Additive for hydrocarbon fuel consisting of non-acidic inorganic compounds of boron and related processes

Abstract

The present invention provides a fuel additive and a process for using and making the fuel additive. The fuel additive includes a non-acidic boron-containing salt in a carrier fluid. The fuel additive enhances combustion by increasing fuel efficiency or decreased pollutant output in an exhaust gas resulting from combustion of the fuel with the fuel additive.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is related to and claims priority and benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 673,907, filed Apr. 22, 2005, titled “Additive For Hydrocarbon Fuel Consisting of Non-Acidic Inorganic Compounds of Boron and Related Processes,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of fuel additives, and in particular, to a boron-containing additive for hydrocarbon fuels used to enhance efficiency and / or reduce pollution. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Many hydrocarbon fuels have been used, each with its own advantages and drawbacks. Examples of such fuels include gasoline, natural gas, diesel, kerosene, jet fuel, LPG, heavy distillates, bunker fuel, ethanol, coal, other solid hydrocarbon fuels and the like. Chemical compounds have been used as fuel additives over the past century to improve various parameters, such as octane number, o...

Examples

example 1

Preparation of Boron-Containing Aqueous Parent Solution

[0025] Charged 83.5 grams of ammonium pentaborate octahydrate (NH4B5O8−8H20; mol wt 544.3 grams / mole)) was added to 417.7 grams of deionized water. The mixture was heated with stirring to 80° C. until all of the salt had dispersed. The solution remained clear at 80° C. and contained 1.8% weight boron.

example 2

Preparation of the Boron-Containing Dispersion Fluid

[0026] To 1200 grams of a mineral oil basestock, in a 4-liter Erlenmeyer flask, was added 90 grams of Lubrizol 400A, a proprietary additive package containing a mixture of dispersants, and 180 grams of kerosene. The mixture was stirred at ambient temperature until clear solution was obtained. To the oil solution was added 166.0 grams of the boron-containing aqueous parent dispersion prepared in Example 1. The two solutions were mixed together using a high speed hand mixture to form a water-in-oil emulsion. The emulsion was transferred to a 3-liter round bottom flask equipped with agitator and Dean-Starke trap with condenser. The mixture was heated with agitation to a maximum temperature of 150° C. over a period of about one hour to remove the water. The result was a dispersion of the borate salt in the oil matrix. The final water content was 6,480 ppm with a final theoretical boron content of 1,827 ppm.

example 3

Preparation of Boron-Containing Two Cycle Engine Fuel Treatment

[0027] A lubricating oil suitable for dilution with gasoline and use as two cycle engine fuel was prepared by mixing the boron containing dispersion fluid of Example 2 with Tufflo 6036, a proprietary additive package containing various detergents and dispersants to a final boron content of about 300 ppm. Fuel was then added to the mixture at a 50:1 ratio to provide a final boron content of about 6 ppm.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is related to and claims priority and benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 673,907, filed Apr. 22, 2005, titled “Additive For Hydrocarbon Fuel Consisting of Non-Acidic Inorganic Compounds of Boron and Related Processes,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of fuel additives, and in particular, to a boron-containing additive for hydrocarbon fuels used to enhance efficiency and / or reduce pollution. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Many hydrocarbon fuels have been used, each with its own advantages and drawbacks. Examples of such fuels include gasoline, natural gas, diesel, kerosene, jet fuel, LPG, heavy distillates, bunker fuel, ethanol, coal, other solid hydrocarbon fuels and the like. Chemical compounds have been used as fuel additives over the past century to improve various parameters, such as octane number, o...

Examples

example 1

Preparation of Boron-Containing Aqueous Parent Solution

[0025] Charged 83.5 grams of ammonium pentaborate octahydrate (NH4B5O8−8H20; mol wt 544.3 grams / mole)) was added to 417.7 grams of deionized water. The mixture was heated with stirring to 80° C. until all of the salt had dispersed. The solution remained clear at 80° C. and contained 1.8% weight boron.

example 2

Preparation of the Boron-Containing Dispersion Fluid

[0026] To 1200 grams of a mineral oil basestock, in a 4-liter Erlenmeyer flask, was added 90 grams of Lubrizol 400A, a proprietary additive package containing a mixture of dispersants, and 180 grams of kerosene. The mixture was stirred at ambient temperature until clear solution was obtained. To the oil solution was added 166.0 grams of the boron-containing aqueous parent dispersion prepared in Example 1. The two solutions were mixed together using a high speed hand mixture to form a water-in-oil emulsion. The emulsion was transferred to a 3-liter round bottom flask equipped with agitator and Dean-Starke trap with condenser. The mixture was heated with agitation to a maximum temperature of 150° C. over a period of about one hour to remove the water. The result was a dispersion of the borate salt in the oil matrix. The final water content was 6,480 ppm with a final theoretical boron content of 1,827 ppm.

example 3

Preparation of Boron-Containing Two Cycle Engine Fuel Treatment

[0027] A lubricating oil suitable for dilution with gasoline and use as two cycle engine fuel was prepared by mixing the boron containing dispersion fluid of Example 2 with Tufflo 6036, a proprietary additive package containing various detergents and dispersants to a final boron content of about 300 ppm. Fuel was then added to the mixture at a 50:1 ratio to provide a final boron content of about 6 ppm.