Environmentally-Friendly Additives And Additive Compositions For Solid Fuels

Abstract

Fuel additive packages and fuel compositions, suitable for use with solid fuels, having environmentally compatible characteristics as defined by European Council Directive 67/548/EEC is disclosed. Such additive packages and compositions may include components selected from non-persistent materials, non-bioaccumulative materials, and/or or non-toxic materials.

1 . An environmentally compatible fuel additive composition suitable for use with a solid fuel, the additive composition comprising at least one functional component, wherein the component is selected from the group consisting of a non-persistent material, a non-bioaccumulative material, and a non-toxic material, and the additive composition is substantially devoid of any component that is persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic. 
   
   
       2 . The fuel additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein the functional component comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: acid plume reducing agents, anti-icing agents, biocides, carrier fluids, combustion improvers, corrosion inhibitors, diluents, dust suppressants, electrostatic precipitator activating agents, fluxing agents, fouling modifiers, hygroscopic agents, ignition improvers, markers or customer-specific “tags,” reodorants, mercury scavengers, nitrogen oxide (NO x ) scavengers, NO x , reducing agents, slag modifiers, sulfur oxide (SO 2 /SO 3 ) scavengers, and surfactants. 
   
   
       3 . The fuel additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein the non-persistent material is determined by a biodegradation test selected from the group consisting of: a dissolved organic carbon die-away test, a modified OECD screening dissolved organic carbon die-away test, a carbon dioxide evolution test, a manometric respirometry test, a closed bottle test, a MITI test, a Zahn-Wellens test, an activated sludge simulation test, an activated sludge respiration inhibition test, and a modified SCAS test. 
   
   
       4 . The fuel additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein non-persistent material is a material having an acceptable score on a biodegradation test selected from at least one of the following:
 a) a half-life in marine water is less than 60 days;   b) a half-life in fresh or estuarine water is less than 40 days;   c) a half-life in marine sediment is less than 180 days;   d) a half-life in fresh or estuarine water sediment less than 120 days; or   e) a half-life in soil less than 120 days.   
   
   
       5 . The fuel additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein the non-bioaccumulative material is determined by a bioconcentration factor test comprising a flow-through fish test. 
   
   
       6 . The fuel additive composition of  claim 5 , wherein the non-bioaccumulative material has a bioconcentration factor test result below 2000. 
   
   
       7 . The fuel additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein the non-toxic material is determined by a toxicity test selected from the group consisting of an acute toxicity for fish test, an acute toxicity for Daphnia test, and an algal inhibition test. 
   
   
       8 . The fuel additive composition of  claim 7 , wherein passing the non-toxic material is devoid of a toxic effect at an aqueous concentration below 0.01 mg/L on a toxicity test. 
   
   
       9 . The fuel additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one functional component comprises one or more of a member selected from the group consisting of: methyl cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl, cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl, octane enhancer materials, alkyl nitrates, glycols, phenates, salicylates, sulfonates, alkali detergents and alkaline earth metal-containing detergents, tall oil fatty acids, 2-ethyl hexyl nitrate, manganese carboxylates, copper carboxylates, magnesium carboxylates, magnesium sulfonates, ferrocene, calcium nitrate, perlite, aluminum trihydrate, copper oxychloride, cerium oxides, hydroxides, and carboxylates, platinum group metal organics and inorganics, aluminum silicate, magnesium silicate, vermiculite, aluminum sulfonate, aluminum carboxylate, magnesium oxide, and magnesium hydroxide. 
   
   
       10 . The fuel additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one functional component comprises one or more metal-containing compounds selected from the group consisting of: sodium compounds, potassium compounds, magnesium compounds, calcium compounds, barium compounds, strontium compounds, titanium compounds, cerium compounds, chromium compounds, molybdenum compounds, manganese compounds, iron compounds, zinc compounds, yttrium compounds, lanthanum compounds, zirconium compounds, ruthenium compounds, tungsten compounds, rhenium compounds, osmium compounds, iridium compounds, boron compounds, aluminum compounds, silicon compounds, tin compounds, rubidium compounds, cobalt compounds, rhodium compounds, nickel compounds, palladium compounds, platinum compounds, copper compounds, silver compounds, inorganic fluoride compounds, inorganic chloride compounds, inorganic bromide compounds, inorganic iodide compounds, inorganic oxide compounds, inorganic nitrate compounds, inorganic sulfate compounds, inorganic phosphate compounds, inorganic carbonate compounds, inorganic hydride compounds, inorganic nitride compounds, organometallic alcohol compounds, organometallic aldehyde compounds, organometallic ketone compounds, organometallic ester compounds, organometallic anhydride compounds, organometallic sulfonate compounds, organometallic phosphonate compounds, organometallic chelate compounds, organometallic phenate compounds, organometallic crown ether compounds, organometallic carboxylic acid compounds, organometallic amide compounds, organometallic compounds containing one or more carbonyl groups, ethers, or poly ethers, aminos, alkylaminos, acetamidos, alkoxides, alkyls, cyanos, furfuryls, carboxylates, acetylacetonates, and other organic ligands able to coordinate with or bond with a metal, metal compound, or metal ion, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       11 . The fuel additive composition of  claim 2 , wherein the combustion improver is selected from the group consisting of: sodium compounds, potassium compounds, magnesium compounds, calcium compounds, barium compounds, strontium compounds, titanium compounds, cerium compounds, chromium compounds, molybdenum compounds, manganese compounds, iron compounds, rubidium compounds, cobalt compounds, rhodium compounds, nickel compounds, palladium compounds, platinum compounds, copper compounds, silver compounds, inorganic fluoride compounds, inorganic chloride compounds, inorganic bromide compounds, inorganic iodide compounds, inorganic oxide compounds, inorganic nitrate compounds, inorganic sulfate compounds, inorganic phosphate compounds, inorganic carbonate compounds, inorganic hydride compounds, inorganic nitride compounds, organometallic alcohol compounds, organometallic aldehyde compounds, organometallic ketone compounds, organometallic ester compounds, organometallic anhydride compounds, organometallic sulfonate compounds, organometallic phosphonate compounds, organometallic chelate compounds, organometallic phenate compounds, organometallic crown ether compounds, organometallic carboxylic acid compounds, organometallic amide compounds, organometallic compounds containing one or more carbonyl groups, ethers, or poly ethers, and other organic ligands able to coordinate with or bond with a metal, metal compound, or metal ion, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       12 . The fuel additive composition of  claim 2 , wherein the slag modifier is selected from the group consisting of: magnesium compounds, calcium compounds, strontium compounds, titanium compounds, manganese compounds, aluminum compounds, silicon compounds, iron compounds, copper compounds, inorganic fluoride compounds, inorganic chloride compounds, inorganic bromide compounds, inorganic iodide compounds, inorganic oxide compounds, inorganic nitrate compounds, inorganic sulfate compounds, inorganic phosphate compounds, inorganic carbonate compounds, inorganic hydride compounds, inorganic nitride compounds, organometallic alcohol compounds, organometallic aldehyde compounds, organometallic ketone compounds, organometallic ester compounds, organometallic anhydride compounds, organometallic sulfonate compounds, organometallic phosphonate compounds, organometallic chelate compounds, organometallic phenate compounds, organometallic crown ether compounds, organometallic carboxylic acid compounds, organometallic amide compounds, organometallic compounds containing one or more carbonyl groups, ethers or poly ethers, and other organic ligands able to coordinate with or bond with a metal, metal compound, or metal ion, vermiculite, perlite, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       13 . The fuel additive composition of  claim 2 , wherein the fouling modifier is selected form the group consisting of: magnesium compounds, calcium compounds, manganese compounds, aluminum compounds, copper compounds, inorganic fluoride compounds, inorganic chloride compounds, inorganic bromide compounds, inorganic iodide compounds, inorganic oxide compounds, inorganic nitrate compounds, inorganic sulfate compounds, inorganic phosphate compounds, inorganic carbonate compounds, inorganic hydride compounds, inorganic nitride compounds, organometallic alcohol compounds, organometallic aldehyde compounds, organometallic ketone compounds, organometallic ester compounds, organometallic anhydride compounds, organometallic sulfonate compounds, organometallic phosphonate compounds, organometallic chelate compounds, organometallic phenate compounds, organometallic crown ether compounds, organometallic carboxylic acid compounds, organometallic amide compounds, organometallic compounds containing one or more carbonyl groups, ethers or poly ethers, and other organic ligands able to coordinate with or bond with a metal, metal compound, or metal ion, vermiculite, perlite, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       14 . The fuel additive composition of  claim 2 , wherein the fluxing agent is selected from the group consisting of one or more individual compounds of iron, sodium, and potassium. 
   
   
       15 . The fuel additive composition of  claim 2 , wherein the anti-icing agent is selected from the group comprising ether polymers, glycols, and alcohols. 
   
   
       16 . The fuel additive composition of  claim 2 , wherein the hygroscopic agent is selected from the group consisting of: glycerin, glycerol, urea, ethanol, methanol, concentrated sulfuric acid, magnesium oxides, magnesium sulfate, magnesium sulfonate, calcium carbonate, calcium silicates, silica gel, activated alumina, zeolites, montmorillonite clay, and concentrated sodium hydroxide. 
   
   
       17 . The fuel additive composition of  claim 2 , wherein the corrosion inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of magnesium oxide and magnesium hydroxide, and mixtures and solutions thereof. 
   
   
       18 . The fuel additive composition of  claim 2 , wherein the corrosion inhibitor is selected from the multimetallic compounds and minerals including vermiculite and perlite. 
   
   
       19 . The fuel additive composition of  claim 2 , wherein the solid fuel comprises one or more of the group selected from: coal, coke, coke breeze, carbonaceous char, petroleum pitch, petroleum coke, refuse derived fuel (RDF), municipal solid waste (MSW), biomass, bagasse, wood, wood pellets, wood bark, wood by-products, wood wastes, sawdust, hog fuel, black liquor solids, waste tires, charcoal, peat, corn, corn cobs, wheat, rye, and other grains, coffee grounds, and tobacco wastes. 
   
   
       20 . An environmentally compatible solid fuel composition, comprising:
 a) a major amount of a solid fuel; and   b) a minor amount of an additive composition, comprising at least one of a functional component, wherein the component comprises at least one of:
 i) an acceptable level biodegradation of at least one of:
 1) a half-life in marine water of less than 60 days; 
 2) a half-life in fresh or estuarine water of less than 40 days; 
 3) a half-life in marine sediment of less than 180 days; 
 4) a half-life in fresh or estuarine water sediment less than 120 days; or 
 5) a half-life in soil less than 120 days, as determined by a biodegradation test; 
 
 ii) a bioconcentration factor below 2000 in a bioconcentration factor test; or 
 iii) is devoid of a toxic effect at an aqueous concentration below 0.01 mg/L on a toxicity test. 
   
   
   
       21 . The solid fuel composition of  claim 20 , wherein the functional component comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of: acid plume reducing agents, anti-icing agents, biocides, carrier fluids, combustion improvers, corrosion inhibitors, diluents, dust suppressants, electrostatic precipitator activating agents, fluxing agents, fouling modifiers, hygroscopic agents, ignition improvers, markers or customer-specific “tags,” reodorants, mercury scavengers, nitrogen oxide (NO x ) scavengers, NO x , reducing agents, slag modifiers, sulfur oxide (SO 2 /SO 3 ) scavengers, and surfactants. 
   
   
       22 . The solid fuel composition of  claim 20 , wherein the solid fuel is selected from the group consisting of coal, coke, coke breeze, carbonaceous char, petroleum pitch, petroleum coke, refuse derived fuel (RDF), municipal solid waste (MSW), biomass, bagasse, wood, wood pellets, wood bark, wood by-products, wood wastes, sawdust, hog fuel, black liquor solids, waste tires, charcoal, peat, corn, corn cobs, wheat, rye, and other grains, coffee grounds, and tobacco wastes. 
   
   
       23 . A method of making an environmentally compatible solid fuel composition, comprising combining a major amount of a solid fuel and a minor amount of an additive composition, wherein the additive composition comprises at least one functional component wherein the component is selected from:
 i) a material having an acceptable level biodegradation of at least one of:
 1) a half-life in marine water of less than 60 days; 
 2) a half-life in fresh or estuarine water of less than 40 days; 
 3) a half-life in marine sediment of less than 180 days; 
 4) a half-life in fresh or estuarine water sediment less than 120 days; or 
 5) a half-life in soil less than 120 days, as determined by a biodegradation test; 
   ii) a material having a bioconcentration factor below 2000 in a bioconcentration factor test; or   iii) a material that is devoid of a toxic effect at an aqueous concentration below 0.01 mg/L on a toxicity test, and   wherein the solid fuel composition complies with European Council Directive 67/548/EEC.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the functional component further comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: acid plume reducing agents, anti-icing agents, biocides, carrier fluids, combustion improvers, corrosion inhibitors, diluents, dust suppressants, electrostatic precipitator activating agents, fluxing agents, fouling modifiers, hygroscopic agents, ignition improvers, markers or customer-specific “tags,” reodorants, mercury scavengers, nitrogen oxide (NO x ) scavengers, NO x  reducing agents, slag modifiers, sulfur oxide (SO 2 /SO 3 ) scavengers, and surfactants. 
   
   
       25 . An environmentally compatible solid fuel composition comprising:
 a) a major amount of a solid fuel; and   b) a minor amount of an additive composition comprising at least one functional component, wherein the component is at least selected from the group consisting of non-persistent materials, non-bioaccumulative materials, and non-toxic materials, and the additive composition is substantially devoid of any component that is persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic.