Active Denaturants for Biofuels to Improve Fuel Economy

Abstract

Biofuels suitable for use in an internal combustion engine contain ethanol and are denatured with a performance-enhancing component. The performance-enhancing denaturant component includes an organic ingredient selected from the group consisting of friction modifiers, lubricity enhancers, anti-oxidants, and combinations thereof. An internal combustion engine fueled by such a biofuel has improved engine performance, including: increasing lubricant oil lubricity, reducing lubricant oil degradation, increasing engine component durability, and/or combinations thereof. In certain aspects, methods of increasing fuel economy are provided. The present disclosure also provides methods of formulating such biofuels.

1 . A method of increasing fuel economy of an internal combustion engine consuming a biofuel, the method comprising:
 introducing a performance-enhancing denaturant component to a biofuel comprising ethanol to form a fuel mixture for fueling the internal combustion engine, wherein at least a portion of the performance-enhancing denaturant component combines with an engine lubricant oil in the engine during operation to improve engine performance by at least one of: increasing lubricant oil lubricity, reducing lubricant oil degradation, increasing engine component durability, or combinations thereof, thereby increasing fuel economy in comparison to the engine being fueled by a comparative fuel lacking the performance-enhancing denaturant component.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the increase in fuel economy is greater than or equal to about 1%. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the increase in fuel economy is greater than or equal to about 5%. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said fuel mixture comprises about 5 volume % to about 95 volume % of ethanol. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein after said introducing, a hydrocarbon-based fuel is subsequently introduced to said fuel mixture. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said performance-enhancing denaturant component comprises at least one organic ingredient selected from the group consisting of: friction modifiers, lubricity enhancers, anti-oxidants, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said performance-enhancing denaturant component further comprises at least one additional ingredient selected from the group consisting of: surface-active agents, detergents, co-solvents, compatibilizing agents, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one ingredient is selected from the group consisting of: carboxylic acids, di-acids, esters, and derivatives thereof; amines, amides, imides, and derivatives thereof; hindered phenols and derivatives thereof; aromatic and aryl amines and derivatives thereof; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein a final biofuel composition comprising said ethanol and said performance-enhancing denaturant component has an end boiling point of less than about 225° C. 
     
     
         10 . A biofuel composition comprising:
 ethanol and a performance-enhancing denaturant component comprising at least one organic ingredient selected from the group consisting of: friction modifiers, lubricity enhancers, anti-oxidants, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         11 . The biofuel composition of  claim 10 , wherein the biofuel composition is substantially free of conventional non-fuel denaturants. 
     
     
         12 . The biofuel composition of  claim 10 , wherein the biofuel composition comprises about 5 volume % to about 95 volume % of ethanol. 
     
     
         13 . The biofuel composition of  claim 12 , wherein the biofuel composition further comprises a hydrocarbon-based fuel. 
     
     
         14 . The biofuel composition of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one organic ingredient is selected from the group consisting of: carboxylic acids, di-acids, esters, and derivatives thereof; amines, amides, imides, and derivatives thereof; hindered phenols and derivatives thereof; aromatic and aryl amines and derivatives thereof; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . A method of formulating a biofuel for use in an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
 selecting a performance-enhancing denaturant component for a biofuel comprising ethanol so that a final biofuel mixture comprising ethanol and said performance-enhancing denaturant component has an end boiling point of less than about 225° C., by comparing performance of the engine consuming said final biofuel mixture with the engine consuming a comparative biofuel comprising said ethanol but lacking said performance-enhancing denaturant component, wherein the performance enhancing denaturant component contributes to improved performance of the engine by one or more criteria selected from the group consisting of: increased fuel economy, increased engine oil lubricity, increased engine oil life, increased engine component durability, or combinations thereof.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the improved performance of the engine results in greater than or equal to about 1% improvement in said one or more criteria selected from the group consisting of: increased fuel economy, increased engine oil lubricity, increased engine oil life, increased engine component durability, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the improved performance of the engine results in greater than or equal to about 5% improvement in said one or more criteria selected from the group consisting of: increased fuel economy, increased engine oil lubricity, increased engine oil life, increased engine component durability, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said selecting of said non-fuel performance-enhancing denaturant comprises selecting at least one organic ingredient from the group consisting of a friction modifier, a lubricity enhancer, an anti-oxidant, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said performance-enhancing denaturant component further comprises at least one additional ingredient selected from the group consisting of: surface-active agents, detergents, co-solvents, compatibilizing agents, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one organic ingredient is selected from the group consisting of: carboxylic acids, di-acids, esters, and derivatives thereof; amines, amides, imides, and derivatives thereof; hindered phenols and derivatives thereof; aromatic and aryl amines and derivatives thereof; and combinations thereof.