuel additive has a ratio of chlorophyll a to chlorophyll b of approximately 0.1 to approximately 80. In some embodiments, the second component comprises chlorophyll and carotenoid. In some embodiments, the fuel additive has a ratio of chlorophyll to carotenoid of approximately 0.1 to approximately 100. In some embodiments, the fuel additive further comprises a stabilizing component. In some embodiments having a stabilizing compound, the stabilizing component comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of: 2,2,4-trimethyl-6-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline; ethoxyquinoline; 2-tert-butylphenol; 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol; 2-tert-butyl-4-n-butylphenol; 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenol; 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-n-butylphenol; 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-methylphenol; 2,6-di-t-butylphenol; 2,2′-methylene-bis(6-t-butyl-4-methylphenol); n-octadecyl 3-(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate; 1,1,3-tris(3-t-butyl-6-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) butane; pentaerythrityltetrakis[3-(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate]; di-n-octadecyl(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)phosphonate; 2,4,6-tris(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl) mesitylene; tris(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)isocyanurate; N,N′-diphenylphenylenediamine; p octyldiphenylamine; p,p dioctyldiphenylamine; N-phenyl-1 -naphthylamine; N-phenyl-2-naphthylamine; N-(p dodecyl)phenyl-2-naphthylamine; di-1 -naphthylamine; and di-2naphthylamine; phenothazines; N-alkylphenothiazines; imino(bisbenzyl); 6-(t-butyl)phenol; 2,6-di-(t-butyl)phenol; 4-methyl-2,6-di-(t-butyl) phenol; 4,4′-methylenebis(—2,6-di-(t-butyl)phenol); a diphenylamine; a dinaphthylamine; and a phenylnaphthylamine.

[0012] In another aspect of the present invention, there is a method of decreasing pollutant emissions in the combustion of biodiesel fuel comprising combusting a fuel comprising: combining the biodiesel fuel with a fuel additive, the fuel additive comprising: a first component comprising an ignition accelerator; and a second component selected from the group consisting of a plant extract, a synthetic form of a plant extract, and mixtures thereof.

[0013] In another aspect of the present invention, there is a method of increasing lubricity of a fuel comprising biodiesel comprising: adding an additive to said fuel comprising biodiesel, said additive comprising: a first component comprising an ignition accelerator; a second component selected from the group consisting of a plant extract, a synthetic form of a plant extract, and mixtures thereof; and, at least one oil selected from the group consisting of meadowfoam oil, jojoba oil, and mixtures thereof.

Problems solved by technology

When such hydrocarbon fuels are combusted, a variety of pollutants are generated.

As a result, emissions of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide are normally low.

However, diesel exhaust contains relatively high levels of nitrogen oxides and particulates.