Biofuels as a Means of Improving the Quality of Petroleum Middle Distillate Fuels

Abstract

As the price of hydrocarbon fuels, especially middle distillate, continues to rise, the use of alternate fuels both as fuels and as blending stocks becomes more attractive. Middle distillate fuels are currently in short supply and consequently demand and price continue to increase. Middle distillate fuels for military applications have more severe restrictions than for the normal commercial consumer. One of the most stringent and difficult requirements to meet is that of fuel storage stability. Storage instability is defined in terms of solids formation, solids which can plug nozzles, filters, and degrade engine performance. Middle distillate fuels for the military can remain unused in storage typically for a year and often much longer. Many fuels show significant deterioration in storage. In the present research, a soybean-derived fuel was added in concentrations up to 20% in a stable petroleum middle distillate fuel. The soy-fuel mixtures proved stable in the middle distillate fuel and enhanced the storage stability of this fuel significantly.