Isoprenoid based alternative diesel fuel
Fuel compositions are provided comprising a hydrogenation product of a monocyclic sesquiterpene (e.g., hydrogenated bisabolene) and a fuel additive. Methods of making and using the fuel compositions are also disclosed.
1. A fuel composition, said fuel composition comprising:
(a) a hydrogenation product of a monocyclic sesquiterpene comprising a cyclohexene moiety and a branched alkene moiety; and
(b) a fuel additive,
wherein the hydrogenation product comprises a bisabolane compound of Formula I:
or a stereoisomer thereof.
2. The fuel composition in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said monocyclic sesquiterpene is a member selected from the group consisting of α-zingiberene, β-sesquiphellandrene, α-bisabolene, β-bisabolene, γ-bisabolene, curcumene, gossonorol and mixtures thereof.
3. The fuel composition in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said monocyclic sesquiterpene is α-zingiberene, α-bisabolene, β-bisabolene, γ-bisabolene, curcumene and mixtures thereof.
4. The fuel composition in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said monocyclic sesquiterpene is α-bisabolene or α-zingiberene.
5. The fuel composition in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said monocyclic sesquiterpene is a mixture of α-bisabolene and α-zingiberene.
6. The fuel composition in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the fuel additive is at least one additive selected from the group consisting of an antioxidant, a cetane improver, a stabilizer, a lubricity improver and combinations thereof.
7. The fuel composition in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the fuel composition further comprises a conventional fuel component.
8. The fuel composition in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the conventional fuel component is a petroleum-based fuel.
9. The fuel composition in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the petroleum-based fuel is a member selected from the group consisting of kerosene, Jet A, Jet A-1, Jet B and combinations thereof.
10. The fuel composition in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the conventional fuel component is a petrodiesel or a Fischer-Tropsch-based fuel.
11. The fuel composition in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said fuel additive is selected from the group consisting of an antioxidant, an oxygenate, a thermal stability improver, a stabilizer, a cold flow improver, a combustion improver, an anti-foam additive, an anti-haze additive, a corrosion inhibitor, a lubricity improver, an icing inhibitor, an injector cleanliness additive, a smoke suppressant, a drag reducing additive, a metal deactivator, a dispersant, a detergent, a de-emulsifier, a dye, a marker, a static dissipater, a biocide, a cetane improver and combinations thereof; or said fuel additive is at least one additive selected from the group consisting of an antioxidant, a cetane improver, a stabilizer, a lubricity improver and combinations thereof.
12. A vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine, a fuel tank connected to the internal combustion engine, and a fuel composition in the fuel tank, wherein the fuel composition is the fuel composition of claim 1 , wherein the fuel combustion is used to power the internal combustion engine.
13. A method of powering an engine comprising the step of combusting the fuel composition of claim 1 in the engine.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein, the engine is a diesel engine.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the engine is a jet engine.
16. The fuel composition of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogenation product comprises a bisabolane compound of Formula I:
and stereoisomers thereof.
17. The fuel composition in accordance with claim 16 , wherein the bisabolane compound is produced by chemically converting a monocyclic sesquiterpene starting material from a biological source to the bisabolane compound of Formula I.
18. The fuel composition in accordance with claim 16 , wherein the fuel additive is at least one additive selected from the group consisting of an antioxidant, a cetane improver, a stabilizer, a lubricity improver and combinations thereof.
19. A method of making a fuel composition, said method comprising adding a fuel additive to a hydrogenation product of a monocyclic sesquiterpene comprising a cyclohexene moiety and a branched alkene moiety, wherein the hydrogenation product comprises a bisabolane compound of Formula I:
or a stereoisomer thereof.
20. The method in accordance with claim 19 , wherein said monocyclic sesquiterpene is a member selected from the group consisting of α-zingiberene, β-sesquiphellandrene, α-bisabolene, β-bisabolene, γ-bisabolene, curcumene, gossonorol and mixtures thereof.
21. The method in accordance with claim 20 , wherein said monocyclic sesquiterpene is α-zingiberene, α-bisabolene, β-bisabolene, γ-bisabolene, curcumene and mixtures thereof.
22. The method in accordance with claim 21 , wherein said monocyclic sesquiterpene is α-bisabolene or α-zingiberene.
23. The method in accordance with claim 21 , wherein said monocyclic sesquiterpene is a mixture of α-bisabolene and α-zingiberene.
24. A method of making a fuel component, said method comprising: hydrogenating a monocyclic sesquiterpene, and recovering the hydrogenation product to produce the fuel component, wherein said monocyclic sesquiterpene is a member selected from the group consisting of α-zingiberene, β-sesquiphellandrene, α-bisabolene, β-bisabolene, γ-bisabolene, curcumene, gossonorol and mixtures thereof.