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US4526586A
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Microemulsions from vegetable oil and aqueous alcohol with 1-butanol surfactant as alternative fuel for diesel engines
Assignee: United States Department of Agriculture
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Filing: 1982-09-24
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Granted: 1985-07-02
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Expires: 2002-09-24
Abstract
Abstract Hybrid fuel microemulsions are prepared from vegetable oil, a C 1 -C 3 alcohol, water, and 1-butanol as the nonionic surfactant. These fuels are characterized by an acceptable viscosity and compare favorably to No. 2 diesel fuel in terms of engine performance properties.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur W. Schwab
- 👤 Everett H. Pryde
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:17
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10L; C10L1/00; C10L1/32; C10L1/328; F; F02; F02B; F02B3/00; F02B3/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S516/00; Y10S516/01; Y10S516/06; Y10S516/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A nonionic hybrid fuel composition comprising: (a) from about 40-65% by volume vegetable oil composed of vegetable triglycerides in which the preponderance of the fatty acid ester moieties have a chain length of 18 or more carbon atoms; (b) a lower (C 1 14 C 3 ) alcohol; (c) water, in an amount of at least about 0.1% by volume; and (d) 1-butanol wherein the ratio of the lower (C 1 -C 3 ) alcohol:water is at least 4:1 and wherein said butanol is present in the fuel composition in an amount effective for said composition to exist as a thermodynamically stable microemulsion and the combined amount of lower alcohol, water, and 1-butanol relative to said vegetable oil is 35-60% by volume and is sufficient to impart to said composition a kinematic viscosity in the range of 2-9 centistokes at 37.8° C.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
A nonionic hybrid fuel composition comprising: (a) from about 40-65% by volume vegetable oil composed of vegetable triglycerides in which the preponderance of the fatty acid ester moieties have a chain length of 18 or more carbon atoms; (b) a lower (C 1 14 C 3 ) alcohol; (c) water, in an amount of at least about 0.1% by volume; and (d) 1-butanol wherein the ratio of the lower (C 1 -C 3 ) alcohol:water is at least 4:1 and wherein said butanol is present in the fuel composition in an amount effective for said composition to exist as a thermodynamically stable microemulsion and the combined amount of lower alcohol, water, and 1-butanol relative to said vegetable oil is 35-60% by volume and is sufficient to impart to said composition a kinematic viscosity in the range of 2-9 centistokes at 37.8° C.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A hybrid fuel composition as described in claim 1 wherein said vegetable oil is selected from the group consisting of soybean, corn, rapeseed, sesame, cottonseed, crambe, sunflower seed, peanut, linseed, safflower, and high oleic safflower.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A hybrid fuel composition as described in claim 1 wherein said vegetable oil is soybean oil.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A hybrid fuel composition as described in claim 1 wherein said vegetable oil is sunflower seed oil.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A hybrid fuel composition as described in claim 1 wherein said lower alcohol is ethanol.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A hybrid fuel composition as described in claim 5 wherein the ratio of ethanol:water is about 19:1.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US4297107A
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US4359324A
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US4397655A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-07-01 | 1988-12-31 | 1989-07-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-07-01 | 1992-12-31 | 1993-07-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-07-01 | 1996-12-31 | 1997-07-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |