FUEL COMPOSITIONS

Abstract: Cold flow properties are improved by adding in minor proportion by weight to a distillate fuel oil a polymer of a C₁ to C₁₇ alkyl vinyl ether. This polymer may be a homopolymer, a mixture of homopolymers, a copolymer of alkyl vinyl ethers of different alkyl chain length, a copolymer of one or more alkyl vinyl ethers with one or more copolymerisable monomers or a mixture of such copolymers. Typical copolymers are copolymers of alkyl vinyl ethers with alkyl acrylates, alkyl methacrylates, olefins, dialkyl fumarates or maleates, eg copolymers of n-butyl vinyl ether with di(n-tetradecyl) fumarate. Other polymers are copolymers of an alkyl vinyl ether with an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or anhydride, subsequently reacted with an alcohol or an amine or both, eg a copolymer of methyl vinyl ether and maleic anhydride reacted with n-tetradecanol, n-hexadecanol or a mixture of these alcohols.

Description: This invention concerns fuel compositions containing a cold flow improver. Mineral oils containing paraffin wax such as the distillate fuels used as diesel fuel and heating oil have the characteristic of becoming less fluid as the temperature of the oil decreases. This loss of fluidity is due to the crystallisation of the wax into plate-like crystals which eventually form a spongy mass entrapping the oil therein, the temperature at which the wax crystals begin to form being known as the Cloud Point and the temperature at which the wax prevents the oil pouring being known as the Pour Point. It has long been known that various additives act as Pour Point depressants when blended with waxy mineral oils. These compositions modify the size and shape of wax crystals and reduce the cohesive forces between the crystals and between the wax and the oil in such a manner as to permit the oil to remain fluid at a lower temperature so being pourable and able to pass through coarse filters. Various Pour Point depressants have been described in the literature and several of these are in commercial use. For example, US Patent No. 3,048,479 teaches the use of copolymers of ethylene and C 1 -C 5 vinyl esters, e.g. vinyl acetate, as Pour Point depressants for fuels, specifically heating oils, diesel and jet fuels. Hydrocarbon polymeric pour depressants based on ethylene and higher alpha-olefins, e.g. propylene, are also known. US Patent 3,252,771 relates to the use of polymers of C₁₆ to C₁₈ alpha-olefins with aluminium trichloride/alkyl halide catalysts as pour depressants in distillate fuels of the "broad boiling", easy-to-treat types available in the United States in the early 1960's. GB 1154966 discloses the use of certain polymers derived from mono olefinically unsaturated compounds which at least partly consist of at least one mono olefinically unsaturated aliphatic compound having an unbranched saturated hydrocarbon chain of at least 18 carbon atoms as pour point depressants for wax-containing fuels having at least 3 per cent by weight of waxes with a melting point above 35°C and a boiling point above 350°C. UK Patent 1437132 suggests blends of polymers having long side chains which are particularly useful for flow improvers for petroleum fuel oils and crude oils. For Europe in the late 1960's, early 1970's, greater emphasis was placed upon improving the filterability of oils at temperatures between the Cloud Point (CP) and the Pour Point as determined by the more severe Cold Filter Plugging Point (CFPP) Test (IP 309/80) and many patents have since been issued relating to additives for improving fuel performance in this test. Thus US Patent 3,961,916 teaches the use of a mixture of copolymers, to control the size of the wax crystals. In operation of diesel engines at low temperatures, the wax crystals which are formed do not pass through the vehicle paper fuel filters but form a permeable cake on the filter allowing the liquid fuel to pass and the wax crystals will subsequently dissolve as the engine and the fuel heats up, which can be caused by the bulk fuel being heated by recycled fuel. A build up of wax can, however, block the filters, leading to diesel vehicle cold starting problems and problems during the first hour of driving in cold weather. Such difficulties can be substantially overcome by adding certain homo polymers or copolymers of alkyl vinyl ethers to a middle distillate fuel oil in accordance with this invention. Since the wax crystals are smaller, the compositions of our invention unlike those of UK patent No 1437132, will better meet the conditions of the CFPP test and diesel vehicle operability in cold weather. The middle distillate fuels can be for example diesel fuel, aviation fuel, kerosene or jet fuel or a heating oil or a vacuum (process) gas oil, etc. Generally suitable middle distillate fuels are those boiling in the range of 120° to 500°C (ASTM D1160), preferably those boiling in the range 150° to 400°C, for example those having a relatively high final boiling point (FBP) of above 340°C. The low temperature flow problem is most usually encountered with diesel fuels and with heating oils. Alkyl vinyl ethers have been used alone or copolymerised with e.g. unsaturated carboxylic esters or vinyl esters as additives (e.g. viscosity index improvers and flow improvers) for crude oils and residual oils, especially those which have high wax contents, pour points around room temperature or above, and FBPs of 400°C and above (GB-A-1154966, 1274746, 1432019 and 1161188 and DE-A-2047448). Generally such copolymers have long chain alkyl groups of 18 carbon atoms and above. They have also been used as anti-static agents for a wider variety of compositions (US-A-3677725.) According to the present invention there is provided a fuel oil composition with improved cold flow properties comprising a major proportion by weight of a middle distillate fuel boiling in the range of 120 - 500°C and a minor proportion by weight of an additive comprising a copolymer of an alkyl vinyl ether, said copolymer being selected from: (I) a C 1 to C₁₀ alkyl vinyl ether copolymerised with a C₁₂ to C₁₇ alkyl vinyl ether, II (a) a C₁₂ to C₁₇ alkyl vinyl ether copolymerised with a C 2 to C₁₀ olefin, or a C 1 to C₁₀ alkyl acrylate methacrylate, dimaleate or difumarate, (b) a C 1 to C₁₀ alkyl vinyl ether copolymerised with a C₁₂ to C₁₈ alkyl acrylate, methacrylate, N, N-dialkyl acrylamide, dimaleate or difumarate, (c) a C 1 to C₁₀ alkyl vinyl ether copolymerised with an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or anhydride subsequently reacted with a C₁₂ to C₁₈ alkyl alcohol and/or a primary or secondary alkyl or aralkyl amine containing at least one C₁₂ to C₁₈ alkyl group or at least one C₁₆ to C₂₄ aralkyl group. The invention also includes the use as a cold flow improver in a middle distillate fuel of an alkyl vinyl ether as described above. Alkyl vinyl ethers are inexpensive derivatives of alcohols and can be obtained by reaction of an alcohol with acetaldehyde followed by dehydration: or by reaction of acetylene with an alcohol catalysed by potassium (or sodium) alkoxide. The alkyl vinyl ethers readily polymerise under cationic conditions using an acidic catalyst, for example SnCl 2 , : BF 3 , Al 2 (SO 4 ) 3 .H 2 SO 4 .7H 2 O. The copolymers of the invention are derived from monomers having at least one relatively long chain alkyl group and at least one relatively short chain allyl group. Suitable and preferred copolymers of AVE include the following: I Copolymers of AVEs. A copolymer of a short chain (C 1 ₋₁₀) AVE, e.g. C 3 or C 4 AVE with a long chain (C₁₂₋₁₇) AVE, e.g. mixed C₁₂ to C₁₆ n-alkyl vinyl ethers. II Copolymers of one or more AVEs with one or more copolymerisable monomers. Examples of these monomers include olefins, acrylate or methacrylate ester, maleic anhydride (as an intermediate) and maleate and fumarate esters. AVEs copolymerise with such monomers using free-radical initiators (e.g AIBN [azo-isobutyronitrile], di-t-butyl peroxide, dibutyl peroctanoate or t-butyl perbenzoate) or coordination - type catalysts. These copolymers comprise: (a) Long chain (C 1 ₂₋₁₇) AVes copolymerised with short chain (C 1 ₋₁₀) alkyl acrylates, methacrylates, olefins, difumarates and dimaleates. Examples of C₁₂₋₁₇ AVEs include the n-dodecyl, tetradecyl and hexadecyl vinyl ethers; examples of C 1 ₋₁₀ alkyl acrylates and methacrylates include the ethyl and n-hexylacrylates and methacrylates; examples of C₁₋₁₀ olefins are ethylene, propylene, 1-butene, 1-hexene, and examples of C₁₋₁₀ difumarates and dimaleates include dimethyl, diethyl, di-n-butyl and di-n-octyl fumarates and maleates. A specific example is a copolymer of n-tetradecyl vinyl ether copolymerised with ethyl acrylate i.e. where n is an integer. (b) Short chain (C₁₋₁₀) AVEs copolymerised with long chain (C₁₂₋₁₈) alkyl fumarates, maleates, acrylates, methacrylates and N,N-dialkyl acrylamides. Examples of short chain AVEs include the methyl, propyl, n- and iso-butyl and hexyl vinyl ethers; examples of long chain dialkyl fumarates, maleates and N,N-dialkyl acrylamides include the (di-) dodecyl, tetradecyl, and hexadecyl compounds; examples of long chain alkyl acrylates and methacrylates include the dodecyl, hexadecyl and octadecyl compounds. A specific example is the copolymer of ethyl vinyl ether with tetradecyl, octadecyl fumarate. where n is an integer. General equations for the reactants and the resulting polymers for II(a) and II(b) above are where n and m are integers, R 1 is an alkyl group, R 2 is - H or-COOR 4 , R 3 is -COOR 5 , CONR 6 / 2 or R 7 and R 4 , R 5 , R 6 and R 7 are alkyl groups. For reacting an AVE with a methacrylate the reaction is where n, R 1 and R 4 are as defined above. For 4(a) R 1 is long chain alkyl and R 4 , R 5 , R 6 and R 7 are short chain alkyl and for 4(b) R 1 is short chain alkyl and R 4 , R 5 , R 6 and R 7 are long chain alkyl. II (c) Copolymers of short chain length AVE, i.e. a C 1 to C₁₀ alkyl vinyl ether, with an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or carboxylic acid anhydride subsequently reacted with an alcohol or an amine or both. Thus one may copolymerise a C 1 to C₁₀ alkyl vinyl ether with acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or maleic anhydride and react the copolymer with a long-chain alcohol, i.e. a C₁₂ to C₁₈ alcohol and/or a long-chain primary or secondary amine, i.e. an amine in which at least one of the hydrocarbyl groups contains at least 12 carbon atoms. Suitable examples of short chain AVEs are given in II(b) above. Examples of long chain alcohols are the aliphatic alcohols, R 8 OH where R 8 is a C₁₂ to C₁₈ substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group. Suitable examples are dodecanol, tetradecanol and octadecanol. The long chain primary or secondary amine may have the formula R 9 R¹⁰HN where R 9 is hydrogen or an alkyl or aralkyl group and R¹⁰ is an alkyl or aralkyl group. The alkyl groups and alkyl portions of aralkyl groups can be branched but are preferably straight chain. Suitable alkyl groups contain 12 to 18, especially 12 to 16 carbon atoms and suitable aralkyl groups contain 16 to 24 carbon atoms. Especially preferred alkyl groups are tetradecyl, hexadecyl and octadecyl or a mixture such as hexadecyl/tetradecyl. Specific examples are the polymers obtained by the copolymerisation of methyl vinyl ether with maleic anhydride followed by reaction of the copolymer with tetradecanol or with dihexadecylamine. Thus In general the AVE copolymers should have a molecular weight of between 1,500 and 50,000, preferably between 2,500 and 15,000. Compared with the olefin copolymers where the methylene link is much less flexible than the ether link in the AVE polymers used in the fuel oil compositions of this invention, the AVE polymers have similar wax crystal modifier properties to for example poly-1-octadecene polymers but better oil solubility. The amount of alkyl vinyl ether polymer added to the fuel oil is a minor proportion by weight and preferably this is between 0.0001 and 5.0% by weight, for example 0.001 to 0.5% by weight (active matter) based on the weight of the fuel oil. The alkyl vinyl ether polymer may be conveniently dissolved in a suitable solvent to form a concentrate of from 20 to 90%, e.g. 30 to 80 weight % of polymer in the solvent. Suitable solvents include kerosene, aromatic naphthas, mineral lubricating oils, etc. Other additives which may be included in the fuel oil with the alkyl vinyl ether polymer include for example other flow improvers. The flow improver can be one of the following:- (i) Linear copolymers of ethylene and some other comonomer, for example a vinyl ester, an acrylate, a methacrylate, an alpha-olefin, styrene, etc, (ii) Comb polymers, ie polymers with C 8 -C₃₀ alkyl side chain branches; (iii) Linear polymers derived from ethylene oxide, for example polyethylene glycol esters and amino derivatives thereof; (iv) Monomeric compounds, for example amine salts and amides of polycarboxylic acids such as citric acid and phthalic acid. Also amide/amine salts of sulpho-carboxylic acids such as 0 -sulpho benzoic and sulpho-succinic acid may be used. The unsaturated comonomers from which the linear copolymers (i) are derived and which may be copolymerized with ethylene, include unsaturated mono and diesters of the general formula: wherein R 2 is hydrogen or methyl; R 1 is a -OOCR 4 group or hydrocarbyl wherein R 4 is hydrogen or a C 1 to C₂₈, more usually C 1 to C₁₇, and preferably a C 1 to C 8 straight or branched chain alkyl groups or R 1 is a -COOR 4 group wherein R 4 is as previously described but is not hydrogen and R 3 is hydrogen or -COOR 4 as previous defined. The monomer, when R 1 and R 3 are hydrogen and R 2 is -OOCR 4 includes vinyl alcohol esters of C 1 to C₂₉, more usually C 1 to C₁₈ monocarboxylic acid, and preferably C 2 to C 5 monocarboxylic acid. Examples of vinyl esters which may be copolymerized with ethylene include vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate and vinyl butyrate or isobutyrate, vinyl acetate being preferred. We prefer that the copolymers contain from 20 to 40 wt % of the vinyl ester more preferably from 25 to 35 wt% vinyl ester. They may also be mixtures of two copolymers such as those described in United States patent No 3961916. Other linear copolymers (i) are derived from comonomers of the formula: CHR 5 = CR 6 X where R 5 is H or alkyl, R 6 is H or methyl and X is -COOR 7 or hydrocarbyl where R 7 is alkyl. This includes acrylates, CH 2 = COOR 7 , methacrylates, CH 2 = CMeCOOR 7 , styrene CH 2 = CH.C 6 H 5 and olefins CHR 5 =CR 6 R 8 where R 8 is alkyl. The group R 7 is preferably C 1 to C₂₈, more usually C 1 to C₁₇ and more preferably a C 1 to C 8 straight or branched chain alkyl group. For the olefins R 5 and R 6 are preferably hydrogen and R 8 a C 1 to C₂₀ alkyl group. Thus suitable olefins are propylene, hexene-1, octene-1, dodecene-1 and tetradecene-1. For this type of copolymer it is preferred that the ethylene content is 50 to 65 weight per cent although higher amount can be used eg 80 weight % for ethylenepropylene copolymers. It is preferred that these copolymers have a number average molecular weight as measured a by vapour phase osmometry of 1000 to 6000, preferably 1000 to 3000. Particularly suitable linear copolymeric flow improvers (i) are copolymers of ethylene and a vinyl ester. The vinyl ester can be a vinyl ester of a monocarboxylic acid, for example one containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms per molecular. Examples are vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate and vinyl butyrate. Most preferred however is vinyl acetate. Usually the copolymer of ethylene and a vinyl ester will consist of 3 to 40, preferably 3 to 20, molar proportions of ethylene per molar proportion of the vinyl ester. The copolymer usually has a number average molecular weight of between 1000 and 50,000, preferably between 1,500 and 5,000. The molecular weights can be measured by cryoscopic methods or by vapour phase osmometry, for example by using a Mechrolab Vapour Phase Osmometer Model 310A. Particularly preferred comb copolymeric flow improvers are (ii) copolymers of an ester of fumaric acid and a vinyl ester. The ester of fumaric acid can be either a mono- or a di-ester and alkyl esters are preferred. The or each alkyl group can contain 6 to 30, preferably 10 to 20 carbon atoms, and mono- or di- (C₁₄ to C₁₈) alkyl esters are especially suitable, either as single esters or as mixed esters. Generally di-alkyl esters are preferred to mono- esters. Suitable vinyl esters with which the fumarate ester is copolymerised are those described above in connection with ethylene/vinyl ester copolymers. Vinyl acetate is particularly preferred. The fumarate esters are preferably copolymerised with the vinyl ester in a molar proportion of between 1.5:1 and 1:1.5, for example about 1:1. These copolymers usually have a number average molecular weight of from 1000 to 100,000, as measured for example by Vapour Phase Osmometry such as by a Mechrolab Vapour Pressure Osmometer. Comb polymers (ii) have the following general formula: where A is H, Me or CH 2 CO 2 R′ (where R′ = C₁₀ - C₂₂ alkyl) (Me = methyl) B is CO 2 R or R″ (where R″ = C₁₀ - C₃₀ alkyl, PhR′ (Ph = phenyl) D is H or CO 2 R′ E is H or Me, CH 2 CO 2 R′ F is OCOR″ (R″′ = C 1 - C₂₂ alkyl), CO 2 R′, Ph, R′ or PhR′ G is H or CO 2 R′ and n is an integer In general terms, such polymers include a dialkyl fumarate/vinyl acetate copolymer eg ditetradecyl fumarate/vinyl acetate copolymer; a styrene dialkyl fumarate ester copolymer eg styrene/dihexadecyl fumarate copolymer; a poly dialkyl fumarate, eg poly (di octadecyl fumarate); an alpha-olefin dialkyl maleate copolymer eg copolymer of tetradecene and di hexadecyl maleate, a dialkyl itaconate/vinyl acetate copolymer eg dihexadecyl itaconate/vinyl acetate; poly-(n-alkyl methacrylates) eg poly(tetradecyl methacrylate); poly (n-alkyl acrylates) eg poly (tetra decyl acrylate); poly - alkenes eg poly (1-octadecene) etc. Linear polymer derived from ethylene oxide (iii) include the poly oxyalkylene esters, ethers, esters/ethers, amide/esters and mixtures thereof, particularly those containing at least one, preferably at least two C₁₀ to C₃₀ linear saturated alkyl groups of a polyoxyalkylene glycol group of molecular weight 100 to 5,000, preferably 200 to 5,000, the alkylene group in said polyoxyalkylene glycol containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms. European patent publication No 0,061,985 A2 describe some of these additives. The preferred esters, ethers or ester/ethers may be structurally depicted by the formula: R-O-(A)-O-R 1 where R and R 1 are the same or different and may be i) n-alkyl ii) iii) iv) the alkyl group being linear and saturated and containing 10 to 30 carbon atoms, and A represents the polyoxyalkylene segment of the glycol in which the alkylene group has 1 to 4 carbon atoms, such as polyoxymethylene, polyoxyethylene or polyoxytrimethylene moiety which is substantially linear; some degree of branching with lower alkyl side chains (such as in polyoxypropylene glycol) may be tolerated but it is preferred the glycol should be substantially linear. Suitable glycols generally are the substantially linear polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polypropylene glycols (PPG) having a molecular weight of about 100 to 5,000, preferably about 200 to 2,000. Esters are preferred and fatty acids containing from 10-30 carbon atoms are useful for reacting with the glycols to form the ester additives and it is preferred to use a C₁₈-C₂₄ fatty acid, especially behenic acids. The esters may also be prepared by esterifying polyethoxylated fatty acids or polyethoxylated alcohols. Examples of the monomeric compounds (iv) as flow improver include polar nitrogen containing compounds, for example an amine salt of, a mono amide or a diamide of, or a half amine salt, half amide of a dicarboxylic acid, tricarboxylic acid or anhydride thereof. These polar compounds are generally formed by reaction of at least one molar proportion of hydrocarbyl substituted amines with a molar proportion of hydrocarbyl acid having 1 to 4 carboxylic acid groups or their anhydrides; ester/amides may also be used containing 30 to 300, preferably 50 to 150 total carbon atoms. These nitrogen compounds are described in US patent No 4,211, 534. Suitable amines are usually long chain C₁₂-C₄₀ primary, secondary, tertiary or quaternary amines or mixtures thereof but shorter chain amines may be used provided the resulting nitrogen compound is oil soluble and therefore normally containing about 30 to 300 total carbon atoms. The nitrogen compound preferably contains at least one straight chain C 8 -C₄₀, preferably C₁₄ to C₂₄ alkyl segment. The amine salt or half amine salt can be derived from a primary, secondary, tertiary or quaternary amine but the amide can only be derived from a primary or secondary amine. The amines are preferably aliphatic amines and the amine is preferably a secondary amine in particular an aliphatic secondary amine of the formula R 1 R 2 NH. Preferably R 1 and R 2 which can be the same or different contain at least 10 carbon atoms, especially 12 to 22 carbon atoms. Examples of amines include dodecyl amine, tetradecyl amine, octadecyl amine, eicosyl amine, cocoamine, hydrogenated tallow amine and the like. Examples of secondary amines include dioctadecyl amine, methyl-behenyl amine and the like. Amine mixtures are also suitable and many amines derived from natural materials are mixtures. The preferred amine is a secondary hydrogenated tallow amine of the formula HNR 1 R 2 wherein R 1 and R 2 are alkyl groups derived from hydrogenated tallow fat composed of approximately 4% C₁₄, 31% C₁₆, 59% C₁₈. Examples of suitable carboxylic acids for preparing these nitrogen compounds (and their anhydrides) include cyclo-hexane, 1,2 dicarboxylic acid, cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid, cyclopentane 1,2 dicarboxylic acid, naphthalene dicarboxylic acid, citric acid and the like. Generally, these acids will have about 3-13 carbon atoms in the cyclic moiety. Preferred acids are benzene dicarboxylic acids such as phthalic acid, terephthalic acid, and iso-phthalic acid. Phthalic acid or its anhydride is particularly preferred. Examples of suitable sulpho carboxylic acids are ortho sulpho benzoic acid and mono-alkyl sulpho succinic acid. One suitable compound is the half amine salt, half amide of the dicarboxylic acid in which the amine is a secondary amine. Especially preferred is the half amine salt, half amide of phthalic acid and dihydrogenated tallow amine - Armeen 2HT (approx 4 wt% n-C₁₄ alkyl, 30 wt% n-C₁₆ alkyl, 60 wt% n-C₁₈ alkyl, the remainder being unsaturated). Another preferred compound is the diamide formed by dehydrating this amide-amine salt. Example 1 A copolymer having a number average molecular weight of about 20,000 as determined by membrane osmometry was prepared by copolymerising methyl vinyl ether and maleic anhydride using a free radical catalyst. The anhydride groups of the resulting copolymer were then esterified with either n-tetradecanol, n-hexadecanol or a mixture of these two alcohols. The resulting esterified copolymers are identified as C1, C2 and C3 respectively. A copolymer (C4) of a di(n-tetradecyl) fumarate and n-butyl vinyl ether was prepared according to the following reaction conditions: R = C₁₄H₂₉ AIBN = Catalyst tl/2 = 25 mins at 90°C. This was added as initial charge 0.6g followed by 0.1g each hour for six hours. The reaction was monitored by IR and GC (to determine free fumarate content). Copolymers C1, C2, C3 and C4 were added in conjunction with a prior art copolymer (X) which was an ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer containing 36 weight % of vinyl acetate units, M n about 2,500, to three middle distillate fuel oils F1, F2 and F3 having the following ASTM D 86 distillation characteristics (all °C): The results of the Wax Appearance Temperature measurements are expressed in Table 1 as degrees depression below the WAT of the fuel without the additive polymers to illustrate their effectiveness as WAT (hence Cloud Point) depressants. The Wax Appearance Temperature (WAT) is measured by different scanning calorimetry using a Du Pont 990 differential scanning calorimeter. In the test a 10 microlitre sample of the fuel is cooled at 10°C/min from a temperature at least 30°C above the expected cloud point of the fuel. The observed onset of crystallisation is estimated, without correction for thermal lag (approximately 2°C), as the wax appearance temperature (WAT) is indicated by the differential scanning calorimeter. The depression of the wax appearance temperature WAT is shown by comparing the result of the treated fuel (WAT 1 ) with that of the untreated fuel ( WAT 0 ) as ΔWAT = WAT 0 - WAT 1 . Depression of the WAT is indicated by a positive result. Example 2 Copolymer C4 of Example 1 was added to three further fuel oils F4, F5 and F6 having the following ASTM D86 distillation characteristics (all °C): The results of adding C4 to F4 are shown in Table 2. In Table 3 the CFPP results of adding to fuel oil F5 (CFPP 0°C) a mixture of 1 part by weight of C4 with 4 parts by weight of a prior art copolymer mixture Y and Y alone are given. Y was a 3:1 (by weight) mixture of respectively an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer containing about 36 wt % vinyl acetate of number average mol. wt. 2,500 and a copolymer containing about 17 wt % vinyl acetate of number average molecular weight 3000. The Cold Filter Plugging Point Test (CFPPT) The cold flow properties of the blend were determined by the Cold Filter Plugging Point Test (CFPPT). This test is carried out by the procedure described in detail in "Journal of the Institute of Petroleum", Vol 52, No 510, June 1966 pp 173-185. In brief, a 40 ml sample of the oil to be tested is cooled by a bath maintained at about -34°C. Periodically (at each one degree Centrigrade drop in temperature starting from 10°C above the cloud point) the cooled oil is tested for its ability to flow through a fine screen within 1 minute. This cold property is tested with a device consisting of a pipette to whose lower end is attached an inverted funnel positioned below the surface of the oil to be tested. Stretched across the mouth of the funnel is a 350 mesh screen having an area of about 0.45 square inch. The periodic tests are each initiated by applying a vacuum of 20cm of water to the upper end of the pipette whereby the oil is drawn through the screen up into the pipette to a mark indicating 20 ml of oil. The test is repeated with each one degree drop in temperature until the oil fails to fill the pipette within 60 seconds. The results of the test can be quoted as CFPP (°C) which is the fail temperature of the fuel treated with the flow improver. In this case what is quoted is ΔCFPP(°C) which is the difference between the fail temperature of the untreated fuel (CFPP 0 ) and the fuel treated with the additive (CFPP 1 ) ie ΔCFPP = CFPP 0 - CFPP 1 . In Table 4 the results of adding different amounts of copolymer C4, prior art copolymer X and prior art cloud point depressing additive Z to fuel oil F6 are shown. Z is a C₁₄ dialkyl fumarate/vinyl acetate copolymer. Table 4 shows WAP, CP and WAT depressions by the C4 alone or in fuels with X added are equivalent to those with Z. Pour points with X are improved on adding C4 whereas pour point regression occurs on adding Z. This result is confirmed by slow cool tests where the sample is cooled from room temperature to -25°C in a cold box. Here Z/X 1000/100 ppm ai gave a gelled sample whereas C4/X 1000/100 ppm ai gave a completely fluid sample.

Claims: A fuel oil composition with improved cold flow properties comprising a major proportion by weight of a middle distillate fuel boiling in the range of 120 - 500°C and a minor proportion by weight of an additive comprising a copolymer of an alkyl vinyl ether, said copolymer being selected from: (I) a C 1 to C₁₀ alkyl vinyl ether copolymerised with a C₁₂ to C₁₇ alkyl vinyl ether, II (a) a C₁₂ to C₁₇ alkyl vinyl ether copolymerised with a C 2 to C₁₀ olefin, or a C 1 to C₁₀ alkyl acrylate, methacrylate, dimaleate or difumarate, (b) a C 1 to C₁₀ alkyl vinyl ether copolymerised with a C₁₂ to C₁₈ alkyl acrylate, methacrylate, N,N-dialkyl acrylamide, dimaleate or difumarate, (c) a C 1 to C₁₀ alkyl vinyl ether copolymerised with an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or anhydride subsequently reacted with a C₁₂ to C₁₈ alkyl alcohol and/or a primary or secondary alkyl or aralkyl amine containing at least one C₁₂ to C₁₈ alkyl group or at least one C₁₆ to C₂₄ aralkyl group. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the copolymer is a copolymer of a C 1 to C 4 alkyl vinyl ether and a di (C₁₄ to C₁₆) maleate or fumarate. A composition according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said additive includes up to 80% by weight of one or more additional flow improvers selected from (i) a copolymer of ethylene and a vinyl ester, (ii) a comb polymer having C 8 to C₃₀ alkyl side chains, (iii) a polyethylene glycol ester of a C₁₈ to C₂₄ fatty acid, (iv) an amide or amine salt of a polycarboxylic or sulphocarboxylic acid having at least one C₁₄ to C₂₄ alkyl segment. A composition according to claim 2 wherein said additive includes from 10 to 20% by weight of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer. A composition according to any preceding claim wherein said additive is present in an amount to provide from 0.001 to 0.5% by weight of alkyl vinyl ether copolymer based on the weight of fuel oil. Use as a cold flow improver in a middle distillate fuel boiling in the range of 120 - 500°C of an additive comprising a copolymer of an alkyl vinyl ether, said copolymer being selected from: (I) a C 1 to C₁₀ alkyl vinyl ether copolymerised with a C₁₂ to C₁₇ alkyl vinyl ether, II (a) a C₁₂ to C₁₇ alkyl vinyl ether copolymerised with a C 2 to C₁₀ olefin, or a C 1 to C₁₀ alkyl acrylate, methacrylate, dimaleate or difumarate, (b) a C 1 to C₁₀ alkylvinyl ether copolymerised with a C₁₂ to C₁₈ alkyl acrylate, methacrylate, N,N-dialkyl acrylamide dimaleate or difumarate, (c) a C 1 to C₁₀ alkyl vinyl ether copolymerised with an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or anhydride subsequently reacted with a C₁₂ to C₁₈ alkyl alcohol and/or a primary or secondary alkyl or aralkyl amine containing at least one C₁₂ to C₁₈ alkyl group or at least one C₁₆ to C₂₄ aralkyl group. Use according to claim 6 wherein the copolymer is a copolymer of a C 1 to C 4 alkyl vinyl ether and a di (C₁₄ to C₁₆) maleate or fumarate. Use according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein said additive includes up to 80% by weight of one or more additional flow improvers selected from (i) a copolymer of ethylene and a vinyl ester, (ii) a comb polymer having C 8 to C₃₀ alkyl side chains, (iii) a polyethylene glycol ester of a C₁₈ to C₂₄ fatty acid, (iv) an amide or amine salt of a polycarboxylic or sulphocarboxylic acid having at least one C₁₄ to C₂₄ alkyl segment. Use according to claim 7 wherein said additive includes from 10 to 20% by weight of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer.

Inventors: ANDREWS, RODGER FRANK, PATERSON, MARIE, TACK, ROBERT DRYDEN
Applicants: EXXON CHEMICAL PATENTS INC.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: C10L1
IPC codes: C10L1, C10L10