EP3500655A1

EP3500655A1 - Method for manufacturing a lubricity additive for fuel having a low sulfur content

Info

Publication number: EP3500655A1
Application number: EP17768487.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lidwine ABIAD DEVAUX; Olivier Langlois; Alois JOASSARD
Original assignee: Total Marketing Services SA
Current assignee: TotalEnergies Marketing Services SA
Priority date: 2016-08-18
Filing date: 2017-08-16
Publication date: 2019-06-26
Also published as: SG11201900534QA; AU2017313344A1; KR20190038656A; JP2019528348A; FR3055135B1; US20190177633A1; CA3031593A1; FR3055135A1; CN109563424A; WO2018033684A1; BR112019001643A2

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for manufacturing a lubricity additive for internal combustion engine fuel, in particular for diesel fuel. This additive is derived, in particularly directly, from the esterification of acid oils. Such acid oils are derived, in particular, from the acidification of a soapstock obtained by a method for refining, preferably a method for chemically refining, in particular a method for saponifying one or more oil or oils chosen from a vegetable oil and/or an animal oil. The lubricity additive according to the invention is more particularly intended for fuels having a low sulfur content, for example less than 500 ppm (by weight).

Description

PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING LUBRICATING ADDITIVE FOR FUEL WITH LOW SULFUR CONTENT

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a lubricant additive for an internal combustion engine fuel, particularly for low sulfur fuel. This additive is derived, especially directly from the esterification of acid oils. Such acid oils are especially derived from the acidification of a neutralization paste obtained by a refining process, preferably a chemical refining process, in particular a saponification process, of one or more oils selected from one of vegetable oil and / or animal oil.

The invention also relates to the use of esterified acid oils as described above as a lubricant additive, especially for low sulfur fuel.

In order to limit emissions of polluting emissions, many regulations require relatively low levels of sulfur compounds in fuels, particularly diesel fuels. For this purpose, the hydrocarbons used for the production of fuels are subjected to hydrotreating and hydrocracking processes which eliminate all the compounds containing heteroatoms and, in particular the sulfur compounds which they naturally contain. This elimination of compounds containing heteroatoms leads to a loss of lubricating power of the fuels thus obtained.

However, fuels as a whole, and especially diesel fuels and fuels for aviation, must have lubrication capabilities for the protection of pumps, injection systems and all moving parts. with which these products come into contact in an internal combustion engine. Additives must then be added to these fuels in order to restore their lubricity.

The lubricant additive obtained by the process according to the invention is more particularly intended for fuels for an internal combustion engine having a low sulfur content, for example less than 500 ppm (weight). PRIOR ART

The use of fatty acids as lubricity additives is known. In general, the fatty acids used are produced by fractionation of vegetable or animal oils. For example, Tall Oil Fatty Acids or Tall Oil Fatty Acids are known to have good lubricity properties in low sulfur gas oils (WO9804656). These fatty acids have a strong acid number. The gain on improving the lubricity is important at low dosages.

The use of mono-glycerides and di-glycerides as lubricity additives is also known. Mono- and di-glycerides are esters produced from the reaction between fatty acids and glycerol. They have a very low acid number: we speak of neutral lubricity. However, improving the lubricity is not always immediate at low dosage, which may require the use of larger amounts of additives, thereby increasing the cost of treatment.

Finally, it is also known to use as additives specific mixtures of esters containing a majority of monoesters (WO97 / 04044). These specific ester mixtures are especially (but not exclusively) prepared from mixtures containing linoleic or oleic acids. The preparation of these additives requires either the use of a specific mixture of acids prior to esterification, or the mixing of suitable esters.

There is therefore a need for new fuel lubricity additives, especially internal combustion engine, which are easy to obtain, inexpensive and effective, especially for fuels with low sulfur content, for example of the diesel type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Neutralization pastes are by-products of refining, including chemical refining, crude oils (vegetable or animal). They are generally obtained, especially directly, by saponification of these oils. They thus contain the saponifiable species present in the fatty substances after their extraction. Their acidification makes it possible to obtain a mixture of fatty acids, esters and triglycerides called "acid oil". Acidic oils are thus mixtures of active ingredients at low cost. The applicant proposes to use esterified acid oils as a fuel lubricity additive for an internal combustion engine.

A first object of the invention thus relates to a method of manufacturing a lubricant additive for an internal combustion engine fuel comprising:

a) a step of supplying an acidic oil containing fatty acids, said acid oil being derived from the acidification of a neutralization paste obtained by a refining process, preferably a chemical refining process, in particular a method of saponification, of one or more oils chosen from a vegetable oil and an animal oil,

b) an esterification step of the acidic oil obtained in step a), carried out under conditions that are effective for converting at least a portion, preferably all, of the fatty acids present in the acid oil into esters.

The lubricant additive obtained by the manufacturing method according to the invention is thus derived solely from biomass. The lubricant additive according to the invention allows a significant improvement in the lubricating nature of a fuel even in small quantities.

The invention thus also relates to a lubricant additive obtained by the process according to the invention.

The esterification step b) can be carried out in the presence of polyhydric, cyclic or acyclic alcohol.

By "polyhydric alcohol" is meant an alcohol containing several hydroxyl groups (-OH). Advantageously, the polyhydric alcohol used comprises at least three hydroxyl groups.

Advantageously, the esterification step b) can be carried out in the presence of acyclic polyhydric alcohol, preferably glycerol.

According to the invention, it is thus possible to use an esterified acidic oil, or a mixture of esterified acid oils, as a fuel lubricity additive for an internal combustion engine. This esterification can be performed as described above with reference to step b). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The lubricant additive according to the invention is obtained by esterification of acid oil resulting from an acidification process of at least one neutralization paste. This neutralization paste is obtained, especially directly, by a refining process of at least one oil selected from a vegetable and animal oil. This refining process is preferably a chemical refining process, in particular a process for the saponification of one or more vegetable and animal oils.

The lubricant additive according to the invention is thus an esterified acidic oil or a mixture of esterified acid oils. The lubricant additive is a neutral lubricant additive. By neutral lubricating additive is meant an additive having a low acid number, preferably less than or equal to 5 mgKOH / g, more preferably less than or equal to 1 mgKOH / g.

Esterified acid oils are used as a fuel lubricant additive for internal combustion engines, particularly low sulfur fuels, particularly fuels having a sulfur content of less than 500 ppm (weight).

The fuel compositions, including gas oils which may optionally contain biofuels (biodiesel), comprising such acid oils have improved lubricity properties.

It would not go beyond the invention, in the case where the fuel is intended for hybrid engines combining an internal combustion engine and an alternative technology, for example electric.

Step a) supplying an acidic oil

In this step, an acidic oil containing fatty acids is provided. By "acid oil" is meant either an oil from a single vegetable or animal oil, or a mixture of two or more of these oils.

The acidic oil provided in step a) is derived from the refining of one or more oils chosen from a vegetable oil and an animal oil.

It is notably an oil resulting from the acidification of a neutralization paste, this neutralization paste being derived from refining, including chemical refining, one or more oils selected from a vegetable oil and an animal oil. More particularly, the neutralization paste is preferably derived, especially directly from a saponification process of one or more oils.

An acidic oil can be defined as base-neutralized fatty acid compositions and then acidified.

The fatty acids advantageously come from the saponification of a vegetable and / or animal oil, such that, without being limiting, a sunflower oil, soya, rapeseed, palm, coconut, peanut, olive, a fish oil, and typically comprising, for the most part, saturated or unsaturated C 16 -C 18 carbon chains, of which, for example, C 18 unsaturated carbon chains are preferred. Vegetable oils usually include palmitic, oleic, linoleic acid and other acids in smaller amounts. The base neutralized fatty acid compositions are typically neutralization pastes.

Typically, an acidic oil contains from 20 to 70% by weight of fatty acids. The remainder is composed mainly of mono-, di- and triglycerides, generally essentially triglycerides. Note also the presence of some impurities in a content less than or equal to 0.5% by weight, preferably less than or equal to 0.1% by weight. These impurities are metal salts, for example sulphates, phosphates, etc.

It should be noted that tall oil is not an acidic oil because it comes from the saponification not of a vegetable or animal oil but of the saponification of an alkaline solution of solid organic matter (wood chips, in particular of conifers). Thus tall oil contains resins whereas an acid oil does not contain any.

According to a preferred embodiment, the acidic oil provided in step a) is derived solely from one or more vegetable oils.

In general, the acidic oil provided in step a) may comprise a water content of less than or equal to 3 wt%.

Advantageously, the acidic oil supplied in step a) may comprise a water content less than or equal to 1% by weight, or even less than or equal to 0.8% by weight, in particular from 0.1% to 0.7% by weight. in feet. Step a) of supplying an acidic oil may advantageously comprise:

al) a step of extracting the fatty acids present in a neutralization paste resulting from the refining, preferably the chemical refining, in particular the saponification, of one or more oils chosen from a vegetable oil and an animal oil, this extraction step being carried out in an acidic medium under conditions that are effective for forming an aqueous phase and an organic phase comprising said fatty acids,

a2) a separation step during which said previously formed organic phase is separated and recovered.

The organic phase recovered in step a2) constitutes an acidic oil. Such an acidic oil generally has a water content of less than or equal to 3% by weight.

Neutralization paste used in step a1)

The neutralization paste treated in step a1) may be a mixture of neutralization pastes obtained from the refining of different oils or may be a neutralization paste resulting from the refining of a single oil. Preferably, the refining of the neutralization paste (s) is a chemical refining.

Such neutralization pastes come, in particular directly from the saponification of a vegetable oil and / or an animal oil. In general, this saponification is carried out by adding a base, usually sodium hydroxide, and eliminates the free fatty acids present in the oil, which are found in the soapstock. form of alkaline salts of fatty acids. Before this saponification, the vegetable and / or animal oil may undergo a degumming or degumming operation to eliminate phospholipids, lecithins, sugar complexes and other impurities. The separation of the oil and the neutralization paste resulting from the saponification can be carried out by centrifugation.

The neutralization pastes thus essentially comprise base neutralized fatty acids. They typically comprise from 20 to 70% by weight of fatty acids.

In addition to the base-neutralized fatty acids, the neutralization pastes may contain, depending on their origin and the quality of the saponification, phospholipids or mono-, di- or tri-glycerides not reacting. Usually, the fatty acids have carbon chains C12-C24, preferably C16-C20 or better C16-C18.

A neutralization paste is therefore a product derived from biomass. Advantages associated with such neutralization pastes reside, on the one hand, in their low cost of implementation, and, on the other hand, in the absence of undesirable toxic substances, such as pesticides, aflatoxins, heavy metals, precursors of dioxins and furans, PCBs and nitrites.

Step a1) of extraction

The extraction step (a1) of the process according to the invention has the function of extracting the fatty acids contained in the neutralization paste. This extraction is carried out in an acidic medium under conditions that are effective for forming an aqueous phase and an organic phase comprising the fatty acids initially contained in the neutralization paste.

This organic phase comprising the fatty acids is generally called "acid oil" or "neutralizing oil".

The acid used to extract the fatty acids present in the neutralization paste in the form of salts is generally an inorganic acid, such as, for example, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid or hydrochloric acid.

Sulfuric acid is however preferred because it allows better extraction of fatty acids at a favorable economic cost.

The extraction is generally carried out under heating, at a temperature generally between 70 and 100 ° C (inclusive), preferably between 80 and 90 ° C (inclusive).

In order to obtain a good extraction of the fatty acids, an acidic pH is preferably maintained during the reaction time, for example a pH of less than or equal to 6, preferably less than or equal to 4.

The reaction time is chosen to allow extraction of all the fatty acids. It is for example from 1 hour to 24 hours, depending on the geometry of the reactor, the nature and the composition of the charge to be treated.

The extraction is preferably carried out with stirring.

The formation of an aqueous phase and an organic phase containing the fatty acids are thus obtained. Step a2) of separation

During this step, the organic phase formed during step a1) of the aqueous phase is separated off. In other words, the acidic oil is isolated.

This separation can be carried out by distillation, decantation or even centrifugation. This step can be implemented by any appropriate device known and commercially available.

Advantageously, this separation is carried out by decantation, followed by removal of the aqueous phase. Decantation depends on the difference in density of the liquids and their viscosity, parameters which can be modified in a manner known to those skilled in the art to promote separation if necessary.

Step b) Esterification

The esterification step b) is carried out under conditions that are effective for converting at least a portion of the fatty acids present in the acid oil into esters.

Advantageously, at least 50% by weight of the fatty acids are esterified, preferably at least 70% by weight, more preferably at least 90% by weight. In particular, all of the fatty acids can be converted into esters, it being understood that non-esterified fatty acids may nevertheless remain in the form of traces.

The esterification reaction is well known to those skilled in the art and consists of a condensation of a carboxylic acid group -COOH and an alcohol -OH group. Those skilled in the art can adapt the reaction conditions to obtain a more or less complete esterification of an acidic oil.

The esterification can be carried out in the presence of one or more alcohols.

The alcohol is preferably selected from polyhydric alcohols.

According to a preferred embodiment, the alcohol is preferably chosen from polyhydric, cyclic or acyclic alcohols comprising at least three hydroxyl groups.

By cyclic is meant a polyhydric alcohol comprising at least one ring. This cycle is advantageously a ring with 5 or 6 atoms, of which possibly an oxygen atom.

Examples of polyhydric alcohols containing at least three hydroxyl groups are those having from 3 to 10, preferably from 3 to 6, more preferably from 3 to 4 hydroxyl groups. Advantageously, the polyhydric alcohols used in the present invention comprise from 2 to 90, preferably from 2 to 30, more preferably from 2 to 12 carbon atoms.

As an example of acyclic polyl alcohol, there may be mentioned glycerol, diglycerol, sorbitol.

As an example of a cyclic polyhydric alcohol, mention may be made of sorbitan.

Preferably, step b) is carried out in the presence of an acyclic polyhydric alcohol, such as glycerol.

According to a preferred embodiment, especially when the polyhydric alcohol comprises at least three hydroxyl groups, the esterification is carried out so as to obtain at least 40% by weight, preferably from 40 to 55% by weight of monoesters, for example monoglycerides when the esterification is carried out with glycerol.

Advantageously, the proportion of monoesters is less than

80% by weight, preferably less than or equal to 70% by weight. In embodiments, the proportion of monoesters may be 40 to 70% by weight, 40 to 80% by weight or 40 to 55% by weight.

Advantageously, especially when the polyhydric alcohol comprises at least three hydroxyl groups, the esterification is carried out according to any known method so as to obtain at most 10%, preferably at most 8%, more preferably at most 5% by weight of triesters , for example triglycerides when the esterification is carried out with glycerol. Each of these proportions of triesters can be obtained for a proportion of monoesters of at least 40% by weight, especially less than 70% by weight or 80% by weight, or for a proportion of monoesters of 40 to 70% by weight, from 40 to 80% by weight or from 40 to 55% by weight.

The proportions of monoesters and / or triesters mentioned above thus correspond to the proportions of these compounds in the lubricant additive obtained by the process according to the invention.

According to a particular embodiment, the lubricating additive has an iodine number measured according to ASTM D5768, between 10 and 250 gl2 / 100g (inclusive), preferably between 50 and 200 gl2 / 100g (inclusive). ) and more preferably between 80 and

125 gl2 / 100g (terminals included). In embodiments, the lubricant additive may have an iodine value in one of these ranges. values for each of the proportions of monoesters or triesters mentioned above taken alone or in combination.

According to a particular embodiment, the lubricating additive has a pour point measured according to ASTM D97, less than or equal to 0 ° C, preferably less than or equal to -6 ° C and more preferably less than or equal to - 12 ° C. In embodiments, the lubricant additive may have a pour point in one of these ranges of values for each of the proportions of monoesters or triesters mentioned above taken alone or in combination. The lubricity additive may further comprise an iodine number in one of the ranges previously given, in particular for each of the proportions of monoesters or triesters mentioned above taken alone or in combination.

Preferably, the esterification step b) is carried out in the presence of glycerol.

Advantageously, before its esterification, the acidic oil supplied in step a) may undergo one or more treatment steps chosen from centrifugation, filtration and precipitation. This or these treatment steps may advantageously be carried out on an acidic oil obtained in step a2) previously described.

Advantageously, a treatment step, in particular by centrifugation, can be carried out under conditions that are effective for obtaining an acidic oil having a water content of less than or equal to 1% by weight, or even less than or equal to 0.8% by weight, in particular from 0.1% to 0.7% by weight.

In addition to the removal of water, recovered in an aqueous phase, the centrifugation can also allow the removal of some of the solid residues in suspension.

The centrifugation step has the advantage of simplified implementation, avoiding resorting to complex chemical separation methods, such as distillation, which can be restrictive in terms of unwanted precautions and corrosion, and expensive.

The centrifugation step may advantageously be a triphasic centrifugation.

However, the centrifugation step can itself be a combination of steps, in particular comprising a first step of two-phase centrifugation, which separates the sludge suspended matter, coupled to a second triphasic centrifugation step, which separates the organic phase, the purified aqueous phase and the residual suspended solids from the first centrifugation. This step can be implemented by any appropriate device known and commercially available.

Conventionally, the centrifugation can be implemented with speeds of 4000 - 6000 rpm.

The duration of the centrifugation depends on the nature of the species to be separated, their partition coefficient, the difference in density between the aqueous phase, the oily organic phase and the particles, the particle size, the surface tension of the particles. species to be separated, temperature, centrifugation rate. The separation time (called residence time) is therefore adapted case by case by those skilled in the art by conventional means of measurement and control.

The filtration can be carried out by means of a filter press, or a filter cartridge, or a filter membrane or be an ultra filtration, nano filtration or reverse osmosis filtration.

The filtration may in particular be carried out using at least one passage through a cellulose filter. Such a cellulose filter can improve the efficiency of filtration by avoiding clogging.

The treatment may comprise a succession of filtrations by means of decreasing mesh filters to reach the final target, for example from 200 μπι up to 25 μπι. Advantageously, the last filtration step is then performed by means of a filter having a filtration threshold of 10 to 25 μπι. By way of example, the filtrations can be carried out by means of a first filter of 100 to 50 μηι and a second filter of 10 to 25 μπι.

The precipitation step may advantageously be carried out under conditions that are effective for precipitating the sulphates that may be present in the acidic oil. These sulphates may come from the saponification of the oil and / or the acid extraction of the fatty acids.

Without wishing to be bound by theory, the precipitation of sulphates seems to be associated with the precipitation of calcium, phosphorus, sodium, and possibly alkali metals other than sodium, which has the effect of reducing the ash content of the sulphate. product. In general, the conditions for carrying out the precipitation will be determined by those skilled in the art by conventional means depending on the species to be precipitated.

The precipitation of the sulphates can in particular be carried out by adding Ca ²⁺ ions, for example in the form of CaC (calcium chloride).

One or more treatment steps selected from centrifugation, filtration and precipitation can thus reduce the acid content of the oil in water, ash, sulfur, calcium, phosphorus and sodium. The choice and the number of these sub-steps can be easily determined by those skilled in the art by controlling the contents of these elements.

The previously described manufacturing method provides a lubricity additive which may advantageously be added to a fuel composition for an internal combustion engine to improve lubricity. In other words, the esterified acid oils obtained by the process according to the invention can be used as a fuel lubricity additive for an internal combustion engine.

The invention thus makes it possible to produce a fuel composition for an internal combustion engine, in particular a diesel fuel, having a sulfur content of less than 500 ppm by weight and comprising a lubricant additive according to the invention.

The content of the fuel composition in the lubricant additive is preferably sufficient for the fuel composition to have a lubricating power of less than or equal to 500 μm, preferably less than or equal to 4 μm, preferably less than or equal to 400 μm, more preferably less than or equal to equal to 300μπι under the conditions of the HFRR test ("High Frequency Reciprocating Rig") as described in the article SAE 932692 by JW H AD LE Y of the University of Liverpool.

The content of the lubricant additive fuel composition is also preferably less than or equal to 1000 ppm (by weight), preferably less than or equal to 500 ppm by weight, preferably between 10 and 400 ppm by weight (inclusive), plus preferably between 10 and 250ppm by weight (inclusive). The fuel composition may comprise at least one fuel chosen from gas oils, diesel fuels containing biodiesel, gasolines, biofuels, jet fuels, preferably gas oils and diesel fuels containing biodiesel.

In particular, the fuel composition may comprise at least one fuel selected from middle distillates having a boiling point of between 100 and 500 ° C., preferably 140 to 400 ° C.

These middle distillates may, for example, be selected from distillates obtained by direct distillation of crude hydrocarbons, vacuum distillates, hydro-treated distillates, distillates obtained from catalytic cracking and / or hydrocracking of vacuum distillates. , distillates resulting from ARDS (by atmospheric residue desulphurisation) and / or visbreaking conversion processes, distillates from the valuation of Fischer Tropsch cuts, distillates resulting from BTL conversion (acronym for biomass to liquid) plant and / or animal biomass and / or mixtures thereof.

Fuels may also contain distillates from more complex refining operations than those derived from the direct distillation of hydrocarbons. The distillates may, for example, be derived from cracking, hydrocracking and / or catalytic cracking processes and visbreaking processes.

Fuels may also contain new sources of distillates, which may include:

the heaviest cuts resulting from cracking and visbreaking processes concentrated in heavy paraffins, comprising more than 18 carbon atoms,

synthetic distillates resulting from the transformation of the gas such as those resulting from the Fischer Tropsch process,

- synthetic distillates resulting from the treatment of biomass of plant and / or animal origin, such as the

NexBTL,

and vegetable and / or animal oils and / or their esters, preferably fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) or fatty acid ethyl esters (EEAG), in particular vegetable oil methyl esters (VOMEs) or ethyl esters of vegetable oils (EEHV), hydro-treated and / or hydrocracked and / or hydrodeoxygenated vegetable oils and / or animal oils (HDO).

The fuel composition may comprise only new distillate sources or be composed of a mixture with conventional petroleum distillates as a diesel fuel base. These new distillate sources generally comprise long paraffinic chains greater than or equal to 10 carbon atoms and preferably from ₁₄ to 30 carbon atoms.

In general, the sulfur content of the fuel composition according to the invention is less than 500 ppm, preferably less than

50 ppm, or even less than 10 ppm by weight and preferably without sulfur, especially for diesel type fuels.

The lubricity additive obtained by the manufacturing method according to the invention, described above can be used alone or in admixture with one or more additives to improve the lubricity of a fuel composition.

The lubricity additive obtained by the process according to the invention can be used in the fuel composition in combination with one or more additional additives. These additional additives may be chosen from dispersants / detergents, carrier oils, metal deactivators, metal passivators, antioxidants, colorants, antistatic additives, corrosion inhibitors, biocides, labels, thermal stabilizers, emulsifiers, antistatic additives, friction reducing agents, surfactants, cetane improvers, antitrouble agents, conductivity enhancing additives, deodorants and mixtures thereof.

Other additional additives include:

a) procetane additives, such as, for example, alkyl nitrates;

b) anti-foam additives, examples of such additives are given in EP0861 182, EP0663000, EP0736590;

c) detergent and / or anti-corrosion additives, examples of such additives are given in EP0938535, US2012 / 00101 12 and

WO2012 / 004300; e) cloud point additives. Examples of such additives are given in EP0071513, EP0100248, FR2528051, FR2528051, FR2528423, EPI 12195, EP0172758, EP0271385, EP0291367;

f) anti-sedimentation additives and / or paraffin dispersants. Examples of such additives are given in EP0261959, EP0593331, EP0674689, EP0327423, EP0512889,

EP0832172, US2005 / 0223631, US5998530, WO 1993/014178;

g) polyfunctional cold operability additives chosen in particular from the group consisting of olefin and alkenyl nitrate polymers as described in EP0573490;

h) cold-weatherability and filterability (CFI) additives, such as ethylene / vinyl acetate (EVA) and / or ethylene / vinylpropionate (EVP) copolymers;

i) other hindered phenol type antioxidants or amines of paraphenylene diamine alkylated type;

j) metal passivators, such as triazoles, alkylated benzotriazoles and alkylated tolutriazoles;

k) metal sequestering agents such as disalicylidene propane diamine (DMD);

1) acid neutralizers such as cyclic alkyl amines.

A fuel composition can thus be obtained by a process comprising:

(1) a step of supplying one or more fuels,

(2) a step of adding to the (x) fuel (s) provided in step (1) at least one lubricity additive obtained by the process according to the invention.

The method may optionally include a step of adding at least one additional additive of the type described above.

The lubricity of an internal combustion engine fuel composition can thus be improved by a process comprising a step in which at least one lubricant additive obtained by the manufacturing method according to the invention is added to a fuel composition. . To explain the advantages of the present invention, examples are given below by way of illustration but not limitation of the scope of the claimed invention.

The following notations were used:

HA: acid oil,

AG: Free fatty acids,

MG: mono-glycerides,

DG: di-glycerides,

TG: triglycerides,

EMVH: Methyl esters of vegetable oils,

Cx: y, fatty acid having x carbon atoms and unsaturations (carbon-carbon double bonds).

EXAMPLES

In this application, the meaning of the term "weight"

("Pds" for short) is the usual meaning of a "mass" in everyday language.

The lubricity of several additives in two diesel fuel type diesel fuels were tested under the conditions of the High Frequency Reciprocating Rig (HFRR) test as described in SAE 932692 by JW H AD LE Y. the University of Liverpool. This lubricating power can thus be defined as the property of a liquid determined by measuring the wear mark produced by the contact of an oscillating ball on a fixed plate immersed in the liquid and under tightly controlled conditions.

The test consists in imposing jointly with a steel ball in contact with a stationary metal plate, a pressure corresponding to a weight of 200 g and a reciprocating displacement of 1 mm at a frequency of 50 Hz. The ball in motion is lubricated by the test composition. The temperature is maintained at 60 ° C for the duration of the test, that is to say 75min. The lubricating power is expressed by the average value of the diameters of the wear impression of the ball on the plate. The smaller the wear diameter, the better the lubricity. Generally a wear diameter less than or equal to 460μπι ± 63μπι is required for a diesel-type fuel.

The characteristics of the gas oils tested are shown in Table 1. Table 1: Gasoline characteristics

Various additives have been added to these gas oils in amounts ranging from 100 to 300 ppm (by weight) according to the tests. A HFRR test was implemented for each additive to determine the lubricity.

The acidic oil is directly derived from an acidification process of at least one neutralization paste obtained by a method of refining (here a saponification) of one or more vegetable and / or animal oils.

Obtaining the acidic oil and the esterified acidic oil

A neutralization paste has undergone the following treatment:

injection of 1201 of 97% sulfuric acid into a reactor containing 4000 kg of neutralization paste, where the temperature is 80 to 90 ° C. The reaction time is 24 hours under continuous pH control in order to keep the pH below 4,

decanting the aqueous phase and the organic phase formed during step a1) and then removing the aqueous phase.

An acid oil is obtained denoted HA.

This HA acid oil undergoes an esterification with glycerol so as to obtain at least 40% by weight of monoglycerides and less than 10% by weight of triglycerides. Is obtained an esterified oil called acid ester of HA and containing 49.2% by weight of monoglycerides, less than 10% by weight of triglycerides and an iodine value measured according to ASTM D5768 1 15 gI ₂ / 100g. Table 2 summarizes the characteristics of two commonly used lubricant additives. Comparative Additive No. 1 is a mixture of fatty acid esters containing essentially mono- and di-glycerides. Comparative additive No. 2 is a mixture containing essentially free fatty acids.

Comparative Additive No. 3 is a TOFA ester obtained by esterification of the comparative additive No. 2. The esterification is carried out under conditions similar to those used for the HA ester, namely with glycerol so as to obtain at least 40% by weight of monoglycerides and less than 10% by weight of triglycerides. Table 2: Characteristics of Comparative Additives Tested

Example 1

In this example, various additives have been added to the No. 1 gas oil.

The results are collated in Table 3.

The values indicated correspond to the average of the results obtained, which are within a range of ± 10μπι.

It can be seen that the lubricating power of the esterified acidic oil is visible from 200ppm (result of the HFRR test less than or equal to 300μπι), whereas contents of 300ppm are necessary for the comparative lubricity additives.

Table 3: Lubricating capacity of # 1 Diesel fuel in the presence of various additives

Example 2

In this example, various additives were added to the diesel fuel No. 2.

The results are summarized in Table 4.

The values indicated correspond to the average of the results obtained, which are within a range of ± 10μπι. Table 4: Lubricating power of Gasoline No. 2 in the presence of different additives

Additive Dosage (mg / kg) HFRR (μιη)

Ester of HA 0 575

100,451

200,224

Comparative No. 1,075

mono and di-glyceride 100 376

200,256

Comparative No. 2,075

TOFA 100 456

200,410

Claims

A method of manufacturing a lubricant additive for an internal combustion engine fuel, comprising:

a) a step of supplying an acidic oil containing fatty acids, said acidic oil being derived from the acidification of a neutralization paste obtained by a refining process, in particular a saponification process, of one or more oils; selected from a vegetable oil and an animal oil,

2. The manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein during step b) of esterification, at least 50% by weight of the fatty acids are esterified, preferably at least 70% by weight, more preferably at least 90% by weight. % in weight.

3. The manufacturing method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the esterification step b) is carried out in the presence of cyclic or acyclic polyhydric alcohol.

4. The manufacturing method according to claim 3, wherein the esterification step b) is carried out in the presence of a polyhydric alcohol having at least three hydroxyl groups.

5. Manufacturing process according to any one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the esterification step b) is carried out in the presence of an acyclic polyhydric alcohol, preferably glycerol.

6 manufacturing method according to any one of the claims

1 to 5, wherein the esterification step b) is carried out under conditions effective to obtain at least 40% by weight, preferably 40 to 55% by weight of monoesters.

7. Manufacturing process according to any one of the claims

1 to 6, wherein the esterification step b) is carried out under conditions effective to obtain at most 10% by weight, of preferably at most 8% by weight, more preferably at most 5% by weight of triesters.

The manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the acid oil supplied in step a) is derived from the acidification of a neutralization paste obtained by a refining process. one or more vegetable oils.

9. The manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the step a) of supplying an acidic oil comprises:

al) a step of extracting the fatty acids present in a neutralization paste resulting from the refining of one or more oils chosen from a vegetable oil and an animal oil, this extraction step being carried out in an acidic medium in effective conditions for forming an aqueous phase and an organic phase comprising said fatty acids,

a2) a separation step during which said organic phase previously formed is separated and recovered, the organic phase recovered in step a2) constituting an acidic oil.

The manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein, prior to the esterification step b), the acidic oil provided in step a) undergoes one or more treatment steps selected from a centrifugation, filtration and precipitation.

25

A manufacturing method according to claim 10, wherein during a treatment step the acid oil obtained in step a) is treated under conditions effective to obtain an acidic oil having a lower water content. or equal to 1% wt or less

Or 0.8% wt%, especially 0.1% to 0.7 wt%.

A process for obtaining a fuel composition comprising:

(1) a step of supplying one or more fuels,

(2) a step of adding to the fuel (s) provided in step (1) at least one lubricity additive obtained by the manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 1 , alone or in admixture with one or more additional additives.

13. Use of esterified acid oil (s) as a fuel lubricity additive for an internal combustion engine, wherein the esterified acidic oil is obtained by the manufacturing method according to any of the claims. 1 to 1 1.