Fuel composition for a diesel engine

Abstract

The invention is directed to a fuel composition for diesel engines. The fuel composition comprises 0.1-99% by weight of a component or a mixture of components produced from biological raw material originating from plants and/or animals and/or fish. The fuel composition comprises 0-20% of components containing oxygen. Both components are mixed with diesel components based on crude oil and/or fractions from Fischer-Tropsch process.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A method for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions of a diesel engine, comprising:
 (a) preparing a diesel fuel of biological origin consisting of at least one component produced by a process comprising:
 (1) providing a feed stream of fatty acids, fatty acid esters, or both, derived from at least one biological raw material originating from animals or from animals in combination with plants and/or fish; 
 (2) hydrodeoxygenating the feed stream to form n-paraffins; and 
 (3) isomerizing the n-paraffins to form isoparaffins, in which the diesel fuel of biological origin is free of aromatics and has a cetane number higher than 60; and 
   (b) using the diesel fuel of biological origin in a diesel engine,   
       in which the nitrogen oxide emissions of the diesel engine are less than the nitrogen oxide emissions of the same engine using a diesel fuel derived from crude oil. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising combining the diesel fuel of biological origin with a diesel fuel derived from crude oil before using the diesel fuel of biological origin in the diesel engine. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , in which the biological raw material is selected from animal-based fats, fats contained in milk, recycled fats of the food industry, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , in which the fatty acid esters are triglycerides. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , in which the diesel fuel of biological origin has a turbidity point lower than −30° C. 
     
     
         13 . A method for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions of a diesel engine, comprising:
 (a) selecting a diesel fuel of biological origin consisting of at least one component produced by a process comprising:
 (1) providing a feed stream of fatty acids, fatty acid esters, or both, derived from at least one biological raw material originating from animals or from animals in combination with plants and/or fish; 
 (2) hydrodeoxygenating the feed stream to form n-paraffins; and 
 (3) isomerizing the n-paraffins to form isoparaffins, in which the diesel fuel of biological origin is free of aromatics and has a cetane number higher than 60; and 
   (b) using the diesel fuel of biological origin in the diesel engine,   
       in which the nitrogen oxide emissions of a diesel engine are less than the nitrogen oxide emissions of the same engine using a diesel fuel derived from crude oil. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising combining the diesel fuel of biological origin with a diesel fuel derived from crude oil before using the diesel fuel of biological origin in the diesel engine. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , in which the biological raw material is selected from animal-based fats, fats contained in milk, recycled fats of the food industry, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , in which the fatty acid esters are triglycerides. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , in which the diesel fuel of biological origin has a turbidity point lower than −30° C. 
     
     
         18 . A diesel fuel of biological origin consisting of at least one component produced by a process comprising:
 (1) providing a feed stream of fatty acids, fatty acid esters, or both, derived from at least one biological raw material originating from animals or from animals in combination with plants and/or fish;   (2) hydrodeoxygenating the feed stream to form n-paraffins; and   (3) isomerizing the n-paraffins to form isoparaffins,   
       in which the diesel fuel of biological origin is free of aromatics, has a cetane number higher than 60, and reduces nitrogen oxide emissions of a diesel engine as compared to the same engine using a diesel fuel derived from crude oil. 
     
     
         19 . The diesel fuel of  claim 18 , in which the biological raw material is selected from fats, oils, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The diesel fuel of  claim 18 , wherein the biological raw material is selected from animal-based fats; fats contained in milk; recycled fats of the food industry; wood-based fats or oils; non-wood, plant-based fats or oils; fats contained in plants bred by means of gene manipulation; fish oils; and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The diesel fuel of  claim 18 , in which the biological raw material originates from a combination of animals and plants. 
     
     
         22 . The diesel fuel of  claim 18 , in which the fatty acid esters are triglycerides. 
     
     
         23 . The diesel fuel of  claim 18  having a turbidity point lower than −30° C. 
     
     
         24 . A method of producing a diesel fuel of biological origin consisting of at least one component produced by a process comprising:
 (1) providing a feed stream of fatty acids, fatty acid esters, or both, derived from at least one biological raw material originating from animals or from animals in combination with plants and/or fish;   (2) hydrodeoxygenating the feed stream to form n-paraffins; and   (3) isomerizing the n-paraffins to form isoparaffins;   
       in which the diesel fuel of biological origin is free of aromatics and has a cetane number higher than 60. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , in which the diesel fuel of biological origin reduces nitrogen oxide emissions of a diesel engine as compared to the same engine using a diesel fuel derived from crude oil. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , in which the biological raw material is selected from animal-based fats, fats contained in milk, recycled fats of the food industry, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , in which the hydrodeoxygenating process is performed in a countercurrent manner. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , in which the isomerizing process is performed in a countercurrent manner. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , in which the isomerizing process is performed in a countercurrent manner. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , in which the fatty acid esters are triglycerides. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 24 , in which the diesel fuel has a turbidity point lower than −30° C.