Gasoline compositions with improved octane number

Abstract

The present invention aims a new gasoline composition comprising a gasoline fuel and from 0.05 to 1% of a specific low quantity of a glycerol ketal or acetal. The new gasoline composition shows a higher octane number compared to known gasoline compositions. The invention also aims at the use of said glycerol ketal or acetal as a metal free octane booster additive for octane adjustment of gasoline compositions.

1 . A metal-free gasoline composition, comprising at least one gasoline fuel and from 0.05 to 1% by weight of an octane booster additive that comprises at least one compound according to formula I: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein:
 R 1  and R 2 , independently from one another, are selected from the group consisting of linear or branched C1-C12 alkyl, C4-C12 cycloalkyl, and aryl, 
 R 3  is H, linear or branched alkyl, cycloalkyl, or —C(═O)R 4 , and 
 R 4  is linear or branched C1-C4 alkyl or C5-C6 cycloalkyl. 
 
       
     
     
         2 . A gasoline composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein R 1  and R 2 , independently from one another, are selected from the group consisting of: methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, n-propyl, isobutyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, and phenyl. 
     
     
         3 . A gasoline composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein R 3  is H or —C(═O)R 4  wherein R 4  is methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, n-propyl, isobutyl, n-butyl or tert-butyl. 
     
     
         4 . A gasoline composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein R 1  and R 2  are each methyl and R 3  is H. 
     
     
         5 . A gasoline composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein R 1  is methyl, R 2  is isobutyl, and R 3  is H. 
     
     
         6 . A gasoline composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein R 1  is methyl, R 2  is phenyl, and R 3  is H. 
     
     
         7 . A gasoline composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein R 1  and R 2  are each methyl, R 3  is —C(═O)R 4  and R 4  is methyl. 
     
     
         8 . A gasoline composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the octane booster additive comprises a blend of two or more compounds of formula I. 
     
     
         9 . A gasoline composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the octane booster additive further comprises esters of C1-C6 carboxylic acids and/or ketones. 
     
     
         10 . A gasoline composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the octane booster additive optionally further comprises esters of C1-C6 carboxylic acids and/or ketones, in a molar ratio of compound of formula I/esters of C1-C6 carboxylic acids and/or ketones of from 30:70 to 100:0. 
     
     
         11 . A gasoline composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the octane booster additive is present in an amount of 0.1 to 1.0% by weight of the total weight of the gasoline composition. 
     
     
         12 . A method for increasing the octane number of a gasoline composition, comprising adding to the gasoline composition from 0.05 to 1% by weight of a composition comprising at least one compound according to formula I: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein:
 R 1  and R 2 , independently from one another, are selected from the group consisting of linear or branched C1-C12 alkyl, C4-C12 cycloalkyl, and aryl, 
 R 3  is H, linear or branched alkyl, cycloalkyl, or C(═O)R 4 , and 
 R 4  is linear or branched C1-C4 alkyl or C5-C6 cycloalkyl. 
 
       
     
     
         13 . A gasoline composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the octane booster additive further comprises ethyl acetate. 
     
     
         14 . A gasoline composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the octane booster additive further comprises esters of C1-C6 carboxylic acids and/or ketones, in a molar ratio of compound of formula I/esters of C1-C6 carboxylic acids and/or ketones of from 50:50 to 95:5. 
     
     
         15 . A gasoline composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the octane booster additive is present in an amount of 0.1 to 1.0 by weight of the total weight of the gasoline composition.