Additives to Reduce Metal Pick-Up in Fuels

Abstract

The present invention relates to fuel additives, fuel additive compositions and fuel compositions, as well as a method for fueling an internal combustion engine, providing reduced metal pick-up by fuels where the compositions of the present invention contain a hydrocarbon substituted with at least two carboxy functionalities in the form of acids or at least one carboxy functionality in the form of an anhydride.

1 . A method of reducing the amount of oxidative metals pick-up in a fuel composition wherein the method comprises:
 adding to the fuel composition an additive comprising a hydrocarbon substituted with at least two carboxy functionalities in the form of acids or at least one carboxy functionality in the form an anhydride.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the substituted hydrocarbon is a hydrocarbyl substituted acylating agent has di-acid functionality. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the substituted hydrocarbon is a succinic acylating agent. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the oxidative metal, for which pick-up is being reduced, is selected from the group consisting of copper, zinc, iron, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the hydrocarbyl group of the substituted hydrocarbon comprises polyisobutylene. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the substituted hydrocarbon agent is selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) hydrocarbyl substituted succinic anhydrides; 
 (b) hydrolyzed hydrocarbyl substituted succinic anhydrides; 
 (c) combinations thereof. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fuel composition further comprises: a demulsifier, an antifoam agent, cold flow agent, a dispersant/detergent additive, or combinations thereof; and
 wherein the fuel is susceptible to pick up of oxidative metals to a level greater than 0.5 ppm when left in contact for an extended period of time with solid materials containing said metal. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the dispersant/detergent additive comprises: succinimide dispersants, quaternary ammonium salts, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fuel composition comprises diesel fuel, biodiesel or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fuel composition is a fuel additive composition. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the method also results in the reduction of injector deposits in an engine in which the fuel composition of the method is applied. 
     
     
         12 . A fuel composition comprising:
 (a) a fuel;   (b) an additive comprising a hydrocarbon substituted with at least two carboxy functionalities in the form of acids or at least one carboxy functionality in the form an anhydride; and   (c) optional additional performance additives.   
     
     
         13 . A fuel additive composition comprising:
 (a) an optional solvent;   (b) an additive comprising a hydrocarbon substituted with at least two carboxy functionalities in the form of acids or at least one carboxy functionality in the form an anhydride; and   (c) optional additional performance additives.   
     
     
         14 . (canceled)