Fuel oil compositions with improved cold flow properties

• US 10,047,314 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2017
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BASF SE
• Original Assignee: BASF SE
• Inventors: Ahlers, Wolfgang, Fechtenkoetter, Andreas, Maehling, Frank-Olaf, Troetsch-Schaller, Irene, Eisenbeis, Ansgar
• Primary Examiner(s): Bernshteyn, Michael M
• Application Number:
  US15/425,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20170145335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 526329
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 210/02 Ethene
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 218/08 Vinyl acetate
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 220/12 of monohydric alcohols or phenols
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 2500/02 Low molecular weight, e.g. <100,000 Da.
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 2500/03 Narrow molecular weight distribution, i.e. Mw/Mn < 3
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 2500/17 Viscosity
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 2800/10 as molar percentages
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/1973 mono-carboxylic
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 10/14 for improving low temperature properties
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 10/16 Pour-point depressants
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2250/04 Additive or component is a polymer
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2270/026 for diesel engines, e.g. automobiles, stationary, marine
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 145/14 Acrylate; Methacrylate
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2209/084 Acrylate; Methacrylate
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2030/08 Resistance to extreme temperature

Abstract

The use is described of polymers which contain, in copolymerized form, an α-olefin, a vinyl ester and an ester of an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid as an additive for fuel oils and lubricants and in particular as a cold flow improver in fuel oils. In addition, the fuel oils and lubricants additized with these polymers; and also additive packages comprising such polymers are described.

Claims

1. A method of preparing a fuel or lubricant composition, comprising adding to the fuel or lubricant composition a polymer which comprises, in copolymerized form, an α

-olefin, a vinyl ester and an ester of an α

,β

-unsaturated carboxylic acid.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the polymer is obtained by free-radical polymerization.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the polymer is composed of monomers including M1, M2 and M3 and wherein M1, M2 and M3 have the following general formulae:

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the monomers M1, M2 and M3 are present in the polymer in the following molar proportions:

M1;

from 0.60 to 0.98

M2;

from 0.01 to 0.20

M3;

from 0.01 to 0.20.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the monomer M1 is ethylene.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein R², R³ and R⁴ are each H or two of the R², R³ and R⁴ radicals are each H and the other radical is methyl.

7. The method according to claim 3, wherein R⁵ is C₁-C₉-hydrocarbyl.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein R⁵ is n-butyl or 2-ethylhexyl.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein M2 is n-butyl acrylate or 2-ethylhexyl acrylate.

10. The use method according to claim 3, wherein M3 is vinyl acetate.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the polymer is a cold flow improver.

12. A fuel oil composition comprising:

a middle distillate fuel boiling in a range of 120-500°

C.; and

at least one polymer as defined in claim 1,

wherein a content of the middle distillate fuel is greater than a content of the polymer by weight.

13. The fuel oil composition according to claim 12, wherein the fuel component comprises biodiesel in proportions of 0-100% by weight.

14. The fuel oil composition according to claim 12, selected from diesel fuels, kerosene and heating oil.

15. The fuel oil composition according to claim 14, wherein the diesel fuel is obtained by refining, coal gasification or gas liquefaction, or is a mixture of such products and is optionally mixed with renewable fuels.

16. The fuel oil composition according to claim 12, wherein a sulfur content of the composition is at most 500 ppm.

17. A lubricant composition, comprising:

a lubricant; and

at least one polymer as defined in claim 1,

wherein a content of the lubricant is greater than a content of the polymer by weight.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the polymer is used in combination with further cold flow improvers and/or further lubricant and fuel oil additives.

19. An additive package comprising at least one polymer as defined in claim 1 in combination with at least one further lubricant or fuel oil additive.

20. The method according to claim 4, wherein the monomers M1, M2 and M3 are present in the polymer in the following molar proportions:

M1;

from 0.60 to 0.98

M2;

from 0.015 to 0.17

M3;

from 0.02 to 0.15.

21. The method according to claim 4, wherein the monomers M1, M2 and M3 are present in the polymer in the following molar proportions:

M1;

from 0.60 to 0.98

M2;

from 0.02 to 0.16

M3;

from 0.02 to 0.15.