Gasoline composition

Abstract

This invention relates to a fuel composition comprising (i) a low sulphur fuel having a sulphur content of less than 30 ppm, a bromine number of less than 10 and an ultraviolet absorbance at 319 nm is below 0.15 and (ii) an effective amount of an ashless friction reducing additive which is a fatty acid having 10-30 carbon atoms or a derivative thereof. The fuel of the specified characteristics shown improved response to the friction reducing additive in respect of its lubricity performance.

1 . A composition comprising (i) a low sulphur gasoline having a sulphur content of less than 30 ppm, a bromine number of less than 10 and an ultraviolet absorbance at 319 nm below 0.15 and (ii) less than 1000 mg per kg of the low sulphur gasoline of an ashless friction reducing additive which is a fatty acid having 10-30 carbon atoms or a derivative thereof selected from the alkylamine salts, alkylamides and alkylesters of such acids and oligomers thereof.  
     
     
         2 . A composition according to  claim 1  wherein the gasoline has a bromine number below 5 ppm.  
     
     
         3 . A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the gasoline has a sulphur content below 20 ppm.  
     
     
         4 . A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the gasoline has an UV absorbance at 319 nm of below 0.07.  
     
     
         5 . A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the fatty acid is derived from naturally occurring fats and oils and oligomers thereof.  
     
     
         6 . A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the ashless friction reducing additive is an alkylamine salts of a fatty acid derived from naturally occurring fats and oils and oligomers thereof.  
     
     
         7 . A composition according to any one of claims  1 - 4  wherein the ashless friction reducing additive is an alkylamide of a fatty acid derived from naturally occurring fats and oils and oligomers thereof.  
     
     
         8 . A composition according to any one of the preceding claims  1 - 4  wherein the ashless friction reducing additive is an alkylester of a fatty acid derived from naturally occurring fats and oils and oligomers thereof.  
     
     
         9 . A composition according to  claim 6  wherein the alkylamine carboxylate salt is n-butylamine oleate as shown in the formula below or a derivative thereof  
       CH 3 —(CH 2 ) 7 —CH:CH—(CH 2 ) 7 —C(O)O −+ NH 3 C 4 H 9    
     
     
         10 . A composition according to any one of claims  1 - 4  wherein the long chain fatty acid or a derivative thereof is a substance comprising tall oil acid or derivatives thereof.  
     
     
         11 . A composition according to  claim 10  wherein the substance containing fatty acid is TOLAD® 9103 (ex Petrolite Ltd).  
     
     
         12 . A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the treat level of the friction reducing additive is from 1-500 mg per kg of gasoline.  
     
     
         13 . A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the treat level of the friction reducing additive is from 4-200 ppm based on the gasoline.  
     
     
         14 . A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the treat level of the friction reducing additive is from 10-100 ppm based on the gasoline.  
     
     
         15 . A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the treat level of the friction reducing additive is from 25-75 ppm based on the gasoline.