Diesel fuel additive compositions for prolonged antistatic performance

Abstract

An additive composition comprising at least one antistatic agent; and a strong acid, wherein the at least one antistatic agent and the strong acid are present in the additive composition in a ratio of from about 1:0.05 to about 1:1 is disclosed. There is also disclosed a fuel composition comprising a middle distillate fuel and the additive composition. Methods of making and using the compositions are also disclosed, Further, methods of improving and/or prolonging the conductivity of a fuel are disclosed.

1 . An additive composition comprising:
 at least one antistatic agent; and   a strong acid,   wherein the at least one antistatic agent and the strong acid are present in the additive composition in a weight ratio of from about 1:0.05 to about 1:1.   
     
     
         2 . The additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein the antistatic agent comprises a mixture comprising a polysulfone, a polymeric polyamine, a sulfonic acid, and a solvent. 
     
     
         3 . The additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein the antistatic agent comprises, based on total weight, about 5 to about 25% of polysulfone, about 5 to about 25% polymeric polyamine, and about 5 to about 30% oil-soluble sulfonic acid. 
     
     
         4 . The additive composition of  claim 3 , wherein the oil-soluble sulfonic acid is or comprises an acid selected from the group consisting of benzenesulfonic acids and alkylnaphthyl sulfonic acids. 
     
     
         5 . The additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein the strong acid is or comprises an oil-soluble acid. 
     
     
         6 . The additive composition of  claim 1 , wherein the strong acid is dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid. 
     
     
         7 . The additive composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a basic, nitrogen-containing component. 
     
     
         8 . The additive composition of  claim 7 , wherein at least two components of the additive composition are pre-blended. 
     
     
         9 . A pre-blended additive composition comprising:
 at least one antistatic agent; and   a strong acid,   wherein the at least one antistatic agent and the strong acid are present in the additive composition in a ratio of from about 1:0.05 to about 1:1.   
     
     
         10 . A fuel composition comprising:
 the additive composition of  claim 1 ; and   a middle distillate fuel.   
     
     
         11 . The fuel composition of  claim 10 , wherein the middle distillate fuel is an ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. 
     
     
         12 . The fuel composition of  claim 10 , wherein the fuel composition exhibits improved conductivity as compared to a fuel composition devoid of the additive composition. 
     
     
         13 . The fuel composition of  claim 10 , wherein the fuel composition exhibits prolonged conductivity as compared to a fuel composition devoid of the additive composition. 
     
     
         14 . A method of improving the conductivity in a fuel comprising:
 combining, with the fuel, a strong acid with a composition comprising an antistatic agent and a basic, nitrogen-containing component;   wherein the strong acid is combined in an amount sufficient to neutralize at least a portion of the basic nitrogen in the component.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the antistatic agent is or comprises a mixture comprising a polysulfone, a polymeric polyamine, a sulfonic acid, and a solvent. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the basic, nitrogen-containing component is a hydrocarbyl-substituted succinimide derived from a hydrocarbyl-substituted succinic anhydride and a polyamine. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the strong acid is dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the antistatic agent and the strong acid are combined in a weight ratio of from about 1:0.05 to about 1:1. 
     
     
         19 . A method of improving the conductivity in a fuel comprising:
 combining, with the fuel, a strong acid with a composition comprising an antistatic agent, wherein there the composition comprises a basic, nitrogen-containing component;   wherein the antistatic agent and the strong acid are combined in a weight ratio of from about 1:0.05 to 1:1.   
     
     
         20 . A method of prolonging the conductivity effect of an additive package in a fuel comprising:
 combining, with the fuel, an additive package comprising a strong acid and an antistatic agent, wherein the additive package comprises a basic, nitrogen-containing component; and   wherein the antistatic agent and the strong acid are combined in a weight ratio of from about 1:0.05 to about 1:1.