PROCESSING OF KEROSENE FOR USE AS A LAMP OIL AND BARBEQUE LIGHTING FLUID

Description

[0001] This invention relates to the processing of kerosene, a complex liquid hydrocarbon fuel oil, originally distilled from coal, bitumen and/or petroleum. Kerosene typically has a boiling point in the range 180 - 230°C.

[0002] Certain forms of kerosene are used extensively as lamp oils but are also used absorbed on charcoal as a fuel for lighting barbecues. Traditionally, these preparations have been formulated with added colouring and/or fragrance components essentially to deodorise or mask the characteristic hydrocarbon smell.

[0003] A recent European Union Directive relating to the sale of lamp oils seeks to prohibit the colouring and/or fragrancing of these oils

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a means of thickening kerosene and other hydrocarbon solvents with a view to permitting the presence of additives and preferably to enhance the perception and performance of the hydrocarbon as a fuel. However, kerosene for most purposes is not generally susceptible to being successfully thickened.

[0005] US-A-3795556 describes a self-igniting incendiary material containing an organo-metallic compound, a liquid hydrocarbon fuel and a gelling agent, the resulting composition being capable of self-ignition over water. US-A-3232720 describes a solid shaped fuel product such as a briquette containing a normally liquid hydrocarbon and a normally solid high molecular weight polymer of a 1-olefin having from two to eight carbon atoms. The Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol.12, 1968, pp. 55-69 describes the experimental use of high-shear viscometric data for polymer characterisation, using polyisobutylene in various solvents including toluene, kerosene, decalin and gas oil.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, a method of thickening liquid hydrocarbon fuel oils comprises mixing the hydrocarbon with an essentially paraffin polyolefin polymer in solid form to yield a thickened homogenous liquid solution, characterised in that the liquid hydrocarbon comprises commercial low odour kerosene having a flashpoint greater than or equal to 62°C and the polymer has a molecular weight in the range 1.4 to 2.0 x 10⁶.

[0007] According to another aspect of the invention, a composition of matter comprises a thickened homogenous liquid solution of an essentially paraffin polyolefin polymer in solid form dissolved in a liquid hydrocarbon fuel oil, characterised in that the liquid hydrocarbon comprises commercial low odour kerosene having a flashpoint greater than or equal to 62°C and the polymer has a molecular weight in the range 1.4 to 2.0 x 10⁶.

[0008] The product of the invention, that is, either the composition of matter or the product of the method, may be used as a lamp oil but may also be applied to charcoal for use as a lighting fuel for barbecues, for which it is superior to unthickened hydrocarbon fuels as such in providing better adhesion and absorption of fuel onto the charcoal and also in providing enhanced burning times and burn rates. Additive materials for the deodorising, colouring and/or enhancement of the product perception may be mixed with the inventive composition while still remaining with the terms of the lamp oil directive.

[0009] For most purposes, the liquid hydrocarbon comprises commercial kerosene having a boiling point in the range 180 - 230°C. The kerosene is a low odour kerosene having a flashpoint greater than or equal to 62°C, typically 63 to 68°C. The polyolefin polymer may be a medium or high molecular weight polymer of an alkene, preferably a branched chain alkene such as polyisobutylene. In polymerisation of such polymers, the olefinic unsaturation is removed except at the terminal moieties. The molecular weight is in the range of 1.4 to 2.0 (viscosity average x 10⁶), a suitable polymer being commercially available under the trade name 'Vistanex', such as 'Vistanex MML-120'. Such compounds, which are generally used as plasticisers, resemble uncured natural and synthetic rubbers in their physical properties and, when mixed with a hydrocarbon solvent according to the present invention, the polymer initially swells in volume as it appears to imbibe the solvent. Preferably, the polymer is ground to form granules or particles before being added to the solvent, the individual granules or particles thereof eventually breaking up and becoming dissolved and homogenous in the solvent. The higher is the surface area to volume ratio of the granules or particles, the faster will be the rate of dissolution.

[0010] An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example.

Example

[0011] A thickened kerosene formulation contains the following ingredients:

Material	%W/W
Low Odour Kerosene	90 - < 100	typically 95
Polyolefin polymer (Vistanex MML-120)	Up to 5	typically 2.5
Fragrance material (optional)	Up to 5	typically 2.5

[0012] Such a formulation has the following properties:

Density	0.75 - 0.80 gm/ml @ 20°C	typically 0.78 gm/ml
Flash point	62 - 66°C	typically 63 - 65°C

[0013] The formulation can be used as a lamp oil.

Claims

1. A method of thickening liquid hydrocarbon fuel oils, the method comprising mixing the hydrocarbon with an essentially paraffin polyolefin polymer in solid form to yield a thickened homogenous liquid solution, characterised in that the liquid hydrocarbon comprises commercial low odour kerosene having a flashpoint greater than or equal to 62°C and the polymer has a molecular weight in the range 1.4 to 2.0 x 10⁶.

2. A method according to claim 1, in which the kerosene has a concentration of 90 to <100% by weight and the polymer has a concentration of up to 5% by weight.

3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the polyolefin polymer comprises a medium or high molecular weight polymer of an alkene.

4. A method according to claim 3, in which the alkene comprises a branched chain alkene.

5. A composition of matter comprising a thickened homogenous liquid solution of an essentially paraffin polyolefin polymer in solid form dissolved in a liquid hydrocarbon fuel oil, characterised in that the liquid hydrocarbon comprises commercial low odour kerosene having a flashpoint greater than or equal to 62°C and the polymer has a molecular weight in the range 1.4 to 2.0 x 10⁶.

6. A composition according to claim 5, in which the kerosene has a concentration of 90 to <100% by weight and the polymer has a concentration of up to 5% by weight.

7. A composition according to claim 5 or claim 6, in which the polyolefin polymer comprises a medium or high molecular weight polymer of an alkene.

8. A composition according to claim 7, in which the alkene comprises a branched chain alkene.

9. The use of a composition according to any of claims 5 to 8 as a barbecue lighting fuel.

Ansprüche

1. Verfahren zum Eindicken von flüssigen Kohlenwasserstoff-Heizölen, wobei das Verfahren das Mischen des Kohlenwasserstoffs mit einem im Wesentlichen Paraffin-Polyolefinpolymer in fester Form umfasst, um zu einer eingedickten homogenen flüssigen Lösung zu gelangen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der flüssige Kohlenwasserstoff handelsübliches geruchsarmes Kerosin umfasst, das einen Flammpunkt höher oder gleich 62 °C aufweist und das Polymer ein Molekulargewicht im Bereich von 1,4 bis 2,0 x 10⁶ aufweist.

2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, bei dem das Kerosin eine Konzentration von 90 bis <100 Gewichtsprozent aufweist und das Polymer eine Konzentration von bis zu 5 Gewichtsprozent aufweist.

3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2, bei dem das Polyolefinpolymer ein Alken-Polymer mit einem mittleren oder hohen Molekulargewicht umfasst.

4. Verfahren nach Anspruch 3, bei dem das Alken ein Alken mit verzweigter Kette umfasst.

5. Stoffzusammensetzung, die eine eingedickte homogene flüssige Lösung eines im Wesentlichen Paraffin-Polyolefinpolymer in fester Form gelöst in einem flüssigen Kohlenwasserstoff-Heizöl, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der flüssige Kohlenwasserstoff handelsübliches geruchsarmes Kerosin umfasst, das einen Flammpunkt höher oder gleich 62 °C aufweist und das Polymer ein Molekulargewicht im Bereich von 1,4 bis 2,0 × 10⁶ aufweist.

6. Zusammensetzung nach Anspruch 5, bei der das Kerosin eine Konzentration von 90 bis <100 Gewichtsprozent aufweist und das Polymer eine Konzentration von bis zu 5 Gewichtsprozent aufweist.

7. Zusammensetzung nach Anspruch 5 oder Anspruch 6, bei der das Polyolefinpolymer ein Alken-Polymer mit einem mittleren oder hohen Molekulargewicht umfasst.

8. Zusammensetzung nach Anspruch 7, bei der das Alken ein Alken mit verzweigter Kette umfasst.

9. Verwendung einer Zusammensetzung nach einem der Ansprüche 5 bis 8 als Grillanzünder.

Revendications

1. Procédé d'épaississement d'huiles combustibles d'hydrocarbure liquide, ledit procédé comprenant le mélange de l'hydrocarbure avec un polymère de polyoléfine essentiellement à base de paraffine sous forme solide, pour donner une solution liquide homogène épaissie, caractérisé en ce que l'hydrocarbure liquide comprend un kérosène commercial faiblement odorant ayant un point d'inflammabilité supérieur ou égal à 62°C et le polymère a une masse moléculaire comprise entre 1,4 et 2,0 x 10⁶.

2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le kérosène a une concentration de 90 à < 100 % en poids et le polymère a une concentration pouvant atteindre 5 % en poids.

3. Procédé selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, dans lequel le polymère de polyoléfine comprend un polymère à masse moléculaire moyenne ou élevée d'un alcène.

4. Procédé selon la revendication 3, dans lequel l'acène comprend un alcène à chaîne ramifiée.

5. Composition de matière comprenant une solution liquide homogène épaissie d'un polymère de polyoléfine, essentiellement à base de paraffine sous forme solide, dissous dans une huile combustible hydrocarbure liquide, caractérisée en ce que l'hydrocarbure liquide comprend du kérosène commercial faiblement odorant, ayant un point d'inflammabilité supérieur ou égal à 62°C et le polymère a une masse moléculaire comprise entre 1,4 et 2,0 x 10⁶.

6. Composition selon la revendication 5, dans laquelle le kérosène a une concentration de 90 à < 100 % en poids et le polymère a une concentration pouvant atteindre 5 % en poids.

7. Composition selon la revendication 5 ou 6, dans laquelle le polymère de polyoléfine comprend un polymère à masse moléculaire moyenne ou élevée d'un alcène.

8. Composition selon la revendication 7, dans laquelle l'alcène comprend un alcène à chaîne ramifiée.

9. Utilisation d'une composition selon l'une quelconque des revendications 5 à 8 sous forme de combustible d'allumage d'un barbecue.