Fuel and oil detergents

• US 6,630,430 B1
• Filed: 07/14/2000
• Issued: 10/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Huntsman Petrochemical LLC (Huntsman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Huntsman Petrochemical LLC (Huntsman Corporation)
• Inventors: Anantaneni, Prakasa R., Smith, George A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gupta, Yogendra N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAMLIN, DERRICK G
• Application Number:
  US09/616,568
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 508/413, 508/389, 508/390, 508/391, 184/1.5, 252/70
• US Class Current: 508/413
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 3/322 Reboiler specifications
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2229/16 to increase the Si/Al ratio; Dealumination
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 27/12 Fluorides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 29/18 of the mordenite type
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 37/26 Fluorinating
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 39/026 After-treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 15/107 having saturated side-chain containing at least six carbon atoms, e.g. detergent alkylates
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 2/66 Catalytic processes
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 2521/12 Silica and alumina
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 2521/16 Clays or other mineral silicates
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 2527/126 Aluminium chloride
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 2529/16 containing arsenic, antimony, bismuth, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, polonium, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, technetium or rhenium
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 2529/18 of the mordenite type
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 2529/70 of types characterised by their specific structure not provided for in groups C07C2529/08 - C07C2529/65
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/22 derived from aromatic compounds

Abstract

This invention is directed to lubricating compositions which contain detergent components derived from linear alkylbenzenes including sulfonates and salts and esters thereof. Detergents provided by the invention have a higher content of the 2-phenyl alkylbenzene isomers than was previously available in materials of prior art. The detergents of the present invention are more powerful detergents over those previously available and may be employed as additives in various lubricating compositions, including motor oils, cutting fluids, emulsions, and motor fuels.

Claims

1. A composition useful as a lubricant that is formed from components comprising:

a) a base oil; and

b) an effective detergent amount of an alkylbenzene surfactant component, said component characterized as comprising any amount between 35.00% and 82.00% by weight based upon the total weight of the component, including every hundredth percentage therebetween, of derivatives of the 2-phenyl isomers of alkylbenzenes described by the general formula;

in which n may be any integer between 13 and 27, and in which R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, and R₅ are each independently selected from the group consisting of;

hydrogen, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a butyl group, a sulfonic acid group, a sulfonate group, and a sulfonate ester group.

2. A composition according to claim 1 wherein R₂ and R₃ are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a sulfonate group, R₁ and R₅ are hydrogen, and R₄ is selected from hydrogen, a methyl group, or an ethyl group.

3. A composition according to claim 1 wherein R₂ is sulfonate, R₃ is methyl, R₁ and R₅ are hydrogen, and R₄ is selected from the group consisting of:

hydrogen, a methyl group, or an ethyl group.

4. A composition according to claim 1 wherein R₂, R₃, and R₄ are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a sulfonate group, and R₁, R₅ are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a methyl group, or an ethyl group.

5. A composition as in claim 1 in which R₁ R₂, and R₅ are hydrogen, R₃ is selected from the group consisting of a methyl group or an ethyl group, and R₄ is a sulfonic acid group.

6. A composition as in claim 1 in which R₁, R₂, and R₄ are hydrogen, R₃ is selected from the group consisting of a methyl group or an ethyl group, and R₅ is a sulfonic acid group.

7. A composition as in claim 1 in which R₁, R₂, and R₄ are hydrogen, R₁ is selected from the group consisting of a methyl group or an ethyl group, and R₃ is a sulfonic acid group.

8. A composition as in claim 1 in which R₁, R₃, and R₄ are hydrogen, R₅ is selected from the group consisting of a methyl group or an ethyl group, and R₂ is a sulfonic acid group.

9. A composition according to claim 1 in which R₂ and R₅ are both methyl and R₁, R₃, and R₄ are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen or a sulfonate group.

10. A composition according to claim 1 in which R₄ and R₅ are both methyl and R₁, R₂, and R₃ are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen or a sulfonate group.

11. A composition according to claim 1 in which R₃ and R₄ are both methyl and R₁, R₂, and R₅ are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen or a sulfonate group.

12. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the predominant amount of said derivatives are those in which only one of R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, and R₅ is a sulfonate group, and in which said derivatives are sulfonate salts of metals selected from the group consisting of:

alkali metals or alkaline earth metals.

13. A composition according to claim 12 wherein said salts are salts of metals selected from the group consisting of:

sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, strontium and barium.

14. A composition according to claim 1 further comprising a material selected from the group consisting of:

corrosion-inhibiting agent, detergent, dispersant, antioxidant, viscosity improving agent, antiwear agent, extreme-pressure agent, pour-point depressant, friction-modifier, fluidity-modifier, anti-foam agent, or mixture of two or more thereof.

15. A composition according to claim 1 further comprising any amount between 0.01% and 20.00% by weight based upon the total weight of the composition of a component that comprises at least one other component known to be useful in formulating lubricants, oils, cutting fluids and the like, wherein at least one of said other components is selected from the group consisting of:

anti-oxidants, friction modifiers, pour point depressants, viscosity index improvers, extreme pressure additives, sulfurized olefins, water, aromatic hydrocarbons, aliphatic hydrocarbons, anti-foam agents, a hydrocarbon-based oil, a vegetable oil, a metallic dithiophosphate, an overbased sulfonate, a dye, a hydrocarbon-soluble ashless dispersant, an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt of a sulfonic acid, an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt of a fatty acid and alkylbenzene sulfonates having a 2-phenyl isomer content of less than 50.00%.

16. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the 2-phenyl isomers content of the alkylbenzene surfactant component comprises any amount between 45.00% and 82.00% by weight based upon the total weight of the component, including every hundredth percentage therebetween.

17. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the 2-phenyl isomers content of the alkylbenzene surfactant component comprises any amount between 57.00% and 82.00% by weight based upon the total weight of the component, including every hundredth percentage therebetween.

18. A composition according to claim 1 wherein said alkylbenzene surfactant component is present in any amount between 0.03% and 49.95% by weight based upon the total weight of said composition useful as a lubricant.

19. A composition as in claim 1 wherein the alkylbenzene surfactant component comprises only one alkyl group bonded to a benzene ring, and wherein none of R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, or R₅ are hydrocarbyl.

20. A composition as in claim 19 wherein the alkyl group is substantially linear.

21. A composition as in claim 19 wherein the alkyl group is a branched alkyl group.

22. A composition according to claim 14 wherein said material is present in any amount between 0.10% and 25.00% by weight based upon the total weight of said composition useful as a lubricant.

23. A composition according to claim 14 wherein said material is a mixture of branched alkylbenzene sulfonates wherein said branched alkylbenzene sulfonates comprise one branched alkyl group bonded to a benzene ring, and wherein said alkyl group comprises any integral number of carbon atoms between 16 and 30.

39. The process of providing a metal surface with a lubricating film comprising the step of contacting a composition according to claim 1 to said metal surface.

24. A composition useful as a lubricant that is formed from components comprising:

a) an alkylbenzene surfactant component present in any amount between 0.01% and 50.0% by weight based upon the total weight of the composition, said component characterized as comprising any amount between 37.00% and 82.00% by weight based upon the total weight of the component, including every hundredth percentage therebetween, of derivatives of the 2-phenyl isomers of alkylbenzenes described by the general formula;

 

wherein n is equal to any integer between 13 and 27, and in which R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, and R₅ are each independently selected from the group consisting of;

hydrogen, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a butyl group, a sulfonic acid group, a sulfonate group, and a sulfonate ester group; and

b) at least 50.0% by weight of a base oil.

25. A composition useful as a fuel for an internal combustion engine that is formed from components comprising:

a) a motor fuel; and

b) an effective detergent amount of an alkylbenzene surfactant component, said component characterized as comprising any amount between 35.00% and 82.00% by weight based upon the total weight of the component, including every hundredth percentage therebetween, of derivatives of the 2-phenyl isomers of alkylbenzenes described by the general formula;

 

wherein n is equal to any integer between 13 and 27, and in which R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, and R₅ are each independently selected from the group consisting of;

hydrogen, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a butyl group, a sulfonic acid group, a sulfonate group, and a sulfonate ester group.

26. A composition according to claim 25 further comprising a base oil present in an amount sufficient to effect lubrication of fuel injectors.

27. A composition according to claim 25 in which said derivatives are sulfonate salts of metals selected from the group consisting of:

alkali metals or alkaline earth metals, and wherein at least 51% by weight of said derivatives are those in which only one of R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, and R₅ is a sulfonate group.

28. A composition according to claim 27 wherein said salts include are selected from the group of:

sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, strontium, barium, and ammonium salts.

29. A composition according to claim 28 wherein the derivatives are ammonium salts and said ammonium salts include at least one ammonium salt capable of functioning as an ashless dispersant in a fuel composition useful in internal combustion engines.

40. The process of operating an internal combustion engine which comprises the step of introducing a composition according to claim 25 into a combustion chamber and igniting the fuel.

30. A composition of matter that comprises:

a) a cationic portion comprising a hydrocarbon soluble ashless dispersant; and

b) an anionic portion comprising an alkylbenzene sulfonate surfactant component, said alkylbenzene sulfonate surfactant component characterized as comprising any amount between 35.00% and 82.00% by weight based upon the total weight of the alkylbenzene sulfonate surfactant component, including every hundredth percentage therebetween, of sulfonates of the 2-phenyl isomers of alkylbenzenes described by the general formula;

 

wherein n is equal to any integer between 13 and 27, and in which R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, and R₅ are each independently selected from the group consisting of;

hydrogen, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a butyl group, a sulfonic acid group, or a sulfonate group, or a sulfonate ester group, with the proviso that only one of R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, and R₅ is a sulfonate group.

31. A composition of matter comprising:

a) a minor amount of a composition according to claim 30; and

b) a major amount of a material selected from the group consisting of;

a motor fuel, hydrocarbon diluent, or a base oil.

32. A concentrate which comprises:

a) an alkylbenzene surfactant component, said component characterized as comprising any amount between 35.00% and 82.00 % by weight based upon the total weight of the component, including every hundredth percentage therebetween, of derivatives of the 2-phenyl isomers of alkylbenzenes described by the general formula;

 

wherein n is equal to any integer between 13 and 27, and in which R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, and R₅ are each independently selected from the group consisting of;

hydrogen, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a butyl group, a sulfonic acid group, a sulfonate group, and a sulfonate ester group; and

b) a hydrocarbon diluent.

33. A composition of matter according to claim 32 further comprising a base oil.

34. An mixture from which surfactants, lubricants, and motor fuels may be produced, said mixture characterized as comprising any amount between 35.00% and 82.00% by weight based upon its total weight, including every hundredth percentage therebetween, of the 2-phenyl isomers of alkylbenzenes described by the general formula:

in which n is equal to any integer between 13 and 27, and in which R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, and R₅ are each independently selected from the group consisting of;

hydrogen, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a butyl group, a sulfonic acid group, a sulfonate group, and a sulfonic ester group, wherein the dialkylbenzene content of the mixture is less than 1.0%, and wherein the viscosity of the alkylbenzene mixture is less than 140 SUS units@ 37.8 degrees centigrade.

35. A mixture according to claim 34 wherein the viscosity of the mixture is less than 120 SUS units@37.8 degrees centigrade.

36. A mixture according to claim 34 wherein the viscosity of the alkylbenzene mixture is less than 100 SUS units@37.8 degrees centigrade.

37. A mixture according to claim 34, wherein said derivatives include a sulfonic ester group appended to the benzene ring.

38. A mixture according to claim 37 wherein the alcohol portion of the ester from which said sulfonic ester group is derived comprises a C₁ to C₂₅ hydrocarbon chain, whether linear alkyl or branched alkyl.