Biodiesel Produced from Propanol and Longer Chain Alcohols—Synthesis and Properties

Abstract

Biodiesel has established itself as a renewable fuel that is used in transportation worldwide and is partially or in some cases completely replacing conventional fuels. Chemically, biodiesel is a fatty acid monoalkyl ester (FAAE). Generally, the term biodiesel refers to the fatty acid methyl or ethyl esters (FAME or FAEE). Herein, an overview of the research on the synthesis of FAAE in which the alkyl moiety is a C3+ alkyl chain (branched/unbranched) is given. In addition, a comparison of the properties of the aforementioned FAAE with each other, with FAME and FAEE, and with fuel standards is given. The length of the alkyl chain has a major influence on viscosity, while pour point temperatures are generally lower when branched alcohols are used, but the fatty acid part of the molecule also has a major influence. The development of new pathways for the synthesis of higher alcohols from biomass opens a future perspective for the production of long chain FAAE as biofuels, fuel additives, or biolubricants. Due to their properties, FAAEs produced from C3–C5 alcohols have the potential to be used as fuels, while all C3+ FAAEs can be used as valuable bioadditives, and C8+ FAAEs can be used as biolubricants and viscosity improvers.

New Experimental Results and Comparative Analysis of the Efficiency of Separation of Propyl Propionate and Propyl Formate from Propanol Using Deep Eutectic Solvents Based on Choline Chloride

“…8,9 Furthermore, propanol can be utilized in the production of biodiesel. 10,11 There is a considerable amount of research in the literature devoted to phase equilibria in systems involving propanol. 12 Still, the number of studies focused on phase equilibria in systems involving both propanol and DESs is quite limited.…”

“…One of the substances in the investigated systems is propanol. This alcohol can serve as an alternative to gasoline in internal combustion engines and can also be used as an additive to gasoline to improve its quality. , Furthermore, propanol can be utilized in the production of biodiesel. , There is a considerable amount of research in the literature devoted to phase equilibria in systems involving propanol. − Still, the number of studies focused on phase equilibria in systems involving both propanol and DESs is quite limited.…”

Enzymatic Transesterification of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) Oil with Isoamyl Alcohol

“…Most studies on biodiesel production have been conducted using methanol [ 18 , 24 , 25 ], ethanol [ 19 , 26 ], and butanol [ 7 , 21 ]. Some researchers are conducting transesterification studies with longer and branched chain alcohols [ 27 ]. It was established that the transesterification process becomes more complicated as the alcohol chain increases.…”