Low Greenhouse Gas Fuel Compositions

Abstract

A fuel composition for a spark-ignition internal combustion engine comprises naphtha in an amount of at least 5% by volume, and an octane-boosting additive having the formula: (I) The well-to-wheel greenhouse gas emissions associated with the fuel composition are significantly lower than those associated with a conventional gasoline fuel of comparable performance.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method for reducing the environmental impact of a fuel for a spark-ignition internal combustion engine, said method comprising blending an octane-boosting additive and naphtha with the fuel, wherein the octane-boosting additive has the formula 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         where: R 1  is h hydrogen;
 R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 11  and R 12  are each independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkoxy-alkyl, secondary amine and tertiary amine groups; 
 R 6 , R 7 , R 8  and R 9  are each independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkoxy-alkyl, secondary amine and tertiary amine groups; 
 X is selected from —O— or —NR 10 —, where R 10  is selected from hydrogen and alkyl groups; and 
 n is 0 to 2. 
 
       
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the octane-boosting additive and naphtha reduce the environmental impact while maintaining the RON of the fuel. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A method for reducing the environmental impact of a fuel for a park-ignition internal combustion engine which comprises an octane-boosting additive, said method comprising blending naphtha with the fuel, wherein the octane-boosting additive has the formula 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         where: R 1  is hydrogen;
 R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 11  and R 12  are each independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkoxy-alkyl, secondary amine and tertiary amine groups; 
 R 6 , R 7 , R 8  and R 9  are each independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkoxy-alkyl, secondary amine and tertiary amine groups; 
 X is selected from —O— or —NR 10 —, where R 10  is selected from hydrogen and alkyl groups; and 
 n is 0 to 2. 
 
       
     
     
         6 . A method for quantifying the environmental impact of a fuel, said method comprising:
 blending a fuel composition for a spark-ignition internal combustion engine, the fuel composition comprising naphtha in an amount of at least 5% by volume, and an octane-boosting additive having the formula   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         where: R 1  is hydrogen;
 R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 11  and R 12  are each independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkoxy-alkyl, secondary amine and tertiary amine groups; 
 R 6 , R 7 , R 8  and R 9  are each independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkoxy-alkyl, secondary amine and tertiary amine groups; 
 X is selected from —O— or —NR 10 —, where R 10  is selected from hydrogen and alkyl groups; and 
 n is 0 to 2; and 
 
         comparing the environmental impact of the blended fuel with that of a reference fuel to arrive at a metric of environmental impact. 
       
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the method comprises monitoring the amount of blended fuel produced over a period of time, and optionally determining the total reduction in environmental impact over said period of time. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the environmental impact of the fuel is reduced by reducing at least one of the well-to-wheel greenhouse gas emissions and the particulate emissions associated with the fuel. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the fuel, when combined with the octane-boosting additive, forms a fuel composition comprising the naphtha in an amount of at least 5% by volume. 
     
     
         10 . A fuel composition for a spark-ignition internal combustion engine, the fuel composition comprising naphtha in an amount of at least 5% by volume, and an octane-boosting additive as defined in  claim 2 . 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the naphtha is selected from petroleum naphtha, bio-naphtha, synthetic naphtha and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the fuel composition comprises naphtha in an amount of from 10 to 50% by volume. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the fuel composition comprises a liquid fuel other than naphtha. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein fuel composition comprises the octane-boosting additive in an amount of from 0.1 to 10% by volume. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 11  and R 12  are each independently selected from hydrogen and alkyl groups; and/or   R 6 , R 7 , R 8  and R 9  are each independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl and alkoxy groups.   
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 X is —O— or —NR 10 —, where R 10  is selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl groups; and/or   n is 0 or 1.   
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one of R 4 , R 5 , R 7  and R 8  is selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl groups and the remainder of R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 11  and R 12  are hydrogen, or wherein at least one of R 7  and R 8  are selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl groups and the remainder of R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 11  and R 12  are hydrogen. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein X is —O—. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the liquid fuel is selected from hydrocarbon fuels, oxygenates and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the octane boosting additive is selected from: