Fuel oil compositions

Abstract

A fuel oil composition comprising a major amount of fuel oil and a polymeric additive of Mn 1,000 to less than 3,000. The polymeric additive comprises the condensation reaction product of an aliphatic aldehyde having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and a mixture of alkylphenols comprising a major amount of a monoalkylphenol with more than 10 to less than 35 mole % of a dialkylphenol. The alkyl groups of the phenol have 1 to 20 carbon atoms. The polymeric additive is useful for improving the low temperature flow properties of a fuel oil.

1 . A fuel oil composition, comprising: 
 a fuel oil; and    a polymeric additive of about Mn 1,000 to less than about 3,000, which includes the condensation reaction product of an aliphatic aldehyde having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and a mixture of alkylphenols comprising a major amount of a monoalkylphenol and more than about 10 mole % to less than about 35 mole % of a dialkylphenol, the alkyl groups of the dialkyl phenol having 1 to 20 carbon atoms.    
   
   
       2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the alkyl group of the phenols has 4 to 12 carbon atoms.  
   
   
       3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the alkyl group of the monoalkylphenol is branched, and wherein at least one of the alkyl groups of the dialkylphenol is branched.  
   
   
       4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the dialkylphenol is di-nonylphenol, di-t-butylphenol or C 12  branched dialkylphenol.  
   
   
       5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein there is present about 14 to about 30 mole % of the dialkylphenol.  
   
   
       6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the aldehyde is formaldehyde.  
   
   
       7 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional cold flow additive, the additional cold flow additive being selected from the group consisting of: 
 (i) ethylene polymer;    (ii) comb polymer;    (iii) polar nitrogen compound;    (iv) polyoxyalkylene compound; and    (v) di-block hydrocarbon polymer.    
   
   
       8 . An additive concentrate comprising a carrier liquid and 3 to 75 wt. % of a polymeric additive of about Mn 1,000 to less than about 3,000, which includes the condensation reaction product of an aliphatic aldehyde having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and a mixture of alkylphenols comprising a major amount of a monoalkylphenol and more than about 10 mole % to less than about 35 mole % of a dialkylphenol, the alkyl groups of the dialkyl phenol having 1 to 20 carbon atoms.  
   
   
       9 . A method of improving the low temperature flow properties of a fuel oil, the method including the step of blending the fuel oil with a polymeric additive of about Mn 1,000 to less than about 3,000, which includes the condensation reaction product of an aliphatic aldehyde having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and a mixture of alkylphenols comprising a major amount of a monoalkylphenol and more than about 10 mole % to less than about 35 mole % of a dialkylphenol, the alkyl groups of the dialkyl phenol having 1 to 20 carbon atoms.  
   
   
       10 . A method for improving the low temperature flow properties of a fuel oil, which method comprises: 
 blending the fuel oil and a polymeric additive of about Mn 1,000 to less than about 3,000, which includes the condensation reaction product of an aliphatic aldehyde having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and a mixture of alkylphenols comprising a major amount of a monoalkylphenol and more than about 10 mole % to less than about 35 mole % of a dialkylphenol, the alkyl groups of the dialkyl phenol having 1 to 20 carbon atoms.