Jet fuel compositions

Abstract

Jet fuel compositions having good low temperature operability. The jet fuel compositions comprise a jet fuel and at least one of the following additives:

Description

[0001] This invention concerns improved jet fuel compositions, in particular, jet fuel compositions that are suitable for use at low temperatures, such as, for example, below −40° C. or −50° C.

[0002] The most commonly used jet fuels are Jet A and Jet A-1, which have specification maximum freezing points of −40° C. and −47° C. respectively. At temperatures below the freezing point of jet fuel, hydrocarbon molecules crystallize and precipitate out. Normal paraffins in jet fuel have the highest crystallization temperatures and are therefore the first to come out of solution as wax crystals. As the hydrocarbon molecules crystallize, the viscosity of the fuel increases, which reduces the flow of the fuel. In Boeing aircraft the fuel temperature must remain at least 3° C. above the specification freezing point and in Airbus aircraft the fuel temperature must remain at least 4° C. above the specification freezing point. If the fuel temperature starts to approach the specification freezing point, action must be taken to avoid any further cooling. This action usually involves flying around cold areas, lowering the aircraft to warmer temperatures or increasing the speed of the aircraft to increase aerodynamic warming. In extreme cases it may be necessary to increase the speed and to lower the aircraft. One drawback of this action is that it usually increases fuel consumption. Studies have been carried out to consider the use of heated tanks; however, this would increase the weight of the aircraft and also increase the fuel consumption.

[0003] Currently freezing points of jet fuel are controlled in refineries during distillation. Lowering the freezing point can be achieved by reducing the heavy fractions, which include the waxy fractions, to whatever level is required; however, reducing the heavy fractions has a major negative effect on availability. It has been suggested that switching from Jet A to Jet A-1 could reduce the available volume by 8%.

[0004] Jet A-1 is the standard specified jet fuel in Europe and is usually required for winter conditions and routes such as trans-arctic. Jet A is usually used on flights within the USA.

[0005] Temperatures below 0° C. also cause water present in the fuel to freeze, which can cause plugging of filters and other small orifices, and occasionally engine flameout. Ground-based water-separators are used to control the amount of water present in a fuel and it is important that additives added to jet fuel do not block or disarm the filters in these separators. ASTM D 3948-93 is a test method that can be used to determine the ability of filter-separators to separate free water from fuel.

[0006] WO 01/62874 discloses the use of compounds capable of lowering the freeze point of an aviation fuel. The compounds are selected from:

[0007] (1) the reaction product of an alkanol amine with a hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent;

[0008] (2) the reaction product of a substantially linear hydrocarbyl-substituted phenol with an aldehyde;

[0009] (3) aromatic moieties containing 1 to 3 aromatic rings; and

[0010] (4) ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers including from 15 to 35 mole percent of vinyl acetate.

[0011] In the examples in WO 01/62874, the best result is achieved using an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer including from 15 to 35 mole percent of vinyl acetate (see Table I in WO 01/62874). Ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers including from 15 to 35 mole percent of vinyl acetate have been used as comparative examples below.

[0012] An aim of this invention is to provide jet fuel compositions that are suitable for use at low temperatures such as, for example, below −40° C., preferably below −50° C. In particular, an aim of this invention is to provide jet fuel compositions that are suitable for use at temperatures below their specification freezing points.

[0013] A further aim of this invention is to provide additives that are more effective at reducing the low temperature operability of jet fuels than the additives disclosed in WO 01/62874.

[0014] A further aim of this invention is to provide jet fuel compositions that are suitable for use at temperatures below their freezing points and do not block or disarm filters in water-separators.

[0015] In accordance with the present invention there is provided a jet fuel composition comprising a jet fuel and at least one of the following additives:

[0016] (i) a copolymer of ethylene and at least one unsaturated ester selected from: vinyl esters having at least 5 carbon atoms, alkyl (meth)acrylates, dialkyl fumarates and di-alkyl maleates;

[0017] (ii) a copolymer of ethylene and alkene;

[0018] (iii) a copolymer of ethylene and less than 15 mole percent of vinyl acetate;

[0019] (iv) a nucleator;

[0020] (v) a wax;

[0021] (vi) a substantially branched alkyl phenol formaldehyde condensate (known as ‘APFC’);

[0022] (vii) a comb polymer; and

[0023] (viii) a polar nitrogen compound.

[0024] The jet fuel composition preferably includes jet fuel and an additive combination of at least one copolymer selected from (i), (ii) or (iii) and at least one polar nitrogen compound (viii). The additive combination may also include at least one nucleator (iv).

[0025] The jet fuel composition preferably includes jet fuel and an additive combination of at least one copolymer selected from (i), (ii) or (iii) and at least one comb polymer (vii). The additive combination may also include at least one nucleator (iv).

[0026] The jet fuel composition preferably includes jet fuel and an additive combination of at least one polar nitrogen compound (viii) and at least one comb polymer (vii).

[0027] The jet fuel composition preferably includes jet fuel and an additive combination of at least one polar nitrogen compound (viii) and at least one substantially branched alkyl phenol formaldehyde condensate (vi).

[0028] The jet fuel composition preferably includes jet fuel and an additive combination of at least one polar nitrogen compound (viii) and at least one nucleator (iv).

[0029] In accordance with the present invention there is also provided a process for reducing the pour point of jet fuels, the process including the following steps:

[0030] a) providing a jet fuel; and

[0031] b) adding at least one of the additives (i) to (viii) defined above to the jet fuel.

[0032] The inventors have found that the additives mentioned above are capable of reducing the size and modifying the shape of wax crystals formed on cooling of jet fuel so that they do not gel and cause unwanted viscosity increases. The standard pour point test method ASTM D97 can be used to determine the point at which a fuel gels. The cold filter plugging point test (‘CFPP’) can be used to determine cold flow operability of fuels (see J. Inst. Pet. vol. 52 (510), June 1966, pp173-285 for details of the test equipment). The cold filter plugging point test can be modified to a ‘one-shot’ CFPP test in which a test sample is allowed to cool to the test temperature and tested only once as the sample is heated up by more than 10° C. after the one test cycle. The ‘oneshot’ CFPP test uses a 125 micron mesh rather than the standard 44 micron mesh.

[0033] The additives should be added to the jet fuel in an amount ranging from 10 to 20,000 ppm, preferably 100 to 10,000 ppm, and most preferably from 500 to 5,000 ppm (parts additive per million parts fuel).

[0034] The jet fuel may be selected from Jet A, Jet A-1, Jet B, MIL JP 5, MIL JP 7, MIL JP 8 and MIL JP 4. Jet A, Jet A-1 and MIL JP 8 are preferred.

[0035] The additives will now be discussed in more detail below:

[0036] (i) Copolymers of Ethylene and at Least One Unsaturated Ester Selected From: Vinyl Esters Having at Least 5 Carbon Atoms, Alkyl (Meth)Acrylates, Di-alkyl Fumarates and Di-Alkyl Maleates:

[0037] The vinyl ester preferably has the formula:

—CR1R1R2—CHR3

[0038] wherein R2 represents hydrogen or a methyl group; R1 represents a —OOCR4 group wherein R4 represents a C1 to C28, more preferably a C1 to C16, more preferably a C1 to C9, straight or branched chain alkyl group; R3 represents hydrogen or alkyl; and the vinyl ester having at least 5 carbon atoms.

[0039] The vinyl ester is preferably selected from: vinyl propionate, vinyl butyrate, vinyl hexanoate, vinyl 2-ethylhexanoate, vinyl octanoate and vinyl benzoate. Neo acid vinyl esters are also useful, such as vinyl neononanoate and vinyl pivalate.

[0040] The alkyl (meth)acrylate preferably has the formula:

—CR1R2—CHR3—

[0041] wherein R2 represents hydrogen or a methyl group; R1 represents a —COOR4 group wherein R4 represents a C1 to C28, more preferably a C1 to C16, more preferably a C1 to C9, straight or branched chain alkyl group; and R3 represents hydrogen or alkyl.

[0042] The term ‘(meth)acrylate’ is used to include both acrylate and methacrylate.

[0043] The alkyl (meth)acrylate is preferably selected from: 2-ethylhexyl(meth)acrylate, ethyl (meth)acrylate, n, iso or t-butyl (meth)acrylate, hexyl (meth)acrylate, isopropyl (meth)acrylate and lauryl (meth)acrylate.

[0044] The di-alkyl fumarate preferably has the formula: 1

[0045] wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from alkyl groups having from 1 to 9 carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to 8 carbon atoms.

[0046] The di-alkyl fumarate is preferably selected from: di-ethyl fumarate, di-butyl fumarate and di(2-ethyl-hexyl) fumarate.

[0047] The di-alkyl maleate preferably has the formula: 2

[0048] wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from alkyl groups having from 1 to 9 carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to 8 carbon atoms.

[0049] The di-alkyl maleate is preferably selected from: di-ethyl maleate and di-butyl-maleate.

[0050] Preferably the copolymer has a number average molecular weight, as measured by Gel Permeation Chromatography using polystyrene standards, of 1,000 to 20,000, more preferably 1,000 to 10,000, more preferably 2,000 to 5,000.

[0051] If desired, the copolymers may be derived from additional comonomers, e.g. they may be terpolymers or tetrapolymers or higher polymers, for example where the additional comonomer is 1-butene, propene, or diisobutene or another unsaturated ester giving rise to different units of the above formula.

[0052] Also, the copolymers may additionally include small proportions of chain transfer agents and/or molecular weight modifiers (e.g. acetaldehyde or propionaldehyde) that may be used in the polymerisation process to make the copolymer.

[0053] The copolymers may be made by direct polymerisation of comonomers. Such copolymers may also be made by transesterification, or by hydrolysis and re-esterification, of an ethylene unsaturated ester copolymer to give a different ethylene unsaturated ester copolymer. For example, ethylene-vinyl hexanoate and ethylene-vinyl octanoate copolymers may be made in this way, e.g. from an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer.

[0054] The copolymers may, for example, have 15 or fewer, preferably 10 or fewer, more preferably 6 or fewer, most preferably 2 to 5, methyl terminating side branches per 100 polymer backbone methylene groups, as measured by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, other than methyl groups on a comonomer ester and other than terminal methyl groups.

[0055] The copolymers may have a polydispersity of 1 to 6, preferably 1.5 to 4; polydispersity being the ratio of weight average molecular weight to number average molecular weight both as measured by Gel Permeation Chromatography using polystyrene standards.

[0056] The copolymer preferably has a molar ethylene content of between 50 and 95 mol %. Preferably the ethylene content is from 55 to 90 mol %, more preferably 60 to 90 mol %, and most preferably 70 to 90 mol %.

[0057] (ii) Copolymers of Ethylene and Alkene:

[0058] The alkene preferably includes at most 20 carbon atoms. The alkene is preferably a 1-alkene having at most 20 carbon atoms. The 1-alkene is preferably selected from: propylene, 1-butene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, methyl-1pentene, 1-decene, 1-dodecene, 1-tridecene, 1-tetradecene, 1-pentadecene, 1-hexadecene, 1-octadecene, 1-eicosene and vinyl-cyclohexane, and mixtures thereof.

[0059] The copolymer may also include small amounts e.g. up to 10% by weight of other copolymerizable monomers.

[0060] The copolymer may have a molecular weight of 1,000 to 50,000, preferably from 1,000 to 20,000, and most preferably from 1,000 to 10,000, as measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) relative to polystyrene standards.

[0061] The copolymer preferably has a molar ethylene content of between 50 and 90 mol %. Preferably the ethylene content is from 55 to 85 mol %, more preferably 60 to 85 mol %, and most preferably 70 to 85 mol %.

[0062] The copolymers may be prepared by any of the methods known in the art, for example, using catalysts selected from: Ziegler-Natta type catalysts and metallocene catalysts.

[0063] (iii) Copolymers of Ethylene and Less than 15 mol % of Vinyl Acetate:

[0064] A copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate has a polymethylene backbone divided into segments by hydrocarbyl and acetate side chains.

[0065] Preferably, the copolymers contain less than 14 mol %, more preferably less than 12 mol % of vinyl acetate.

[0066] The copolymer preferably has a number average molecular weight, as measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), of 1,000 to 10,000, more preferably 2,000 to 5,000.

[0067] The copolymers may be made by direct polymerisation of comonomers.

[0068] The copolymers may, for example, have 15 or fewer, preferably 10 or fewer, methyl terminating side branches per 100 polymer backbone methylene groups, as measured by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, other than methyl groups on a comonomer ester and other than terminal methyl groups.

[0069] The copolymers may have a polydispersity of 1 to 6, preferably 2 to 4; polydispersity being the ratio of weight average molecular weight to number average molecular weight both as measured by Gel Permeation Chromatography using polystyrene standards.

[0070] (iv) Nucleators:

[0071] The nucleator is preferably a polyoxyalkylene compound. Examples include polyoxyalkylene esters, ethers, ester/ethers and mixtures thereof, particularly those containing at least one, preferably at least two, C10 to C30 linear alkyl groups and one or more polyoxyalkylene glycol group of molecular weight up to 5,000, preferably 200 to 5,000, the alkylene group in said polyoxyalkylene glycol containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, as described in EP-A-61 895 and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,455.

[0072] Preferred glycols are substantially linear polyethylene glycols (PEG) and polypropylene glycols (PPG) having a molecular weight of about 100 to 5,000, preferably about 200 to 1,500. Esters are also preferred and fatty acids containing from 10 to 30 carbon atoms are useful for reacting with the glycols to form the ester additives, it being preferred to use C12 to C18 fatty acid, especially myristic, palmitic and stearic acids. The esters may also be prepared by esterifying polyethoxylated fatty acids, polyethoxylated alcohols or polyols.

[0073] Polyoxyalkylene diesters, diethers, ether/esters and mixtures thereof are suitable as additives, when minor amounts of monoethers and monoesters (which are often formed in the manufacturing process) may also be present. In particular, myristic, palmitic or stearic diesters of polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol or polyethylene/polypropylene glycol mixtures are preferred.

[0074] Examples of other compounds in this general category are those described in Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 2-51477 and 3-34790, and EP-A-117,108 and EP-A-326,356, and cyclic esterified ethoxylates such as described EP-A356,256.

[0075] Other suitable esters are those obtainable by the reaction of:

[0076] (i) an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid having 10 to 30 carbon atoms, and

[0077] (ii) an alkoxylated aliphatic monohydric alcohol, in which the alcohol has greater than 12 carbon atoms prior to alkoxylation and in which the degree of alkoxylation is 3 to 25 moles of alkylene oxide per mole of alcohol.

[0078] The ester may be formed from a single acid reactant (i) and single alcohol reactant (ii), or from mixtures of acids (i) or alcohols (ii) or both. In the latter cases, a mixture of ester products will be formed which may be used without separation if desired, or separated to give discrete products before use.

[0079] These materials may also be prepared by alkoxylation of a fatty acid ester of a polyol (e.g. ethoxylated sorbitan tristearate having the trade name TWEEN 65, which is available from Uniqema, owned by ICI).

[0080] The degree of alkoxylation of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol is preferably 3 to 25 moles of alkylene oxide per mole of alcohol, more preferably 3 to 10 moles. The alkoxylation is preferably ethoxylation, although propoxylation or butoxylation can also be used successfully. Mixed alkoxylation, for example a mixture of ethylene and propylene oxide units, may also be used.

[0081] The acid reactant (i) preferably has 12 to 30 carbon atoms, more preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms such as 14 or 16 carbon atoms. The acid is preferably a saturated aliphatic acid, more preferably an alkanoic acid. Alkanoic acids of 12 to 30 carbon atoms are particularly useful. n-Alkanoic acids are preferred. Such acids include myristic acid, palmitic acid and stearic acid, with myristic and palmitic acids being preferred. Where mixtures of acids are used, it is preferred that the average number of carbon atoms in the acid mixture lies in the above-specified ranges and preferably the individual acids within the mixture will not differ by more than 8 (and more preferably 4) carbon numbers.

[0082] The alcohol reactant (ii) is preferably derived from an aliphatic monohydric alcohol having no more than 28 carbon atoms, and more preferably no more than 18 (or better, 16) carbon atoms, prior to alkoxylation. The range of 12 to 18 is particularly advantageous for obtaining good wax crystal modification. The aliphatic alcohol is preferably a saturated aliphatic alcohol, especially an alkanol (i.e. alkyl alcohol).

[0083] Where the alcohol reactant (ii) is a mixture of alcohols, this mixture may comprise a single aliphatic alcohol alkoxylated to varying degrees, or a mixture of aliphatic alcohols alkoxylated to either the same or varying degrees. Where a mixture of aliphatic alcohols is used, the average carbon number prior to alkoxylation should be above 12 and preferably within the preferred ranges recited above. Preferably, the individual alcohols in the mixture should not differ by more than 4 carbon atoms.

[0084] The esterification can be conducted by normal techniques known in the art.

[0085] The alkoxylation of the aliphatic alcohol is also conducted by well-known techniques.

[0086] The nucleator may also be a block copolymer comprising a single crystallizable block and a single non-crystallizable block (a ‘di-block’ polymer) and those comprising a a single non-crystallizable block having at each end a single crystallizable block (a ‘tri-block’ polymer). Other tri- and tetra-block copolymers are also available. In preferred embodiments, in which the copolymer is derived from butadiene and isoprene, these di- and tri-block polymers are referred to as PE-PEP and PE-PEP-PE respectively

[0087] The crystallizable blocks will be the hydrogenation product of the unit resulting from predominantly 1,4- or end-to-end polymerization of butadiene, while the non-crystallizable blocks will be the hydrogenation product of the unit resulting from 1,2-polymerization of butadiene (PE-PEB) or from 1,4-polymerization of an alkyl-substituted butadiene, for example isoprene (PE-PEP).

[0088] (v) Waxes:

[0089] The waxes may include both normal and non-normal paraffin hydrocarbons.

[0090] The normal paraffin hydrocarbons preferably range from C8H18 to C35H72. Preferably the number average molecular weight of the paraffin hydrocarbon is in the range of about 150 to 300. While it is possible to use individual paraffin hydrocarbons, better results are usually obtained with a paraffin hydrocarbon comprising a mixture of hydrocarbons. Preferably the normal hydrocarbons range from C8 to C30, preferably C10 to C25.

[0091] The paraffin hydrocarbon may be selected from crude waxes such as slack wax and slop wax. The paraffin hydrocarbon may be obtained by conventional dewaxing of various paraffinic petroleum refinery streams boiling within the range of about 200° C. to about 500° C. Particularly suitable waxes are slack waxes obtained from solvent dewaxing of oils having a boiling range of from about 200° C. to 400° C.

[0092] The non-normal paraffin hydrocarbons preferably include amorphous solid materials having melting points within the range of 10 to 60° C., preferably 20 to 40° C., and having number average molecular weights within the range of 150 to 500.

[0093] A suitable amorphous hydrocarbon fraction can be obtained by ‘de-oiling’ or ‘sweating’ of waxes in the wax refining process. Non-normal alkane waxes are also known as foots oils and filtrates.

[0094] (vi) Substantially Branched Alkyl Phenol Formaldehyde Condensates (‘APFC’s):

[0095] Alkyl phenol formaldehyde condensates are disclosed in EP 0 311 452 and EP 0 851 776.

[0096] The alkyl phenol formaldehyde condensate may be obtainable by the condensation reaction between:

[0097] (i) at least one aldehyde or ketone or reactive equivalent thereof, and

[0098] (ii) at least one compound comprising one or more aromatic moieties bearing at least one substituent of the formula —XR1 and at least one further substituent —R2, wherein:

[0099] X represents oxygen or sulphur,

[0100] R1 represents hydrogen or a moiety bearing at least one hydrocarbyl group, and

[0101] R2 represents a substantially branched hydrocarbyl group, preferably containing from 4 to 40 carbons atoms, more preferably containing from 8 to 30 carbon atoms and most preferably containing from 8 to 18 carbon atoms.

[0102] Suitable substantially branched alkyl phenol formaldehyde condensates include iso-nonyl phenol formaldehyde condensates and iso-dodecyl phenol formaldehyde condensates.

[0103] (vii) Comb Polymers:

[0104] Comb polymers are discussed in “Comb-Like Polymers. Structure and Properties”, N. A. Plate and V. P. Shibaev, J. Poly. Sci. Macromolecular Revs., 8, p 117 to 253 (1974).

[0105] Generally, comb polymers consist of molecules in which long chain branches such as hydrocarbyl branches, optionally interrupted with one or more oxygen atoms and/or carbonyl groups, having from 6 to 30 such as 10 to 20, carbon atoms, are pendant from a polymer backbone, said branches being bonded directly or indirectly to the backbone. Examples of indirect bonding include bonding via interposed atoms or groups, which bonding can include covalent and/or electrovalent bonding such as in a salt. Generally, comb polymers are distinguished by having a minimum molar proportion of units containing such long chain branches.

[0106] As examples of preferred comb polymers there may be mentioned those containing units of the general formula 3

[0107] where

[0108] D represents R11, COOR10, OCOR10, R11COOR10 or OR10;

[0109] E represents H or D;

[0110] G represents H or D;

[0111] J represents H, R11, R11COOR10, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heterocyclic group;

[0112] K represents H, COOR11, OCOR11, OR11 or COOH;

[0113] L represents H, R11, COOR11, OCOR11 or substituted or unsubstituted aryl;

[0114] R10 representing a hydrocarbyl group having 10 or more carbon atoms, and

[0115] R11 representing a hydrocarbylene (divalent) group in the R11COOR10 moiety and otherwise a hydrocarbyl (monovalent) group, and m and n represent mole ratios, their sum being 1 and m being finite and being up to and including 1 and n being from zero to less than 1, preferably m being within the range of from 1.0 to 0.4 and n being in the range of from 0 to 0.6. R10 advantageously represents a hydrocarbyl group with from 10 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably 10 to 24, more preferably 10 to 18. Preferably, R10 is a linear or slightly branched alkyl group and R11 advantageously represents a hydrocarbyl group with from 1 to 30 carbon atoms when monovalent, preferably with 6 or greater, more preferably 10 or greater, preferably up to 24, more preferably up to 18 carbon atoms. Preferably, R11, when monovalent, is a linear or slightly branched alkyl group. When R11 is divalent, it is preferably a methylene or ethylene group. By “slightly branched” is meant having a single methyl branch.

[0116] The comb polymer may contain units derived from other monomers if desired or required, examples being CO, vinyl acetate and ethylene. It is within the scope of the invention to include two or more different comb copolymers.

[0117] The comb polymers may, for example, be copolymers of maleic anhydride acid and another ethylenically unsaturated monomer, e.g. an &agr;-olefin or an unsaturated ester, for example, vinyl acetate as described in EP-A-214,786. It is preferred but not essential that equimolar amounts of the comonomers be used although molar proportions in the range of 2 to 1 and 1 to 2 are suitable. Examples of olefins that may be copolymerized with e.g. maleic anhydride, include 1-decene, 1-dodecene, 1-tetradecene, 1-hexadecene, 1-octadecene, and styrene. Other examples of comb polymers include polyalkyl(meth)acrylates.

[0118] The copolymer may be esterified by any suitable technique and although preferred it is not essential that the maleic anhydride or fumaric acid be at least 50% esterified. Examples of alcohols that may be used include n-decan-1-ol, n-dodecan-1-ol, n-tetradecan-1-ol, n-hexadecan-1-ol, and n-octadecan-1-ol. The alcohols may also include up to one methyl branch per chain, for example, 2-methylpentadecan-1-ol, 2-methyltridecan-1-ol as described in EP-A-213,879. The alcohol may be a mixture of normal and single methyl branched alcohols. It is preferred to use pure alcohols rather than alcohol mixtures such as may be commercially available; if mixtures are used, the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group is taken to be the average number of carbon atoms in the alkyl groups of the alcohol mixture; if alcohols that contain a branch at the 1 or 2 positions are used, the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group is taken to be the number in the straight chain backbone segment of the alkyl group of the alcohol.

[0119] The copolymer may also be reacted with a primary and/or secondary amine, for example, a mono- or di-hydrogenated tallow amine.

[0120] The comb polymers may especially be fumarate or itaconate polymers and copolymers such as for example those described in European Patent Applications 153 176,153 177, 156 577 and 225 688, and WO 91/16407. The comb polymers are preferably C8 to C12 dialkylfumarate-vinyl acetate copolymers.

[0121] Other suitable comb polymers are the polymers and copolymers of &agr;-olefins and esterified copolymers of styrene and maleic anhydride, and esterified copolymers of styrene and fumaric acid as described in EP-A-282,342; mixtures of two or more comb polymers may be used in accordance with the invention and, as indicated above, such use may be advantageous.

[0122] Other examples of comb polymers are hydrocarbon polymers such as copolymers of at least one short chain 1-alkene and at least one long chain 1-alkene. The short chain 1-alkene is preferably a C3-C8 1-alkene, more preferably a C4-C6 1-alkene. The long chain 1-alkene preferably includes greater than 8 carbon atoms and at most 20 carbon atoms. The long chain 1-alkene is preferably a C10-C14 1-alkene, including 1-decene, 1-dodecene and 1-tetradecene (see, for example, WO 93/19106). The comb polymer is preferably a copolymer of at least one 1-dodecene and at least one 1-butene in the ratio of 60-90 mole % 1-dodecene to 40-10 mole % 1-butene, preferably in the ratio of 75-85 mole % 1-dodecene to 25-15 mole % 1-butene. Preferably, the comb polymer is a mixture of two or more comb polymers made from a mixture of two or more 1-alkenes. Preferably, the number average molecular weight measured by Gel Permeation Chromatography against polystyrene standards of such a copolymer is, for example, up to 20,000 or up to 40,000, preferably from 4,000 to 10,000, preferably 4,000 to 6,000. The hydrocarbon copolymers may be prepared by methods known in the art, for example using a Ziegler-Natta type, Lewis acid or metallocene catalyst.

[0123] (viii) Polar Nitrogen Compounds:

[0124] Polar nitrogen compounds are also known as Wax Anti-Settling Additives (‘WASA’).

[0125] Polar nitrogen compounds include an oil-soluble polar nitrogen compound carrying one or more, preferably two or more, hydrocarbyl substituted amino or imino substituents, the hydrocarbyl group being monovalent and containing 8 to 40 carbon atoms, and the substituents optionally being in the form of a cation derived therefrom. The oil-soluble polar nitrogen compound is either ionic or non-ionic and is capable of acting as a wax crystal growth modifier in fuel oils. Preferably, the hydrocarbyl group is linear or slightly linear, i.e. it may have one short length (1-4 carbon atoms) hydrocarbyl branch. When the substituent is amino, it may carry more than one said hydrocarbyl group, which may be the same or different.

[0126] The term “hydrocarbyl” refers to a group having a carbon atom directly attached to the rest of the molecule and having a hydrocarbon or predominantly hydrocarbon character. Examples include hydrocarbon groups, including aliphatic (e.g. alkyl or alkenyl), alicyclic (e.g. cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl), aromatic, alicyclic-substituted aromatic, aromatic-substituted aliphatic and alicyclic groups. Aliphatic groups are advantageously saturated. These groups may contain non-hydrocarbon substituents provided their presence does not alter the predominantly hydrocarbon character of the group. Examples include keto, halo, hydroxy, nitro, cyano, alkoxy and acyl. If the hydrocarbyl group is substituted, a single (mono) substituent is preferred.

[0127] Examples of substituted hydrocarbyl groups include 2-hydroxyethyl, 3-hydroxypropyl, 4-hydroxybutyl, 2-ketopropyl, ethoxyethyl, and propoxypropyl. The groups may also or alternatively contain atoms other than carbon in a chain or ring otherwise composed of carbon atoms. Suitable hetero atoms include, for example, nitrogen, sulphur, and, preferably, oxygen.

[0128] More especially, the or each amino or imino substituent is bonded to a moiety via an intermediate linking group such as —CO—, —CO2(−), —SO3(−) or hydrocarbylene. Where the linking group is anionic, the substituent is part of a cationic group, as in an amine salt group. If the linking group is a carbonyl, the substituent part is either an imide or amide group.

[0129] When the polar nitrogen compound carries more than one amino or imino substituent, the linking groups for each substituent may be the same or different.

[0130] Suitable amino substituents are long chain C12-C24, preferably C12-C18, alkyl primary, secondary, tertiary or quaternary amino substituents.

[0131] Preferably, the amino substituent is a dialkylamino substituent, which, as indicated above, may be in the form of an amine salt thereof, an amide thereof, or both; tertiary and quaternary amines can form only amine salts. Said alkyl groups may be the same or different.

[0132] Preferably the amino substituents include dodecylamino, tetradecylamino, cocoamino, and hydrogenated tallow amino. Examples of secondary amino substituents include dioctadecylamino and methylbehenylamino. Mixtures of amino substituents may be present such as those derived from naturally occurring amines. A preferred amino substituent is the secondary hydrogenated tallow amino or dicocoamine substituent, the alkyl groups of which are derived from hydrogenated tallow fat and are typically composed of approximately 4% C14, 31% C16 and 59% C18 n-alkyl groups by weight.

[0133] Suitable imino substituents are long chain C12-C40, preferably C12-C24, alkyl substituents.

[0134] The moiety may be monomeric (cyclic or non-cyclic) or polymeric. When non-cyclic, it may be obtained from a cyclic precursor such as an anhydride or a spirobislactone.

[0135] The cyclic ring system may include homocyclic, heterocyclic, or fused polycyclic assemblies, or a system where two or more such cyclic assemblies are joined to one another and in which the cyclic assemblies may be the same or different. Where there are two or more such cyclic assemblies, the substituents may be on the same or different assemblies, preferably on the same assembly. Preferably, the or each cyclic assembly is aromatic, more preferably a benzene ring. Most preferably, the cyclic ring system is a single benzene ring when it is preferred that the substituents are in the ortho or meta positions, which benzene ring may be optionally further substituted.

[0136] The ring atoms in the cyclic assembly or assemblies are preferably carbon atoms but may for example include one or more ring N, S or O atom, in which case or cases the compound is a heterocyclic compound.

[0137] Examples of such polycyclic assemblies include polycyclic aromatics, rings joined “end-on” such as diphenyl, heterocylics or alicyclics.

[0138] Examples of polar nitrogen compounds are described below.

[0139] (i) an amine salt and/or amide of a mono- or poly-carboxylic acid, e.g. having 1 to 4 carboxylic acid groups. It may be made, for example, by reacting at least one molar proportion of a hydrocarbyl substituted amine with a molar proportion of the acid or its anhydride.

[0140] When an amide is formed, the linking group is —CO—, and when an amine salt is formed, the linking group is —CO2(−).

[0141] The moiety may be cyclic or non-cyclic. Examples of cyclic moieties are those where the acid is cyclohexane 1,2-dicarboxylic acid; cyclohexene 1,2dicarboxylic acid; cyclopentane 1,2-dicarboxylic acid; and naphthalene dicarboxylic acid. Generally, such acids have 5 to 13 carbon atoms in the cyclic moiety. Preferred such cyclic acids are benzene dicarboxylic acids such as phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, and terephthalic acid, and benzene tetracarboxylic acids such as pyromelletic acid, phthalic acid being particularly preferred. U.S. Pat. No. 4,211,534 and EP-A-272,889 describes polar nitrogen compounds containing such moieties.

[0142] Examples of non-cyclic moieties are those when the acid is a long chain alkyl or alkylene substituted dicarboxylic acid such as a succinic acid, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,147,520 for example.

[0143] Other examples of non-cyclic moieties are those where the acid is a nitrogen-containing acid such as ethylene diamine tetracetic acid and nitrilotriacetic acid.

[0144] Further examples are the moieties obtained where a dialkyl spirobislactone is reacted with an amine as described in DE-A-392699.

[0145] (ii) A compound having the formula I, or a salt thereof: 4

[0146] wherein B represents an aromatic system, A represents a hydrocarbyl group, R1 and R2 are the same or are different and each independently is an aliphatic hydrocarbyl group containing 12-24 carbon atoms, z is at least 1 and wherein the aromatic system carries at least one substituent group which is an activating group for the ring system or a derivative of an activating group.

[0147] By the term hydrocarbyl in this specification is meant an organic moiety that is composed of hydrogen and carbon, which is bonded to the rest of the molecule by a carbon atom or atoms and which, unless the context states otherwise, may be aliphatic, including alicyclic, aromatic or a combination thereof. It may be substituted or unsubstituted, alkyl, aryl or alkaryl and may optionally contain unsaturation or heteroatoms such as O, N or S, provided that such heteroatoms are insufficient to alter the essentially hydrocarbyl nature of the group. It is preferred that A is an aliphatic hydrocarbyl group and more preferably that A is a methylene group.

[0148] The term aromatic system is meant to include aromatic homocyclic, heterocyclic or fused polycyclic assemblies, or a system where two or more such cyclic assemblies are joined to one another and in which the cyclic assemblies may be the same or different. Where there are two or more cyclic assemblies and Z is 2 or more the -(A-NR1R2) groups present may be in the same or different assemblies. It is preferred that the aromatic system is a ring system based on benzene rings.

[0149] The ring atoms in the aromatic system are preferably carbon atoms but may, for example, include one or more heteroatoms such as N, S, or O in the system in which case the compound is a heterocyclic compound.

[0150] Examples of such polycyclic assemblies include

[0151] (a) condensed benzene structures such as naphthalene;

[0152] (b) condensed ring structures where none of or not all of the rings are benzene such as indene;

[0153] (c) rings joined “end-on” such as diphenyl;

[0154] (d) heterocyclic compounds such as quinoline; and

[0155] (e) bisaromatic systems wherein the rings are linked by one or more divalent groups such as for example bisphenol A.

[0156] By the term activating group is meant any group, other than a substituent aliphatic hydrocarbyl group which activates the aromatic system to substitution reactions such as electrophilic substitution, nucleophilic substitution or to the Mannich reaction. The activating group may be a non-substituent group such as functionality that is within the aromatic system as in, for example, heterocyclic compounds such as indole. The activating group is located at least within or on each of the rings of the aromatic system which are substituted with an -(A-NR1R2) group. It is preferred that the activating group is a group that is on the ring system as opposed to being within the aromatic system. Desirably the activating group or groups activate the aromatic system to electrophilic substitution or to the Mannich reaction, most preferably to the Mannich reaction. It is preferred that the activating group activates the aromatic system in the ortho or para position relative to itself. The preferred activating group is a hydroxyl group. The preferred activated aromatic system is a hydroxy aromatic system. By the term derivative of an activating group is meant any group that can be produced by the reaction of the activating group. For example, when the activating group is a hydroxyl group one derivative would be an —O—C(O)—CH3 group produced by reaction of the hydroxyl group with, for example, acetic anhydride. There may be more than one activating group or a derivative of an activating group on or in the aromatic system; they may be in or on the same or different rings. There may also be other substituents present that are in or on the aromatic system and are not activating groups or derivatives of activating groups.

[0157] Each aliphatic hydrocarbyl group constituting R1 and R2 in the invention may, for example, be an alkyl or alkylene group or a mono or polyalkoxyalkyl group or aliphatic hydrocarbyl group that contains heteroatoms such as O, N or S. Preferably each aliphatic hydrocarbyl group is a straight chain alkyl group. The number of carbon atoms in each aliphatic hydrocarbyl group is preferably 12-24, most preferably 12 to 18.

[0158] Preferably, such as when z=1, the aromatic system also carries a substituent of general formula II 5

[0159] wherein W=0 or 1; Q represents A; and R1 and R2 have the meaning as given above. It is preferred that W=0 and that there is only one additional substituent of the above general formula II. The additional substituent of general formula II may also be present in the aromatic system when z is 2 or more. When

[0160] The most preferred compounds of general formula I are those which may be represented by general formula III 6

[0161] wherein X represents hydrogen, or a hydrocarbyl group, or a non-hydrocarbyl group, or a group of general formula IV: 7

[0162] wherein Y is a divalent group and wherein a=1, 2, 3 or 4, b=1, 2, 3 or 4, c=0, 1 or 2, d=0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 and e=0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 and wherein R3, R4, R7 and R8 are hydrogen or hydrocarbyl, and wherein R1 and R2 are independently C8-C30 aliphatic hydrocarbyl groups. D represents a hydroxyl group or a derivative of a hydroxyl group. When D is a derivative of a hydroxyl group it is preferably a —O—C(O)—CH3 group. The C10-C40 aliphatic hydrocarbyl groups may be linear or branched chains. It is preferred that the chains are linear.

[0163] When X is a group other than a group of formula IV preferably a=1 or 2 and b=1, 2, 3 or 4, most preferably a=1 or 2 and b=1, 2 or 3.

[0164] When X is a group of formula IV and c=0, preferably a=1, 2 or 3, b=1, 2 or 3, d=0, 1, 2 or 3, and e=0, 1, 2 or 3, most preferably a=1, b=1, d=1 and e=1.

[0165] When X is a group of formula IV and c=1, preferably a=1, 2 or 3, b=1, 2 or 3, d=0,1, 2 or 3 and e=0, 1, 2 or 3, most preferably a=1 or 2, b=1 or 2, d=0,1 or 2 and e=0, 1 or 2.

[0166] In both formulas III and IV the benzene ring may be part of a larger ring system such as a fused polycyclic ring system or may be a heterocyclic ring or an aromatic ring other than benzene.

[0167] When c=1 groups III and IV may also be joined directly, as in when c=0, in addition to being joined by the divalent group Y. When c=2 the divalent groups Y may be the same or different.

[0168] Preferably R3, R4, R7 and R8 are hydrogen. The aliphatic hydrocarbyl groups R1 and R2 may be the same or different and are preferably independently C10-C40 alkyl groups. Desirably the alkyl groups are independently C12-C24 alkyl groups and most preferably C12-C18 alkyl groups. When there is more than one R1 or R2 group present they may be the same or different aliphatic hydrocarbyl groups. Preferred combinations of alkyl groups are those wherein R1/R2 are either C16/C18, C12/C14, C18/C18 or C12/C12.

[0169] The aliphatic hydrocarbyl groups may also contain hetero atoms such as O, N or S. It is preferred that no hetero atoms are present in the aliphatic hydrocarbyl groups and that the groups are linear or those which have low levels of branching.

[0170] The divalent group Y may be a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic group such as for example methylene, —C(CH3)2—, —CH(Ph)—, a group of formula V or similar groups, 8

[0171] or groups such as —C(O)—, S(O)—, S(O)2—, —O—, —S—, —C(O)—O— and —C(O)—O—R11—O—C(O)— wherein R11 is a hydrocarbyl group as hereinbefore defined. When there are two divalent groups present i.e. when c=2 they may be the same or different e.g. the combination of the group of formula V and —O— as in fluorescein. The divalent group Y may also be an aromatic group. The divalent group Y may also contain activated cyclic rings which have the substituent group -(A-NR1R2) present in the cyclic ring.

[0172] The compounds of general formula III may also be substituted with one or more groups of general formula II. It is preferred that when X is a group other than that of formula IV and when b=1 that at least one group of general formula II is present in the compound of formula III. The compounds of general formula III may also be substituted with non-hydrocarbyl groups such as for example NO2 or CN groups.

[0173] In the compound of formula I as defined above the activating group is preferably a hydroxyl group. The hydroxyl-aromatic system is hereinafter referred to as an activated compound. The compound is prepared by reacting under Mannich condensation conditions a formaldehyde or an aldehyde and a secondary amine which comprises independently C8-C30 aliphatic hydrocarbyl groups.

[0174] The reactants may be used in equimolar or substantially equimolar proportions. The mole ratio of the activated compound to secondary amine may be less than equimolar for example 1:2, 1:3 or 1:4 or more. It is preferred that the mole ratio of activated compound to secondary amine is 1:2 or substantially 1:2 and that there is sufficient formaldehyde present to enable this mole ratio to be achieved in the final product.

[0175] The reaction may be carried out in a solvent for example toluene or without a solvent and at a temperature in the range of 80° C. to 120° C.

[0176] The aldehyde may be any aldehyde that reacts with an activated compound and a C8-C30 aliphatic hydrocarbyl secondary amine under Mannich condensation conditions. It is preferred that formaldehyde is used in the method. The formaldehyde may be employed in any of its conventional forms; it may be used in the form of an aqueous solution such as formalin, as paraformaldehyde or as trioxane.

[0177] Suitable hydroxyaromatic compounds include for example: substituted phenols such as 2-, 3-, or 4-hydroxybenzophenone, 2-, 3-, or 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and 1 or 2-naphthol; dihydroxy compounds such as resorcinol, catechol, hydroquinone, 2,2′-biphenol, 4,4′biphenol, fluorescein, 2,2-bis(p-hydroxy phenyl)propane, dihydroxybenzophenones, 4,4′thiodiphenol, or dihydroxy benzoic acids such as 2,4-, or 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid; or trisphenolic compounds such as 1,1,1-tris-(4-hydroxy phenyl)ethane. The hydroxy aromatic compounds may be substituted, for example, with one or more of the following substituents: no-hydrocarbyl groups such as —NO2 or CN; or hydrocarbyl groups such as —CHO, —COOR, —COR, —COOR; or aliphatic hydrocarbyl groups such as alkyl groups. The substituent or substituents may be in the ortho, para or meta or any combination of these positions in relation to the hydroxyl group or groups. When the hydroxyaromatic compound is a substituted phenol it is preferred that the substitution is in the ortho or para position. Phenols which have certain para substituents have been found to produce bisdialkylaminomethyl Mannich reaction products, derived from secondary amines with aliphatic hydrocarbyl groups of C8 to C30, under milder reaction conditions and with greater ease than when using unsubstituted phenol. In some cases substitution in the ortho position also allows easier reaction under milder conditions, though some such substituents are not beneficial, such as those substituents which are able to hydrogen bond with the hydroxyl group. A suitable ortho substituent is a cyano group. It will be understood that with dihydroxy compounds such as catechol where two or more hydroxy groups are present in the same ring, that any one substituent may be ortho with respect to one of these hydroxy groups and meta in relation to the other.

[0178] The amine may be any secondary amine that contains linear and/or branched chain aliphatic hydrocarbyl groups of C8-C30, and preferably C10-C22 and most preferably C12-C18. Preferred secondary amines are linear or those that have low levels of branching.

[0179] Examples of suitable secondary amines include the simple secondary amines such as N,N-dodecylamine, N,N-dihexadecylamine, N,N-dioctadecylamine, N,N-dieicosylamine, N,N-didocosylamine, N,N-di hydrogenated tallow amine and secondary amines in which the two alkyl groups are the same or different and selected from the following functionality: dodecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl, octadecyl, eicosyl, docosyl, cetyl, stearyl, arachidyl, behenyl or hydrogenated tallow or that derived from the fatty acids of coconut oil.

[0180] Additional substituents of general formula II may be formed on the aromatic system during the above reaction by reacting activated compounds which have a carboxylic acid group present, with the corresponding amount of amine to take part in the above reaction and also to neutralise the carboxylic acid groups present. Alternatively the carboxylic acid groups may be neutralised after the reaction by adding the required amount of amine, which may be the same or a different amine to that used in the reaction, to neutralise the carboxylic acid groups.

[0181] There may be an additional reaction stage to convert the activating group into a derivative of the activating group such as, for example, the conversion of a hydroxyl group to its acetate ester by reaction for example with acetic anhydride.

[0182] (iii) A condensate of a long chain primary or secondary amine with a carboxylic acid-containing polymer.

[0183] Specific examples include polymers such as described in GB-A-2,121,807, FR-A-2,592,387 and DE-A-3,941,561; and also esters of telomer acid and alkanoloamines such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,639,256; and the reaction product of an amine containing a branched carboxylic acid ester, an epoxide and a mono-carboxylic acid polyester such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,071.

[0184] EP 0,283,292 describes amide containing polymers and EP 0,343,981 describes amine-salt containing polymers.

[0185] It should be noted that the polar nitrogen compounds may contain other functionality such as ester functionality.

[0186] The jet fuel composition may also include at least one of the following additives: anti-oxidant, metal deactivator, static dissipater to provide a conductivity of 50 to 450 pS/m, anti-freeze additive such as ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME), corrosion inhibitor, biocide, anti-foamant, lubricity additive and detergent.

[0187] The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following examples:

EXAMPLES

[0188] Tests were conducted using the jet fuels shown in Table 1 below: 1 TABLE 1 Jet Fuel Characteristics Jet Fuel Example A Jet Fuel Example B D 86, IBP 151.3 148.6  5% 162 160.4 10% 166.8 166.0 20% 172.7 173.6 30% 178.5 180.6 40% 185 189.1 50% 191.9 198.7 60% 199.3 209.6 70% 208.2 220.8 80% 219 231.9 90% 233 243.5 95% 245 251.5 FBP 257 258.0 90% − 20% 69.9 FBP − 90% 14.5 Flash Pt C 42 cloud point −59 pour point avg −57 −54.0 freeze point −54.7 −49 Density 15 deg C 803.7 807.1 GC n-alkanes C8 0.776 0.7174 C9 2.402 3.6507 C10 4.249 3.2286 C11 3.686 2.8060 C12 2.784 2.2606 C13 2.473 2.2366 C14 1.354 1.8120 C15 0.487 1.1841 C16 0.119 0.1588 C17 0.030 0.0110 C18 0.008 0.0037 C19 0.004 0.0043 C20 0.003 0.0042 C21 0.003 0.0026 C22 0.002 0.0012 C23 0.001 0.0005 C24 0.000 0.0000

[0189] The additives were added to jet fuel example A and the fuel compositions were tested for pour point using the standard pour point test method ASTM D97. The results are shown below in Table 2: 2 TABLE 2 Pour Point in Jet Fuel Example A Treat Pour Pt, % mole % mole % Additive (ppm ai) ° C. Me VA V2EH Mn None 0 −57 EVP 1000 −60 Comparative EVA 1000 −63 5.6 17.5 3749 Comparative EVA 1000 −60 4.89 18.35 0.0 6835 Comparative EVA 1000 −60 2.07 20.20 0.0 4360 Comparative EV2EH 1000 −84 2.8 0 28.8 5334 EV2EH 1000 −81 3 0 27.4 5948 EVAV2EH 1000 −78 5.96 3.92 10.69 2543 EV2EH 1000 −78 4.97 0.00 17.51 4307 EV2EH 1000 −78 4.01 0.00 16.74 4089 EV2EH 1000 −72 3.73 0.00 16.01 3649 EV2EH 1000 −72 3.03 0.00 16.10 5053 EV2EH 1000 −72 4.06 0.00 14.31 4232 EVAVO 1000 −78 5.2 2.0 — 2930 EVP - ethylene-vinyl propionate; EVA - ethylene-vinyl acetate; EV2EH - ethylene-vinyl-2-ethyl hexanoate; EVAV2EH - ethylene-vinyl acetate-vinyl-2-ethyl hexanoate; EVAVO - ethylene-vinyl acetate-vinyl octanoate; Mn was measured using polystyrene molecular weight standards; % Me - number of methyl terminating groups (—CH3) per 100 backbone methylene (—CH2—) groups.

[0190] As shown in Table 2, the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having more than 15 mol % of vinyl acetate (comparative example) only managed to reduce the pour point of jet fuel example A to −63° C., whereas the ethylene-vinyl-2-ethyl hexanoate, falling within the invention, reduced the pour point of jet fuel example A to −84° C.

[0191] The additives were also tested in jet fuel example B, which has Jet A-1 cold flow freezing characteristics. The results are shown below: 3 TABLE 3 Pour Point in Jet Fuel Example B Treat Pour Pt, mole % mole % Additive (ppm ai) ° C. % Me VA V2EH Mn None 0 −57 EVA 1000 −60 4.60 15 0 3700 comparative EVAV2EH 1000 −75 3 3.5 12 4700

[0192] The ethylene-vinyl acetate having a vinyl acetate content of 15 mol % (comparative example) only reduced the pour point of jet fuel example B to −60° C., whereas the ethylene-vinyl acetate-vinyl-2-ethyl hexanoate reduced the pour point of jet fuel example B to −75° C.

[0193] Combinations of additives were also used to depress the pass temperature of jet fuel example A in a one-shot ‘CFPP’ test with a 125 micron mesh (standard mesh for CFPP test is a 44 micron mesh). Details of the cold filter plugging point test equipment can be found in J. Inst. Pet. vol. 52 (510), June 1966, pp 173-285. The results are shown below: 4 TABLE 4 ‘One-Shot’ CFPP Improvement in Jet Fuel Example A PPM of PPM of Lowest Improve- Addi- Addi- Pass, ment Additive 1 tive 1 Additive 2 tive 2 ° C. ° C. None −56 0 EVA, 1000 −58 2   15 mol % VA, comparative EV2EH 200 C12 WASA 800 −62 6 EV2EH 200 C12 WASA 800 −62 6 EV2EH 200 C12 WASA 800 −62 6 EVAV2EH 200 C12 WASA 800 −62 6 C2/C4 (80/20) 500 C12 WASA 500 −62 6 C2/C4/C14 500 C12 WASA 500 −62 6 (82/12/6) C2/C4/C14 500 C12 WASA 500 −62 6 (80/14/5) C2/C4/C14 500 C12 WASA 500 −62 6 (81/15/4) C12/C4 500 C12 WASA 500 −62 6 (23/77) C10/12 FVA 500 C12 WASA 500 −62 6 APFC 500 C12 WASA 500 −62 6 EVA, 500 C12 WASA 500 −62 6  5.6 mol % VA EVA, 500 C12 WASA 500 −62 6   11 mol % VA PEG (400) 500 C12 WASA 500 −62 6 Distearate EVA, 500 C12 WASA 500 −62 6 14.1 mol % VA EVA, 500 C12 WASA 500 −62 6 10.5 mol % VA PEPEB 500 C12 WASA 500 −62 6 C12 WASA - dicocoamine/phthalic anhydride derived wax anti-settling additive; C2/C4 - ethylene/butene copolymer; C2/C4/C14 - ethylene/butene/tetradecene terpolymer; C12/C4 - dodecene/butene comb polymer; C10/C12 FVA - (di-decyl/dodecyl-fumarate)/vinyl acetate copolymer; APFC - iso-nonyl phenol formaldehyde condensate; PEG 400 - polyethylene glycol (400) distearate; PEPEB - polyethylene/polyethylene-butene block copolymer.

[0194] The additives were also tested for their water separation characteristics in a further jet fuel using ASTM D 3948-93. The test measures the ability of aviation fuels to release entrained or emulsified water when passed through a fiberglass coalescing material. A micro separometer rating (‘MSEP’) is given to indicate the ease of separating emulsified water from fuel by coalescence. High ratings indicate that water is easily coalesced, implying that the fuel is relatively free of surfactant materials, which are known to block or disarm water filters used in ground-based water separators. The results are given below: 5 TABLE 5 MSEP Rating PPM of Mole % VA in Additive Mole % VO in Additive Additive in Jet Fuel Additive MSEP EVA 3.5 1000 82 EVA 9.82 1000 99 EVA −10.46 1000 98 EVA 14.08 1000 69 EVA, 15 1000 less than 50 comparative EVA, 18.02 1000 less than 50 comparative EVA, 20.20 1000 less than 50 comparative EVA, 22.94 1000 less than 50 comparative EVAVO 14.8 1000 3.2 85 EVAVO 7.5 1000 6.3 89 EVAVO 3.3 1000 11.8 89 EV2EH 0.1 1000 5.8 97 EV2EH 0 1000 13.2 96 EV2EH 0 1000 17.5 96 EV2EH 0 1000 27.3 97 EVAV2EH 3.9 1000 10.7 93 EVAV2EH 3.5 1000 12 93 C2/C4 alkene 1000 92 (80:20) C12/C4 comb 1000 93 polymer (23:77) C12/C4 comb 1000 86 polymer (12:88) C2/C4 - ethylene/butene copolymer; C12/C4 comb polymer - dodecene/butene comb polymer.

[0195] An MSEP rating of less than 50 is considered to be a fail. Copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate including 15 mole percent or more of vinyl acetate failed the MSEP test. These copolymers would therefore block or disarm filters in ground-based water-separators and prevent water removal from jet fuel.

[0196] Table 6 below shows the relationship in jet fuel example A between the pour point temperature, the precipitation temperature and the dissolution temperature of a range of additives. Additives producing a lower pour point have lower precipitation and dissolution temperatures. 6 TABLE 6 Pour Point/Precipitation Temp./Dissolution Temp. Relationship Precipitate Dissolution Pour point (° C.) of Jet temp (° C.) temp (° C.) Fuel Example A with for 1000 ppm for 1000 ppm Additive Type 1000 ppm of Additive Additive Additive None −57 EV2EHVA −81 −44 −37 EV2EH −78 −39 −26 EV2EHVA −72 −36 −18 EV2EH −69 −27 −3 EVA −66 −17 0 (15 mol % VA) comparative

[0197] The additives were also tested for cloud point depression (‘CPD’) in jet fuel example A. The additives were added to jet fuel example A and the jet fuel was placed overnight in a cold box at −53° C. The fuel was then further cooled in one degree steps per hour. The fuel samples were checked for their visual appearance. Two measurements were recorded: the first measurement was the lowest temperature at which the fuel remained clear or had low haze, and the second measurement was the highest temperature at which the fuel was observed to have turned cloudy. The results are shown below in Table 7. 7 TABLE 7 Cloud Point Depression in Jet Fuel A Lowest Temperature Highest Temperature (° C.) Fuel (° C.) at is clear or has which Fuel Turned Additive Mn low haze Cloudy no additive — −56 −58 1-dodecene/1-butene 9,800 −61 −63 (77.5/22.5 mole %) hydrocarbon comb polymer 1-dodecene/1-butene 5,400 −61 −64 (79/21 mole %) hydrocarbon comb polymer 1:1 mixture of 1- — −64 no measurement taken dodecene/1-butene (77.5/22.5 mole %) and 1-dodecene/1-butene (79/21 mole %) hydrocarbon comb polymers

Claims

1. A jet fuel composition comprising a jet fuel and at least one of the following additives:

(i) a copolymer of ethylene and at least one unsaturated ester selected from the group consisting of vinyl esters having at least 5 carbon atoms, alkyl (meth)acrylates, di-alkyl fumarates and dialkyl maleates;

(ii) a copolymer of ethylene and alkene;

(iii) a copolymer of ethylene and less than 15 mole percent of vinyl acetate;

(iv) a nucleator;

(v) a wax;

(vi) a substantially branched alkyl phenol formaldehyde condensate;

(vii) a comb polymer; and

(viii) a polar nitrogen compound.

2. The jet fuel composition as claimed in claim 1, comprising jet fuel and an additive combination of at least one copolymer selected from the group consisting of (i), (ii) or (iii), at least one polar nitrogen compound (viii) and optionally at least one nucleator (iv).

3. The jet fuel composition as claimed in claim 1, comprising jet fuel and an additive combination of at least one copolymer selected from (i), (ii) or (iii), at least one comb polymer (vii) and optionally at least one nucleator (iv).

4. The jet fuel composition as claimed in claim 1, comprising jet fuel and an additive combination of at least one polar nitrogen compound (viii) and at least one comb polymer (vii).

5. The jet fuel composition as claimed in claim 1, comprising jet fuel and an additive combination of at least one polar nitrogen compound (viii) and at least one substantially branched alkyl phenol formaldehyde condensate (vi).

6. The jet fuel composition as claimed in claim 1, comprising jet fuel and an additive combination of at least one polar nitrogen compound (viii) and at least one nucleator (iv).

7. The jet fuel composition as claimed in claims 1-6, wherein the additive or additive combination is present in the jet fuel composition in an amount ranging from 10 to 20,000 ppm (parts additive per million parts fuel).

8. The jet fuel composition as claimed in claims 1-6, wherein the jet fuel is selected from the group consisting of Jet A, Jet A-1, Jet B, MIL JP 5, MIL JP 7, MIL JP 8 and MIL JP 4.

9. The jet fuel composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the copolymer of ethylene and at least one unsaturated ester (i) is a copolymer of ethylene and at least one vinyl ester (i) having the formula:

—CR1R2—CHR3

wherein R2 represents hydrogen or a methyl group; R1 represents a —OOCR4 group wherein R4 represents a C1 to C28 straight or branched chain alkyl group; R3 represents hydrogen or alkyl; and the vinyl ester having at least 5 carbon atoms.

10. The jet fuel composition as claimed in claim 9, wherein the vinyl ester is selected from the group consisting of vinyl propionate, vinyl butyrate, vinyl hexanoate, vinyl 2-ethylhexanoate, vinyl octanoate, vinyl benzoate and neo acid vinyl esters.

11. The jet fuel composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the copolymer of ethylene and at least one unsaturated ester (i) has a molar ethylene content of between 50 and 95 mole percent.

12. The jet fuel composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the copolymer of ethylene and alkene (ii) is a copolymer of ethylene and 1-alkene having at most 20 carbon atoms the 1-alkene being selected from the group consisting of propylene, 1-butene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, methyl-1-pentene, 1decene, 1-dodecene, 1-tridecene, 1-tetradecene, 1-pentadecene, 1hexadecene, 1-octadecene, 1-eicosene and vinyl-cyclohexane and mixtures thereof.

13. The jet fuel composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the copolymer of ethylene and alkene (ii) has a molar ethylene content of between 50 and 90 mole percent.

14. The jet fuel composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the copolymer of ethylene and less than 15 mole percent of vinyl acetate (iii) includes less than 14 mole percent of vinyl acetate.

15. The jet fuel composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the nucleator (iv) is a polyoxyalkylene compound.

16. The jet fuel composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the nucleator (iv) is a block copolymer comprising a single crystallizable block and a single non-crystallizable block.

17. The jet fuel composition as claimed in any claim 1, wherein the wax (v) includes normal and non-normal paraffin hydrocarbons.

18. The jet fuel composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substantially branched alkyl phenol formaldehyde condensate (vi) is an iso-nonyl phenol formaldehyde condensate or an iso-dodecyl phenol formaldehyde condensate.

19. The jet fuel composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the comb polymer (vii) has the general formula:

9

where

D represents R11, COOR10, OCOR10, R11COOR10 or R10;

E represents H or D;

G represents H or D;

J represents H, R11, R11COOR10, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heterocyclic group;

K represents H, COOR11, OCOR11, OR11 or COOH;

L represents H, R11, COOR11, OCOR11 or substituted or unsubstituted aryl;

R10 representing a hydrocarbyl group having 10 or more carbon atoms, and

R11 representing a hydrocarbylene (divalent) group in the R11COOR10 moiety and otherwise a hydrocarbyl (monovalent) group,

and m and n represent mole ratios, their sum being 1 and m being finite and being up to and including 1 and n being from zero to less than 1, m being within the range of from 1.0 to 0.4 and n being in the range of from 0 to 0.6.

20. The jet fuel composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the comb polymer (vii) is a poly-1-alkene.

21. The jet fuel composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the comb polymer (vii) is a copolymer of at least one C4-C6 1-alkene and at least one C10-C14 1-alkene.

22. The jet fuel composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the comb polymer (vii) is a mixture of one or more comb polymers selected from the group of poly-1-alkenes and copolymers of at least one C4-C6 1-alkene and at least one C10-C14 1-alkene.

23. The jet fuel composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the comb polymer (vii) is C8-C12 dialkylfumarate-vinyl acetate copolymer.

24. The jet fuel composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polar nitrogen compound (viii) carries one or more amino substituents selected from the group consisting of mono- or di-dodecylamino, mono- or di-tetradecylamino, mono- or di-cocoamino and mono- or di-hydrogenated tallow amine.

25. A process for reducing the pour point of jet fuels, the process including the following steps:

a) providing a jet fuel; and

b) adding at least one of the additives (i) to (viii) defined above in claim 1 to the jet fuel.