Mannich Base and Amine Antioxidant Composition for Gasoline Stabilization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Motor gasoline fuel deteriorates due to oxidation and polymerization, leading to gum formation, filter blockage, and color darkening, which existing antioxidants like phenolic and amine-based additives fail to effectively control, especially in the presence of copper, and are costly or inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A synergistic combination of Mannich bases derived from commercially available p-substituted phenols and Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) with amine-based antioxidants is used to improve oxidation stability, reduce gum formation, and inhibit copper corrosion in gasoline fuel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If phenolic antioxidants (e.g., DTBP) are used to stabilize gasoline fuel, then oxidation stability is improved, but gum formation control is insufficient in the presence of copper and cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxidation stabilityVSAvoidgum formation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines phenolic antioxidants with amine-based additives to create a composite antioxidant system. This synergistic combination enhances gum formation control and copper corrosion inhibition while maintaining oxidation stability, overcoming the limitations of phenolic antioxidants used alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the chemical structure of phenolic antioxidants by introducing specific substituents (e.g., nitroalkane groups, alkyl chains) to enhance their effectiveness. These structural parameter changes improve the ability to control gum formation and inhibit copper corrosion while maintaining cost-effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If amine-based antioxidants are used to improve oxidation stability, then fuel quality is enhanced, but cost increases and effectiveness against copper corrosion is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel qualityVSAvoidcopper corrosion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite system combining amine-based antioxidants with phenolic antioxidants. This synergy enhances copper corrosion inhibition and gum formation control while maintaining the oxidation stability benefits of amine-based additives.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The phenolic antioxidant component acts as an intermediary that specifically addresses copper corrosion and gum formation, while the amine-based component maintains oxidation stability. Together they provide comprehensive protection that neither component could achieve alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If secondary refining operations (FCC, VB, Coker) are intensified to meet growing demand, then fuel production increases, but unsaturated compound levels increase leading to faster deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel productionVSAvoidfuel stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent develops antioxidant compositions with optimized chemical parameters including specific substituent groups and molecular structures that are particularly effective against unsaturated compounds. This allows effective stabilization even when unsaturated compound levels are high due to intensive secondary refining.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The synergistic combination of phenolic and amine-based antioxidants provides comprehensive protection against the specific degradation pathways initiated by unsaturated compounds, enabling stable fuel production from intensive refining processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Ease of manufacture

If copper-containing materials are used in fuel systems, then system cost is reduced and functionality is improved, but peroxide formation accelerates leading to rapid fuel deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem costVSAvoidfuel stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The phenolic antioxidant component acts as an intermediary that specifically intercepts and neutralizes copper-catalyzed oxidation pathways and peroxide formation, protecting the fuel system while allowing copper materials to be used for their beneficial mechanical and economic properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The antioxidant composition proactively prevents copper-catalyzed degradation by establishing a protective chemical environment that inhibits peroxide formation at the source, countering the harmful effect before it can accelerate fuel deterioration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The combination significantly reduces gum formation, improves oxidation stability, and inhibits copper corrosion, achieving better performance than using either component alone, while being cost-effective and effective in controlling water emulsification and color degradation.

Implementation Method 1

the process of fuel degradation is very complex in view of the variety of hydrocarbons involved in it. It involves free radical reactions, which are characterized by three distinct stages, viz. initiation, propagation and termination

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFree radical reactions: Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

Unsaturated compounds such as olefins and dienes contribute to instability by auto-oxidation and/or polymerization reactions in the presence of oxygen

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 3

If even trace amount of copper is present in the fuel, it shall accelerate the rapid formation of peroxides

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalytic effect: Catalysis

Implementation Method 4

If even trace amount of copper is present in the fuel, it shall accelerate the rapid formation of peroxides. The peroxides thus formed shall attack the copper parts of fuel system

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPeroxide formation: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentUS7470292B2Antioxidant composition for motor gasoline
Publication Date: 2008.12.30 INDIAN OIL CORP LTD

AI summary

An antioxidant composition effective for stabilizing gasoline and gasoline components contains from approximately 50-95% by weight of at least one Mannich base and from approximately 5-50% by weight of at least one amine. The Mannich base is derived from p-substituted phenols or from cashew nut shell liquid.