Low-Temperature Fluidity Improver for Biodiesel Fuel

Abstract

Provided is a low-temperature fluidity improver capable of efficiently improving the low-temperature fluidity of a biodiesel fuel. The low-temperature fluidity improver for biodiesel fuels includes a specific aromatic carboxylic acid-based compound.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to a low-temperature fluidity improver for biodiesel fuels containing a fatty acid methyl ester.BACKGROUND ART[0002]Fossil fuels such as gasoline, light oil, and kerosene have been mainly used as fuel oils. However, the consumption of those fuels results in the emission of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, and such emissions are considered as a main cause for environmental problems such as global warming. In view of the foregoing, various methods have been proposed for reducing the emissions of carbon dioxide to the environment.[0003]The use of biofuels has been proposed as one of the methods. Biofuels are fuel oils obtained mainly from plants, and they either 100% ethanol, methanol, fatty acid methyl ester or the like, or mixtures with fossil fuels for use in automobiles and the like. Since biofuels are produced from plants that consume carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, even when biofuels emit carbon dioxide to the atmosphere by co...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015]An effect of the present invention is to provide a low-temperature fluidity improver capable of efficiently improving the low-temperature fluidity of a biodiesel fuel.EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0016]A low-temperature fluidity improver for a biodiesel fuel of the present invention includes a component (A) formed of a compound represented by the general formula (1) and a component (B) formed of a compound represented by the general formula (2):wherein R1 and R3 each represent a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group which may contain one or more atoms selected from sulfur atoms, oxygen atoms, and nitrogen atoms, R2 and R4 each represent a hydrogen atom, a carboxyl group, or a hydrocarbon group which may contain one or more atoms selected from sulfur atoms, oxygen atoms and nitrogen atoms, and R2 and R3 or R3 and R4 may be bonded to each other to form a ring, provided that R2 and R4 do not simultaneously represent carboxyl groups; andwherein R5 and R6 each represent a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group which has 8 to 22 carbon atoms and which may contain oxygen atoms and / or nitrogen atoms, provided that R5 and R6 do not simultaneously represent hydrogen atoms.

[0017]In the compound represented by the above general formula (1), R1 to R4 each represent a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group which may contain one or more atoms selected from sulfur atoms, oxygen atoms, and nitrogen atoms, and further, R2 and R4 may each represent a carboxyl group. Examples of those groups include hydrocarbon groups such as an alkyl group, alkenyl group, cycloalkyl group and aryl group; and hydrocarbon groups containing one or more groups selected from an ether group, ester group, amide group, hydroxyl group, thiol group and thioether group.

[0018]The alkyl group has 1 to 22, or preferably 1 to 12, carbon atoms, and examples of the group include a methyl group, ethyl group, propyl group, isopropyl group, butyl group, tert-butyl group, amyl group, isoamyl group, hexyl group, heptyl group, isoheptyl group, octyl group, isooctyl group, 2-ethylhexyl group, nonyl group, isononyl group, decyl group, dodecyl (lauryl) group, tridecyl group, tetradecyl (myristyl) group, pentadecyl group, hexadecyl (palmityl) group, heptadecyl group, octadecyl (stearyl) group, eicosyl group, docosyl group and the like.

[0019]The alkenyl group has 1 to 22, or preferably 1 to 12, carbon atoms, and examples of the group include a vinyl group, 1-methylethenyl group, 2-methylethenyl group, propenyl group, butenyl group, isobutenyl group, pentenyl group, hexenyl group, heptenyl group, octenyl group, decenyl group, pentadecenyl group, octadecenyl group and the like.

[0020]The cycloalkyl group has 5 to 10, or preferably 5 to 8, carbon atoms, and examples of the group include a cyclohexyl group, cyclopentyl group, cycloheptyl group, methylcyclopentyl group, methylcyclohexyl group, methylcycloheptyl group, cyclopentenyl group, cyclohexenyl group, cycloheptenyl group, methylcyclopetenyl group, methylcyclohexenyl group, methylcycloheptenyl group and the like.

Problems solved by technology

However, the consumption of those fuels results in the emission of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, and such emissions are considered as a main cause for environmental problems such as global warming.

However, since biodiesel fuels containing fatty acid methyl esters have a high pour point, and the fluidity of the fuels deteriorates when the fatty acid methyl ester is blended at a high concentration or when the concentration is low but the fuels are used in cold climates, the clogging of filters or pumps sometimes occur, and therefore, the widespread use of biodiesel fuels requires an improvement in low-temperature fluidity of the biodiesel fuels.

Images