Fuel Composition Derived from Biodiesel

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fuel composition and method for the preparation thereof. The fuel composition is particularly useful as an aviation fuel and as a ground transportation fuel in cold weather environments. The fuel composition includes oil derived from a biological source such as vegetable oil and/or animal fat. Further, the fuel composition can be based on biodiesel. Moreover, the fuel composition of the present invention includes a reduced amount of oxygen as compared to the biodiesel or substantially no oxygen.

1 . A fuel composition, comprising:
 oil derived from a biological source; and   alcohol,   wherein the fuel composition is at least substantially free of oxygen and oxygen-containing compounds.   
     
     
         2 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , where the oil is selected from the group of biological sources consisting of vegetable oil, crop seed oil, animal oil, animal fat and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the alcohol is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel composition is oxygen-free. 
     
     
         5 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel composition has a level of oxygen that is less than the level of oxygen in biodiesel. 
     
     
         6 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel composition has a level of oxygen that is less than 2000 parts per million oxygen based on the fuel composition. 
     
     
         7 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel composition includes molecules and each of the molecules has a carbon chain length of from 12 to 14 carbons atoms. 
     
     
         8 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel composition is used for aviation fuel. 
     
     
         9 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel composition is used for ground transportation fuel in a cold climate. 
     
     
         10 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel composition comprises an alkane. 
     
     
         11 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel composition further comprises catalyst. 
     
     
         12 . The fuel composition of  claim 11 , wherein the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of calcium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         13 . A method for preparing a fuel composition, the method comprising:
 reacting oil derived from a biological source and alcohol to produce an alkyl ester-containing product,   removing at least a portion of oxygen from the alkyl ester-containing product to produce a fuel composition which is at least substantially free of oxygen and oxygen-containing compounds.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the alkyl ester-containing product comprises alkyl ester selected from the group consisting of methyl ester, ethyl ester, propyl ester, isopropyl ester, butyl ester and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the alkyl ester-containing product comprises biodiesel. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the reacting step is conducted in accordance with a transesterification reaction. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the removing step is conducted in accordance with a nucleophilic acyl reaction. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the cloud point of the fuel composition is lower than the cloud point of the alkyl ester-containing product. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the removing step further comprises removing a portion of carbon atoms from the alkyl ester-containing product. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the fuel composition comprises molecules and each of the molecules has a carbon chain length of from 12 to 14 carbon atoms.