[0001] This invention relates to additives for controlling or preventing engine deposits,
to fuel compositions containing these additives and to methods for reducing deposits
in gasoline internal combustion engines using such additives.
[0002] Mannich bases are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,116,644 as a component of a concentrate
along with a demulsifying agent, a mono-or dinuclear aromatic hydrocarbon solvent,
an alkanol, and a corrosion inhibitor. U.S. Patent No. 4,259,086 discloses substituted
phenol/epichlorohydrin/amine adducts as additives for hydrocarbon fuels. U.S. Patent
No. 4,787,996 discloses Mannich bases prepared using phenol substituted with medium
length branched alkyl chains as friction reducing agents in lubricants and fuel compositions.
[0003] The present invention provides an additive composition for hydrocarbon fuels consisting
essentially of
(a) a polyalkylene, and
(b) a condensation product obtained by reacting an amine with an aldehyde and a phenol.
[0004] The present invention also provides a fuel composition comprising a major amount
of a liquid fuel and a minor amount of an additive mixture consisting essentially
of
(a) a polyalkylene, and
(b) a condensation product obtained by reacting an amine with an aldehyde and a phenol.
[0005] The present invention further provides a method for reducing deposits in gasoline
internal combustion engines comprising running the engine with a fuel containing an
effective amount, greater than about 45.35 kg per 119.24 kl (100 pounds per thousand
barrels) of an additive composition for reducing carbon deposits in internal combustion
engines comprising:
(a) a polyalkylene, and
(b) a condensation product obtained by reacting an amine with an aldehyde and a phenol.
Mannich base reaction products are well known in the prior art U.S. Patents Nos. 4,116,644
and 4,787,996 discuss the preparation of Mannich bases. Mannich base reaction products
are made by reacting an aldehyde, an amine and one or more phenols of the formula:

[0006] The phenol can be phenol itself, cresol, xylenol, hydroxydiphenyl, amylphenol, benzylphenol,
alpha and beta naphthols, decene dimer phenol, decene trimer phenol, decene tetramer
phenol, octene dimer and trimer phenol, dodecene dimer and trimer phenol or the dialkyl
analogues of these. Of the available phenols the most preferred are the substituted
phenols wherein R
2 is not hydrogen.
[0007] The phenols used in this invention can be purchased from commercial sources. In general,
if desired or necessary, they are readily prepared by adaptation of methods well known
in the art. For example, they may be prepared by the acid catalyzed alkylation of
phenol with an olefin. In this method a small amount of an acid catalyst such as sulfuric
or phosphoric acid, or preferably Lewis acid such as BF
3-etherate, BF
3- phenate complex or AICl
2 HS0
4 is added to the phenol and the olefin then added to the phenol. Additional details
of the reaction are found in U.S. Patent 4,116,644.
[0008] In the above structural formula R' is hydrogen or a C, to Cso hydrocarbyl group,
which may be an alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, alkaryl or aralkyl group. If R' is an aryl group
it can be one having from 6 to 14 carbon atoms, i.e. phenyl, naphthyl, anthryl or
phenanthryl. Preferably, R' is hydrogen.
[0009] R
2 is hydrogen, hydrocarbyl group, alkyl or alkenyl containing 4 to 80 carbon atoms,
and can additionally contain sulfur, oxygen and/or nitrogen atoms. "n" is 0, 1, or
2. Preferably, R
2 is a polymeric group having a molecular weight up to between 1000 and 2000 and can
be polypropyl, polybutenyl, polyisobutyl or polydodecyl and preferably is polydecyl.
[0010] In carrying out the reaction to form the Mannich base, the phenol:aldehyde:amine
molar ratios used can be 1:0.1-10:0.1-10 or broader, respectively.
[0011] Aldehydes that can be used are the aliphatic aldehydes, such as formaldehyde or paraformaldehyde,
acetaldehyde, and aldol(3-hydroxy butyraldehyde); aromatic aldehydes, such as benzaldehyde
and heterocyclic aldehydes, such as furfural. The aldehyde may contain a substituent
group such as hydroxyl, halogen or nitro. In short, any substituent can be used which
does not take a major part in the reaction. However, preference is given to the aliphatic-aldehydes,
formaldehyde being particularly preferred.
[0012] The amines to be used include those which contain a primary amino group. Polyalkylene
polyamines can be used such as ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetramine,
tetraethylenepentamine, corresponding polypropylene polyamines and similar amines.
Of the polyethylene polyamines the most preferred is triethylenetetramine.
[0013] Saturated and unsaturated aliphatic amines containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms can also
be used. More specifically, they include those of the structural formula:
R3NH2
wherein R3 is a hydrocarbyl group having from 2 to 80 carbon atoms. These are C6 to C18 straight or branched alkyl groups including cocoamine, oleylamine, octylamine, nonylamine,
decylamine, dodecylamine, tetradecylamine, hexadecylamine, octadecylamine, cyclooctylamine,
laurylamine, isostearylamine, and soyamine but may be cyclic, the latter of which
include cyclohexylamine.
[0014] Other amines which can be used include:
(a) etheramines (hydrocarbyloxy hydrocarbyl amines) such as tri isodecyloxypropyl
amine and etheramines of the formula R30R4NH2 where R3 is as stated above and R4 is a C, to C6 hydrocarbyl group;
(b) N-hydrocarbyl hydrocarbylene diamines or triamines such as N-oleyl-1,3 propylene
or N-coco-1,2-ethylenediamine or amines of the structure

where R3 and R4 are as indicated above and x is 1 to 3;
c) etherdiamines (hydrocarbyloxy hydrocarbyl hydrocarbyl diamines) such as those of
the structure

where R3 and R4 are as indicated above and x is 1 to 3;
[0015] Also useful are aryl-hydrocarbylene amines and diamines.
[0016] The reaction between phenol, amine and aldehyde is carried out at from 80 °C to 150°C.
The temperature chosen will depend for the most part on the particular reactants and
on whether or not a solvent is used. While atmospheric pressure is generally preferred,
the reaction can be advantageously run at from 1 to 0.5 atmospheres. Furthermore,
where conditions warrant it, a solvent may be used. In general, any relatively non-polar,
unreactive solvent can be used, including benzene, toluene, xylene and 1,4-dioxane.
Other hydrocarbon and alcoholic solvents, the latter which include propanol and butanol
can be used. Further, mixtures of hydrocarbons and, for example, alcohols may be advantageous.
[0017] While the preferred mode of synthesis of the Mannich base involves a one-step reaction
in which all reactants are placed together, other modes can be used. For example,
the phenol and amine components can be reacted to yield an ammonium phenate, and this
product then reacted with an aldehyde. This mode is not favorable since one tends
to get methylene bridged polymers. A third possible scheme involves the reaction of
amine and aldehyde to yield a Schiff base (RN=CH
z), followed by reaction of the Schiff base with phenol to give the product. Results
using this reaction are more favorable than the second scheme mentioned, and they
appear to be similar to those from the first reaction.
[0018] Reaction times are not critical, and can range from about 1 hour or less up to 8
hours or more, depending, among other things, upon the particular reactants and the
solvent used.
[0019] The resulting Mannich base component of the mixture of this invention is believed
to have the structure shown in the following reaction equation, where R
2 and R
3 are each hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl group of 2 to 80 carbon atoms, n is 0, 1 or 2,
and x is 1 to 3; for example, R
2 is a (C,o)a -
4 residue, R
3 is C
2, "n" averages 1.5 and x is 3.

[0020] The polyalkylene component of the additive composition preferably is a liquid polyalkylene
where the average number of carbon atoms per molecule is between 12 and 500. Preferably,
the polyalkylene is a polymer of ethylene or propylene and, more preferably, is polyisobutylene
wherein the average number of carbon atoms per molecule is between 12 and 500.
[0021] The additive composition is formulated by mixing the components in the following
proportions:

In general, the invention contemplates the use of the additive mixture in a fuel composition
in a concentration of from 45.36 kg to 81.65 kg per 119.24 kl (100 lbs. to 180 lbs.
per 1,000 barrels) of fuel, and most preferably, from 54.43 kg to 72.57 kg per 119.24
kl (120 lbs. to 160 lbs. per 1,000 barrels). If gasoline is the base fuel, it contains
preferably less than 0.1 weight percent sulfur. Since sulfur and olefins are believed
to contribute to gum formation, their reduction is advantageous in obtaining good
cleanliness performance. The gasoline can also contain conventional additives such
as antioxidants, metal deactivators, lead alkyls, lead scavengers and corrosion inhibitors.
EXAMPLE 1
[0022] Premium unleaded gasoline containing various quantities of a hydroxyalkarylamine
(Mannich base) and polyalkylene mixed in the ratios shown below were evaluated in
a single cylinder CLR engine using a 10W-30 mineral oil After 40 hours of operation
at 1100 rpm and 10 to 12 inches manifold vacuum, the intake valve (ITV) was removed,
its combustion chamber side cleaned and the gross weight determined. Deposits were
then removed mechanically and the valve's tare weight was measured in order to calculate
the net weight of the deposits.
[0023] The table below presents the results for several runs with premium unleaded gasoline
containing various additive package components alone and in combinations. As indicated,
use of the Mannich base alone at 24.95 kg per 119.24 kl (55 pounds per 1000 barrels,
Run B) increased ITV deposits 231% compared to Run A in which no additive was present
in the fuel. Using a higher dosage of this material 79.38 kg per 119.24 kl (175 pounds
per 1000 barrels, Run C) also increased ITV deposits significantly. Polyalkylene alone
at 45.36 kg per 119.24 kl (100 pounds per thousand barrels, Run D) did reduce ITV
deposits to 37% of Run A. However, a significant further reduction in deposits was
obtained when a package of the type described herein was used in Run E. Use of mixtures
outside this invention as in Run F did not provide any substantialy improved performance.

1. An additive composition for hydrocarbon fuels consisting essentially of
(a) a polyalkylene, and
(b) a condensation product obtained by reacting an amine with an aldehyde and a phenol.
2. The additive composition of claim 1 wherein the condensation product is a phenol
amine aldehyde condensation product of the structural formula

wherein R
2 and R
3 are each hydrogen or hydrocarbyl group of 2 to 80 carbon atoms, n is 0, 1, or 2 and
x is 1 to 3.
3. The additive composition of claim 1 wherein the condensation product is the condensation
product of
(a) a phenol selected from cresol, xylenol, hydroxydiphenyl, amylphenol, benzylphenol,
alpha and beta naphthols, decene dimer phenol, decene trimer phenol, decene tetramer
phenol, octene dimer and trimer phenol, dodecene dimer and trimer phenol or the dialkyl
analogues of these;
(b) an aldehyde selected formaldehyde, paraformaldehyde, acetaldehyde, aldol(3-hydroxy
butyraldehyde), benzaldehyde and furfural; and
(c)an amine selected from cocoamine, oleylamine, octylamine, nonylamine, decylamine,
dodecylamine, tetradecylamine, hexadecylamine, octadecylamine, cyclooctylamine, laurylamine,
isostearylamine, soyamine, cyclohexylamine, ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetramine,
tetraethylenepentamine, corresponding propylenepolyamines, triisodecyloxypropyl amine
and N-oleyl-1,3 propylene or N-coco-1,2-ethylenediamine
4. The additive composition of claim 1 wherein the condensation product is the condensation
product of:
(a) a phenol selected from decene trimer phenol and decene tetramer phenol;
(b) formaldehyde;
(c) triethylenetetramine.
5. The additive composition of claim 1 wherein the amine has the formula
R3NH2
where R3 is a hydrocarbyl group having 2 to 80 carbon atoms.
6. The additive composition of claim 1 wherein amine is selected from etheramines
having the structural formula, R
30R
I-NH
2, hydrocarbyl hydrocarbylene polyamines of the structural formula

and ether diamines of the structural formula

where R
3 is a hydrocarbyl group having from 2 to 80 carbon atoms, R
4 is a hydrocarbyl group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and x is 1 to 3.
7. The additive composition of claim 1 wherein the amine, aldehyde, and phenol are
reacted in a molar ratio of phenol:aldehyde:amine of 1:01 to 10:01 to 10, respectively.
8. The additive composition of claim 1 wherein the polyalkylene is a liquid polyalkylene
in which the average number of carbon atoms per molecule is between 12 and 500.
9. The additive composition of claim 1 wherein said polyalkylene is polybutylene in
which the average number of carbon atoms per molecule is between 12 and 500.
10. The additive composition of claim 1 wherein the additive contains between 50 and
74 parts by weight of polyalkylene and between 30 and 46 parts by weight of condensation
product.
11. A fuel composition comprising a major amount of a liquid fuel and a minor amount
of additive mixture consisting essentially of
(a) a polyalkylene, and
(b) a condensation product obtained by reacting an amine with an aldehyde and a phenol.
12. The fuel composition of claim 11 wherein the condensation product is a phenol
amine_aldelyde condensation product of the structural formula

wherein R
2 and R
3 are each hydrogen or hydrocarbyl group of 2 to 80 carbon atoms, n is 0, 1 or 2 and
x is 1 to 0.
13. The fuel composition of claim 11 wherein the condensation product is the condensation
product of a polydecyl phenol, formaldehyde, and triethylenetetramine.
14. The fuel composition of claim 11 wherein the amine has the formula
R3NH2
where R3 is a hydrocarbyl group having 2 to 80 carbon atoms.
15. The fuel composition of claim 11 wherein the amine is selected from etheramines
having the structural formula, R
30R
4NH
2, hydrocarbyl hydrocarbylene diamines of the structural formula

and ether diamines of the structural formula

where R
3 is a hydrocarbyl group having from 2 to 80 carbon atoms, R
4 is a hydrocarbyl group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and x is 1 to 3.
16. The fuel composition of claim 11 wherein the polyalkylene, is selected from polyethylene,
polypropylene, and polyisobutylene.
17. The fuel composition of any one of claims 11 to 16 wherein the amine, aldehyde,
and phenol are reacted in a molar ratio of phenol:aldehyde:amine of 1:0.1 to 10:0.1
to 10, respectively.
18. The fuel composition of claim 11 wherein the polyalkylene is a liquid polyalkylene
in which the average number of carbon atoms per molecule is between 12 and 500.
19. The fuel composition of claim 18 wherein the polyalkylene is polyisobutylene in
which the average number of carbon atoms per molecule is between 12 and 500.
20. The fuel composition of any one of claims 11 to 19 wherein the additive contains
between 50 and 74 parts by weight of polyalkylene and between 30 and 46 parts by weight
of condensation product.
21. The fuel composition of any one of claims 11 to 20 wherein the additive mixture
is present in the fuel composition in an amount of between 45.35 kg and 81.65 kg per
119.24 kl (100 and 180 pounds per 1000 barrels) of fuel.
22. A method for reducing deposits in gasoline internal combustion engines comprising
running the engine with a fuel containing an effective amount, greater than about
45.35 kg per 119.24 kl (100 pounds per thousand barrels) of an additive composition
for reducing carbon deposits in internal combustion engines comprising:
(a) a polyalkylene, and
(b) a condensation product obtained by reacting an amine with an aldehyde and a phenol.
23. The method of claim 22 wherein the condensation product is a phenol amine aldehyde
condensation product of the structural formula

wherein R
2 and R
3 are each hydrogen or hydrocarbyl group of 2 to 80 carbon atoms, n is 0, 1 or 2 and
x is 1 to 3.
24. The method of claim 22 wherein the condensation product is the condensation product
of polydecyl phenol, formaldehyde, and triethylenetetramine.
25. The method of claim 22 wherein the amine has the formula
R3NH2
where R3 is a hydrocarbyl group having 2 to 80 carbon atoms.
26. The method of claim 22 wherein the amine is selected from etheramines having the
structural formula, R
30R
4NH
2, hydrocarbyl hydrocarbylene diamines of the structural formula

and ether diamines of the structural formula

where R
3 is a hydrocarbyl group having from 2 to 80 carbon atoms, R
4 is a hydrocarbyl group of 1 to 6 ' carbon atoms, and x is 1 to 3.
27. The method of claim 22 wherein the polyalkylene, is selected from polyethylene,
polypropylene and polyisobutylene.
28. The method of any one of claims 22 to 27 wherein the amine, aldehyde, and phenol
are reacted in a molar ratio of phenol:aldehyde:amine of 1:0.1 to 10:0.1 to 10, respectively.
29. The method of claim 22 wherein the polyalkylene is a liquid polyalkylene in which
the average number of carbon atoms per molecule is between 12 and 500.
30. The method of claim 22 wherein polyalkylene is polybutylene in which the average
number of carbon atoms per molecule is between about 12 and about 500.
31. The method of claim 22 wherein the additive contains between about 50 and about
74 parts by ' weight of polyalkylene and between about 30 and about 46 parts by weight
of condensation product.
32. The method of any oneof claims 22 to 31 wherein the additive mixture is present
in the fuel composition in an amount of between 54.43 kg and 72.57 kg per 119.24 kl
(120 and 160 pounds per 1000 barrels) of fuel.