Middle distillate fuel additive

Claim 2

A middle distillate fuel oil having improved cold flow, cetane and anti-icing properties which comprises a mixture of a major amount of a middle distillate hydrocarbon stock and a minor amount of a cold flow additive, wherein said cold flow additive comprises: (A) from 3 to 24 percent by volume of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a vinyl acetate homopolymer, a vinyl acetate-acrylic ester copolymer, or a vinyl acetate-methacrylic ester copolymer, or a mixture thereof, wherein the alkyl group of the ester contains from 6 to 16 carbon atoms, said copolymers and homopolymers having molecular weights within the range of from 800 to 120,000, (B) from 4 to 41 percent by volume of a paraffinic nitrate, or a mixture of paraffinic nitrates, wherein the paraffinic group contains from 4 to 16 carbon atoms, (C) from 2 to 15 percent by volume of an aliphatic alcohol having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a mixture thereof, and (D) from 12 to 91 percent by volume of an aromatic solvent having a gravity within the range of from 25° to 32° API, and boils within the range of from 275° to 550° F.

Claim 3

The middle distillate fuel oil defined in claim 1 which contains from 0.1 to 5.0 percent by volume of said cold flow additive.

Claim 4

The middle distillate fuel oil defined in claim 1 wherein said paraffinic nitrate is butyl nitrate, amyl nitrate, hexyl nitrate, heptyl nitrate, octyl nitrate, nonyl nitrate, decyl nitrate, undecyl nitrate, dodecyl nitrate, tridecyl nitrate, tetradecyl nitrate, pentadecyl nitrate or hexadecyl nitrate or a mixture thereof.

Claim 5

The middle distillate fuel oil defined in claim 1 wherein said aliphatic alcohol is methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, petanol, cyclopentanol, hexanol, or cyclohexanol, or a mixture thereof.

Claim 6

The middle distillate fuel oil defined in claim 1 wherein said aliphatic alcohol comprises a mixture of methanol and isopropanol in a volume ratio of from 1:2 to 1:10 parts of methanol per part of isopropanol.

Claim 7

A middle distillate fuel oil having improved cold flow, cetane and anti-icing properties which comprises a major amount of a middle distillate hydrocarbon stock and from 0.2 to 2.0 percent by volume of a cold flow additive, wherein said cold flow additive comprises: (A) from 3 to 20 percent by volume of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a vinyl acetate homopolymer, a vinyl acetate-acrylic ester copolymer, or a vinyl acetate-methacrylic ester copolymer, or a mixture thereof, wherein the alkyl group of the ester contains from 6 to 16 carbon atoms, said copolymer and homopolymers having molecular weights within the range of from 800 to 120,000, (B) from 4 to 35 percent by volume of a paraffinic nitrate or a mixture of paraffinic nitrates, wherein the paraffinic group contains from 4 to 16 carbon atoms, (C) from 2 to 12 percent by volume of an aliphatic alcohol having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a mixture thereof, and (D) from 12 to 80 percent by volume of an aromatic solvent having a gravity within the range of from 26° to 28° API, and which boils within the range of from 360° to 420° F.

Claim 8

A middle distillate fuel oil having improved cold flow, cetane and anti-icing properties which comprises a major amount of a middle distillate hydrocarbon stock and from 0.2 to 2.0 percent by volume of a cold flow additive, wherein said cold flow additive comprises: (A) from 3 to 20 percent by volume of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a vinyl acetate homopolymer, a vinyl acetate-acrylic ester copolymer, or a vinyl acetate-methacrylic ester copolymer, or a mixture thereof, wherein the alkyl group of the ester contains from 6 to 16 carbon atoms, said copolymer and homopolymers having molecular weights within the range of from 800 to 120,000, (B) from 4 to 35 percent by volume of a paraffinic nitrate or a mixture of paraffinic nitrates, wherein the paraffinic group contains from 4 to 16 carbon atoms, (C) from 2 to 12 percent by volume of an aliphatic alcohol having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a mixture thereof, and (D) from 12 to 80 percent by volume of an aromatic solvent having a gravity within the range of from 26° to 28° API, and which boils within the range of from 360° to 420° F.

Claim 9

The middle distillate fuel oil defined in claim 6 wherein said paraffinic nitrate is butyl nitrate, amyl nitrate, hexyl nitrate, heptyl nitrate, octyl nitrate, nonyl nitrate, decyl nitrate, undecyl nitrate, dodecyl nitrate, tridecyl nitrate, tetradecy nitrate, pentadecyl nitrate, or hexadecyl nitrate, or a mixture thereof.

Claim 10

The middle distillate fuel oil defined in claim 6 wherein said aliphatic alcohol is methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, pentanol, cyclopentanol, hexanol, or cyclohexanol, or a mixture thereof.

Claim 11

The middle distillate fuel oil defined in claim 6 wherein said aliphatic alcohol comprises a mixture of methanol and isopropanol in a volume ratio of from 1:8 to 1:10 parts of methanol per part of isopropanol.

Claim 12

A middle distillate fuel oil having improved cold flow, cetane and anti-icing properties which compries a mixture of a major amount of a middle distillate hydrocarbon stock and 0.2 to 2.0 percent by volume of a cold flow additive, wherein said cold flow additive comprises: (A) from 3 to 20 percent by volume of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a molecular weight within the range of from 800 to 100,000, (B) from 4 to 35 percent by volume of octyl nitrate, and mixtures thereof, (C) from 2 to 12 percent by volume of a mixture of methanol and isopropanol in a volume ratio of from 1:2 to 1:10 parts of methanol per part of isopropanol, and (D) from 12 to 80 percent by volume of an aromatic solvent having a gravity within the range of from 26.0° to 28.0° API and which boils within the range of from 360° to 420° F.

Claim 13

A middle distillate fuel oil having improved cold flow, cetane and anti-icing properties which compries a mixture of a major amount of a middle distillate hydrocarbon stock and 0.2 to 2.0 percent by volume of a cold flow additive, wherein said cold flow additive comprises: (A) from 3 to 20 percent by volume of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a molecular weight within the range of from 800 to 100,000, (B) from 4 to 35 percent by volume of octyl nitrate, and mixtures thereof, (C) from 2 to 12 percent by volume of a mixture of methanol and isopropanol in a volume ratio of from 1:2 to 1:10 parts of methanol per part of isopropanol, and (D) from 12 to 80 percent by volume of an aromatic solvent having a gravity within the range of from 26.0° to 28.0° API and which boils within the range of from 360° to 420° F.

Claim 14

A cold flow additive for middle distillate fuel oil which comprises: (A) from 3 to 24 percent by volume of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a vinyl acetate homopolymer, a vinyl acetate-acrylic ester copolymer, or a vinyl acetate-methacrylic esster copolymer, or a mixture thereof, wherein the alkyl group of the ester contains from 6 to 16 carbon atoms, said copolymers and homopolymers having molecular weights within the range of from 800 to 120,000, (B) from 4 to 41 percent by volume of a paraffinic nitrate or mixture of paraffinic nitrates, wherein the paraffinic group contains from 4 to 16 carbon atoms, (C) from 2 to 15 percent by volume of an aliphatic alcohol, having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a mixture thereof, and (D) from 12 to 91 percent by volume of an aromatic solvent having a gravity within the range of from 25° to 32° API, and which boils within the range of from 275° to 550° F.

Claim 15

A cold flow additive for middle distillate fuel oil which comprises: (A) from 3 to 24 percent by volume of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a vinyl acetate homopolymer, a vinyl acetate-acrylic ester copolymer, or a vinyl acetate-methacrylic esster copolymer, or a mixture thereof, wherein the alkyl group of the ester contains from 6 to 16 carbon atoms, said copolymers and homopolymers having molecular weights within the range of from 800 to 120,000, (B) from 4 to 41 percent by volume of a paraffinic nitrate or mixture of paraffinic nitrates, wherein the paraffinic group contains from 4 to 16 carbon atoms, (C) from 2 to 15 percent by volume of an aliphatic alcohol, having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a mixture thereof, and (D) from 12 to 91 percent by volume of an aromatic solvent having a gravity within the range of from 25° to 32° API, and which boils within the range of from 275° to 550° F.

Claim 16

The cold flow additive defined in claim 11 wherein said paraffinic nitrate is butyl nitrate, amyl nitrate, hexyl nitrate, heptyl nitrate, octyl nitrate, nonyl nitrate, decyl nitrate, undecyl nitrate, dodecyl nitrate, tridecyl nitrate, tetradecyl nitrate, pentadecyl nitrate or hexadecyl nitrate, or a mixture thereof.

Claim 17

The cold flow additive defined in claim 11 wherein said aliphatic alcohol is methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, pentanol, cyclopentanol, hexanol, or cyclohexanol, or a mixture thereof.

Claim 18

The cold flow additive defined in claim 11 wherein said aliphatic alcohol comprises a mixture of methanol and isopropanol in a volume ratio of from 1:2 to 1:8 parts of methanol per part of isopropanol.

Claim 19

A cold flow additive for middle distillate fuel oil which comprises: (A) from 3 to 24 percent by volume of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a vinyl acetate homopolymer, a vinyl acetate-acrylic ester copolymer, or a vinyl acetate-methacrylic ester copolymer, or a mixture thereof, wherein the alkyl group of the ester contains from 6 to 16 carbon atoms, said copolymers and homopolymers having molecular weights within the range of from 800 to 120,000, (B) from 4 to 41 percent by volume of a paraffinic nitrate or a mixture of paraffinic nitrates wherein the paraffinic group contains from 4 to 16 carbon atoms, (C) from 2 to 15 percent by volume of an aliphatic alcohol having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and (D) from 12 to 91 percent by volume of an aromatic solvent having a gravity within the range of from 25° to 32° API, and which boils within the range of from 275° to 550° F.

Claim 20

A cold flow additive for middle distillate fuel oil which comprises: (A) from 3 to 24 percent by volume of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a vinyl acetate homopolymer, a vinyl acetate-acrylic ester copolymer, or a vinyl acetate-methacrylic ester copolymer, or a mixture thereof, wherein the alkyl group of the ester contains from 6 to 16 carbon atoms, said copolymers and homopolymers having molecular weights within the range of from 800 to 120,000, (B) from 4 to 41 percent by volume of a paraffinic nitrate or a mixture of paraffinic nitrates wherein the paraffinic group contains from 4 to 16 carbon atoms, (C) from 2 to 15 percent by volume of an aliphatic alcohol having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and (D) from 12 to 91 percent by volume of an aromatic solvent having a gravity within the range of from 25° to 32° API, and which boils within the range of from 275° to 550° F.

Claim 21

The cold flow additive defined in claim 15 wherein said paraffinic nitrate is butyl nitrate, amyl nitrate, hexyl nitrate, heptyl nitrate, octyl nitrate, nonyl nitrate, decyl nitrate, undecyl nitrate, dodecyl nitrate, tridecyl nitrate, tetradecyl nitrate, pentadecyl nitrate, or hexadecy nitrate or a mixture thereof.

Claim 22

The cold flow additive defined in claim 15 wherein said aliphatic alcohol is methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, pentanol, cyclopentanol, hexanol, or cyclohexanol, or a mixture thereof.

Claim 23

The cold flow additive defined in claim 15 wherein said aliphatic alcohol comprises a mixture of methanol and isopropanol in a volume ratio from 1:2 to 1:10 parts of methanol per part of isopropanol.

Claim 24

A cold flow additive for middle distillate fuel oil which comprises: (A) from 3 to 24 percent by volume of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a molecular weight within the range of from 800 to 120,000, (B) from 4 to 41 percent by volume of octyl nitrate, (C) from 2 to 15 percent by volume of a mixture of methanol and isopropanol in a volume ratio of from 1:2 to 1:10 parts of methanol per part of isopropanol, and (D) from 12 to 91 percent by volume of an aromatic solvent having a gravity within the range of from 26.0° to 28.0° API and which boils within the range of from 360° to 420° F.

Claim 25

A cold flow additive for middle distillate fuel oil which comprises: (A) from 3 to 24 percent by volume of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a molecular weight within the range of from 800 to 120,000, (B) from 4 to 41 percent by volume of octyl nitrate, (C) from 2 to 15 percent by volume of a mixture of methanol and isopropanol in a volume ratio of from 1:2 to 1:10 parts of methanol per part of isopropanol, and (D) from 12 to 91 percent by volume of an aromatic solvent having a gravity within the range of from 26.0° to 28.0° API and which boils within the range of from 360° to 420° F.

Claim 26

A cold flow additive for middle distillate fuel oil which comprises: (A) from 3 to 20 percent by volume of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a vinyl acetate homopolymer, a vinyl acetate-acrylic ester copolymer, or a vinyl acetate-methacrylic ester compolymer, or a mixture thereof, wherein the alkyl group of the ester contains from 6 to 16 carbon atoms, said copolymers, and homopolymers having molecular weights within the range of from 800 to 120,000, (B) from 4 to 35 percent by volume of a paraffinic nitrate or a mixture of paraffinic nitrates, wherein the paraffinic group contains from 4 to 16 carbon atoms, (C) from 2 to 12 percent by volume of an aliphatic alcohol having from 1 to 6 l carbon atoms, or a mixture thereof, and (D) from 12 to 80 percent by volume of an aromatic solvent having a gravity within the range of from 26° to 28° API, and which boils within the range of from 360° to 420° F.

Claim 27

A cold flow additive for middle distillate fuel oil which comprises: (A) from 3 to 20 percent by volume of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a vinyl acetate homopolymer, a vinyl acetate-acrylic ester copolymer, or a vinyl acetate-methacrylic ester compolymer, or a mixture thereof, wherein the alkyl group of the ester contains from 6 to 16 carbon atoms, said copolymers, and homopolymers having molecular weights within the range of from 800 to 120,000, (B) from 4 to 35 percent by volume of a paraffinic nitrate or a mixture of paraffinic nitrates, wherein the paraffinic group contains from 4 to 16 carbon atoms, (C) from 2 to 12 percent by volume of an aliphatic alcohol having from 1 to 6 l carbon atoms, or a mixture thereof, and (D) from 12 to 80 percent by volume of an aromatic solvent having a gravity within the range of from 26° to 28° API, and which boils within the range of from 360° to 420° F.

Claim 28

The cold flow additive defined in claim 20 wherein said paraffinic nitrate is butyl nitrate, amyl nitrate, hexyl nitrate, heptyl nitrate, octyl nitrate, nonyl nitrate, decyl nitrate, undecyl nitrate, dodecyl nitrate, tridecyl nitrate, tetradecyl nitrate, pentadecyl nitrate, or hexadecyl nitrate, or a mixture thereof.

Claim 29

The cold flow additive defined in claim 20 wherein said aliphatic alcohol is methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, pentanol, cyclopentanol, hexanol, or cyclohexanol, or a mixture thereof.

Claim 30

The cold flow additive defined in claim 20 wherein said aliphatic alcohol comprises a mixture of methanol and isopropanol in a volume ratio of from 1:2 to 1:8 parts of methanol per part of isopropanol.

Claim 31

A cold flow additive for middle distillate fuel oil which comprises: (A) from 3 to 20 percent by volume of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a molecular weight within the range of from 800 to 100,000, (B) from 4 to 35 percent by volume of octyl nitrate, and mixtures thereof, (C) from 2 to 12 percent by volume of a mixture of methanol and isopropanol in a volume ratio of from 1:2 to 1:10 parts of methanol per part of isopropanol, and (D) from 12 to 80 percent by volume of an atomatic solvent having a gravity within the range of from 26.0° to 28.0° API and which boils within the range of from 260° to 420° F.

Claim 32

A cold flow additive for middle distillate fuel oil which comprises: (A) from 3 to 20 percent by volume of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a molecular weight within the range of from 800 to 100,000, (B) from 4 to 35 percent by volume of octyl nitrate, and mixtures thereof, (C) from 2 to 12 percent by volume of a mixture of methanol and isopropanol in a volume ratio of from 1:2 to 1:10 parts of methanol per part of isopropanol, and (D) from 12 to 80 percent by volume of an atomatic solvent having a gravity within the range of from 26.0° to 28.0° API and which boils within the range of from 260° to 420° F.