Process for producing an additive for lubricants, as well as for aqueous heating medium and fuel systems, as well as the special use possibilities thereof

A process for producing an additive for lubricants and for aqueous fuel mixtures and heating media is described, in which an alkaline aqueous solution of an inverted cane sugar as the main component and containing a hydrocarbon and an alcohol is heated and then cooled. Use is made of inverted cane sugar with a degree of inversion of approximately 50 to 80% and is heated to approximately 75.degree. to 100.degree. C. until a red shade forms. The additive obtained in this way, mixed with alcohol, water and gasoline, can be used as an excellent fuel and as a substitute for normal gasoline and even superfuel. A corresponding mixture can also be used as a heating medium. The characteristics of lubricants can be improved by incorporating this additive. In addition, the effectiveness of air filters of motor vehicles and internal combustion systems can be improved by impregnating the filter material with the described additive.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The invention relates to a process for producing an additive for 
lubricants, as well as for aqueous fuel mixtures and heating media, in 
which an alkaline aqueous solution of an inverted cane sugar as the main 
component with a content of a hydrocarbon and an alcohol is heated and 
then cooled, the aforementioned use possibilities and the use as an 
impregnating material for air filters of motor vehicles and random 
combustion systems. 
PRIOR ART 
The process of the aforementioned type is known from DE-OS No. 3,205,594. 
According to the specific details of the latter a mixture of 50% caustic 
soda solution, petroleum, acetic acid, glycerol, an ethanol/propanol 
mixture and a main mass constituted by an inverted liquid sugar, 
particularly based on cane sugar, is kept for 10 minutes at a temperature 
of approximately 60.degree. to 65.degree. C. Following cooling, an agent 
is formed which, added to mixtures of water, alcohol and gasoline (e.g. in 
a volume ratio of 1:5:4) in a quantity of a few parts per thousand, yields 
a liquid, which can be used in random combustion systems, as well as in 
internal combustion engines of motor vehicles. Although this known process 
leads to extremely advantageous results, it requires a careful matching of 
the aforementioned components. Thus, particularly favourable results are 
obtained with an additive prepared in the following way. Firstly a mixture 
of 20 to 45% by weight of 50% caustic soda solution, 3 to 15% by weight of 
petroleum, 3 to 15% by weight of 5% acetic acid, 25 to 80% by weight of 
glycerol and 20 to 45% by weight of a mixture of ethanol and propanol is 
prepared. This mixture is subsequently mixed with 10 times the quantity of 
a 75% aqueous inverted liquid sugar (cane sugar). This is heated to the 
effective additive of aqueous fuels, etc. in the described manner. It is 
considered possible to increase the effectiveness of such an additive by 
adding traces of calcium sulphate hemihydrate (CaSO.sub.4 1/2H.sub.2 O). 
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
The problem of the invention was to so improve the aforementioned process 
that a simple and more flexible production of the sought process product 
is made possible. 
According to the invention this problem is solved in that use is made of 
cane sugar with a degree of inversion of approximately 50 to 80%, 
particularly approximately 55 to 75% and is heated to approximately 
75.degree. to 100.degree. C. until a red shade forms. 
Thus, the essence of the invention is that use is not made of completely 
inverted cane sugar. Use is in fact made of a degree of inversion of 
approximately 50 to 80%, particularly approximately 55 to 75% and in 
preferred manner approximately 60 to 70%, whilst a level of approximately 
66% in especially preferred manner leads to the desired results. With 
respect to the choice of the special inverted cane sugar, the invention 
constitutes a selection invention. 
It is vital in conjunction with this selection to continue the heating of 
the starting mixture until a red shade has formed. This important fact can 
also not be gathered from prior art. It is advantageous that this red 
shade is obtained as quickly as possible, which can be achieved by heating 
the starting mixture to a temperature of more than approximately 
75.degree. C., preferably more than approximately 80.degree. C. and 
especially more than 90.degree. C. Particularly favourable characteristics 
are obtained with respect to the process product if it is kept for some 
time roughly at boiling temperature and in particular approximately 
100.degree. C., in order to bring about the indicated red shade. A 
temperature of 100.degree. C. should not be exceeded. Following heating, 
cooling takes place to ambient temperature. 
The starting material for the inventively sought product is always a 
concentrated aqueous solution of cane sugar with the indicated degree of 
conversion. The concentration of this cane sugar is advantageously at 
least 50% by weight and in particular close to the degree of saturation. 
Particularly favourable results are obtained if the aqueous starting 
medium contains approximately 60 to 75% by weight of the partly inverted 
cane sugar. A concentration of 72% by weight has proved to be extremely 
useful. This solution is now adjusted weakly alkaline by means of organic 
or inorganic bases, such as caustic soda solution, caustic potash solution 
and/or calcium hydroxide, or by protolysis of alkaline-acting salts, 
particularly carboxylates, as well as salts of weak acids with strong 
bases, such as sodium acetate and sodium carbonate. It has been found that 
the sought weak alkaline range, particularly a pH-value of approximately 8 
to 10 is particularly advantageously kept constant by the buffering action 
of the addition of alkaline buffering carboxylates, particularly sodium 
acetate. 
Preferably a few parts per thousand of a hydrocarbon, particularly 
approximately 2 to 25 parts by weight are added to approximately 1000 
parts by weight of the aqueous solution of the partly inverted cane sugar. 
The hydrocarbon can be constituted by different materials and should in 
particular be a liquid hydrocarbon. There are no significant restrictions 
to the invention in this connection. It can be constituted by different 
petroleum fractions of aliphatic and/or aromatic origin. Examples are raw 
gasoline, petroleum, light gasoline, ligroin, heavy gasoline, illuminating 
oil, gas oil (diesel or heating oil), cyclic hydrocarbons (naphthenes) and 
their fractions in the form of cyclopentane and cyclohexane, as well as 
petroleum fractions which, as regards their composition, occupy a central 
position between "paraffinic" and "naphthenic" petroleums. 
Finally, to the aqueous solution of the partly inverted cane sugar is added 
a compound having an alcoholic character, particularly a lower primary, 
secondary or tertiary monohydric or polyhydric alcohol. Methanol, ethanol, 
propanol, butanol, glycol and glycerol are preferred. These compounds are 
advantageously added in a quantity that there are approximately 5 to 100 
parts by weight thereof for 1000 parts by weight of the solution of the 
partly inverted cane sugar. The range of approximately 10 to 60 parts by 
weight is particularly preferred. Especially favourable results are 
regularly obtained if there are approximately 50 parts by weight of the 
alcohol, aldehyde and/or ketone for 1000 parts by weight of the liquid 
sugar. The function of these compounds has not yet been clearly clarified. 
Possibly they serve as a dispersant. It is necessary for them to be 
readily soluble in the aqueous solution of the partly inverted cane sugar. 
This requirement is fulfilled by the aforementioned compounds. 
Within the scope of the aforementioned known process, it is also considered 
advantageous to additionally admix small amounts of gypsum (CaSO.sub.4 
1/2H.sub.2 O). Only traces are required, "traces" being understood to mean 
quantities of 10.sup.2 to 10.sup.-4 ppm. However, the addition of gypsum 
does not improve the special suitability of the hereinafter described 
flammable aqueous mixtures. In fact it leads to the reduction of small 
amounts of toxic substances when the aqueous mixtures are burned. At these 
temperatures gypsum decomposes to calcium oxide and sulphur trioxide. The 
decomposition products lead to the elimination of undesired toxins during 
the combustion process. 
The product obtained according to the aforementioned inventive process has 
the interesting property improved compared with the prior art of, together 
with hydrocarbons, alcohols and water, supplying a flammable or 
combustible mixture, which can be used as fuel in random combustion 
systems, particularly in motor vehicle engines. It is added to the 
mixtures of water, alcohol and gasoline in comparatively small amounts. 
The water proportion is essentially responsible for deciding whether this 
mixture is used as "normal gasoline" or as "superfuel". The knocking 
resistance decreases with increased water proportions. It has been found 
that a mixture of approximately 1 part by weight water, 5 parts by weight 
ethanol and 4 parts by weight paraffin, mixed with approximately 0.1 part 
by weight of the inventive additive (e.g. of 5 g of sodium hydroxide, 5 g 
of petroleum, 0.001 g of sodium acetate, 38 g of glycerol, 27 g of ethanol 
and 1000 g of 75% inverted cane sugar--degree of inversion 66%) yields 10 
liters of normal fuel or gasoline. This fuel fulfils the requirements made 
on normal gasoline by DIN 51 600, i.e. its knocking resistance is adequate 
to permit the use thereof as a fuel in motor vehicles operated with normal 
gasoline. The above-described product can be converted into a superfuel, 
if only approximately 1/4 of the indicated water proportion is used. Such 
a product is equivalent to a superfuel satisfying the requirements of the 
above DIN rule. As a function of the operating conditions of different 
combustion systems for heating oil and the like, the optimum mixture for 
such purposes can be determined with the aid of simple tests. 
It has also been found that the inventive additive also leads to an 
advantageous improvement of the lubricating properties of lubricants. The 
term "lubricant" is to be understood in its widest sense. Lubricants are 
considered to cover in particular those for cutting work, such as cutting 
and drilling oils, as well as oils for non-cutting work, such as are used 
in the cold rolling process. 
It is particularly surprising that the filtering action of air filters of 
motor vehicles, as well as combustion systems is significantly improved if 
the filter materials are impregnated with the inventive additive. This 
effect can be increased if, over and beyond the above-described measures 
of the inventive process or in the following way the mixture having the 
red shade is added in excess water and kept for several days with the 
exclusion of air at ambient temperature, the resulting product is provided 
with a small amount of egg yolk, particulary chicken egg yolk (as the 
albuminous nutrient medium base or nutrient medium for microorganisms) and 
then stored again for several days at ambient temperature. In a particular 
case approximately 30 g of the inventive additive was mixed with 4 liters 
of water. The resulting material was then kept at ambient temperature 
sealed in airtight manner for 16 days. Microbiological tests revealed that 
microorganisms formed. Thus, it can be looked upon as a type of nutrient 
solution. On adding chicken egg yolk to this nutrient solution, microbial 
growth was further increased. It was found that the biological process was 
completed after roughly 23 days. Inter alia phosphoproteins could be 
detected in the material obtained. The resulting material can be used 
particularly effectively as an impregnating agent for air filters of motor 
vehicles and combustion systems. The effect is increased by incorporating 
into said additive a lower alcohol, such as methanol, ethanol, propanol 
and/or butanol or also glycol or glycerol and there can be two parts of 
additive for roughly one part of alcohol. 
The cause of the successful results obtained by the invention cannot be 
explained in detail. It is assumed that the cane sugar with the indicated 
degree of inversion is subject to certain microbiological sequences under 
the represented process conditions leading to the formation of specific 
microorganisms. However, these technical standpoints are not vital for 
performing the invention. 
If by using the inventive additive, a fuel is produced, the latter is found 
to be superior in several respects to the superfuels according to DIN 51 
600. This in particular applies in connection with the proportion of 
environmentally prejudicial pollutants. This is made clear by the 
comparison of the inventive multicomponent fuel consisting of 200 ml of 
water, 0.4 g of inventive additive, 3000 ml of isopropyl alcohol and 700 
ml of supergasoline (inventive MCF fuel) and normal supergasoline with an 
octane rating of more than 98%. 
Superfuel at 480 r.p.m./CO-value 3.5 vol. % 
Inventive MCF fuel CO-value 0.2 vol. % (MCF=multicomponent fuel). 
Thus, in the inventive MCF fuel, the CO-value is reduced by approximately 
95%. Its further advantage is that it requires no separate agent for 
increasing the knocking resistance, particularly no lead compounds. If the 
filters of motor vehicles are treated with the inventive additive, 
particularly in accordance with the aforementioned further procedure 
(additional treatment with special proteins), then there is a reduction of 
the CO-value by approximately 1/3 in the case of conventional superfuels. 
The invention will now be explained in greater detail with the aid of 
examples.

EXAMPLE 1 
An inventive additive is prepared as follows: Mixing and heating of 
25 g of 50% caustic soda solution 
5 g of illuminating petroleum (boiling range 150.degree. to 250.degree. C.) 
5 g of 25% acetic acid 
30 g of glycerol (DAB VII) 
25 g of 96% ethanol 
1 g of calcium sulphate hemihydrate 
1000 g of 75% saccharose solution (degree of inversion 66%) 
(heated for approximately 10 minutes to approximately 100.degree. C. until 
a red shade is obtained). 
2 g of the inventive additive described in the example were mixed with 1 
liter of tap water. 3 liters of isopropanol were then mixed with 200 ml of 
this solution and stirred. The 3.2 liters obtained were then well mixed 
with 7 liters of superfuel from a Realkauf filling station. The thus 
prepared fuel mixture of 10.2 1 was then filled into a previously 
completely emptied tank of a VW box-type delivery van (type 21, 50 hp and 
1570 cc cubic capacity) as the test vehicle, which was then driven for 50 
km. The travelling behaviour was excellent. There were no differences 
compared with standard supergasoline as regards the performance. 
EXAMPLE 2 
The additive described in connection with Example 1 was tested with 
superfuel using various car types in connection with the CO-value. The 
tests were carried out with an IR exhaust gas analyzer MHC 220 
(manufactured and marketed by Hermann Electronic). During testing no 
changes were made to the engine settings of the test vehicles. The test 
vehicles were an Opel Ascona (cubic capacity 1.6 liters and 75 hp) and a 
Mercedes 200 (94 hp). When testing using the Mercedes 200, in two tests 
the increase in the effectiveness of air filter by impregnating with the 
inventive product was established. The following results were obtained: 
(1) Opel Ascona 
(a) normal superfuel 
800 r.p.m., CO-value 2.0 vol. % 
1600 r.p.m., CO-value 2.0 vol. % 
4800 r.p.m., CO-value 3.5 vol. % 
(b) measurement with inventive MCF fuel according to example 1 
800 r.p.m., CO-value 0.2 vol. % 
1600 r.p.m., CO-value 0.5 vol. % 
4800 r.p.m., CO-value 0.2 vol. % 
Thus, the inventive MCF fuel led to a Co-value reduction by approximately 
95%. 
(2) Test with Mercedes 200 
(a) measurement with normal superfuel (original air filter) 
700 r.p.m., CO-value 2.2 vol. % 
4500 r.p.m., CO-value 1.2 vol. % 
(b) measurement with normal superfuel, in which the filter material was 
impregnated with the additive described in Example 1 
700 r.p.m., CO-value 1.5 vol. % 
4500 r.p.m., CO-value 0.8 vol. % 
(c) measurement with the inventive MCF fuel (original air filter) 
700 r.p.m., CO-value 0.25 vol. % 
4500 r.p.m., CO-value 0.20 vol. % 
(d) measurement with MCF fuel and an air filter impregnated with the 
additive according to the invention 
700 r.p.m., CO-value 0.20 vol. % 
4500 r.p.m., CO-value 0.18 vol. % 
The CO-value can be further considerably reduced with the inventive 
impregnation. Test runs with the individual vehicles revealed that the 
inventive MCF fuel and the normal superfuel used for comparison purposes 
were absolutely comparable as regards performance.