Reduced RVP oxygenated gasoline composition and method

Abstract

Compositions of oxygenated gasolines are disclosed that have reduced vapor pressure compared to those containing a single oxygenate and no RVP reducing compound. Such compositions can be formed at a refinery or at a terminal. Methods of reducing vapor pressure of an oxygenated gasoline are disclosed and methods of reducing vapor pressure constraints upon a refinery in the production of oxygenated gasoline are disclosed. Fundamental properties of RVP reducing compounds are disclosed including IR spectrum analysis. Processes and methods for blending and distributing these fuels are also disclosed.

1 . A gasoline composition comprising: 
 (a) a gasoline blend stock;    (b) a suitable oxygenate; and    (c) an effective amount of a RVP reducing compound.    
     
     
         2 . The gasoline composition of  claim 1  wherein the RVP reducing compound has a RVP blend value less than about 3.0 psi.  
     
     
         3 . The gasoline composition of  claim 2  wherein the RVP reducing compound has a RVP blend value less than about 0.0 psi.  
     
     
         4 . The gasoline composition of  claim 1  wherein the RVP value of a mixture of the gasoline blend stock and the suitable oxygenate is at least about 6.9 psi.  
     
     
         5 . The gasoline composition of  claim 1  wherein the suitable oxygenate is an alcohol.  
     
     
         6 . The gasoline composition of  claim 5  wherein the suitable oxygenate is ethanol.  
     
     
         7 . The gasoline composition of  claim 6  wherein the RVP reducing compound is selected from a group consisting of 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, tert-butanol, 1,3-propanediol, 2,3-butanediol, acetic acid and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The gasoline composition of  claim 7  wherein the ethanol is present at at least about 1 vol %.  
     
     
         9 . The gasoline composition of  claim 8  wherein the RVP reducing compound is present at less than about 15 vol %.  
     
     
         10 . The gasoline composition of  claim 9  wherein the ethanol is present at at most 10 vol % and the RVP reducing compound is present at from about 1 vol % to about 5 vol %.  
     
     
         11 . The gasoline composition of  claim 10  wherein the RVP reducing compound is selected from the group consisting of 1-butanol, 2-butanol, acetic acid and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The gasoline composition of  claim 1  wherein a mixture of the gasoline blend stock, suitable oxygenate and RVP compound has a normalized relative absorbance less than about 0.045.  
     
     
         13 . The gasoline composition of  claim 12  wherein a blend of the gasoline blend stock and the suitable oxygenate has a normalized relative absorbance greater than about 0.05.  
     
     
         14 . The gasoline composition of  claim 13  wherein the RVP reducing compound exhibits a RVP blend value less than about 3.0 psi.  
     
     
         15 . The gasoline composition of  claim 14  wherein the RVP reducing compound exhibits a RVP blend value less than about 0.0 psi.  
     
     
         16 . The gasoline composition of  claim 13  wherein the suitable oxygenate is ethanol.  
     
     
         17 . The gasoline composition of  claim 16  wherein the RVP reducing compound is selected from a group consisting of 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, tert-butanol, 1,3-propanediol, 2,3-butanediol, acetic acid and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         18 . A method of reducing the RVP of an oxygenated gasoline, the method comprising blending a gasoline blend stock, a suitable oxygenate and an effective amount of a RVP reducing compound.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the RVP reducing compound has a RVP blend value less than about 3.0 psi.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the RVP reducing compound has a RVP blend value less than about 0.0 psi.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the suitable oxygenates is ethanol.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the RVP reducing compound is selected from the group consisting of 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, tert-butanol, 1,3-propanediol, 2,3-butanediol, acetic acid and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the ethanol is present at at most 10 vol % and the RVP reducing compound is present at from about 1 vol % to about 5 vol %.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the RVP reducing compound is selected from the group consisting of 1-butanol, 2-butanol, acetic acid and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 18  wherein at least one the suitable oxygenate or the RVP reducing compound is blended at a terminal.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the suitable oxygenate and the RVP reducing compound are blended with the gasoline blend stock contemporaneously.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the mixture comprising the RVP reducing compound, the gasoline blend stock and the suitable oxygenate has a normalized relative absorbance less than about 0.045.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the mixture of the gasoline blend stock and the suitable oxygenate has a normalized relative absorbance greater than about 0.05.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the suitable oxygenate is present at at least about 1 vol % and the RVP reducing compound is present at less than about 15 vol %.  
     
     
         30 . A method of reducing the RVP constraint upon a gasoline blend stock in the production of oxygenated gasolines having a predetermined maximum RVP limit, the method comprising blending a gasoline blend stock, a suitable oxygenate and an effective amount of RVP reducing compound wherein a mixture of the gasoline blend stock and the suitable oxygenate has a RVP value greater than the predetermined maximum RVP limit and a mixture of the gasoline blend stock, the suitable oxygenate and the RVP reducing compound has a RVP value less than or equal to the predetermined maximum RVP limit.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the suitable oxygenate and the RVP reducing compound are blended with the gasoline blend stock contemporaneously.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the RVP reducing compound is blended with the gasoline blend stock before the suitable oxygenate is blended with the gasoline blend stock.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30  wherein at least one of the suitable oxygenate or the RVP reducing compound are blended with the gasoline blend stock at a terminal.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the suitable oxygenate is ethanol.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the RVP reducing compound is selected from the group consisting of 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, tert-butanol, 1,3-propanediol, 2,3-butanediol, acetic acid and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the ethanol is present at at least 1 vol %.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the RVP reducing compound is present at less than about 15 vol %.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the ethanol is present at from about 1 vol % to about 10 vol % and the RVP reducing compound is present at from about 1 vol % to about 5 vol %.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the RVP reducing compound is selected from the group consisting of 1-butanol, 2-butanol, acetic acid and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the mixture comprising the RVP reducing compound and the oxygenated gasoline has a normalized relative absorbance less than about 0.045.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the oxygenated gasoline has a normalized relative absorbance greater than about 0.05.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the suitable oxygenate is present at greater than about 1 vol % and the RVP reducing compound is present at less than about 15 vol %.  
     
     
         43 . The gasoline composition of  claim 30  wherein the RVP reducing compound exhibits a RVP blend value less than about 3.0 psi.  
     
     
         44 . The gasoline composition of  claim 43  wherein the RVP reducing compound exhibits a RVP blend value less than about 0.0 psi.