Alternative fuel

#The present invention relates to spark ignition motor fuel compositions based on liquid hydrocarbons derived from biogenic gases that are blended with a fuel grade alcohol and a co-solvent for the liquid hydrocarbon and the alcohol, and having an anti-knock index, a heat content, and a Dry Vapor Pressure Equivalent (DVPE) effective to fuel a spark ignition internal combustion engine with minor modifications. In particular, the present invention relates to Coal Gas Liquid (CGL) or Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs)-ethanol blends in which the co-solvent is biomass-derived 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF).

#A need exists for alternatives to gasoline motor fuels for spark ignition internal combustion engines. Gasoline is derived from the extracting of crude oil from oil reservoirs. Crude oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons that exist in liquid phase in underground reservoirs and remains liquid at atmospheric pressure. The refining of crude oil to create conventional gasoline involves the distillation and separation of crude oil components, gasoline being the light naptha component.

#Only ten percent of the world reserves of crude oil lie in the United States, with an overwhelming majority of the remaining 90 percent located outside the boundaries, not only of the United States, but also its North American free trade partners. Over 50 percent of conventional gasoline is imported, with this number to increase steadily into the next century.

#A fuel composition in accordance with the present invention was prepared by blending 40 percent by volume of natural gasoline procured from Daylight Engineering, Elberfield, Ind., 40 percent by volume of 200 proof ethanol procured from Pharmco Products, Inc., Brookfield, Conn., and 20 percent by volume of MTHF purchased from the Quaker Oats Chemical Company, West Lafayette, Ind. Two liters of ethanol was pre-blended with one liter of MTHF in order to avoid evaporative loss of the ethanol upon contact with the natural gasoline. The ethanol and MTHF were cooled to 40° F. (44° C.) prior to blending to further minimize evaporative losses.

#Two liters of the natural gasoline were added to a mixing tank. The natural gasoline was also cooled to 40° F. (44° C.) to minimize evaporative losses. The blend of ethanol and MTHF was then added to the natural gasoline with mixing. The mixture was gently stirred for five seconds until a uniform, homogeneous blend was obtained.

#The content of the natural gasoline was analyzed by Inchcape Testing Services (Caleb-Brett) of Linden, N.J. It was found to consist of the following components: