Potential oxygenated biofuels synthesized from fusel pentanols

Abstract

Domestically produced biofuels may help to reduce dependence on imported oil for powering transportation and infrastructure in the future. In this report, five oxygenated biofuels were synthesized by simple condensation reactions of fusel pentanols, 3-methyl-1-butanol and 2-methyl-1-butanol, forming ethers, acetals and carbonate ester. Basic fuel property testing (melting point, density, kinematic viscosity, derived cetane number and calorific value) of the fusel biofuels were collected. The difusel carbonate was the least useful of the group with the lowest energy content (30.46 kJ/g) and lowest cetane number (22.8). The ether and acetal derivatives appeared useful as diesel fuels or additives with energy content of 35.3–39.94 kJ/g and cetane numbers of 53.5–94. The two ether derivatives had energy content and cetane numbers which surpassed those of biodiesel.