Fuel blend for an internal combustion engine

Abstract

A fuel blend for use in an internal combustion engine is provided. The fuel blend comprises a hydrocarbon-containing fuel component and an oxygen-containing component capable of providing a portion of the oxygen needed for combustion of the fuel component under conditions prevailing during the combustion cycle of the internal combustion engine. The major oxygen-providing agent of the oxygen-containing component is one or more compounds having the general formula (I) R—O—(CO)—R, wherein Ris selected from hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl and lower alkynyl groups, Ris selected from lower alkyl, lower alkenyl and lower alkynyl groups, or a group having the general formula (II) R—(CO)—O—R—wherein Ris selected from lower alkyl, lower alkenyl and lower alkynyl groups, and Ris selected from lower alkyl. The blend may additionally comprise one or more of a stabilizer, a biocide and a substituted alcohol. Fuel additives comprising a combination of compounds having the general formula (I) are also provided. The additives may be used as oxygenating additives in the formulation of fuels, such as gasoline and diesel.