Combustible Mixed Butanol Fuels

Abstract

A fuel composition including mixed butanols, such as for example, 2-butanol, iso-butanol and tert-butanol, preferably 2-butanol and tert-butanol is provided. Methods of preparing and using the mixed butanols composition as combustible neat fuels and/or oxygenate fuel constituents in gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, aviation gasoline, heating oil, bunker oil, and the like are also provided.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 222,374, filed on Jul. 1, 2009, which hereby is incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to a fuel component and composition and an octane enhancer, including the method of creating the same.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Internal combustion engines are commonly used on mobile platforms, in remote areas or in lawn and garden tools. There are various types of internal combustion engines. Spark type engines compress volatile fuels, such as gasoline, before ignition. Compression type engines take in air and compress it to generate the heat necessary to ignite the fuel, such as diesel.[0006]When a fuel (gasoline or diesel) is combusted, it produces pollutants in the form of hydrocarbons (HC), sulfuric oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monox...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0023]In the current invention, there is an absence of substantial amounts of long chain alcohols. Long chain alcohols, such as octanol and higher, are also absent. The mixed butanols are effective to raise octane rate in the absence of dodecanol, a commonly used octane booster, or other expensive oxygenates.

Problems solved by technology

In addition, fuels in warm climates tend to evaporate due to the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Unfortunately, at that time, many of the elastomeric engine seals, hoses and gasket components were designed only for gasoline or diesel and deteriorated with the use of ethanol.

Further limitations exist with respect to the use of grain-based fuels.

For example, grain ethanol is expensive to produce.

Furthermore, producing sufficient quantities of grain ethanol to satisfy the needs of the transportation industry is not practical because food crops and feed crops are and have been diverted into fuel.

However, long chain alcohols are relatively expensive to produce.

The methanol-based and ethanol-based diesel also suffer from the drawback that they need other additives, such as long chain alcohol, alkyl esters and fatty acids to maintain a minimum Cetane number above 40 and to assure the diesel burns efficiently.

MTBE is itself a pollutant, having an objectionable and strong odor and taste and having been classified as a potential human carcinogen.

MTBE leakage from underground storage tanks has created a demand for an alternative product, particularly as MTBE is soluble in water (42 g / L @ 25° C.) and is low in biodegradability thereby polluting ground water.

The industry is replacing MTBE with the use of fermented grain ethanol, but as discussed above, producing the necessary quantities of grain ethanol to replace MTBE is problematic in specific regions.

MMT is able to increase octane but it increases emissions, which may have an adverse effect on health and exhaust catalytic conversion systems.