Fuel formulations

Abstract

Fuel formulation, such as a gasoline or diesel fuel formulation, containing a dialkyl carbonate (DAC) having 6 or more carbon atoms is provided.

1 . A fuel formulation comprising a dialkyl carbonate
 (DAC) having 6 or more carbon atoms.   
     
     
         2 . The fuel formulation of  claim 1  which is a gasoline fuel formulation. 
     
     
         3 . The fuel formulation of  claim 1  which is a diesel fuel formulation. 
     
     
         4 . The fuel formulation of  claim 1  wherein the DAC is selected from the group consisting of di-n-propyl carbonate (DPrC), di-isopropyl carbonate (DiPrC), di-n-butyl carbonate (DBC), di-n-pentyl carbonate (DPeC), di-n-hexyl carbonate (DHexC), di-n-heptyl carbonate (DHeptC), and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The fuel formulation of  claim 1  wherein the DAC is selected from butyl ethyl carbonate (BEC), DBC and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The fuel formulation of  claim 5  wherein the DAC is DBC. 
     
     
         7 . The fuel formulation of  claim 1  wherein the concentration of the DAC in the formulation is 5% v/v or greater. 
     
     
         8 . A process for the preparation of a fuel formulation comprising blending together a DAC having 6 or more carbon atoms and one or more additional fuel components. 
     
     
         9 . A method of operating an internal combustion engine, and/or a vehicle which is driven by an internal combustion engine comprising introducing into a combustion chamber of the engine a fuel formulation of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . A method for reducing the elastomer damaging effects in an internal combustion engine, and/or a vehicle which is driven by an internal combustion engine, the combustion chamber of the engine comprising a fuel formulation containing a dialkyl carbonate (DAC), the method comprising adding a DAC having 6 or more carbon atoms in the fuel formulation and reducing the amount of the DAC having fewer carbon atoms which is, or would otherwise have been, included in the formulation.