Modification of fats and oils for fuel and lubricating applications

Abstract

A bio-organic composition includes residues of a fatty acid glyceride-containing composition, residues of a first epoxide or glycol, and the residues of a second epoxide. The fatty acid glyceride-containing composition is characterized by the viscosity at room temperature. The first epoxide or glycol and second epoxides are present in a sufficient amount that the room temperature viscosity of the bio-organic composition is lower than the room temperature viscosity of the vegetable oil prior to formulation and/or the first epoxide or glycol and second epoxides are present in a sufficient amount that the pour point of the bio-organic composition is lower than the pour point of the fatty acid glyceride-containing composition prior to formulation.

1 . A method of forming a bio-organic composition, the method comprising:
 a) mixing a fatty acid glyceride-containing composition and a first reaction promoter at a first predetermined temperature to form a first intermediate reaction mixture;   b) adding a first epoxide or glycol to the first reaction mixture to form a second intermediate reaction mixture;   c) combining at least a portion of the second intermediate reaction mixture with a solvent and additional reaction promoter to form a third intermediate reaction mixture;   d) adding a second epoxide to the third intermediate reaction mixture to form a fourth intermediate reaction mixture; and   e) removing the solvent such that the bio-organic composition is recovered.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fatty acid glyceride-containing composition comprises vegetable oil. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the vegetable oil is selected from the group consisting of canola oil, coconut oil, corn oil, cotton seed oil, olive oil, grape seed oil, sunflower oil, palm oil, peanut oil, alfalfa oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fatty acid glyceride-containing composition comprises animal fat. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the solvent added in step c) is water or an alcohol. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the bio-organic composition includes water in an amount less than about 0.5 weight percent. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising forming a fifth composition by adding one or more additional components to the fourth intermediate composition, the one or more addition components selected from the group consisting of additional epoxide, an alcohol, a reaction promoter and an ester. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the ester is methyl soyate. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first epoxide and the second epoxide are each individually selected from the group consisting of epoxides having from 2 to 10 carbon atoms and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first epoxide and the second epoxide are each individually selected from the group consisting of epoxides having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first epoxide is ethylene oxide and the second epoxide propylene oxide. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the bio-organic composition has a viscosity less than or equal to about 30 centipoise at 25° C. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the bio-organic composition has a viscosity less than or equal to about 20 centipoise at 25° C. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the bio-organic composition has a pour point less than or equal to about 0° F. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the bio-organic composition has a pour point less than or equal to about −20° F. 
     
     
         16 . A bio-organic composition comprising:
 residues of a fatty acid glyceride-containing composition, the fatty acid glyceride-containing composition having a first viscosity and a first pour point;   residues of a first epoxide present in a first epoxide concentration or residues of a first glycol present in a first glycol concentration; and   residues of a second epoxide present in a second epoxide concentration, wherein the first epoxide is the same or different than the second epoxide and wherein the first and second concentrations are such that the bio-organic composition has a viscosity lower that the first viscosity and/or a pour point lower than the first pour point.   
     
     
         17 . The bio-organic composition of  claim 16  wherein the first epoxide and the second epoxide are each individually selected from the group consisting of epoxides having from 2 to 10 carbon atoms and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The bio-organic composition of  claim 16  wherein the first epoxide and the second epoxide are each individually selected from the group consisting of epoxides having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         19 . The bio-organic composition of  claim 16  wherein the first epoxide is ethylene oxide and the second epoxide is propylene oxide. 
     
     
         20 . The bio-organic composition of  claim 16  wherein the bio-organic composition has a viscosity less than or equal to about 30 centipoise at 25° C. 
     
     
         21 . The bio-organic composition of  claim 16  wherein the bio-organic composition has a viscosity less than or equal to about 20 centipoise at 25° C. 
     
     
         22 . The bio-organic composition of  claim 16  wherein the bio-organic composition has a pour point less than or equal to about 0° F. 
     
     
         23 . The bio-organic composition of  claim 16  wherein the bio-organic composition has a pour point less than or equal to about −20° F. 
     
     
         24 . The bio-organic composition of  claim 16  further comprising the residue of a reaction promoter. 
     
     
         25 . A bio-diesel fuel comprising the bio-organic composition of  claim 14 . 
     
     
         26 . A motor oil equivalent comprising the bio-organic composition of  claim 14 . 
     
     
         27 . A fuel additive comprising the bio-organic composition of  claim 14 . 
     
     
         28 . An internal combustion engine system comprising:
 a fuel supply system for providing a bio-diesel fuel composition, the bio-diesel fuel composition comprising:
 residues of a fatty acid glyceride-containing composition, the fatty acid glyceride-containing composition having a first viscosity and a first pour point; 
 residues of a first epoxide present in a first epoxide concentration or the residues of a first glycol present in a first glycol concentration; and 
 residues of a second epoxide present in a second epoxide concentration, wherein the first epoxide when utilized is the same or different than the second epoxide and wherein the first and second concentrations are such that the bio-organic composition has a viscosity lower than the first viscosity and/or a pour point lower than the first pour point; and 
   an internal combustion engine in fluid communication with the fuel supply system, the internal combustion engine adapted to combust bio-diesel fuel received from the fuel supply system.