Composition, method and use

Abstract

An additive composition for a fuel comprises: (i) a metal compound selected from an iron compound, a manganese compound, a calcium compound, a cerium compound and mixtures thereof; (ii) an organic compound selected from a bicyclic monoterpene, substituted bicyclic monoterpene, adamantane, propylene carbonate and mixtures thereof; and (iii) a stabiliser. The additive composition allows fuels which are prone to separation, for example blended fuels or fuels having a high content of asphaltenes, to be used successfully.

1 . An additive composition for a fuel comprising:
 (i) a metal compound selected from the group consisting of an iron compound, a manganese compound, a calcium compound, a cerium compound and mixtures thereof;   (ii) an organic compound selected from the group consisting of a bicyclic monoterpene, substituted bicyclic monoterpene, adamantane, propylene carbonate and mixtures thereof; and   (iii) a stabiliser.   
   
   
       2 . The additive composition of  claim 1 , comprising components (i), (ii) and (iii) in the following relative amounts by weight:
 3-1000 parts (i)
 to 
   3 to 600 parts (ii)
 and to 
   1 to 10000 parts (iii).   
   
   
       3 . A fuel composition comprising an additive composition of  claim 1  and a fuel. 
   
   
       4 . The fuel composition of  claim 3 , wherein the fuel is selected from bio-fuel, diesel, gasoline, marine fuel, bunker fuel, heating oil, middle distillate oil and heavy fuel oil; and including GTL (gas-to-liquid), CTL (coal-to-liquid), BTL (biomass-to-liquid), and OTL (oil sands-to-liquid); and including blends containing one more such fuels. 
   
   
       5 . The fuel composition of  claim 3  comprising at least from 3 ppm to 1000 ppm of the metal compound (i). 
   
   
       6 . The fuel composition of  claim 3  comprising from 1 ppm to 600 ppm of organic compound (ii). 
   
   
       7 . The fuel composition of  claim 3  comprising from 0.1 ppm to 1000 ppm of the stabiliser (iii). 
   
   
       8 . A fuel composition comprising a fuel and:
 (i) 3 to 1000 ppm of a metal compound selected from the group consisting of an iron compound, a manganese compound, a calcium compound, a cerium compound, and mixtures thereof;   (ii) 1 to 600 ppm of an organic compound selected from the group consisting of a bicyclic monoterpene, substituted bicyclic monoterpene, adamantane, propylene carbonate and mixtures thereof; and   (iii) 0.1 to 1000 ppm of a stabiliser.   
   
   
       9 . The fuel composition of  claim 3  which is a liquid having a viscosity of at least 1 cSt at 40° C. 
   
   
       10 . The fuel composition of  claim 9 , which is a liquid having a viscosity of at least 80 cSt at 40° C. 
   
   
       11 . The fuel composition of  claim 10 , which is a liquid having a viscosity of at least 360 cSt at 40° C. 
   
   
       12 . The fuel composition of  claim 11 , which is a liquid having a viscosity of up to 1000 cSt at 40° C. 
   
   
       13 . A method for combusting a fuel composition in a combustion system with an exhaust, comprising providing the fuel composition comprising:
 (i) a metal compound selected from the group consisting of an iron compound, a manganese compound, a calcium compound, a cerium compound, and mixtures thereof;   (ii) an organic compound selected from the group consisting of a bicyclic monoterpene, substituted bicyclic monoterpene, adamantane, propylene carbonate and mixtures thereof;   (iii) a stabiliser; and   (iv) a fuel;   and combusting the fuel composition.   
   
   
       14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein component (i) is an iron complex selected from the group consisting of bis-cyclopentadienyl iron; substituted bis-cyclopentadienyl iron; overbased iron soaps; and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       16 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein component (i) is ferrocene. 
   
   
       17 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein component (ii) is a bicyclic monoterpene or substituted bicyclic monoterpene selected from the group consisting of camphor, camphene, isobornyl acetate, dipropyleneglycol-isobornyl ether adamantane, propylene carbonate; and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       18 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein component (ii) is camphor. 
   
   
       19 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the stabiliser (iii) is a cold flow improver. 
   
   
       20 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the stabiliser (iii) is a wax anti-settling agent. 
   
   
       21 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the stabiliser (iii) is a fuel antioxidant. 
   
   
       22 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the stabiliser (iii) is a blended fuel separation inhibitor. 
   
   
       23 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the stabiliser (iii) is a biofuel instability inhibitor. 
   
   
       24 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the stabiliser (iii) is an asphaltene dispersant. 
   
   
       25 . The composition of  claim 24 , wherein the asphaltene dispersant is a phenolic resin of formula (xi): 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     wherein m is at least 1; wherein n is at least 1; wherein the or each R 1 , R 2  and R 3  are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl groups, aromatic groups and heterocycles, or may be OH, hydrocarbyl groups, oxyhydrocarbyl groups, —CN, —NO 2 , —SO 3 H, —SO 2 H, —COOH, —COOR 4 , —NHR 5 , —SO 2 NH 2 , —SO 2 , —NHR 6 , CONH 2 , CONHR 7 , SH and halogens; and wherein each of R 4 , R 5 , R 6  and R 7  is independently selected from hydrocarbyl groups.