Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
Octane enhancing additive for gasoline
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an octane enhancing
additive for gasoline.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Gasoline fraction obtained from crude oil distillation
typically has an octane number of around 80. In addition to
refinery upgrading processes, octane enhancing additives have
been used to improve the octane number. The octane number
must be increased from 80 to 87 for regular grade gasoline
and to 91 for premium gasoline.
1
One commonly used octane enhancing additive for gasoline
was tetraethyl lead. Tetraethyl lead was banned after it was
discovered to contribute to human health problE;ms. Another
commonly used octane enhancing additive for gasoline was
methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE). MTBE was also discovered to
create environmental problems. Zarge quantities of MTBE have
been released into the environment from leaking underground
storage tanks. Where such leakage occurred, the MTBE
contaminated the water table, because of its high mobility
and water solubility.
There are numerous chemical additives, which are capable
of increasing the octane number of gasoline. It is
difficult, however, to find additives which are capable of
achieving very high octane increases with very small quantity
additions to gasoline. It is also difficult to find
additives with acceptable physical characteristics, which
will have relatively low potential environmental and
toxicological impact.
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SUGARY OF THE INi7ENTION
What is required is an octane increasing additive for
gasoline which is capable of achieving very high octane
increases with relatively small quantity additions to
gasoline and relatively low potential environmental and
toxicological impact.
According to the present invention there is provided an
octane increasing additive for gasoline,. which includes N-
methylaniline and/or N-ethylaniline, with aniline and
ethanol. There is not less than 5o and not more than 70o by
volume of at least one of N-methylaniline or N-et:hylaniline.
There is not less than loo and not more than 50~ by volume
of aniline. There is not less than 5% and not more than 600
by volume of ethanol.
The normal additional of the octane increasing additive
into the gasoline is in the 1o to loo range.
In applications in which vapour pressure is of concern,
iso-octane can be added to increase the vapour px°essure for
the additive.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIO1~T OF TF3E PREFERRED E1~IBODII~TT
The preferred octane increasing additive for gasoline
will now be descr_bed. During product development, the
additive was identified as H.O.P.E which stands for "High
Octane Power Enhancer'°. In the description which follows and
the supporting charts and graphs, the additive is identified
as H.O.P.E.
H . O . P . E . deve~.opment
H.O.P.E. is a newly designed gasoline additive that
enhances research (RON), motor (MON) octane numbers and,
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consequently, the anti-knock index.
Testing Methods
H.O.P.E. was tested at the laboratories of thE: Alberta
Research Council using standard methods. Among them ASTM
methods 2699 and 2700 that were used for RON and MON
respectively. H.O.P.E. could be added to gasoline at
ranges of 1-100 (v/v).
Performance
H.O.P.E. performance is very good as shown in the
following graph. The enhancement of octane number with
H.O.P.E. is much larger than with other additives tested
or MTBE as shown on the graph. This addition rate could be
adjusted based on the formulation of H.O.P.E. and also
based on the octane number of the gasoline.
Testing dosage in increments of 10 of H.O.P.E. allows
increase of RON from 77.8 to 81.4 resulting in a boosting
effect of 3.6 points compared to 1.1 of MTBE.
1~
.
1.4 ---. . .
a- ~ -oH
~E.
O
P
~~ . _
.
.
o qp .. . _ --~-Ethanol
m ~ .. tso-octane
. ,_...-~- ' --~ MTB~
~.~,~
.
o . ~ ~ I
0 1 ~ 3 d 5
PERCENTADDED
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Dosage: lo, 20, 3o and 5a
of H.O.P.E. increases gasoline RON by up to 3.6
5 points
of H.O.P.E. increases gasoline RON by up to 7.5
points
of H.O.P.E. increases gasoline RON by u~> to 10.8
points
10 5% of H.O.P.E. increases gasoline RON by u~> to 15.6
points,
Based on these results, the following informatic>n is
compiled,
a At 1o dosage, one(1) ton of H.O.P.E. treats'. 100 tons of
base gasoline resulting in 101 tons of treated gasoline
with RON increase of 3.6 points.
To perform this, simply add 1 ton of H.~.P.E. to 10~ tons
of base gasoline.
At 2o dosage, two (2) tons of H.O.P.E. treats 100 tons
of base gasoline resulting in 102 tons of treated
gasoline with RON increase of 7.5 points.
At 5o dosage, one (1) ton of H.O.P.E, treats 20 tons of
base gasoline resulting in 21 tons of treated gasoline
with RON increase of 15.6 points.
Physical Characteristics
H.O.P.E. is a mixture of liquid organic chemicals.
These chemicals have a clear to slightly yellow colour, no
CA 02437761 2003-08-20
metals and no phosphorus as determined by ASTM methods. The
vapor pressure of its major constituents is lower than
gasoline. No lead is present in H.O.P.:E. and other
constituents are with specification.
5
Environmental and Toxicological impact
H.O.P.E. environmental parameters (Kow, Koc) are
estimated to be similar to gasoline's, as shown in the table
below. Its solubility in water is smaller than MTBE°S.
It's lower vapor pressure than gasoline makes it less
susceptible for inhalation. Its flash point is estimated to
be 37 C and its TGA flammability classification is 3. It°s
freezing point is less than -10 C. The major constituents of
H.O.P.E. are much less toxic than other additives such as
MMT, based on comparison of LD50 values.
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I~tihemlc~!'B~ 1~P W~l~r9aluE~lltLo l~~w6fa~ L~GD
tienxona 8ta X4.5 5 ~. ~ 2~ ~.i3 $~ fTI~~
C m m !k
mouse
ora
E~P~T ~~3 O.t?f~ 0 2~ ll 3.7 ND 5tt r~
C mmH ~5 r3 drat
~ITBt: 5f ~541i ~5 51 I ~S ~.~4 8 28~ oral
G
Eth~n~l 7~ 59,3 ~5 r~~cible -0.39 ND 1~;~7 !fit
C m~r:H Gr~l
ASV-acne 99 40.8 21 a ND same ~ali~
G mreli us
N.~t t 245 t7~?A 26 ~~a ~1 B 1 2r~ 334 m r oral
arrilln$ C rnmli
Conclusion
H.O.P.E. is a very efficient in. boostincr antiknock
index for gasoline. It is an attractive and very
promising additive since it exhibits low water
solubility, low toxicity and low mobility in the
environment. Its addition to gasoline clid not show
any change to the regular emitted chemicals
(emissions) from tail pipes. This classifies
H.O.P.E, as environmentally friendly additive.
Broad tnlorking Range:
not less than 5o and not more than 70% by volume of at
least one of N-methylaniline or N-ethylaniline;
not less than loo and not more than 50o by volume of
aniline; and
not less than 5o and not more than 60o by volume of
ethanol.
In this formulation a synergy is obtained through use of
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aniline in combination between N-methylaniline, N-
ethylaniline or a combination of both. Ethanol is added to
control environmental emissions by providing oxygen for
improved combustion of the gasoline. Minimum levels are
specified, as below those minimum levels the des~_red
beneficial effect is not achieved. Maximum level: are
specified, as above those maximum levels room is being taken
up in the formulation which is necessary for the other
ingredients. Where vapour pressure is of-_ concern, not less
than 5o and not more than 30% by volume of iso-ocaane is
added.
Preferred Working Range:
not less than 30o and not more than 65o by volume of at
least one of N-methylaniline or N-ethylanil_ine;
not less than 20o and not more than 60o by volume of
aniline; and
not less than 5o and not mare than 45o by volume of
ethanol.
The preferred range sets forth a narrower working range,
which it is recommended that one skilled in the art operate
within in order to achieve the best results.
Sample Formulation Io
60o N-methylaniline or N-ethylaniline
30o Aniline
10o ethanol
Sample Formulation II:
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15o N-methylaniline
15o N-ethylaniline
20o aniline
loo iso-octane
40o ethanol
Variations:
Sample formulation I is prepared to obtain a maximum
octane boost, without regard to other factors. 600 of that
formulation includes N-methylaniline, N-ethyla.niline or a
combination of both. This is combined with a further 300
aniline. Whether sample formulation I set forth above is
used will depend upon a number of factors. One factor is
oxygen content of the gasoline and the emissions produced by
the gasoline. Another factor is the compos_Ltion of the
gasoline. A practical consideration will, at times, be the
cost and availability of the constituent chemicals. The cost
per litre of gasoline must be kept as low as possible. If
the price of N-methylaniline were to rise significantly,
substitution would have to be made for. increased quantities
of the other ingredients. Sample formulation II demonstrates
an adjusted formulation, that still falls within the
preferred ranges. Such a formulation might be used if N-
methylaniline and N-ethylaniline were to increase in price or
become difficult to obtain in desired quantitif=s. It also
might be used if adjustments were required to increase oxygen
content and reduce environmental emissions. Iso-octane would
be added to reduce vapour pressure, in order to reduce
gasoline evaporative emissions.
The Charts which follow demonstrate performance obtained
in preliminary tests.
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CCTA~11~E ENHANCEI~'S
methyleniline R~N M4IV OCi~r~~
added ~
0 90.4 81.8 86.~
1 93.8 84.5 89.~
2 96.8 85.8 9'i.~
3 98.fi 86_9 928
100
98 ~ - .~.~-
g6 _ . . __
.. . ~. -~--Se~es1
m ga _ .. . --r~-Series2
n.
8g . -.- _. - ~ Se~ies3
86
84 -
82 - --------- .
8g
0 1 2 3 4
N-MethylaaHi~te °l°
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1.
100 ---,
i
99 --.
98
97 -
96 --
z 95 -
93
92 __
_._
..
91
90 - -
89
0 1 2 3
~l~
MA - N-methylaniline
A - aniline
MI - methyl iodide
EA - N-ethylaniline
DMA - N-dimethylaniline
Isoct- iso-octane
1C
-~ 5
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Chemical BP VP LD50 Water to Koc
aol Kew
benzene 80C 94.8 5C 4700 m !dc 1.8 !I 2.13 82
mmH Mouse oral 26C
MMT 233C 0.047 OC 50 m Ik rat 29 m 3.7 NLD
mmH anal 5C
M'fBE 55C 250 3C 2960 rn Rat 51 I 0.94 6
mmH oral 25C
Aniline 184C 0.49 25C 230 m k Rat 36 n 0.9 63
mmH ora! 3C
Ma Anilinel9fiC0.453 5C similar to 5.6 I! l.fifi65
mm aniline 25C
N
Ethanol 78.5059.3 25C 12387 m lk Miscible-0.31 NC
mmH Rat oral
isooctane99C 40.6 c$21Csame as gasoline~ 0
] / mmli
(
In this patent document, the word '°compri;sing°' is used
in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the
word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are
not excluded. A reference to an element by t:he indefinite
article "a'° does not exclude the possibility that more than
one of the element is present, unless the context clearly
requires that there be one and only one of the elements.
It will be apparent to one skilled in 'the art that
modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention
as hereinafter defined in the Claims.
