Reduced RVP Oxygenated Gasoline Composition And Method

Abstract

Compositions of oxygenated gasolines containing isobutanol are disclosed that have reduced vapor pressure compared to those containing a single oxygenate and no isobutanol. 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 isobutanol 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) isobutanol in an amount effective to reduce the RVP of the oxygenated gasoline without the isobutanol.   
     
     
         2 . The gasoline composition of  claim 1  wherein the isobutanol has a RVP blend value less than about 5.0 psi. 
     
     
         3 . The gasoline composition of  claim 2  wherein the isobutanol has a RVP blend value less than about 0.0 psi. 
     
     
         4 . The gasoline composition of  claim 1  or  claim 2  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 ethanol is present at at least about 1 vol %. 
     
     
         8 . The gasoline composition of  claim 7  wherein the isobutanol is present at less than about 20 vol %. 
     
     
         9 . The gasoline composition of  claim 8  wherein the ethanol is present at at most 20 vol % and the isobutanol is present at from about 1 vol % to about 20 vol %. 
     
     
         10 . The gasoline composition of  claim 1  wherein a blend of the gasoline blend stock and the suitable oxygenate has a normalized relative absorbance greater than about 0.05. 
     
     
         11 . The gasoline composition of  claim 10  wherein a mixture of the gasoline blend stock, suitable oxygenate and isobutanol has a normalized relative absorbance less than about 0.045. 
     
     
         12 . The gasoline composition of  claim 11  wherein the isobutanol exhibits a RVP blend value less than about 5.0 psi. 
     
     
         13 . The gasoline composition of  claim 11  or  claim 12  wherein the RVP value of a mixture of the gasoline blend stock and the suitable oxygenate is at least about 6.9. 
     
     
         14 . The gasoline composition of  claim 10  wherein the suitable oxygenate is ethanol. 
     
     
         15 . A method of reducing the RVP of an oxygenated gasoline, the method comprising blending a gasoline blend stock, a suitable oxygenate and isobutanol in an amount effective to reduce the RVP. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the isobutanol has a RVP blend value less than about 5.0 psi. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the isobutanol has a RVP blend value less than about 0.0 psi. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  or  claim 17  wherein the RVP value of a mixture of the gasoline blend stock and the suitable oxygenate is at least about 6.9 psi. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the suitable oxygenate is ethanol. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the ethanol is present at at most 20 vol % and the isobutanol is present at from about 1 vol % to about 20 vol % in the resulting composition. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15  wherein at least one the suitable oxygenate or the isobutanol is blended at a terminal. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the suitable oxygenate and the isobutanol are blended with the gasoline blend stock contemporaneously. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15  wherein a mixture of the gasoline blend stock and the suitable oxygenate has a normalized relative absorbance greater than about 0.05. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the mixture comprising the isobutanol, the gasoline blend stock and the suitable oxygenate has a normalized relative absorbance less than about 0.045. 
     
     
         25 . 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 isobutanol in an amount effective to reduce the RVP, 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 isobutanol has a RVP value less than or equal to the predetermined maximum RVP limit. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the suitable oxygenate and the isobutanol are blended with the gasoline blend stock contemporaneously. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the isobutanol is blended with the gasoline blend stock before the suitable oxygenate is blended with the gasoline blend stock. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25  wherein at least one of the suitable oxygenate or the isobutanol are blended with the gasoline blend stock at a terminal. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the suitable oxygenate is ethanol. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the ethanol is present at at least 1 vol % in the resulting composition. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the isobutanol is present at less than about 20 vol % in the resulting composition. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the ethanol is present at from about 1 vol % to about 20 vol % and the isobutanol is present at from about 1 vol % to about 20 vol % in the resulting composition. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the oxygenated gasoline has a normalized relative absorbance greater than about 0.05. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the mixture comprising the isobutanol and the oxygenated gasoline has a normalized relative absorbance less than about 0.045. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the suitable oxygenate is present at greater than about 1 vol % and the isobutanol is present at less than about 20 vol % in the resulting composition. 
     
     
         36 . The gasoline composition of  claim 25  wherein the isobutanol exhibits a RVP blend value less than about 5.0 psi. 
     
     
         37 . The gasoline composition of  claim 36  wherein the isobutanol exhibits a RVP blend value less than about 0.0 psi.