Fuels and fuel additives comprising ester derivatives of 5-methyl-2-furoic acid

Abstract

Ester derivatives of furoic acids and in particular of 5-methyl-2-furoic acid can be used as fuel as fuel additives. Such esters can be used to displace crude oil products such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, etc. As fuel additives, such esters had been shown to improve the performance of spark ignition internal combustion engines, compression ignition internal combustion engines. In addition, testing shows indications that said molecule will improve the performance of air breathing engines as well.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority as a continuation in part of PCT application PCT / US2013 / 059836, filed Sep. 14, 2013; and to the following US provisional applications to which said application claimed priority: 61 / 818,418, filed May 1, 2013, 61 / 714,225, filed Oct. 1, / 2012, and 61 / 705,082, filed Sep. 24, 2012. This application claims priority as a continuation in part of U.S. application Ser. No. 13 / 817,452, filed Mar. 5, 2013, and to the following applications to which said application claimed priority: PCT / US2011 / 048009 filed Aug. 17, 2011; 61 / 375,189, filed Aug. 19, 2010; and 61 / 375,367, filed Aug. 20, 2010. Each of the foregoing applications is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND ART[0002]The present invention concerns the use of molecules of Formula I (as shown in FIG. 1) as fuels and fuels additives, where R is hydrogen, alkyl, or aromatic with 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or combination of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen and R[sub]1 ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is about improving fuel combustion efficiency in various types of engines. This is achieved by using molecules of Formula II in fuel blends, which can increase fuel economy and lower emissions quality. Additionally, molecules of Formula II can reduce the vapor pressure of the fuel, which allows for the blending of low-cost, highly volatile fuel components without exceeding the desired vapor pressure limit. The use of molecules of Formula II can also improve engine performance and increase the usable life of the engine and its components. Molecules of Formula II that are particularly useful for this invention include those with R1 groups between 1 and 12 carbon atoms.

Problems solved by technology

However, the use of MTBE in gasoline had been drastically reduced in later years due to contamination of large amount of groundwater as a result of comparatively small gasoline leaks.

However, the use of ethanol is limited to gasoline and even as a blended component in gasoline has some shortfalls.

This can result in the accelerated corrosion of a fuel system as well as plugging of fuel filters by the corrosion products.

Also, increased wear from the fuel wetted components, such as fuel pumps, injectors, etc., is a known phenomenon.

Another shortfall of ethanol is its comparatively low energy density, with regard to gasoline, a property that reduces the fuel economy of the vehicle.

Ethanol was tested heavily as a potential candidate to reduce particulate matter in diesel, but was shown to reduce the flash point to a level that renders the blend unusable in diesel engines.

Due to its low energy content, the use of ethanol in jet fuel is generally not acceptable by the engine manufacturer.

Other oxygenates showed similarly poor performance in both diesel and jet fuels.

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