Fuel Compositions

Abstract

A fuel composition containing a major amount of a fuel suitable for use in a compression-ignition engine is disclosed. The fuel contains one or more hydrocarbon components boiling within the diesel boiling range, at least one of which hydrocarbon components has been treated with a metal adsorbing or absorbing material in a different physical phase from the hydrocarbon component(s), preferably to reduce the level of at least one metal, more preferably the level of at least one heavier metal, most preferably the level of zinc, in said at least one hydrocarbon component. The emission of NOx, and optionally particulates, is reduced from the exhaust of a compression-ignition engine when such fuel composition is introduced into the combustion chambers. The treatment includes physical separation of the hydrocarbon component from the metal adsorbing or absorbing phase.

1 . A fuel composition comprising a major amount of a fuel suitable for use in a compression-ignition engine, said fuel comprising: one or more hydrocarbon components boiling within the diesel boiling range, at least one of which hydrocarbon components has been treated with a metal adsorbing or absorbing material effective to reduce the emission of NOx from an exhaust of a compression-ignition engine compared to said hydrocarbon components that has not been treated with said metal adsorbing or adsorbing material, said metal adsorbing or absorbing material is in a different physical phase from the hydrocarbon component(s).  
   
   
       2 . The fuel composition of  claim 1  wherein the metal adsorbing or absorbing material is selected from the group consisting of fibrous clay minerals, diatomaceous earths, graphite and charcoal.  
   
   
       3 . The fuel composition of  claim 1  wherein the metal adsorbing or absorbing material is selected from the group consisting of polymeric adsorbents or absorbents and ion-exchange resins.  
   
   
       4 . The fuel composition of  claim 1  wherein the metal adsorbing or absorbing material is selected from the group consisting of complexing or chelating agents.  
   
   
       5 . A process for the preparation of a fuel composition suitable for use in a compression-ignition engine, which fuel comprises at least one hydrocarbon component boiling within the diesel boiling range comprising: treating said hydrocarbon component with a metal adsorbing or absorbing material which is in a different physical phase from the hydrocarbon component and is effective to reduce the level of at least one metal; and optionally blending said at least one hydrocarbon component, before or after said treatment, with at least one other hydrocarbon component boiling within the diesel boiling range thereby producing a fuel suitable for use in a compression-ignition engine.  
   
   
       6 . The process of  claim 5  comprising blending at least two hydrocarbon components boiling within the diesel boiling range and treating the resulting mixture with said metal adsorbing or absorbing material, to form a fuel suitable for use in a compression-ignition engine.  
   
   
       7 . A method of operating a compression-ignition engine having a compression-ignition combustion chamber and a light duty fuel injection system comprising: bringing into the combustion chamber a fuel composition of  claim 1;  and operating the engine.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the light duty fuel injection system is a direct injection (DI) system or a indirect injection (IDI) system.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the metal adsorbing or absorbing material is selected from the group consisting of fibrous clay minerals, diatomaceous earths, graphite and charcoal.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the metal adsorbing or absorbing material is selected from the group consisting of polymeric adsorbents or absorbents and ion-exchange resins.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the metal adsorbing or absorbing material is selected from the group consisting of complexing or chelating agents.  
   
   
       12 . A method of operating a compression-ignition engine having a compression-ignition combustion chamber and a light duty fuel injection system comprising: bringing into the combustion chamber a fuel composition comprising a major amount of a fuel suitable for use in a compression-ignition engine, said fuel comprising one or more hydrocarbon components boiling within the diesel boiling range, at least one of which hydrocarbon components has been treated with a metal adsorbing or absorbing material effective to reduce the emission of NOx from the exhaust of said engine compared to said hydrocarbon components that has not been treated with said metal adsorbing or adsorbing material, said metal adsorbing or absorbing material being in a different physical phase from the hydrocarbon component(s); and 
 operating the engine wherein the light duty fuel injection system is a direct injection (DI) system or a indirect injection (IDI) system.