CA2387329A1 - Composition - Google Patents

Abstract

There is provided a composition comprising a fatty acid and a flow improver.

Description

COMPOSITION
The present invention relates to the improvement of the low temperature operability of fatty acids in a composition.
In many industrial applications additives are incorporated in compositions of interest.
The additives are generally incorporated to provide a functional effect to the composition. For example, an additive may modify the physical properties of the composition, for example the additive may modify the viscosity, or melting/boiling point, ~o of the composition.
An additive for a fuel composition is disclosed in GB 2121807. The additives are obtained by reacting an amine compound, with a copolymer comprising recurrent units (A) from an alkyl ester of an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid and/or a vinyl ester of a ~ 5 saturated monocarboxylic acid, recurrent units (B) from diisobutylene and recurrent units (C) from an unsaturated alpha, beta-dicarboxylic compound. The additives are used for lowering the cloud point of middle distillates having a molecular weight from 1,000 to 50,000. It is taught by GB 2121087 that the additives may inhibit the formation of paraffin crystals in the middle distillates. It is disclosed that the paraffin crystals form at 2o a lower temperature than they otherwise would in the absence of the additive.
It has now been recognised that fatty acids themselves provide operational difficulties when incorporated in a composition. For example, in certain circumstances, fatty acids may exhibit operability difficulties at low temperatures. At temperatures of up to 10°C
25 components of fatty acids can precipitate from a fuel composition and settle on the bottom of a vessel containing the composition. The heterogeneity resulting from such precipitation and settlement creates difficulties in handling and accurate material usage.
Furthermore, should it be required to transfer the fatty acid composition from one place to another difficulties may be experienced as filters may block. The blockage may result 3o in consequent catastrophic pump seizure. These disadvantages are particularly experienced and problematic when fatty acids are stored in a large tank which may be exposed to low temperatures. In this particularly problematic environment, solvent dilution or heating the tanks to overcome this problem are cost prohibitive and may be ineffective or impractical.

Fatty acids are used in fuels as non-metallic, phosphorus-free additives to enable refiners to maintain or improve lubricity quality. However, the problems of fatty acid precipitation and settlement is not limited to the field of fuels, fatty acids are utilised in, for example, adhesives, alkyd resins, detergents, cleaners, inks, coatings, lubricants, metalworking fluids, mining, oil exploration, paper production, polyamide resins, road building, rubber processing, corrosion inhibitors and surfactants.
The present invention addresses the problems of the prior art.
1o In one aspect the present invention provides use of a flow improver for the prevention and/or inhibition of the crystallisation of a fatty acid.
In a further aspect the present invention provides a composition comprising a fatty acid or an ester, amine salt or amide derivative thereof and a flow improver.
By the term "flow improver" it is meant a material which will lower the operability temperature of a composition comprising a fatty acid and the flow improver when compared to the composition in the absence of the flow improver, evidenced, for example by lowering the pour point, the cloud point, the wax appearance temperature, 2o the cold filter plugging point (hereinafter CFPP), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) or the Low Temperature Flow Test (LTFT) temperature of a fuel, or will reduce the extent of wax settlement in a fuel, especially a middle distillate fuel.
Sy the term "lower the operability temperature" it is meant the temperature at which fatty acid precipitates from a given composition is lowered or the amount of fatty acid which precipitates from a given composition at a given temperature is reduced.
By the term "prevention and/or inhibition of crystallisation of a fatty acid"
it is meant that the flow improver, specifically a cloud point depressant, lowers the temperature at which 3o the fatty acid begins to crystallise or for a given temperature lowers the amount of fatty acid which crystallises. The additives continue to work as the temperature of the material cycles with changes in ambient temperature.

FLOW IMPROVER
Flow improvers suitable for use in the present invention are described in each of WO-A-94/17159, WO-A-95/03377, WO-A-93/14178, WO-A-94/10267, WO-A-99/28416, WO-A-95/33805, WO-A-96/18708, WO-A-96/18706, WO-A-96/18708, EP-A-0356256, EP-A-0673990, EP-A-0261957, US-A-3048479, GB-A-1263152, GB-A-1112808, and GB-A-2121808.
Preferably the flow improver is present in the composition in an amount of less than 10 o wt%, preferably 0.01 to 5.00 wt.%, preferably 0.05 to 3.00 wt.%, preferably 0.10 to 2.00 wt%, based on the total weight of the composition.
In a preferred aspect the present invention the flow improver is selected from wax modifiers, including cloud point depressants and wax anti-settling additives;
cold flow ~ 5 improvers including distillate fuel cold flow improvers, pour point depressants, wax appearance temperature depressants, cold filter plugging point (CFPP) depressants, low temperature flow test (LTFT) temperature depressants and mixtures thereof. In a more preferred aspect, the flow improver is diesel fuel cloud point depressant.
2o Numerous classes of flow improvers, especially middle distillate flow improvers, are suitable for use in the present invention.
Preferably the flow improver of the present invention is selected from (A) ethylene-unsaturated ester copolymers, (B) comb polymers, (C) polar nitrogen compounds, (D) 25 hydrocarbon polymers and mixtures thereof.
The preferred flow improvers are discussed in WO 95/33805 and will now be described in further detail.
30 (A) Ethylene-unsaturated Ester Copolymers, The ethylene-unsaturated ester copolymers are preferably ethylene-unsaturated ester copolymers having, in addition to units derived from ethylene, units of the formula -CR, Rz-C H R3-35 wherein R, represents hydrogen or methyl, R2 represents COOR4, wherein R4 represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 9 carbon atoms, which is straight chain or, if it contains 3 or more carbon atoms, branched, or R2 represents OOCRS, wherein RS
represents R4 or H, and R3 represents H or COOR4.
These may comprise a copolymer of ethylene with an ethylenically unsaturated ester, or derivatives thereof. An example is a copolymer of ethylene with an ester of a saturated alcohol and an unsaturated carboxylic acid, but preferably the ester is one of an unsaturated alcohol with a saturated carboxylic acid. An ethylene-vinyl ester copolymer is preferred; an ethylene-vinyl acetate, ethylene-vinyl propionate, ethylene-vinyl to hexanoate, or ethylene-vinyl octanoate copolymer is preferred. Preferably, the copolymer contains from 5 to 40 wt.% of the vinyl ester, more preferably from 10 to 35 wt.% vinyl ester. A mixture of two copolymers may be used. The number average molecular weight of the copolymer, as measured by vapour phase osmometry, may be 1, 000 to 10,000, preferably 1,000 to 5,000. If desired, the copolymer may contain units is derived from additional comonomers, e.g. a terpolymer, tetrapolymer or a higher polymer, for example where the additional comonomer is isobutylene or disobutylene.
The copolymers may be made by direct polymerisation of comonomers, or by transesterification, or by hydrolysis and re-esterification, of an ethylene unsaturated 3o 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.
(B) Comb Polymers 2s By the term "comb polymers" it is meant a polymer in which branches containing hydrocarbyl groups are pendant from a polymer backbone, and 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).
Generally, comb polymers have one or more long chain hydrocarbyl branches, e.g., oxyhydrocarbyl branches, normally having from 10 to 30 carbon atoms, 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 3s bonding can include covalent and/or electrovalent bonding such as in a salt.

Preferably, the comb polymer is a homopolymer having, or a copolymer at least 25 and preferably at least 40, more preferably at least 50, molar percent of the units of which have, side chains containing at least 6, and preferably at least 10 carbon atoms.
The comb polymer may contain units derived from other monomers if desired or required.
Preferably the comb polymer is or comprises a copolymer of (i) malefic anhydride, ~ o fumaric acid, itaconic acid or a mixture thereof and (ii) another ethylenically unsaturated monomer, e.g., an a-olefin, including styrene, or an unsaturated ester, for example, vinyl acetate or homopolymer of fumaric or itaconic acids. 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 copolymerised with ~5 e.g., malefic anhydride, include 1-decene, 1-dodecene, 1-tetradecene, 1-hexadecene, and 1-octadecene.
The acid or anhydride group of the comb polymer may be esterified by any suitable technique and although preferred it is not essential that the malefic anhydride or fumaric ?o acid be at least 50% esterified. Examples of alcohols which 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, 1-methylpentadecan-1-of or 2-methyltridecan-1-ol. The alcohol may be a mixture of normal and single methyl branched alcohols. It is preferred to use pure 25 alcohols rather than the commercially available alcohol mixtures.
The comb polymers may be fumarate or itaconate polymers and copolymers such for example as those described in EP-A-0153176, EP-A-0153177 and EP-A-0225688, and WO-A-91 /16407.
Further fumarate comb polymers include copolymers of alkyl fumarates and vinyl acetate, in which the alkyl groups have from 12 to 20 carbon atoms, including polymers in which the alkyl groups have 14 carbon atoms or in which the alkyl groups are a mixture of C,4/C,6 alkyl groups, made, for example, by solution copolymerising an equimolar mixture of fumaric acid and vinyl acetate and reacting the resulting copolymer with the alcohol or mixture of alcohols, which are preferably straight chain alcohols.
When the mixture is used it may be a 1:1 by weight mixture of normal C" and C,6 alcohols. Furthermore, mixtures of the C,4 ester with the mixed C,4/C,6 ester may be used. In such mixtures, the ratio of C,4 to C,4/C,6 may be in the range of from 1:1 to 4:1, preferably 2:1 to 7:2, and most preferably about 3:1, by weight. The particularly preferred comb polymers are those having a number average molecular weight, as measured by vapour phase osmometry, of 1,000 to 100,000, more especially 1, 000 to 30,000.
to Other suitable comb polymers are the polymers and copolymers of cc-olefins and esterified copolymers of styrene and malefic anhydride, and esterified copolymers of styrene and fumaric acid; mixtures of two or more comb polymers may be used in accordance with the invention and, as indicated above. Other examples of comb polymers are hydrocarbon polymers, e.g., copolymers of ethylene and at least one a,-olefin, the cc-olefin preferably having at most 20 carbon atoms, examples being n-decene-1 and n- dodecene- 1. Preferably, the number average molecular weight of such a copolymer is at least 30,000 measured by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC). The hydrocarbon copolymers may be prepared by methods known in the art, for example using a Ziegler type catalyst.
(C) Polar Nitrogen Compounds Preferably the polar nitrogen compound is or comprises an oil-soluble polar nitrogen compound carrying one or more, preferably two or more, substituents.
Preferably the substituents are of the formula >NR,3, where R,3 represents a hydrocarbyl group containing 8 to 40 carbon atoms, which substituent or one or more of which substituents may be in the form of a cation derived therefrom. R,3 preferably represents an aliphatic hydrocarbyl group containing 12 to 24 carbon atoms. The oil soluble polar 3o nitrogen compound is generally one capable of acting as a wax crystal growth inhibitor in fuels.
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.

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, and alicyclic-substituted aromatic, and aromatic-substituted aliphatic and alicyclic groups. Aliphatic groups may be 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, vitro, cyano, alkoxy and acyl. If the hydrocarbyl group is substituted, a 1o single (mono) substituent is preferred.
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.
The or each amino or imino substituent may be bonded to a moiety via an intermediate linking group such as -CO-, -COz-, -S03- or hydrocarbylene. Where the linking group is 2o anionic, the substituent is part of a cationic group, as in an amine salt group.
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.
Suitable amino substituents are long chain C,z-C4o, preferably C,z-C24, alkyl primary, secondary, tertiary or quaternary amino substituents.
Preferably, the amino substituent is a dialkylamino substituent, which, as indicated above, may be in the form of an amine salt thereof; tertiary and quaternary amines can 3o form only amine salts. Said alkyl groups may be the same or different.
Examples of 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 substituent, the alkyl groups of which are derived from hydrogenated tallow fat and are typically composed of approximately 4% C,4, 31 % C,6 and 59% C,8 n-alkyl groups by weight.
Suitable imino substituents are long chain C,z-C4o, preferably C,2-C24, alkyl substituents.
Said 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.
i o 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.
The ring atoms in the cyclic assembly or assemblies are preferably carbon atoms but 2o may for example include one or more ring N, S or O atom, in which case or cases the compound is a heterocyclic compound.
(D) Hydrocarbon Polymers The hydrocarbon polymers may be made directly from monoethylenically unsaturated monomers or indirectly by hydrogenating polymers from polyunsaturated monomers, e.g., isoprene and butadiene.
Examples of hydrocarbon polymers are disclosed in WO 91/11488.
Preferred copolymers are ethylene a.-olefin copolymers, having a number average molecular weight of at least 30,000. Preferably the a-olefin has at most 28 carbon atoms. Examples of such olefins are propylene, 1-butene, isobutene, n-octene-1, isooctene-1, n- decene-1, and n-dodecene-1. The copolymer may also comprise small amounts, e.g. up to 10% by weight, of other copolymerisable monomers, for example olefins other than a-olefins, and non-conjugated dienes. The preferred copolymer is an ethylene-propylene copolymer.
The number average molecular weight of the ethylene a-olefin copolymer is, as indicated above, preferably at least 30,000, as measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) relative to polystyrene standards, preferably at least 60,000 and preferably at least 80,000. Functionally no upper limit arises but difficulties of mixing result from increased viscosity at molecular weights above about 150,000, and preferred molecular weight ranges are from 60,000 and 80,000 to 120, 000.
The copolymer may have a molar ethylene content between 50 and 85 percent or the ethylene content may be within the range of from 57 to 80%, and preferably it is in the range from 58 to 73%; more preferably from 62 to 71 %, and most preferably 65 to 70%.
Preferred ethylene-a-olefin copolymers are ethylene- propylene copolymers with a molar ethylene content of from 62 to 71 % and a number average molecular weight in the range 60,000 to 120,000; especially preferred copolymers are ethylene-propylene copolymers with an ethylene content of from 62 to 71 % and a molecular weight from 80,000 to 100,000.
The copolymers may be prepared by any of the methods known in the art, for example using a Ziegler type catalyst. The polymers should be substantially amorphous.
Other suitable hydrocarbon polymers include a low molecular weight ethylene-a-olefin copolymer, possibly with a number average molecular weight of at most 7500, preferably from 1,000 to 6, 000, and preferably from 2,000 to 5,000, as measured by vapour phase osmometry. Appropriate a-olefins are as given above, or styrene, with propylene again being preferred. The ethylene content may be from 60 to 77 molar percent, although for ethylene- propylene copolymers up to 86 molar percent by weight ethylene may be employed.
In a further preferred aspect the hydrocarbon polymer is or comprises a terpolymer of (i) linear C16 or C18 alkene, (ii) a C18 methacrylate or acrylate, and (iii) a succinimide having a C18 carbon chain. In a more preferred aspect, the components (i), (ii) and (iii) are present in a ratio of approximately 1:1:1.

Previous performance has been demonstrated in their application to middle distillate fuels GB 2121807.
5 The hydrocarbon polymer may be a dialkyl dicarboxylic acid-vinyl acetate copolymers derived by polymerisation of vinyl acetate and mixed alcohol carboxylate 1 esters, with n-alkyl groups of average number of carbon atoms ranging from 10 carbons to 30 carbons, preferably C4 to C8 dicarboxylic acids. These copolymers may include dialkyl fumarate-vinyl acetate copolymers derived by polymerisation of vinyl acetate and mixed to alcohol fumarate esters, with n-alkyl groups of average number of carbon atoms ranging from 10 carbons to 30 carbons.
The hydrocarbon polymer may be a alkyl phenol resin or phenol aldehyde resin or phenol formaldehyde resin, preferably an oxalkylated amine with n-alkyl groups of I5 average number of carbon atoms, ranging from 1 carbon to 30 carbons. For phenol formaldehyde resin, preferably the phenols are methylene linked. The n-alkyl groups have an average number of carbon atoms ranging from 20 carbons to 36 carbons, more specifically, ranging from 24 carbons to 28 carbons.
2o Preferably the hydrocarbon polymer is dissolved or is dispersed in an aromatic solvent.
The aromatic solvents in which the hydrocarbon polymer may be dissolved or dispersed may be Aromatic 150 available for example from Esso, Surasol or xylene.
?5 It is within the scope of the invention to use a combination of two or more flow improvers selected from one or more of the different classes outlined above.
FATTY AC I D
3o The fatty acid may be obtained from any suitable source. For example the fatty acid may be obtained or may be obtainable from an animal or a plant source. In a preferred aspect the fatty acid is obtained or is obtainable from rapeseed oil, coriander oil, soybean oil, cottonseed oil, sunflower oil, castor oil, olive oil, peanut oil, maize oil, almond oil, palm kernel oil, coconut oil, mustard seed oil, beef oil, tallow oil, fish oil, and 35 mixtures thereof.

Preferably the fatty acid is selected from saturated, unsaturated, poly-unsaturated fatty acids, and mixtures thereof.
Preferably the fatty acid is selected from lauric acid, rosin acids myristic acid, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, elaidic acid, petroselic acid, ricinoleic acid, elaeostearic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, eicosanoic acid, gadoleic acid, docosanoic acid, erucic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and mixtures thereof.
I0 Preferably the fatty acid is selected from mixtures of fatty acids having a chain length of from 12 to 22 carbon atoms. More preferably the fatty acid is selected from mixtures of fatty acids having a chain length of from 16 to 18 carbon atoms.
In preferred aspect the fatty acid is selected from mixtures of fatty acids consisting of 10-I S 80% oleic monounsaturated fatty acid, 10-80% linoleic di-unsaturated fatty acid, 0-80%
saturated fatty acid and 0-80% rosin acid.
In a further preferred aspect the fatty acid is a tall oil fatty acid. Tall oil fatty acids typically comprise mixtures of fatty acids consisting of approximately 65%
linoleic di-2o unsaturated fatty acid, approximately 30% oleic mono-unsaturated fatty acid, approximately 2% saturated fatty acids and <2% rosin acid. Thus, in highly preferred aspect the fatty acid is selected from mixtures of fatty acids consisting of approximately 65% linoleic di-unsaturated fatty acid, approximately 30% oleic mono-unsaturated fatty acid, approximately 2% saturated fatty acids and <2% rosin acid.
Preferably the saturated fatty acids are selected from stearic acid (C16) and palmitic (C18) acid.
Fatty acids are commercially widely available, for example from Unichema, Henkel, 3o Croda, and Oleofina. Tall oil fatty acids are typically available from Arizona Chemical, Georgia Pacific, Hercules and Westvaco.
As the fatty acid solution cools, the flow improver of the present invention such as a cloud point additive, interacts with and alters the precipitating material's crystallisation onset temperature. This change retards crystal formation and growth, keeping the fatty l2 acids in solution, thereby preserving the operability of the solution. The fatty acids remain in solution available for pumping, injecting, or addition.
COMPOSITION
In one aspect of the present invention the composition is substantially free of a bio-fuel.
In this aspect the composition may be substantially free of fatty acid containing oils (triglycerides) or fatty acid esters which may act as a fuel.
to The composition of the present invention may comprise one or more additional components applicable to the application of the composition. These additional components may be those known to one skilled in the art. The one or more additional components may be selected from detergents, one or more additional cold flow improvers, antioxidants, corrosion inhibitors, dehazers, demulsifiers, antifoaming agents, t5 cetane improvers, conductivity improvers, metal deactivators, dyes, chemical markers, cosolvents, package compatibilisers, carrier oils, biocides, surfactants, buffers, lubricity additives including polycarboxylic acids, and mixtures thereof.
The composition may comprise one or more solvents, including organic solvents.
As discussed above, the fatty acids may be used in many application areas. The composition of the present invention may be or may be utilised in an adhesive, alkyd resin, detergent, cleaner, fuel additive, ink, coating, lubricant, metalworking fluid, mining fluid, oil field exploration, paper treatment, polyamide resin, road building, rubber processing, corrosion inhibitor, surfactant or fuel.
FUEL
In a highly preferred aspect the present invention provides a fuel comprising a 3o composition of the present invention. Preferably the fuel is selected from gasolines including motor, aviation, tractor, and marine fuels, and middle distillate fuels including diesel fuels, marine fuels, and heating oils. The fuel may a biofuel, such as a vegetable-based fuel oil, including a rapeseed methyl ester and vegetable oil; and mixtures thereof.
As described in WO 95133805 a "middle distillate" refers to fuel oils obtainable in refining crude oil as the fraction from the lighter, kerosene or jet fuel, fraction to the heavy fuel oil fraction. The fuel oils may also comprise atmospheric or vacuum distillate, cracked gas oil or a blend, in any proportions, of straight run and thermally and/or catalytically cracked distillate. Examples include kerosene, jet fuel, diesel fuel, heating oil, visbroken gas oil, light cycle oil, vacuum gas oil, light fuel oil and fuel oil. Such middle distillate fuel oils usually boil over a temperature range, generally within the range of 100°C to 500°C, as measured according to ASTM D86, more especially between 150°C and 400°C.
In a further highly preferred aspect the present invention provides a fuel additive ~ o consisting of a composition of the present invention.
In a further highly preferred aspect the present invention provides a lubricity improver consisting of a composition of the present invention. At the recommended treat rates, the lubricity improver may demonstrate performance in Stanadyne and Bosch Pump Rig I5 Lubricity tests, and High Frequency Reciprocating Rig, Ball on Cylinder Lubricity Evaluator, and Scuffing Load Ball on Cylinder Lubricity Evaluator bench tests.
These products do not interact with engine lubricants, fuels, or other fuel additives, and are compatible with the constituent materials of the engine and fuel system.
2o In a further highly preferred aspect the present invention provides a lubricant composition consisting of a composition of the present invention.
In a further broad aspect of the present invention the fatty acid of the present invention may be partially or completely substituted by an ester, amine salt or amide derivative of 25 a fatty acid.
The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-3o Figure 1 is a graph;
Figure 2 is a graph;
Figure 3 is a graph;
Figure 4 is a graph;
Figure 5 is a graph;

EXAMPLES
The following fatty acid compositions (FAC) were used in the Examples below PROPERTY FAC

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Acid Number 195 194 197 Viscosit c s 27 27 2p Sa onification 198 197 1 g9 Number Iodine Number 155 155 130 WIJS) COMPOSITIONAL
PROPERTIES

Rsin Acids % 0.8 1.8 O.g Unsa onifiables1.8 2.0 1.3 %

Total Fatt Acids97 97 gg %

Pol unsaturated66 65 44 acids %

Monounsaturated29 29 50 acids %

Saturated % 2 2 2 ~ other % I - I - J 2 A test to demonstrate low temperature operability requires the fatty acids to remain bright and clear after three days storage at 23°F (-5°C).
to Table 1 compares the performance of different FAC samples in this test.
Table 2 compares the physical properties of the three samples.
Sample A: FAC 1 Sample B: FAC 1 + Solvent ~ 5 Sample C: FAC 1 + Solvent + Wax Modifier (flow improver) Rating Scale: 1 = Bright and Clear 2 = Cloudy or < 10% ppt.

3 = 10-20% ppt.
20 4 = 20-50% ppt.
5 = 50-95% ppt.
6 = solid Table 1 Sam 1e After 1 Da After 3 Da After 5 After 7 Da -5C s -5C Da s -5C s -5C

Table 2 Comparison of Physical Properties Sam re A Sam re 8 Sam re C

_ _ Flash Point F C) 392 2 200 93 208 97 00) Pour Point F C _ 5 -15) -11 -23 _ 10 -12) Cloud Point F C 42.8 6) 15.8 (-9 -5.8 -21 Densit Lbs/ al) 7.55 7.55 7.55 S ecific Gravit 60/60F0.907 0.907 0.907 16/16C) Viscosit cst 100F (40C)17 12 12 cst 68F 20C 27 25 21 I cst @ 23F (-5C) ~ solid 128 59 5 Samples A, B, and C, described above were stored overnight at different temperatures to roughly determine what temperatures resulted in solids precipitating from the solutions. These observations are reported in Table 3.
Table 3 Observations after 24-hour storage at decreasing temperatures.
to Sam re 20C 68F 15C 59F 10C 50F 5C 41F 0C (32F

A Clear clear & 45 % layer45 % layer 100% solid 8 bright bright of of clear slushysolids c stars B Clear clear & clear & 15% layer 45% layer 8 bright bright bright of of c stars c stars I C I Clear ~ clear ~ clear ~ clear clear 8 & bright & bright & bright & bright bright Samples in accordance with the present invention were studied by differential scanning 15 calorimetery (DSC). The DSC procedure was conducted in a TA Instruments 2010 in a standard DSC crucible. The samples were studied at a heating or cooling rate of 1°C/min. The samples were also studied isothermally at -7°C.
EXAMPLE 3 - The Effect of Flow Improver on Different FACs Example 3.1 FAC Amount Flow ImproverAmount Phase at of FAC of Flow -7C

_ Im rover 1 99.0 AZ 253 1.0 Li uid 2 99.0 AZ 253 1.0 Li uid 3 99.0 AZ 253 1.0 Li uid AZ 253 is a cloud point depressant available from Elf and described in GB-A-2121808.

It can be seen that the flow improver prevented crystallisation of each of the fatty acids tested at low temperature.
Example 3.2 Samples of A, B and C were prepared using a number of different fatty acids.
The composition of the samples were as follows Sample A 100 % fatty acid Sample B 75 % fatty acid + 25% solvent added to Sample C 75 % fatty acid + 20% solvent + 5% wax modifier (cold flow improver) Samples were prepared and placed in a controlled temperature bath. The temperature was lowered daily until it reached 0°C where it was held for two days, then lowered to 5°C, where it remained constant throughout the remaining test days.
Samples were evaluated and rated each day.
Rating:1 = clear and bright 5 = 25 - 49% crystals 2 = cloudy 6 = 50 - 74% crystals 3 = < 10% crystals 7 = 75 - 100% crystals 4 = 10 - 24% crystals 8 = solid Sample Fatty Tem Acid erasure Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da A 1 1 1 3 3 3 - _ _ _ B 1 1 3 4 7 - _ _ _ C 1 1 2 2 2 _ _ _ _ A 2 1 8 8 8 8 _ _ _ _ B 1 1 7 7 7 _ _ _ _ A 3 6 7 7 7 7 _ _ _ _ B 1 6 7 7 7 - _ _ _ A 4 1 1 1 3 4 - _ _ _ A 5 1 1 8 8 8 - _ _ _ A 6 1 1 5 7 7 - - _ _ B 1 1 1 - 3 _ _ _ A 7 1 1 1 3 6 _ _ _ _ Key to Fatty Acids 1 = Sylfat 1 F from Arizona Oulu, Finland 2 = Sylfat FA2 from Arizona Panama City, Florida 3 = Sylfat FA2 from Arizona Panama City, Florida 4 = Sylfat 1 F from Rosilr Services Ltd., Eaglescliffe Stockton-on-Tees 5 = Tall Oil Mixture from Arizona Panama City, Florida FA-7002 6 = Sylfat 2 from Arizona Oulu, Finland 7 = Sylfat 2LT from Arizona Oulu, Finland 1o These data demonstrate that the system of the present invention may inhibit the crystallisation of a broad range of fatty acid products. Furthermore the data demonstrate that improvement afforded by dilution with a commonly used solvent is not as effective as that provide by the present invention.
EXAMPLE 4 - The Effect of Amount of Flow Improver Example 4.1 FAC Amount Flow ImproverAmount Phase at of FAC of Flow -7C

Im rover 2 100.0 AZ 253 0.0 Solid 2 99.5 AZ 253 0.5 Li uid 2 ' 95.0 AZ 253 5.0 Li uid It can be seen that the flow improver prevented crystallisation of the fatty acid when compared to the base line in the absence of the flow improver.
FAC Amount Flow ImproverAmount Crystallisation,~T
of FAC of Flow Temperature Improver C) 3 100.0 AZ 253 0.0 -1.7 3 99.9 AZ 253 0.1 -5.1 -3.4 3 99.5 AZ 253 0.5 -6.9 -5.2 3 99.0 AZ 253 1.0 -8.5 -6.8 ~ 3 I 95.0 ~ AZ 253 5.0 ~ -9.6 -7.9 ~

OT represents the difference between the crystallisation temperature of the composition and the crystallisation temperature of the given fatty acid in the absence of the flow improver.
The results of the DSC are shown in Figure 1.

It can be seen that the flow improver prevented crystallisation of the fatty acid when compared to the base line in the absence of the flow improver. An improvement was noted at a concentration of 0.1 % flow improver. The improvement was increased as the concentration of flow improver increased Example 4.2 Samples of A to E were prepared using a number of flow improvers. The composition of the samples were as follows 1 o A 85% Fatty Acid; 14.9% solvent; 0.1 % flow improver B 85% Fatty Acid; 14.5% solvent; 0.5% flow improver C 85% Fatty Acid; 14% solvent; 1 % flow improver D 85% Fatty Acid; 13% solvent; 2% flow improver E 85% Fatty Acid; 10% solvent; 5% flow improver Samples were prepared and placed in a controlled temperature bath. The temperature was lowered daily until it reached -5°C, where it remained constant throughout the remaining test days. Samples were looked.at and rated each day.
2o Rating: 1 = clear and bright 5 = 25 - 49% crystals 2 = cloudy 6 = 50 - 74% crystals 3 = <10% crystals 7 = 75 - 100% crystals 4 = 10 - 24% crystals 8 = solid Sample Flow _Tem erasure Improver20C 15C 10C 5C 0C -5C -5C -5C -5C -5C
Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da 100%

85%

15%
solvent D 1 t 1 1 1 1 3 Key to Flow Improvers 1 Commercial Cloud Point Depressant Terpolymer of ethylene, methacrylate & succinimide 2 Commercial Wax Anti-Settling Additive Methylene linked alkyl phenols & low molecular weight poly methacrylate 3 Pour Point Depressant Comb Polymer Poly Methacrylate 4 Commercial Cold Flow Improver Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymers These data demonstrate that a number of different flow improvers at different concentrations may inhibit the crystallisation of fatty acid products.
Furthermore the data demonstrate that improvement afforded by dilution with a commonly used solvent is not as effective as that provided by the present invention.
EXAMPLE 5 - The Effect of Different Flow Improvers l0 Example 5.1 FAC Amount Flow ImproverAmount Crystallisation~T
of FAC of Flow Temperature Improver oC

~

1 99.5 CPD-5 0.5 -19.4 -5.4 1 99.5 PF 511 0.5 -18.2 -4.2 1 99.5 RL 830 0.5 -18.6 -4.6 1 99.5 V 311 0.5 -19.5 -5.5 1 99.5 AZ 253 0.5 -19 -5.5 .5 3 99.5 AZ 253 0.5 _ -6.3 -8.0 3 99.5 CP 8327 0.5 -7.9 -6.2 3 99.5 V 311 0.5 -8.1 -6.4 CPD-5 is a cloud point depressant available from Starreon, US
PF 511 is a cloud point depressant available from Paramins, US
RL 830 is a cloud point depressant available from Elf, France.
V 311 (Dodiflow V 311 ) is a cloud point depressant available from Clariant, Switzerland.
CP 8327 a cloud point depressant is available from Elf, France.
2o The results of the DSC of FAC 1 are shown in Figure 2. The results of the DSC of CP
8327 and V311 with FAC 3 are shown in Figure 3.
It can be seen that each of the flow improvers tested prevented crystallisation of both of zo the fatty acids at low temperature.
Example 5.2 FAC Amount Flow ImproverAmount Crystallisation~T
of FAC of Flow Temperature Improver oC

1 99.5 CFPP 0.5 -18.2 -4.2 1 99.5 ES 3217 0.5 -17.3 -3.3 1 99.5 AZ 253 0.5 -19.5 -5.5 3 95.0 OFI7250 5.0 -9.8 -8.1 3 95.0 AZ 253 5.0 -9.6 -7.9 CFPP is Dodiflow 4300, a cold filter plugging point additive (CFPP) available from Clariant, Switzerland.
ES 3217 is a wax anti-settling additive available from BASF, Germany.
OFI 7250 is a cold filter plugging point additive available from The Associated Octel, UK.
l0 The results of the DSC of OFI 7250 are shown in Figure 3. The results of the DSC of ES 3217 are shown in Figure 4.
It can be seen that each of the flow improvers tested prevented crystallisation of both of the fatty acids at low temperature.
Example 5.3 Samples of A and B were prepared using a number of flow improvers. The composition of the samples were as follows A 85% Fatty Acid; 14.9% solvent; 0.1 % flow improver B 85% Fatty Acid; 14.5% solvent; 0.5% flow improver Samples were prepared and placed in a controlled temperature bath. The temperature was lowered daily until it reached -5°C, where it remained constant throughout the remaining test days. Samples were looked at and rated each day.
Rating: 1 = clear and bright 5 = 25 - 49% crystals 2 = cloudy 6 = 50 - 74% crystals 3 = <10% crystals 7 = 75 - 100% crystals 4 = 10 - 24% crystals 8 = solid Sample Flow Tem erature Improver20C 15C 10C 5C 0C -5C -5C -5C -5C -5C
Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da 100%

85% FA
15% solvent 1 1 1 1 5 A 14 1 1 1 1 1 g Key to Flow Improvers 1 Commercial Cloud Point Depressant Terpolymer of ethylene, methacrylate & succinimide 2 Commercial Wax Anti-Settling Additive Methylene linked alkyl phenols & low molecular weight poly methacrylate 3 Pour Point Depressant Comb Polymer Poly Methacrylate 4 Commercial Cold Flow Improver Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymers Commercial Pour Point Depressant Comb Polymer Poly Methacrylate 6 Commercial Cold Flow Improver Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymers 7 Commercial Cloud Point Depressant Terpolymer of ethylene, methacrylate & succinimide 8 Commercial Cold Flow Improver Alkyl Phenol Copolymer 9 Commercial Cold Flow Improver Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymers Commercial Cold Flow Improver Terpolymer of Ethylene with Ethylene Vinyl Acetate 11 Wax Dispersant A
Comb Polymer 12 Wax Dispersant B
Alkylphenol Resin 13 Wax Dispersant C
Oxalkylated Amine with an Alkyl Phenol Resin 14 Commercial Cloud Point Additive Fumarate Vinyl Acetate 15 Commercial Cloud Point Additive Alkyl Phenol Resin These data demonstrate that a number of different flow improvers having differing chemistries may inhibit the crystallisation of fatty acid products.
Furthermore the data demonstrate that improvement afforded by dilution with a commonly used solvent is not as effective as that provided by the present invention.
All publications mentioned in the above specification are herein incorporated by reference. Various modifications and variations of the described methods and system of to the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in chemistry or related fields are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (34)

1. ~Use of a flow improver for the prevention and/or inhibition of the crystallisation of a fatty acid from a composition comprising the fatty acid.

2. ~A composition comprising a fatty acid and a flow improver.

3. ~A use or composition according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the flow improver is present in the composition in an amount of less than 10 wt%, preferably 0.01 to 5.00 wt.%, preferably 0.05 to 3.00 wt.%, preferably 0.10 to 2.00 wt.%, based on the total weight of the composition.

4. ~A use or composition according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the flow improver is selected from wax modifiers, cold flow improvers, pour point depressants, wax appearance temperature depressants, cold filter plugging point (CFPP) depressants, low temperature flow test (LTFT) temperature depressants.

5. ~A use or composition according to claim 4 the flow improver is selected from wax modifiers, cold filter plugging point (CFPP) depressants and mixtures thereof.

6. ~A use or composition according to claim 4 or 5 wherein the wax modifier is selected from cloud point depressants, wax anti-settling additives and mixtures thereof.

7. ~A use or composition according to claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein the flow improver is a diesel fuel cloud point depressant.

8. ~A use or composition or use according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the flow improver is selected from ethylene-unsaturated ester copolymers, comb polymers, polar nitrogen compounds, hydrocarbon polymers and mixtures thereof.

9. ~A use or composition according to claim 8 wherein the hydrocarbon polymer is dissolved or is dispersed in an aromatic solvent.

10. ~A use or composition according to claim 8 or 9 wherein the ethylene-unsaturated ester copolymer is or comprises a copolymer of ethylene with an ethylenically unsaturated ester, derivatives and mixture thereof.

11. A use or composition according to claim 8, 9 or 10 wherein the comb polymer is or comprises a copolymer of (i) maleic anhydride, fumaric acid, itaconic acid or a mixture thereof and (ii) another ethylenically unsaturated monomer.

12. A use or composition according to any one of claims 8 to 10 wherein the polar nitrogen compound is or comprises an oil-soluble polar nitrogen compound carrying one or more, preferably two or more, substituents.

13. A use or composition according to claim 12 wherein the polar nitrogen compound is capable of acting as a wax crystal growth inhibitor in a fuel.

14. A use or composition according to any one of claims 8 to 13 wherein the hydrocarbon polymer is obtained or is obtainable directly from a monoethylenically unsaturated monomers or indirectly by hydrogenating polymerised polyunsaturated monomers, including isoprene and butadiene.

15. A use or composition according to any one of the claims 8 to 13 wherein the hydrocarbon polymer is or comprises a terpolymer of (i) linear C16 or C18 alkene, (ii) a C18 methacrylate or acrylate, and (iii) a succinimide having a C18 carbon chain.

16. A use or composition according to claim 15 wherein the components (i), (ii) and (iii) are present in a ratio of approximately 1:1:1.

17. A use or composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the fatty acid is obtained or is obtainable from rapeseed oil, coriander oil, soybean oil, cottonseed oil, sunflower oil, castor oil, olive oil, peanut oil, maize oii, almond oil, palm kernel oil, coconut oil, mustard seed oil, beef oil, tallow oil, fish oil, and mixtures thereof.

18. A use or composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the fatty acid is selected from saturated, unsaturated, poly-unsaturated fatty acids, and mixtures thereof.

19. A use or composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the fatty acid is selected from lauric acid, rosin acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, elaidic acid, petroselic acid, ricinoleic acid, elaeostearic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, eicosanoic acid, gadoleic acid, docosanoic acid, erucic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and mixtures thereof.

20. A use or composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the fatty acid is selected from mixtures of fatty acids having a chain length of from 12 to 22 carbon atoms.

21. A use or composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the fatty acid is selected from mixtures of fatty acids having a chain length of from 16 to 18 carbon atoms.

22. A use or composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the fatty acid is selected from mixtures of fatty acids consisting of 10-80% oleic monounsaturated fatty acid, 10-80% linoleic di-unsaturated fatty acid, 0-80%
saturated fatty acid and 0-80% rosin acid.

23. A use or composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the fatty acid is selected from mixtures of fatty acids consisting of approximately 65% linoleic di-unsaturated fatty acid, approximately 30% oleic mono-unsaturated fatty acid, approximately 2% saturated fatty acids and <2% rosin acid.

24. A use or composition according to claim 22 or 23 wherein the saturated fatty acids are selected from stearic acid (C16) and palmitic (C18) acid.

25. A use or composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the fatty acid is a tall oil fatty acid.

26. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the composition comprises one or more additional components selected from detergents, one or more additional cold flow improvers antioxidants, corrosion inhibitors, dehazers, demulsifiers, antifoaming agents, cetane improvers, Conductivity improvers, metal deactivators, dyes, chemical markers, cosolvents, package compatibilisers, carrier oils, biocides, surfactants, buffers, lubricity additives including polycarboxylic acids, and mixtures thereof.

27. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the composition is an intermediate in the production of or is utilised in an adhesive, alkyd resin, detergent, soap, cleaner, fuel additive, ink, coating, lubricant, metalworking fluid, mining fluid, oil field exploration, paper treatment, polyamide resin, road building, rubber processing, corrosion inhibitor, surfactant or fuel.

28. A method for preventing and/or inhibiting the crystallisation of a fatty acid from a composition comprising the fatty acid, the method comprising the step of contacting the composition with a flow improver.

29. A method according to claim 29 characterised by any one of claims 3 to 28.

30. A fuel comprising a composition as defined in any one of claims 2 to 27.

31. A fuel according to claim 30 wherein the fuel is selected from gasolines including motor, aviation, tractor, and marine fuels, middle distillate fuels including fuels, diesel fuels, marine fuels, and heating oils, and biofuels including a rapeseed methyl ester and vegetable oil; and mixtures thereof.

32. A fuel additive consisting of a composition as defined in any one of claims 2 to 27.

33. A lubricant composition consisting of a composition as defined in any one of claims 2 to 27.

34. A lubricating improver consisting of a composition as defined in any one of claims 2 to 27.