Fuel additive, additive-containing fuel compositions and method of manufacture

Abstract

The present invention relates to fuel additives, fuel compositions and methods of manufacture in which the additives are provided to impart desired properties to fuels. These properties include, without limitation, reduction of nitrogen oxide and particulate emissions from the exhaust stream of internal combustion engines using the fuels. Preferred embodiments of an additive form of the composition include a nitrogen-containing compound selected from the group consisting of urea, cyanuric acid, triazine, ammonia and mixtures thereof, a carrier blend comprising an alkoxylated alcohol, a polyalkylene glycol ester and an alkanolamide and water. The additive may be provided in a concentrate form by addition of a solvent or may be provided as a final form fuel composition. A method of additive manufacture and is disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A fuel additive composition comprising: 
 about 3-35% by weight of a nitrogen-containing compound selected from the group consisting of urea, cyanuric acid, triazine, ammonia and mixtures thereof;    about 30-97% by weight of a carrier blend comprising: 
 about 30-75% by weight of an alkoxylated alcohol composition having the following general structure:  
                     
 wherein 
 R 1  is C 6 -C 16 ,  
 R 2  is H or CH 3 , and  
 x is 1-7;  
 
 about 10-60% by weight of a polyalkylene glycol ester composition having the following general structure:  
                     
 wherein 
 R 3  is C 11 -C 19 ,  
 R 4  is H or CH 3 ,  
 y is 1-20,  
 R 5  is H or COR 3 ; and  
 
 about 10-60% by weight of an alkanolarnide composition having the following general structure:  
                     
 wherein 
 R 6  is C 12 -C 18 ;  
 R 7  is H or CH 2 CH 2 OH;  
 
 and mixtures thereof; and  
   about 0.0025-25% by weight of water.    
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the nitrogen-containing compound is urea.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein the urea comprises about 10-32% by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3  wherein the urea comprises about 12-28% by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein the alkoxylated alcohol comprises about 33-55% by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein R 1  is C 9 -C 11  and x is 2.5.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein the polyalkylene glycol ester comprises about 25-40% by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7  wherein the polyalkylene glycol ester comprises about 25-33% by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein R 3  is C 17  and R 5  is COR 3 .  
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein the alkanolamide comprises about 25-40% by weight of the compo sition.  
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10  wherein the alkanolamide comprises about 25-33% by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein R 6  is about C 17  and R 7  is CH 2 CH 2 OH.  
     
     
         13 . A fuel additive concentrate composition comprising: 
 about 80-20% by weight of an additive constituent comprising: 
 about 3-35% by weight of a nitrogen-containing compound selected from the group consisting of urea, cyanuric acid, triazine, ammonia and mixtures thereof;  
 about 30-97% by weight of a carrier blend comprising: 
 about 30-75% by weight of an alkoxylated alcohol composition having the following general structure:  
                     
 wherein 
 R 1  is C 6 -C 16 ,  
 R 2  is H or CH 3 , and  
 x is 1-7;  
 
 about 10-60% by weight of a polyalkylene glycol ester composition having the following general structure:  
                     
 wherein 
 R 3 is C 11 -C 19 ,  
 R 4  is H or CH 3 ,  
 y is 1-20,  
 R 5  is H or COR 3 ; and  
 
 about 10-60% by weight of an alkanolamide composition having the following general structure:  
                     
 wherein 
 R 6  is C 12 -C 18 ,  
 R 7  is H or CH 2 CH 2 OH  
 
 and mixtures thereof; and  
 
 about 0.0025-25% by weight of water; and  
   about 20-80% by weight of a solvent.    
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 13  wherein the solvent is a fuel selected from the group consisting of diesel, gasoline, kerosene and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 13  wherein the additive constituent comprises about 70-30% by weight of the concentrate and the fuel comprises about 30-70% by weight of the concentrate.  
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 15  wherein the additive constituent comprises about 60-40% by weight of the concentrate and the fuel comprises about 40-60% by weight of the concentrate.  
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 13  wherein the nitrogen-containing compound is urea.  
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 17  wherein the urea comprises about 10-32% by weight of the additive constituent.  
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 18  wherein the urea comprises about 12-28% by weight of the additive constituent.  
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 13  wherein the alkoxylated alcohol comprises about 33-55% by weight of the additive constituent.  
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 13  wherein R 1  is C 9 -C 11  and x is 2.5.  
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 13  wherein the polyalkylene glycol ester comprises about 25-40% by weight of the additive constituent.  
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 22  wherein the polyalkylene glycol ester comprises about 25-33% by weight of the additive constituent.  
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 13  wherein R 3  is C 17  and R 5  is COR 3 .  
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 13  wherein the alkanolamide comprises about 25-40% by weight of the additive constituent.  
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 25  wherein the alkanolamide comprises about 25-33% by weight of the additive constituent.  
     
     
         27 . The composition of  claim 13  wherein R 6  is about C 17  and R 7  is CH 2 CH 2 OH.  
     
     
         28 . A fuel composition formulated to produce reduced NO x  missions when subject to combustion in an internal combustion engine comprising: 
 about 97-99.99% by weight of a hydrocarbon-containing fuel; and    about 0.01-3% by weight of a fuel additive concentrate comprising: 
 about 80-20% by weight of an additive constituent comprising: 
 about 3-35% by weight of a nitrogen-containing compound selected from the group consisting of urea, cyanuric acid, triazine, ammonia and mixtures thereof;  
 about 30-97% by weight of a carrier blend comprising: 
 about 30-75% by weight of an alkoxylated alcohol composition having the following general structure:  
                     
 wherein  
 R 1  is C 6 -C 16 ,  
 R 2  is H or CH 3 , and  
 x is 1-7;  
 about 10-60% by weight of a polyalkylene glycol ester composition having the following general structure:  
                     
 wherein  
 R 3  is C 11 -C 19 ,  
 R 4  is H or CH 3 ,  
 y is 1-20,  
 R 5  is H or COR 3 ; and  
 about 10-60% by weight of an alkanolamide composition having the following general structure:  
                     
 wherein  
 R 6  is C 12 -C 28 ,  
 R 7  is H or CH 2 CH 2 OH;  
 and mixtures thereof; and  
 
 about 0.0025-25% by weight of water; and  
 
 about 20-80% by weight of a solvent.  
   
     
     
         29 . The composition of  claim 28  wherein the fuel is selected from the group consisting of diesel, gasoline and kerosene.  
     
     
         30 . The composition of  claim 28  wherein the nitrogen-containing compound is urea.  
     
     
         31 . The composition of  claim 30  wherein the urea comprises about 10-32% by weight of the additive.  
     
     
         32 . The composition of  claim 31  wherein the urea comprises about 12-28% by weight of the additive.  
     
     
         33 . The composition of  claim 28  wherein the alkoxylated alcohol comprises about 33-55% by weight of the additive.  
     
     
         34 . The composition of  claim 33  wherein R 1  is C 9 -C 11  and x is 2.5.  
     
     
         35 . The composition of  claim 28  wherein the polyalkylene glycol ester comprises about 25-40% by weight of the additive.  
     
     
         36 . The composition of  claim 35  wherein the polyalkylene glycol ester comprises about 25-33% by weight of the additive.  
     
     
         37 . The composition of  claim 28  wherein R 3  is C 17  and R 5  is COR 3 .  
     
     
         38 . The composition of  claim 28  wherein the alkanolamide comprises about 25-40% by weight of the additive constituent.  
     
     
         39 . The composition of  claim 38  wherein the alkanolamide comprises about 25-33% by weight of the additive constituent.  
     
     
         40 . The composition of  claim 28  wherein R 6  is about C 17  and R 7  is CH 2 CH 2 OH.  
     
     
         41 . A method of making a fuel additive composition comprising, in any order the steps of: 
 preparing an aqueous urea composition by admixing about 40-50% by weight of urea with about 60-50% by weight of water;    at any time, preparing a carrier blend by admixing in any order: 
 about 30-75% by weight of an alkoxylated alcohol composition having the following general structure:  
                     
 wherein 
 R 1  is C 6 -C 16 ,  
 R 2  is H or CH 3 , and  
 x is 1-7,  
 
 about 10-60% by weight of a polyalkylene glycol ester composition having the following general structure:  
                     
 wherein 
 R 3  is C 11 -C 19 ,  
 R 4  is H or CH 3 ,  
 y is 1-20,  
 R 5  is H or COR 3 , and  
 
 about 10-60% by weight of an alkanolamide composition having the following general structure:  
                     
 wherein 
 R 6  is C 12 -C 18 ,  
 R 7  is H or CH 2 CH 2 OH;  
 
 and mixtures thereof; and  
   admixing about 50-35% by weight of the aqueous urea-containing composition with about 50-65% by weight of the carrier blend.    
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the step of preparing the aqueous urea composition comprises admixing about 40-45% by weight of urea with about 60-55% by weight of water.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the step of preparing the aqueous urea composition comprises admixing about 40% by weight of urea with about 60% by weight of water.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the step of preparing the carrier blend comprises admixing about 33-55% by weight of the alkoxylated alcohol.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 41  wherein R 1  is C 9 -C 11  and x is 2.5.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the step of preparing the carrier blend comprises admixing about 25-40% by weight of the polyalkylene glycol ester.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the step of preparing the carrier blend comprises admixing about 25-33% by weight of the polyalkylene glycol ester.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 41  wherein R 3  is C 17  and R 5  is COR 3 .  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the step of preparing the carrier blend comprises admixing about 25-40% by weight of the alkanolamide.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the step of preparing the carrier blend comprises admixing about 25-33% by weight of the alkanolamide.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 41  wherein R 6  is about C 17  and R 7  is CH 2 CH 2 OH.  
     
     
         53 . A method of making a fuel additive concentrate composition comprising, in any order, the steps of: 
 preparing an additive comprising the steps of, in any order: 
 preparing an aqueous urea composition by admixing about 40-50% by weight of urea with about 60-50% by weight of water; 
 preparing a carrier blend by admixing in any order:  
 about 30-75% by weight of an alkoxylated alcohol composition having the following general structure:  
                     
 wherein 
 R 1  is C 6 -C 16 ,  
 R 2  is H or CH 3 , and  
 x is 1-7,  
 
 about 10-60% by weight of a polyalkylene glycol ester composition having the following general structure:  
                     
 wherein: 
 R 3  is C 11 -C 19 ,  
 R 4  is H or CH 3 ,  
 y is 1-20,  
 R 5  is H or COR 3 , and  
 
 about 10-60% by weight of an alkanolamide composition having the following general structure:  
                     
 wherein 
 R 6  is C 12 -C 18 ,  
 R 7  is H or CH 2 CH 2 OH;  
 
 and mixtures thereof; and  
 
 admixing about 50-35% by weight of the aqueous urea-containing composition with about 50-65% by weight of the carrier blend; and  
   admixing about 80-20% by weight of the additive with about 20-80% by weight of a solvent.    
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53  wherein the solvent is a fuel selected from the group consisting of diesel, gasoline and kerosene.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 53  wherein the step of preparing the concentrate composition comprises the step of admixing about 70-30% by weight of the additive with about 30-70% by weight of the solvent.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the step of preparing the concentrate composition comprises the step of admixing about 60-40% by weight of the additive with about 40-60% by weight of the solvent.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 53  wherein the step of preparing the aqueous urea composition comprises admixing about 40-45% by weight of urea with about 60-55% by weight of water.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57  wherein the step of preparing the aqueous urea composition comprises admixing about 40% by weight of urea with about 60% by weight of water.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 53  wherein the step of preparing the carrier blend comprises admixing about 33-55% by weight of the alkoxylated alcohol.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 53  wherein R 1  is C 9 -C 11  and x is 2.5.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 53  wherein the step of preparing the carrier blend comprises admixing about 25-40% by weight of the polyalkylene glycol ester.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61  wherein the step of preparing the carrier blend comprises admixing about 25-33% by weight of the polyalkylene glycol ester.  
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 53  wherein R 3  is C 17  and R 5  is COR 3 .  
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 53  wherein the step of preparing the carrier blend comprises admixing about 25-40% by weight of the alkanolamide.  
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64  wherein the step of preparing the carrier blend comprises admixing about 25-33% by weight of the alkanolamide.  
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 53  wherein R 6  is about C 17  and R 7  is CH 2 CH 2 OH.  
     
     
         67 . A method of making a fuel composition formulated to produce reduced NO x  emissions when subject to combustion in an internal combustion engine comprising the steps of: 
 preparing a fuel additive concentrate composition comprising, in any order, the steps of: 
 preparing an additive comprising the steps of, in any order: 
 preparing an aqueous urea composition by admixing about 30-70% by weight of urea with about 70-30% by weight of water;  
 preparing a carrier blend by admixing in any order: 
 about 33-50% by weight of an alkoxylated alcohol composition having the following general structure:  
                     
 wherein  
 R 1  is C 6 -C 16 ,  
 R 2  is H or CH 3 , and  
 x is 1-7,  
 about 25-33% by weight of a polyalkylene glycol ester composition having the following general structure:  
                     
 wherein  
 R 3  is C 11 -C 19 ,  
 R 4  is H or CH 3 ,  
 y is 1-20,  
 R 5  is H or COR 3 , and  
 about 25-33% by weight of an alkanolamide composition having the following general structure:  
                     
 wherein  
 R 6  is C 12 -C 18 ,  
 R 7  is H or CH 2 CH 2 OH;  
 and mixtures thereof; and  
 
 admixing about 40-50% by weight of the aqueous urea-containing composition with about 60-50% by weight of the carrier blend; and,  
 
 admixing about 80-20% by weight of the additive with about 20-80% by weight of a solvent to form the fuel additive concentrate.  
   admixing about 97-99.99% by weight of a hydrocarbon-containing fuel with about 0.01-3% by weight of the fuel additive concentrate.    
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67  wherein the solvent is a fuel selected from the group consisting of diesel, gasoline and kerosene.  
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 67  wherein the step of preparing the concentrate composition comprises the step of admixing about 70-30% by weight of the additive with about 30-70% by weight of the solvent.  
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69  wherein the step of preparing the concentrate composition comprises the step of admixing about 60-40% by weight of the additive with about 40-60% by weight of the solvent.  
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 67  wherein the step of preparing the aqueous urea composition comprises admixing about 40-45% by weight of urea with about 60-5% by weight of water.  
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71  wherein the step of preparing the aqueous urea composition comprises admixing about 40% by weight of urea with about 60% by weight of water.  
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 67  wherein the step of preparing the carrier blend comprises admixing about 33-55% by weight of the alkoxylated alcohol.  
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 67  wherein R 1  is C 9 -C 11  and x is 2.5.  
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 67  wherein the step of preparing the carrier blend comprises admixing about 25-40% by weight of the polyalkylene glycol ester.  
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 75  wherein the step of preparing the carrier blend comprises admixing about 25-33% by weight of the polyalkylene glycol ester.  
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 67  wherein R 3  is C 17  and R 5  is COR 3 .  
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 67  wherein the step of preparing the carrier blend comprises admixing about 25-40% by weight of the alkanolamide.  
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 78  wherein the step of preparing the carrier blend comprises admixing about 25-33% by weight of the alkanolamide.  
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 67  wherein R 6  is about C 17  and R 7  is CH 2 CH 2 OH.