Exxon Research and Engineering Company

Samuel A Hunter

William H Stover

Petroleum fuel compositions having a kinematic viscosity ranging from about 40 Saybolt Seconds Universal at 38.degree. C. to about 300 Saybolt Seconds Furol at 50.degree. C., e.g. residual fuel oils of grade numbers 4, 5 and 6, which contain dispersed sedimentary asphaltic constituents are stabilized against sedimentation of said constituents by the addition of a minor but sediment-stabilizing proportion of an alkylaryl sulfonic acid having from about 10 to 70 carbons for example, C.sub.28 -C.sub.32 monoalkyl benzene sulfonic acid. The sediment-stabilizing property of the alkylaryl sulfonic acid is particularly useful for blends of distillate petroleum fractions and residua (includes reduced crude) wherein said blend contains from about 5 to about 15 weight percent of residua, based on the total weight of said blend.

Growing community of inventors

Bright's Grove, Canada

Samuel A Hunter