WO2003062354A1

WO2003062354A1 - Hydrocarbon fuel

Info

Publication number: WO2003062354A1
Application number: PCT/IN2002/000013
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ramar Ponniah; Venudevi Ramiah; Dhanalakshmi Ramiah
Original assignee: Ramar Ponniah; Venudevi Ramiah; Dhanalakshmi Ramiah
Priority date: 2002-01-21
Filing date: 2002-01-21
Publication date: 2003-07-31

Abstract

This invention relates to a novel hydrocarbon fuel and a method of manufacturing the said hydrocarbon fuel from a novel biomass source. The hydrocarbon fuel has the following ingredients in the proportion herein defined: a. Limonene 2 % to 60 %, b. Paraldehyde 1 % to 5 %, c. Ethylene Glycol 1 % to 5 %, d. Glycerine 5 % to 25 %, e. Tetra Hydrofuran 10 % to 40 %, f. Tertiary Butyl Alcohol 10 % to 20 %, g. Anisaldehyde 5 % to 30 %, h. Phellandrene 5 % to 25 %, i. Cyclopentane 2 % to 105, j. Arabinose 2 % to 10 %, k. Ethyl Alcohol 22 % to 40 %.

Description

HYDROCARBON FUEL

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention in general relates to energy saving technology. Further, this

invention relates to manufacture of novel fuels. More particularly this invention

relates to production of hydrocarbon fuel from a bio-mass.

STATE OF ART

Gasoline is used as fuel all over the world for engines. Consumption of the fuel is

increasing day by day. Its source are limited and will vanish in the near future.

Further there is a problem of environmental pollution. Due to increase in the

number of vehicles, the consumption of fuel has increased resulting in increasing

polluting emissions. It is the need of the time to control pollution by promoting

alternative fuel which is less polluting. Hence, a need has arisen to explore the

alternative fuel for motor vehicles.

As already mentioned gasoline is a limited and exhaustible source. In developing

countries automobile is a necessity of every class of society and unbearable

increasing cost of the fuel hampers this necessity. Hence, development of

alternative fuel with multiple and reproducible source is an urgent need of the

hour.

In this situation if an indigenous fuel is developed which is cheaper, less polluting

and having reproducible sources, then it can save the economy of the nation as

well as it can give economical relief to all strata of society. Steps in this regard have been taken in countries like Brazil and India also,

wherein gasoline is blended with ethanol in varying percentage.

Herbal products have been used as a fuel in one or other form since preancient

time. Some of the herbs rich in oil content such as pine oil, eucalyptus oil etc.,

fermentation product of mollases (ie. alcohol) are also well known as fuels. Some

other herbal products as pinene, dipentene, terpinolene, ordinary turpentine,

sulphate turpentine (15 to 25%) and volatile aliphatic hydrocarbons render

themselves as self igniting liquid fuels oxidant combination for rockets, with 95%

nitric acid containing 10 to 30% oleum. Later in 1958, it was reported that volatile

liquids burnt as waste at gas fields, coal mines and fossil fuel deposits which

contain short chain hydrocarbons including butane and other alkanes mixed with

ethanol and methyl tetrahydrofuran may be used as a vehicle fuel.

Literature survey reveals that dipentene had appeared in as many as 175 US

patents, limonene in 592 patents and terpenes appeared in about 1174 patents.

But none of those patented inventions have any relevance with the present

invention. 5 quotable patents from the above literature survey are as follows:

1. Two-cycle engine oil composition (US patent No. 4,759,860 -

July 26,1988)

discloses use of terpene as lubricating oil only and not as fuel.

2. Hydrocarbon based fuel from biomass(US Patent No.5,186,722-

February (16,1993) Discloses a process for converting biomass containing terpene to hydrocarbon

fuel and not the terpene that has been directly used as a fuel.

It has been also disclosed in this patent that use of 20% limonene at 2000rpm

causes automatic shutdown of the engine with explosive knocking whereas in the

present invention limonene is being used up to 80% with safe and satisfactory

running of the engine.

3. Engine Fuel(Us Patent No.5,501,713- March 26,1996)

Discloses the fuel to be comprised of terpene, alcohol and lubricating oil

where limonene did not exceed 50%.

4. Engine fuel(US Patent No. 5,575,822- November 19, 1996)

Discloses the fuel to contain terpene up to 42% only with 80 to 90% of

naphtha.

5. Engine fuel(US Patent No.5,607,486-March 4, 1997)

Discloses the engine fuel to contain terpene up to 25% only with 10 to 15%

of naphtha and 70 to 80% of methanol.

Use of methanol and naphtha mentioned in the patents at SI. nos.3,4, and 5

couldn't be on a large scale as they are toxic substances. The terpene in the

present invention is more than 55% and without toxic ingredients are being

used.

In India no patent or publication in respect of the same or substantially the same

invention similar to the one describe in this article has been observed. This invention relates to the manufacture of a novel kind of hydrocarbon fuel from

biomass and a process of producing the said hydrocarbon fuel on a large scale.

This invention particularly, though not exclusively, will relate to process of

reducing the hydrocarbon from C₂o to C₆ straight carbon chain. Most of the

conventional fuels, viz: petrol, diesel and kerosene are in this range. It is a well

known fact that the hydrocarbon fuels are depleting and becoming very scarce

and expensive. Research and development are directed towards inventing a

novel kind of hydrocarbon fuel which will substitute the existing fuel known in the

art.

Further, research is directed to find a novel energy fuel based on biosource.

Inventing a novel bio-fuel and a process of manufacturing bio fuel will result in

considerable saving of foreign exchange as India is heavily dependent on

importing hydrocarbon fuel from abroad. Apart from the aforesaid fact use of this

hydrocarbon fuel has various other benefits which will be enumerated in the

following description.

Having said the importance of invention of novel hydrocarbon fuel based on bio

soruce it is herein described the composition of the hydrocarbon fuel, the process

of manufacturing the said fuel and various advantages of using the fuel for

various industries including transport.

Accordingly it is the primary object of the invention to find a novel hydrocarbon

fuel based on bio-source which is unique. It is another object of the invention to invent a novel process of manufacturing the

said hydrocarbon fuel.

It is another object of the invention to invent a novel hydrocarbon fuel, which emit

very less amount of carbon-monoxide into the atmosphere as compared to

known fuels there by resulting in echo friendly atmosphere.

It is another object of the invention to invent a novel hydrocarbon fuel which will

give extensive mileage in terms of unit of fuel (one litre).

It is another object of the invention to invent a hydrocarbon fuel and the process

of manufacturing of the said fuel, at comparatively lesser cost.

Further objects of the invention will be evident from the ensuing description.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The invention is directed to a hydrocarbon fuel having the following ingredients in

the proportion herein defined.

a. Limonene 2 to 60%

b. Paraldehyde 1 to 5%

c. Ethylene Glycol 1 to 5%

d. Glycerine 5 to 25%

e. Tetrahydrofuran 10 to 40%

f. Tertiary Butyl Alcohol 10 to 20%

g- Anisaldehyde 5 to 30% h. Phellandrene 5 to 25%

i. Cyclopentane 2 to 10% ...

j. Arabinose 2 to 10%

k. Ethyl Alcohol 22 to 40%

Limonene occurs in oils of lemon, orange, caraway, dill and bergamot.

Paraldehyde is a polymer of acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is obtained from

ethanol by oxidation process. Ethanol is produced by fermentation of molasses.

Ethylene glycol is produced from ethylene and oxygen.

Glycerine is obtained from oils and fats as a by product in the manufacture of

soaps.

Tetrahydrofuran is prepared by the reduction of furan which is obtained by the

distillation of pine wood.

Tertiarybutyl alcohol is prepared by catalytic hydration of isobutylene.

Para-anisaldehyde is a metabolic product of the odoriferous fungus, lentinus

lepidus.

oc-Phellandrene is isolated from the essential oil of eucalyptus dives. Cyclopentane is prepared from the ethyl ester of adipic acid. Adipic acid is found

in b.eet juice.

Arabinose is a five carbon sugar widely distributed in plants in the form of

complex polysaccharide.

Ethyl alcohol is manufactured by fermentation of starch and sugar.

A hydrocarbon fuel in accordance with the invention wherein the raw material

arabinose should not exceed 10% of total weight of the composition.

The hydrocarbon fuel in accordance with the invention wherein the raw material

paraldehyde, ethylene glycol, proplene oxide combination should not exceed

20% of total weight of the composition.

The hydrocarbon fuel in accordance with the invention wherein the raw material

glycerine should not exceed 40% of total weight of the composition.

The hydrocarbon fuel in accordance with the invention wherein anisaldehyde,

phellandrene, limonene are basically unsaturated compounds. With carbon -

carbon double bond. (>C ⁼ 0<)_ j_ney _may be converted into saturated

compounds by the reduction process. This is done by exposing the compounds

under the jet of hydrogen gas in the presence of a catalyst. In the reduction

process, terpenes /alkenes are converted into alkanes. catalyst

CH=CH + H2 > QH₂ CH₂

pressure

The various types of catalyst used are,

Pt /H₂ (2atm).

Ru /H₂(5atm).

Rh /H₂(5atm).

A Hydrocarbon fuel having a composition as described as under, having ideal

combination by weight.

Tetrahydrofuran - 20 to 40%

Anisaldehyde - 25 to 40%

Phellandrene - 25 to 40%

Limonene - 10 to 15%

Tertiary Butyl Alcohol - 25 to 40%

The said composition of hydrocarbon fuel does not require any heating

for its manufacture.

Accordingly another embodiment of invention relating to hydrocarbon

fuel wherein the raw material has the following proportion.

Tertiary Butyl Alcohol - 30%

Cyclopentane - 10%

Arabinose - 10%

Anisaldehyde - 40%

Tetrahydrofuran - 10% The said raw materials required heating with AI2O3 in order to obtain the

hydrocarbon fuel.

A novel process of manufacturing the said hydrocarbon fuel in accordance with

the invention wherein the aforesaid raw materials are homogeneously mixed in a

vessel and optionally heated. In the above process larger molecules are broken

down into smaller ones.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE

INVENTION

Now the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying

description. The nature of the invention and the manner in which it is to be

performed is clearly described in the following description. The invention in

general covers the composition of a novel hydrocarbon fuel and a process of

manufacturing the said hydrocarbon fuel.

Some of the ingredients constituting the hydrocarbon fuel in one embodiment of

invention and the composition of each ingredient of the said fuel are as follows.

Tetrahydrofuran - 20 to 40%

Anisaldehyde - 25 to 40%

Phellandrene - 25 to 40%

Limonene - 10 to 15%

Tertiary Butyl Alcohol - 25 to 40% The said composition of hydrocarbon fuel does not require any heating for its

manufacturing.

Accordingly another embodiment of invention relating of hydrocarbon fuel

wherein the proportions are:

Tertiary Butyl Alcohol - 30%

Cyclopentane - 10%

Arabinose - 10%

Anisaldehyde - 40%

Tetrahydrofuran - 10%

In the hydrocarbon fuels there exists an unsaturated component. The object of

the invention is to overcome the problem of un-saturation. The problem is

resolved by heating the raw material while preparing the hydrocarbon fuel in the

presence of hydrogen gas and a suitable catalyst.

Basic raw materials used in the process of manufacturing this hydrocarbon fuel

from a novel bio-mass source are listed below

BOSWELLIA OVALIFOLOLATA PLANT

Family - Burseraceae

Genus - Boswellia

Species - Ovalifoliolate

This is a moderate or large branching tree with a bole of 15 to 121 feet in height

and 3-5 feet in girth, generally found in dry, hilly, deciduous forests of India, at an altitude of 450-950 Msl. Only one species occur in India and the remaining

species are found in Arabia and African Continent.

Leaves - are apically clustered, oblong to lanceolate.

Calyx - Tube Broadly campanulate , lobes 5-7 triangular

Petals - 5-7, WHite.Ovate.Saccate at base.

Disc - annular, crenate, free from calyx.

Stamens - 10-16, inserted below disc.

Ovary - 3celled, Ovules 2

Another variant, SERRATA with serrated and pubescent leaves, has

also been observed.

Methods of Extraction of a highly volatile Boswellia oil:

1. Adsorption on purified fats

2. Extraction by means of volatile solvents

3.Chromatographic method

4. Steam distillation and fractionation(patent still methods)

TERPENOIDS

Terpenoids are organic compounds, which occur in the plant kingdom, obtained

from the sap, and tissues of certain plants viz. boswellia and piper cubeba.

ISOPRENE RULE

Terpenoids follow isoprene rule, the carbon skeleton of which can be

represented with the help of isoprene rule. Mono and sesquiterpenoids are found in the leaves and trunk of Boswellia plants.

Boswellia oil containing Terpene hydrocarbons is usually pale yellow in color and

has an agreeable odour. The following is the typical composition of the boswellia

oil:

Specific Gravity at 15°C - 0.8446

PHELLANDRENE

Molecular Formula - C10H16

Molecular Weight - 136.23

Carbon - 88.16%

Hydrogen - 11.84%

Practically insoluble in water but soluble in ether,

d-form, mobile oil, bp -171°C - 172°C

ANISALDEHYDE (AUBEPINE)

Molecular Formula CβHeOa

Molecular Weight 136.14

Carbon 70.57%

Hydrogen 5.92%

Oxygen 23.50%

Melting Point 3°C

Solubility gm/100g.H2θ 0.2 Colorless oily liquid, the para-form of CH3O-C6H4 CHO with boiling point of

248°C

Volatile in steam and slightly soluble in water; miscible with alcohol and ether.

Odor resembles that of coumerin.

ARABINOSE : C5H10O5

Molecular Weight - 150.13

Carbon - 40.00%

Hydrogen - 6.71%

Oxygen - 53.28%

Widely distributed in Bosewellia and other plants in the form of complex

polysaccharides. A white, soluble Orthorhombic bisphenoidal crystal with melting

point 157°C to 160°C. Arabinose does not undergo fermentation. 1 gram

dissolves in 1 ml water and in about 250ml 90% alcohol.

The aforesaid raw materials, in their proportion are mixed homogeneously and

heated to obtain the hydrocarbon fuel. This hydrocarbon fuel can be used as

such or the contents of raw materials are heated with aluminium oxide in a

vessel. When the heating takes place the larger molecules are broken into

smaller molecules. This results in a quality of the hydrocarbon fuel matching that

of aviation fuel. The synergic effect of the various raw materials results in the

special quality of the hydrocarbon fuel. The salient feature of the invention is that the following mixtures can be

effectively used as fuels.

1. ethyl alcohol + glycerol + tetrahydrofuran

C2H6 O + C3H8O3 + C4H8O

60% + 20% + 20%

2. ethylene glycol + glycerol + tetrahydrofuran + tertiarybutyl alcohol

C2H6O2 + C3H8O3 + C4H8O + C₄H₁₀O

40% + 10% + 20% + 30%

3. paraldehyde + glycerol + tetrahydrofuran ^•+ tertiarybutyl alcohol

C2H12O3 + C3H8O3 + C4H8O + C₄H₁₀O

40% + 10% + 20% + 30%

4. propyleneoxide+ glycerol + tetrahydrofuran +tertiarybutyl alcohol

C3H6O + C3H8O3 + C4H8O + C₄H₁₀O

40% + 10% + 20% + 30%

5. ethyl alcohol + tetrahydrofuran +tertiarybutyl alcohol

C2H6O + C4H8O + C₄H₁₀O

20% + 70% + 10%

6. ethyl alcohol + tetrahydrofuran +tertiarybutyl alcohol

C2H6O ⁺ C4H8O + C₄H₁₀O

70% + 20% + 10%

Accordingly in another embodiment of invention the catalyst used was

Ru, Pt or Rh. The various advantages of the hydrocarbon fuel of our invention are as follows:

1. The emission of carbonmonoxide is less compared to conventional

hydrocarbon fuels and hence eco-friendly.

2. Use of this fuel results in better mileage as compared to

conventional fuels.

3. The cost of production is very less, with the result the fuel is very

economical.

4. The fuel is obtained from an exclusive bio-source which is available

extensively and in plenty on earth and a hydro y^*38Xcarbon fuel is a

reasonable source of energy is split into lighted material leading to

a novel kind of hydro carbon fuel which has extensive application in

the area of energy and transportation, wherein subjecting the hydro

carbon fuel.

Claims

1

1. A synergistic herbal based hydrocarbon fuel wherein the following

ingredients in the proportion are the following:

Ingredients Proportion by Weight

a. Limonene 2% to 60%

b. Paraldehyde 1%to 5%

c. Ethylene Glycol 1%to 5% d. Glycerine 5% to 25%

e. Tetrahydrofuran 10 %to 40% ^'

f. Tertiary Butyl Alcohol 10% to 20%

g. Anisaldehyde 5% to 30%

h. Phellandrene 5% to 25%

i. Cyclopentane 2%to 10%

j. Arabinose 2%to 10%

k. Ethyl Alcohol 22% to 40%

2. A synergeti.c herbal based hydrocarbon fuel as claimed in claim 1

wherein the following raw material are used in the following proportion by weight

so as to obtained ideal combination of said fuel having maximum efficiency.

Ingredient Proportion by Weight

a. Limonene 25%

b. Paraldehyde 1% c. Ethylene Glycol 1%

d. Glycerine 5%

e. Tetrahydrofuran 15%

f. Tertiary Butyl Alcohol 10%

g. Anisaldehyde 5%

h. Phellandrene 5%

i. Cyclopentane 12%

j. Arabinose 5%

k. Ethyl Alcohol 15%

I. Proplene Oxide 1%

3. A hydrocarbon fuel as claimed 1 wherein the raw material Arabinose

should not exceed 10% of total weight of the composition.

4. A hydrocarbon fuel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the raw materials

paraldehyde, EthyleneGlycol, Proplene Oxide combination should not

exceed 20% of total weight of the composition.

5. A hydrocarbon fuel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the raw material

Glycerine should not exceed 40% of total weight of the composition.

6. A hydrocarbon fuel as claimed in claim 1 wherein anisaldehyde,

phellandrene, arabinose, limonene are basically compounds containing

reducible components which require processing by exposing them under

the jet of hydrogen gas in the presence of a catalyst as defined in the

description.

. A hydrocarbon fuel having a composition as described as under having

ideal combination by weight, wherein the specific raw materials

mentioned herein are combined to obtain hydrocarbon fuel

Ingredient Proportion by Weight

Tetrahydrofuran - 20 to 40%

Anisaldehyde - 25 to 40%

Phellandrene - 25 to 40%

Limonene - 10 to 15%

Tertiary Butyl Alcohol - 25 to 40%

Wherein the said raw materials do not require heating in order to obtain the said hydrocarbon fuel.

8. A hydrocarbon fuel having a composition as described as under having

ideal combination by weight. Wherein in specific raw materials mentioned

herein are combined to obtain hydrocarbon fuel.

Ingredient Proportion by Weight

Tertiary Butyl Alcohol - 20%

Cyclopentane - 10%

Arabinose - 10%

Anisaldehyde - 50%

Tetrahydrofuran - 10%

Wherein the said raw materials when combined to form hydrocarbon

fuel p -1 X1 requires heating in the presence of AI2O3.

9. A hydro carbon fuel having a composition as described as under.

Ingredient Proportion by Weight

Limonene 60%

Cyclo Pentane 20%

Tetra Hydrofuran 10%

Tertiary Butyl Alcohol 10%

10. A novel process of manufacturing the said hydrocarbon fuel as claimed in

claim 1 wherein the aforesaid raw materials are homogeneously mixed in a

vessel so as to obtain a hydrocarbon fuel and optionally heated so that

larger hydrocarbon molecules are broken into smaller ones.

11. A novel hydrocarbon fuel from bio-source as claimed in claim 1 wherein the

said process is carried out in the presence of a suitable catalyst.

12. A novel hydrocarbon fuel from bio-source as claimed in claim 1 wherein the

said process is carried out in the presence of catalyst Ru (H2; 5atm) or Pt

(H2; 2atm)

13. A novel hydrocarbon fuel from bio-source as claimed in claim 1 wherein the

said process is carried out in the presence of catalyst Rh (H2; 5atm).

14. A new hydrocarbon fuel with the following composition has been developed

as shown in claim 1 : ethyl alcohol, tetrahydrofuran and tertiary.-butyl

alcohol in the ratio 20%, 70% and 10% or 70%, 20% and 10%

respectively.

15. A synergistic herbal based hydrocarbon fuel from bio source as described

in the specification