[0001] This invention relates to fuel oil compositions and more especially to fuel oil compositions
containing cracked components which are stabilized against sediment formation and
colour development during storage. Cracked components are frequently included to give
higher yields of diesel fuel and heating oil.
[0002] However, when diesel and heating oils containing cracked components are stored at
ambient or elevated temperatures in air they become discoloured and precipitate sludge
or sediment.
[0003] It is clear that the problem of discoloration and sediment formation is exacerbated
by the presence of cracked components in the fuel. This is demonstrated by the results
in Table 1 which show the amount of sediment formed and the colour change when various
fuel blends are tested in the AMS 77.061 accelerated stability test. Published research
(see, for example, Offenhauer et. al, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 1957,
Volume 49, page 1265, and the Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on the
Long Term Stability of Liquid Fuels, San Antonio, Texas, published October 1986) suggests
that discoloration and sediment result from the oxidation of sulphur and nitrogen
compounds present in the fuel. The analysis of cracked components is consistent with
this. The results in Table 2 show that cracked components contain significantly larger
quantities of nitrogen and sulphur than straight distillates. Also, the addition of
nitrogen and sulphur compounds to a stable straight distillate causes an increase
in both sediment and colour in the AMS 77.061 test (Table 3) with the worst result
being obtained when both nitrogen and sulphur compounds are present in the fuel.
[0004] It has now been found that sediment and colour formation may be substantially reduced
in diesel fuels or heating fuels, especially those containing cracked components,
by the addition of certain quaternary ammonium compounds. According to this invention
fuel compositions comprise a base fuel, which may contain cracked components, and
a quaternary ammonium salt in which the cation is derivable from, and advantageously
derived from, the reaction of a tertiary amine with an olefin oxide in the presence
of excess water to yield a solution of a quaternary ammonium hydroxide, and the anion
is derived from an organic acid, subject to the proviso that when the acid is an alkane
monocarboxylic acid the alkane is a straight chain alkane.
[0005] The quaternary ammonium salts may be made in two stages: In the first stage a tertiary
amine is reacted with an olefin oxide in the presence of excess water to yield a solution
of a quaternary ammonium hydroxide, e.g.

in which each R′, which may be the same or different, is an organic group; and each
R˝, which may be the same or different, is hydrogen or an organic group.
[0006] In the second stage the quaternary ammonium hydroxide is neutralized with an organic
acid to form a quaternary ammonium salt, i.e.

[0007] As examples of suitable tertiary amines there may be mentioned:
(i) amines of the formula R¹R²R³N where R¹, R² and R³ which may be the same or different
are each substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, or
aryl. Each group R¹, R² and R³ preferably has 1 to 20 carbon atoms. Examples of this
type of amine are trimethylamine: ethyldimethylamine; n-propyldimethylamine; triethanolamine;
N,N-dimethylbenzylamine; N,N-dimethylcyclohexylamine; N,N-dimethylaniline; N,N-dimethyl-(4-methylcyclohexylamine)
and N,N-dimethyl-p-toluidine.
(ii) diamines of the formula R⁴R⁵N(CH₂)nNR⁶R⁷ where n is an integer of one or more, and R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷, which may be the
same or different, are as defined above for R¹. Thus, one may use N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl
ethylenediamine.
(iii) fully alkylated alkylene polyamines of the formula:

where m is an integer of one or more and R⁸, R⁹, R¹⁰, R¹¹, and R¹², which may be
the same or different, are as defined for R¹ above.
(iv) pyridine and substituted pyridines e.g., α, β and gamma- picolines, quinoline
and substituted quinolines and similar heterocyclic tertiary amines.
(v) N-substituted piperidines of the formula:

where R¹³ is as defined for R¹ above.
(vi) N-substituted pyrrolidines of the formula:

where R¹⁴ is as defined for R¹ above.
(vii) N-substituted morpholines of the formula:

where R¹⁵ is as defined for R¹ above.
(viii) amines of the formula:

where n is an integer of two or more e.g. triethylene diamine.
(xi) hexamethylenetetramine (CH₂)₆N₄ (hexamine).
[0008] The olefin oxides are preferably of the formula:

where R¹⁶, R¹⁷, R¹⁸, and R¹⁹ which may be the same or different, are each hydrogen,
or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, or aryl.
Specific examples are ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, but-1-ene oxide, but-2-ene
oxide, oct-1-ene oxide and styrene oxide.
[0009] The organic acid which may be used in the second stage of the reaction and hence
forms the anion in the quaternary ammonium salt may be, for example, a carboxylic
acid, carboxylic acid anhydride, phenol, sulphurized phenol, or sulphonic acid, subject
to the proviso that in the aspect of the invention which is a fuel oil composition,
unlimited as to type, then when the acid is an alkane monocarboxylic acid the alkane
is a straight chain alkane and, preferably, the acid is an alkane 1-carboxylic acid.
[0010] The carboxylic acid may be, for example:
i) An acid of the formula:
R-COOH
where R is hydrogen, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl,
cycloalkenyl, or aryl group. Examples of such acids include formic acid, acetic acid,
propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, cyclohexanecarboxylic
acid, 2-methylcyclohexane carboxylic acid, 4-methylcyclohexane carboxylic acid, oleic
acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, cyclohex-2-eneoic acid, benzoic acid, 2-methylbenzoic
acid, 3-methylbenzoic acid, 4-methylbenzoic acid, salicylic acid, 2-hydroxy-4-methylbenzoic
acid, 2-hydroxy-4-ethylsalicylic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzoic
acid, o-aminobenzoic acid, p-aminobenzoic acid, o-methoxybenzoic acid and p-methoxybenzoic
acid.
ii) A dicarboxylic acid of the formula
HOOC-(CH₂)n-COOH
where n is zero or an integer, including e.g. oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic
acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, pimelic acid and suberic acid. Also included are
acids of the formula
HOOC-(CH₂)x-

H-(CH₂)y-COOH
where x is zero or an integer, y is zero or an integer and x and y may be equal or
different and R is defined as in (i). Examples of such acids include the alkyl or
alkenyl succinic acids, 2-methylbutanedioic acid, 2-ethylpentanedioic acid, 2-n-dodecylbutanedioic
acid, 2-n-dodecenylbutanedioic acid, 2-phenylbutanedioic acid, and 2-(p-methylphenyl)butanedioic
acid. Also included are polysubstituted alkyl dicarboxylic acids wherein other R groups
as described above may be substituted on the alkyl chain. These other groups may be
substituted on the same carbon atom or different atoms. Such examples include 2,2-dimethylbutanedioic
acid; 2,3-dimethylbutanedioic acid; 2,3,4-trimethylpentanedioic acid; 2,2,3-trimethylpentanedioic
acid; and 2-ethyl-3-methylbutanedioic acid.
[0011] The dicarboxylic acids also include acids of the formula:
HOOC-(C
rH
2r-2)COOH
where r is an integer of 2 or more. Examples include maleic acid, fumaric acid, pent-2-enedioic
acid, hex-2-enedioic acid; hex-3-enedioic acid, 5-methylhex-2-enedioic acid; 2,3-di-methylpent-2-enedioic
acid; 2-methylbut-2-enedioic acid; 2-dodecylbut-2-enedioic acid; and 2-polyisobutylbut-2-enedioic
acid.
[0012] The dicarboxylic acids also include aromatic dicarboxylic acids e.g. phthalic acid,
isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid and substituted phthalic acids of the formula:

where R is defined as in (i) and n = 1, 2, 3 or 4 and when n > 1 then the R groups
may be the same or different. Examples of such acids include 3-methylbenzene-1,2-dicarboxylic
acid; 4-phenylbenzene-1,3-dicarboxylic acid; 2-(1-propenyl)benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic
acid, and 3,4-dimethylbenzene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid.
[0013] The carboxylic acid anhydrides include the anhydrides that may be derived from the
carboxylic acids described above. Also included are the anhydrides that may be derived
from a mixture of any of the carboxylic acids described above. Specific examples include
acetic anhydride, propionic anhydride, benzoic anhydride, maleic anhydride, succinic
anhydride, dodecylsuccinic anhydride, dodecenylsuccinic anhydride, an optionally substituted
polyisobutylenesuccinic anhydride, advantageously one having a molecular weight of
between 500 and 2000 daltons, phthalic anhydride and 4-methylphthalic anhydride.
[0014] The phenols from which the anion of the quaternary ammonium compound may be derived
are of many different types. Examples of suitable phenols include:
(i) Phenols of the formula:

where n = 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, where R²⁰ is defined below and when n > 1 then the substituents
may be the same or different. R²⁰ may be hydrogen, or a substituted or unsubstituted,
alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl or aryl group. The hydrocarbon group(s) may
be bonded to the benzene ring by a keto or thio-keto group. Alternatively the hydrocarbon
group(s) may be bonded through an oxygen, sulphur or nitrogen atom. Examples of such
phenols include o-cresol; m-cresol; p-cresol; 2,3-dimethylphenol; 2,4-dimethylphenol;
2,3,4-trimethylphenol; 3-ethyl-2,4-dimethylphenol; 2,3,4,5-tetramethylphenol; 4-ethyl
2,3,5,6-tetramethylphenol; 2-ethylphenol; 3-ethylphenol; 4-ethylphenyl; 2-n-propylphenol;
2-isopropylphenol; 4-isopropylphenol; 4-n-butylphenol; 4-isobutylphenol; 4-secbutylphenol;
4-t-butylphenol; 4-nonylphenol; 2-dodecylphenol; 4-dodecylphenol; 4-octadecylphenol;
2-cyclohexylphenol; 4-cyclohexylphenol; 2-allylphenol; 4-allylphenol; 2-hydroxydiphenyl;
4-hydroxydiphenol; 4-methyl-4′-hydroxydiphenyl; o-methoxyphenol; p-methoxyphenol;
p-phenoxyphenol; 2-hydroxydiphenylsulphide; 4-hydroxydiphenylsulphide; 4-hydroxyphenylmethylsulphide;
and 4-hydroxyphenyldimethylamine. Also included are alkyl phenols where the alkyl
group is obtained by polymerization of a low molecular weight olefin e.g. polypropylphenol
or polyisobutylphenol.
[0015] Also included are phenols of the formula:

where R²⁰ and R²¹ which may be the same or different are as defined above for R²⁰
and m and n are integers and for each m or n greater than 1 each R²⁰ or R²¹ may be
the same or different. Examples of such phenols include 2,2′-dihydroxy-5,5′-dimethyldiphenylmethane;
5,5′-dihydroxy-2,2′-dimethyldiphenylmethane; 4,4′-dihydroxy-2,2′-dimethyl-dimethyldiphenylmethane
; 2,2′-dihydroxy-5,5′-dinonyldiphenylmethane; 2,2′-dihydroxy-5,5′-didodecylphenylmethane
2,2′,4,4′-tetra-t-butyl-3,3′-dihydroxy-5,5′-didodecylphenylmethane; and 2,2′,4,4′-tetra-t-butyl
3,3′-dihydroxydiphenylmethane.
[0016] Also included are sulphurized phenols of the formula:

where R²⁰ and R²¹ which may be the same or different are as defined above, and m
and n are integers, for each m and n greater than 1 each R²⁰ and R²¹ may be the same
or different, and x is 1,2,3 or 4. Examples of such phenols include:
2,2′-dihydroxy-5,5′-dimethyldiphenylsulphide; 5,5′-dihydroxy-2,2′-di-t-butyldiphenyldisulphide;
4,4′-dihydroxy-3,3′-di-t-butyldiphenylsulphide; 2,2′-dihydroxy-5,5′-dinonyldiphenyldisulphide;
2,2′-dihydroxy-5,5′-didodecyldiphenyldisulphide; 2,2′-dihydroxy-5,5′-didodecyldiphenyltrisulphide;
and 2,2′-dihydroxy-5,5′-didodecyldiphenyltetrasulphide.
[0017] The sulphonic acids from which the anion of the quaternary ammonium salt can be derived
include alkyl and aryl sulphonic acids which have a total of 1 to 200 carbon atoms
per molecule although the preferred range is 10-80 atoms per molecule. Included in
this description are aryl sulphonic acids of the formula:

where p = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and when p > 1 the substituents may be the same or different,
and R²² may represent R²⁰ as defined above.
[0018] The hydrocarbon group(s) may be bonded to the benzene ring through a carbonyl group
or a thio-keto group. Alternatively the hydrocarbon group(s) may be bonded to the
benzene ring through a sulphur, oxygen or nitrogen atom. Thus examples of sulphonic
acids that may be used include: benzene sulphonic acid; o-toluenesulphonic acid,
m-toluenesulphonic acid; p-toluenesulphonic acid; 2,3-dimethylbenzenesulphonic acid;
2,4-dimethylbenzenesulphonic acid;
2,3,4-trimethylbenzenesulphonic acid;
4-ethyl-2,3-dimethylbenzenesulphonic acid;
4-ethylbenzenesulphonic acid;
4-n-propylbenzenesulphonic acid;
4-n-butylbenzenesulphonic acid;
4-isobutylbenzenesulphonic acid;
4-sec-butylbenzenesulphonic acid;
4-t-butylbenzenesulphonic acid;
4-nonylbenzenesulphonic acid;
2-dodecylbenzenesulphonic acid; 4-dodecylbenzenesulphonic acid; 4-cyclohexylbenzenesulphonic
acid;
2-cyclohexylbenzenesulphonic acid;
2-allylbenzenesulphonic acid;
2-phenylbenzenesulphonic acid;
4(4′-methylphenyl)benzenesulphonic acid;
4-methylmercaptobenzenesulphonic acid; 2-methoxybenzene sulphonic acid; 4-phenoxybenzenesulphonic
acid;
4-methylaminobenzenesulphonic acid;
2-dimethylaminobenzenesulphonic acid; and
2-phenylaminobenzenesulphonic acid. Also included are sulphonic acids of the type
listed above where R²² is derived from the polymerization of a low molecular weight
olefin e.g. polypropylbenzenesulphonic acid and polyisobutylenebenzenesulphonic acid.
[0019] Also included are sulphonic acids of the formula:
R²³-SO₃H
where R²³ is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl or cycloalkenyl.
Examples of such sulphonic acids that may be used include methylsulphonic acid; ethylsulphonic
acid; n-propylsulphonic acid; n-butylsulphonic acid; isobutylsulphonic acid; sec-butylsulphonic
acid; t-butylsulphonic; nonylsulphonic acid; dodecylsulphonic acid; polypropylsulphonic
acid; polyisobutylsulphonic acid; cyclohexylsulphonic acid; and 4-methylcyclohexylsulphonic
acid.
[0020] The quaternary ammonium salts may be made in two stages, the first stage of which
comprises the reaction of a tertiary amine with an olefin oxide.
[0021] Generally 1 mole of the tertiary amine is treated with A moles of the olefin oxide
(where A is the number of tertiary nitrogens in the amine molecule) in the presence
of an excess of water over that required by the stoichiometry of the reaction.
[0022] Thus pyridine (1 mole) is treated with an olefin oxide (1 mole) in water (>1 mole).
Triethylenediamine (1 mole) is treated with an olefin oxide (2 moles) in water (>2
mole). Hexamine (1 mole) is treated with an olefin oxide (4 moles) in water (>4 moles).
[0023] However, the olefin oxide may be used in excess if required, or desired, the excess
olefin oxide then reacting with the quaternary ammonium hydroxide. One possible mechanism
for this further reaction with olefin oxide is illustrated by the equations:

[0024] As indicated above any quantity of water may be used as long as it represents an
excess over that required by the stoichiometry of the reaction.
[0025] The reaction may be carried out in the following ways:
[0026] (i) The amine is stirred with the olefin oxide in the reactor and the water added
to the reaction mixture. The rate of addition of the water does not affect the quality
of the final product but slow addition of water may be used to control an exothermic
reaction.
[0027] (ii) The amine is mixed with the water in the reactor and the olefin oxide is added
to the stirred reaction mixture. The olefin oxide may be added as:
(a) a gas either pure or diluted with an inert carrier (e.g., nitrogen)
(b) a liquid
(c) a solution in water
(d) a solution in a water miscible organic solvent (e.g., methyl or ethyl alcohol).
[0028] The rate of addition of the olefin oxide is not critical for the quality of the final
product but a slow addition rate may be used to control an exothermic reaction.
[0029] (iii) The olefin oxide is mixed with the water in the reactor and the amine is added
to the reaction mixture. The amine may be added as:
(a) a pure gas, liquid or solid
(b) a solution in water
(c) a solution in a water soluble organic solvent.
[0030] As with the olefin oxide and water addition, slow addition of the amine may be used
to control an exothermic reaction.
[0031] To facilitate the reaction, the mixed reactants may be heated together at a given
temperature while the third reactant is added at a rate sufficient to maintain a steady
reaction. Alternatively the reactants may be heated in a pressure vessel but, when
heating the reactants to promote the reaction, a temperature greater than 100°C should
be avoided to prevent decomposition of the quaternary ammonium hydroxide.
[0032] The second stage of the reaction comprises neutralization of the quaternary ammonium
hydroxide formed in the first stage with the organic acid.
[0033] Generally, sufficient acid is mixed with the solution obtained from the first stage
to neutralize the quaternary ammonium hydroxide. However, an excess of acid may be
used if required, as for example when only one carboxylic acid group of a polybasic
acid is to be neutralized. The neutralization reaction may be carried out:
(i) In the absence of any solvent.
(ii) In the presence of an alcohol, e.g., methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, ethyl
Cellosolve (a trademark), or ethylene glycol.
(iii) In the presence of any other polar organic solvent, e.g., acetone, methyl ethyl
ketone, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, or symtetrachloroethane.
(iv) In the presence of a hydrocarbon solvent, e.g., hexane, heptane, white spirit,
benzene, toluene or xylene.
(v) In the presence of a mixture of any of the above solvents.
[0034] The neutralization reaction may be carried out at ambient temperature but generally
an elevated temperature is used. When the reaction is completed the water and any
solvents used may be removed by heating under vacuum. The product is generally diluted
with mineral oil, diesel fuel, kerosene, or an inert hydrocarbon solvent to prevent
the product being too viscous.
[0035] The fuel composition advantageously comprises a minor proportion by weight of the
quaternary ammonium compound, preferably less than 1% by weight, more preferably
from 0.000001 to 0.1%, especially 2 to 200 ppm.
[0036] The cracked component in the fuel oil which leads to the undesirable colour formation
and sediment is generally obtained by cracking of heavy oil and may be fuel oil in
which the main constituent is a fraction otained from a residual oil.
[0037] Typical methods available for the thermal cracking are visbreaking and delayed coking.
Alternatively the fuels may be obtained by catalytic cracking, the principal methods
being moving-bed cracking and fluidized-bed cracking. After cracking, the distillate
oil is extracted by normal or vacuum distillation, the boiling point of the distillate
oil obtained usually being 60-500°C, and is a fraction called light-cycle oil, preferably
corresponding to the boiling point range of light oil of 150-400°C. Compositions composed
entirely of this fuel or fuels which are mixtures of the cracked fraction and normal
distillates may be used in the present invention.
[0038] The proportion by weight of direct-distillation fraction and cracked fraction in
a fuel oil composition which is a mixture can vary considerably, but is usually 1:0.03
- 1:2 and preferably 1:0.05 - 1:1. Typically the content of cracked fraction is usually
5-97%, and preferably 10-50%, based on the weight of the composition.
[0039] The present invention accordingly also provides a fuel oil composition comprising
a distillate fraction and a cracked fraction and a quaternary ammonium compound the
cation of which is the reaction product of a tertiary amine, an olefin oxide, and
water, the anion being derived from an organic acid. The invention also provides the
use of such a compound in inhibiting sediment and colour formation in a fuel oil composition,
especially one containing a component obtained by the cracking of heavy oil.
[0040] The fuel oil compositions of the present invention may contain other additives such
as antioxidants, anticorrosion agents, fluidity improvers, agents absorbing ultraviolet
radiation, detergents, dispersants and cetane improvers in small amounts (for example,
usually less than 2% based on the weight of the composition).
[0041] Details and examples of the synthesis of the quaternary ammonium compounds have been
given in British Specification No. 1,445,993, the disclosure of which is incorporated
by reference herein. The products were tested in a fuel that was a blend of a stable
distillate (Fuel A), containing 50 ppm nitrogen and 0.24% sulphur, and an unhydrofined
catalytically cracked gas oil (Fuel B) with 695 ppm nitrogen and 1.11% sulphur. The
present invention is illustrated by the following examples.
[0042] Table 1 shows the effect on sediment and colour in the AMS 77.061 test of blending
different amounts of the straight distillate fuel with the unhydrofined catalytically
cracked gas oil.
[0043] Table 2 shows the nitrogen and sulphur contents of various fuels.
[0044] Table 3 shows the effect on colour and sediment of doping the stable fuel (A) with
compounds containing nitrogen and sulphur.
[0045] Table 4 shows the effect on sediment and colour in the AMS 77.061 test of adding
100 ppm of quaternary ammonium compounds to a fuel containing 20% of cracked components.
Comparison of the results for the fuels treated with quaternary ammonium compounds
with the results for the untreated fuel show that the compounds of this invention
control sediment and colour.
[0046] Table 5 shows the long term storage characteristics of fuel to which has been added
100 ppm of quaternary ammonium compound. It can be seen that the sediment and colour
of the treated fuel are much better in the long term than that of the untreated fuel.
Table 1
| The Effect of Fuel Composition on Sediment and Colour in the AMS 77.061 Accelerated
Stability Test |
| Fuel A wt.% |
Fuel B wt.% |
Sediment mg/100 ml |
Colour (a) |
| 100 |
0 |
0.14 ± 0.09 |
≈0.5,<0.5,<0.5 |
| 80 |
20 |
0.61 ± 0.13 |
≈1.0, 1.0, 1.0 |
| 60 |
40 |
1.12 ± 0.10 |
≈1.0,≈1.0,≈1.0,≈1.0 |
| 40 |
60 |
1.80 ± 0.04 |
≈2.0, ≈2.0 |
| 20 |
80 |
2.10 ± 0.10 |
≈2.0, ≈2.0 |
| 0 |
100 |
2.90 |
6.0 |
| (a) Colour change (ASTM D1500 test) |
Table 2
| The Nitrogen and Sulphur Contents of Various Fuels |
| Type of Fuel |
Nitrogen (ppm) |
Sulphur (%) |
| Unhydrofined CCGO |
695 |
1.11 |
| Unhydrofined CCGO |
650 |
1.70 |
| Straight distillate |
50 |
0.24 |
| Straight distillate |
70 |
0.25 |
| Straight distillate |
97 |
0.23 |
| Straight distillate |
128 |
0.24 |
| Straight distillate |
179 |
1.44 |
Table 3
| Effect of doping with dimethyl pyrrole (DMP) and a sulphonic acid (SA) on the stability
of a straight distillate fuel in the AMS 77.061 test |
| DMP ppm(a) |
SA ppm(b) |
Sediment (mg/100 ml) |
Colour |
|
| |
|
|
Before |
After |
C |
| Nil |
Nil |
0.06,0.10 |
<0.5 |
<1.0 |
0.5 |
| Nil |
50 |
0.02,0.00 |
<0.5 |
<1.5 |
1.0 |
| <0.5 |
<1.5 |
1.0 |
| 50 |
Nil |
0.76,0.59 |
<0.5 |
<1.0 |
0.5 |
| <0.5 |
<1.0 |
0.5 |
| 50 |
50 |
1.06,1.01 |
<1.5 |
<3.0 |
1.5 |
| <1.5 |
<3.0 |
1.5 |
| (a) 2,5-dimethylpyrrole |
| (b) A commercially available alkyl-aryl sulphonic acid having a standard acid number
of approximately 80 mg KOH/g of acid. |
TABLE 4
| The Effect of Quaternary Ammonium Phenate on Sediment and Colour in the AMS 77,061
Stability Test. |
| AMINE |
OLEFIN OXIDE |
ACID |
AMS 77.061 RESULTS |
| |
|
|
SEDIMENT (mg /100 ml) |
COLOUR (ASTM D1500) |
| |
UNTREATED FUEL |
(1.18 + 0.20) (a) |
∼ 1.0 |
| HEXAMINE |
PROPYLENE OXIDE |
DDP |
(0.00 + 0.00) (b) |
∼ 0.5, ∼ 0.5 |
| HEXAMINE |
PROPYLENE OXIDE |
NPS |
(0.00 + 0.00) (b) |
∼ 1,0, ∼ 0.5 |
| TRIETHYLENE DIAMINE |
PROPYLENE OXIDE |
DDP |
(0.07 + 0.10) (b) |
∼ 1.0, ∼ 0.5 |
| TRIETHYLENE DIAMINE |
PROPYLENE OXIDE |
NPS |
(0.00 + 0.00) (b) |
∼ 1.0, ∼ 1.0 |
| TRIETHANOLAMINE |
PROPYLENE OXIDE |
DDP |
(0.12 +0.02) (b) |
∼ 0.5, ∼ 0.5 |
| (a) (mean ± standard deviation) of 14 results |
| (b) (mean ± standard deviation) of 2 results |
| * Fuel is a blend of straight distillate (FUEL A ; 80 wt%) and catalytically cracked
gas oil (FUEL B ; 20 wt%) |
| * Additive treat is 100 ppm |
| * DDP - is dodecylphenol |
| * NPS - is a sulphurized nonylphenol |

1. A fuel oil composition comprising a diesel fuel oil or heating fuel oil and a quaternary
ammonium salt the cation of which is the reaction product of a tertiary amine, an
olefin oxide and water and the anion is derived from an organic acid, subject to the
proviso that when the acid is an alkane monocarboxylic acid the alkane is a straight
chain alkane.
2. A composition according to claim 1 containing a cracked component derived from
a heavy oil, the cracked component advantageously comprising 5 to 97%, preferably
5 to 50%, by weight of the composition.
3. A composition according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the tertiary amine has the
formula R¹R²R³N where R¹, R² and R³, which may be the same or different, are each
independently a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl,
or aryl group, each group advantageously having at most 20 carbon atoms.
4. A composition according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the tertiary amine is a
diamine of the formula R⁴R⁵N(CH₂)nNR⁶R⁷ where n is an integer of one or more and R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷, which may be the
same or different, are each independently an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl,
alkenyl, cycloalkenyl or aryl group.
5. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the tertiary amine
is an alkylated alkylene polyamine of the formula:

where m is an integer of one or more and R⁸, R⁹, R¹⁰, R¹¹ and R¹², which may be the
same or different, are each independently a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, cycloalkyl,
alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, or aryl group.
6. A composition according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the tertiary amine is pyridine
or a substitued pyridine; an amine of the formula:

where n is an integer of two or more, or is hexamethylene tetramine.
7. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the olefin oxide
has the formula:

where R¹⁶, R¹⁷, R¹⁸ and R¹⁹, which may be the same or different, are each hydrogen
or an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl or aryl
group.
8. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the anion of
the salt is derived from a carboxylic acid or a carboxylic acid anhydride, advantageously
an alkyl or alkenyl succinic acid or an anhydride thereof.
9. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the anion of the quaternary
ammonium salt is derived from a phenol, advantageously a monoalkylphenol.
10. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the anion of the
salt is derived from a methylene bis-phenol of the formula:

or a sulphurized phenol of the formula:

or

where R²⁰ and R²¹ which may be the same or different are hydrogen, or a substituted
or unsubstituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, or aryl group, m and n
which may be the same or different are each zero or an integer from 1 to 4 and for
each m or n greater than 1 each R²⁰ or R²¹ may be the same or different, and x is
1, 2, 3 or 4.
11. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the anion of the
quaternary ammonium salt is derived from a sulphonic acid, advantageously one of the
formula:

where R²² is hydrogen, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl,
cycloalkenyl, or aryl group, p is an integer of 1 to 5 and when p is greater than
1 each R²² may be the same or different.
12. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims which comprises a major
proportion by weight of the diesel or heating fuel oil and a minor proportion by weight
of the quaternary ammonium salt.
13. A composition according to claim 12 which comprises 0.001 to 5.0% by weight of
the quaternary ammonium salt.
14. Use of a quaternary ammonium salt the cation of which is the reaction product
of a tertiary amine, an olefin oxide, and water, the anion being derived from an organic
acid, to inhibit colour and sediment formation in a fuel oil.
15. The use as claimed in claim 14, wherein the fuel oil comprises a distillate fraction
and a cracked fraction.