Fuel compositions
Gasoline fuel composition suitable for use in an internal combustion engine comprising: (a) Fischer-Tropsch derived naphtha at a level from 2 to 20% v/v; (b) at least one aromatic octane booster present at a level of 0.75 to 8% v/v or less; and (c) a gasoline base fuel; wherein the gasoline fuel composition comprises 40% v/v or less of aromatics. In a preferred embodiment, the Research Octane Number (RON) of the gasoline fuel composition is increased while maintaining the aromatic content of the gasoline fuel composition at a level of 40% v/v or less, based on the gasoline fuel composition.
1. Gasoline fuel composition suitable for use in an internal combustion engine comprising:
(a) Fischer-Tropsch derived naphtha at a level from 2 to 20% v/v, wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived naphtha is a liquid hydrocarbon distillate with a final boiling point of up to 220° C. and an initial boiling point of at least 25° C. and which comprises at least 95% w/w of hydrocarbons having 5 or more carbon atoms and wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived naphtha consists of at least 90% w/w of paraffinic components and has a Research Octane Number (RON), as measured by ASTM D2699, of at most 40;
(b) at least one aromatic octane booster present at a level of 0.75 to 8% v/v, wherein the aromatic octane booster is selected from aromatic amines, phenols, and mixtures thereof; and
(c) a gasoline base fuel;
wherein the gasoline fuel composition comprises in the range from 32% v/v to 34% v/v of aromatics.
2. Gasoline fuel composition according to claim 1 wherein the aromatic octane booster is an aromatic amine.
3. Gasoline fuel composition according to claim 1 wherein the aromatic octane booster is N-methyl aniline.
4. Gasoline fuel composition according to claim 1 wherein the aromatic octane booster is present at a level of from 1% v/v to 6% v/v, based on the gasoline fuel composition.
5. Gasoline fuel composition according to claim 1 wherein the Fischer-Tropsch naphtha is present at a level from 3.5% v/v to 10.5% v/v, based on the gasoline fuel composition.
6. A method of increasing the Research Octane Number (RON) of a gasoline fuel composition in an internal combustion engine, said method comprising fueling the internal combustion engine with a gasoline fuel composition comprising:
(a) Fischer-Tropsch derived naphtha at a level from 2 to 20% v/v, wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived naphtha is a liquid hydrocarbon distillate with a final boiling point of up to 220° C. and an initial boiling point of at least 25° C. and which comprises at least 95% w/w of hydrocarbons having 5 or more carbon atoms and wherein the Fischer-Tropsch derived naphtha consists of at least 90% w/w of paraffinic components and has a Research Octane Number (RON), as measured by ASTM D2699, of at most 40;
(b) at least one aromatic octane booster present at a level of 0.75 to 8% v/v, wherein the aromatic octane booster is selected from aromatic amines, phenols, and mixtures thereof; and
(c) a gasoline base fuel;
wherein the gasoline fuel composition comprises in the range from 32% v/v to 34% v/v of aromatics.
7. Method according to claim 6 wherein the Research Octane Number (RON) of the gasoline fuel composition is increased by 1 unit or greater, while maintaining the aromatic content of the gasoline fuel composition at a level in the range from 32% v/v to 34% v/v, based on the gasoline fuel composition.
8. Method according to claim 6 wherein the aromatic octane booster is N-methyl aniline.
9. Method according to claim 6 wherein the aromatic octane booster is present at a level of from 1% v/v to 6% v/v, based on the gasoline fuel composition.
10. Method according to claim 6 wherein the Fischer-Tropsch naphtha is present at a level from 3.5% v/v to 10.5% v/v, based on the gasoline fuel composition.