Patent US4451267A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4451267A
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Microemulsions from vegetable oil and aqueous alcohol with trialkylamine surfactant as alternative fuel for diesel engines
Assignee: United States Department of Agriculture
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Filing: 1982-09-29
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Granted: 1984-05-29
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Expires: 2002-09-29
Abstract
Abstract Hybrid fuel microemulsions are prepared from vegetable oil, a C1-C3 alcohol, water, and a surfactant comprising a lower trialkylamine. For enhanced water tolerance by the fuel, the amine is reacted with a long-chain fatty acid for conversion to the corresponding trialkylammonium soap. Optionally, 1-butanol is incorporated into the system as a cosurfactant for the purpose of lowering both the viscosity and the solidification temperature.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur W. Schwab
- 👤 Everett H. Pryde
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:18
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10L; C10L1/00; C10L1/02; C10L1/026; C10L1/10; C10L1/12; C10L1/1233; C10L1/125; C10L1/14; C10L1/18; C10L1/182; C10L1/1822; C10L1/188; C10L1/1881; C10L1/22; C10L1/222; C10L1/2222; F; F02; F02B; F02B3/00; F02B3/06; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E50/00; Y02E50/10; Y10; Y10S; Y10S516/00; Y10S516/01; Y10S516/06; Y10S516/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A hybrid fuel composition comprising: (a) a vegetable oil; (b) a lower (C 1 -C 3 ) alcohol; (c) water; and (d) a surfactant system comprising a trialkylamine or a reaction product of a trialkylamine and a long-chain fatty acid substance; wherein said trialkylamine is selected from the group consisting of trimethylamine, triethylamine, tripropylamine, and tributylamine; and wherein said surfactant system is present in the fuel composition in an amount effective for said composition to exist as a thermodynamically stable microemulsion and the combined amounts of lower alcohol, water, and surfactant system relative to said vegetable oil are sufficient to impart to said composition a kinematic viscosity in the range of 2-9 centistokes at 37.8° C.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
A hybrid fuel composition comprising: (a) a vegetable oil; (b) a lower (C 1 -C 3 ) alcohol; (c) water; and (d) a surfactant system comprising a trialkylamine or a reaction product of a trialkylamine and a long-chain fatty acid substance; wherein said trialkylamine is selected from the group consisting of trimethylamine, triethylamine, tripropylamine, and tributylamine; and wherein said surfactant system is present in the fuel composition in an amount effective for said composition to exist as a thermodynamically stable microemulsion and the combined amounts of lower alcohol, water, and surfactant system relative to said vegetable oil are sufficient to impart to said composition a kinematic viscosity in the range of 2-9 centistokes at 37.8° C.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A hybrid fuel composition as described in claim 1 wherein said vegetable oil is selected from the group consisting of soybean, corn, rapeseed, sesame, cottonseed, crambe, sunflower seed, peanut, linseed, safflower, and high oleic safflower.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A hybrid fuel composition as described in claim 1 wherein said vegetable oil is soybean oil.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A hybrid fuel composition as described in claim 1 wherein said vegetable oil is sunflower seed oil.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A hybrid fuel composition as described in claim 1 wherein said lower alcohol is ethanol.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A hybrid fuel composition as described in claim 1 wherein the ratio of ethanol:water is about 19:1.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A hybrid fuel composition as described in claim 1 wherein said surfactant system comprises the reaction product of a trialkylamine and soybean oil acids.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A hybrid fuel composition as described in claim 1 wherein said surfactant system further comprises 1-butanol.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-05-29 | 1987-11-28 | 1988-05-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-05-29 | 1991-11-28 | 1992-05-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-05-29 | 1995-11-28 | 1996-05-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |