Preparation of biofuel using acetylatation of jojoba fatty alcohols and assessment as a blend component in ultralow sulfur diesel fuel

The majority of biodiesel fuels are produced from vegetable oils or animal fats by transesterification of oil with alcohol in the presence of a catalyst. In this study, a new class of biofuel is explored by acetylation of fatty alcohols from Jojoba oil. Jojobyl methyl acetate (JMA) was produced using direct acetylation of purified jojobyl alcohol obtained during preparation of Jojobyl methyl esters (JME). Important fuel properties of JMA, such as kinematic viscosity, cloud point (CP), pour point (PP), cold filter plugging point (CFPP), acid value, oxidative stability, gross heat of combustion, and lubricity were evaluated using standard methods. A comparison was made with previously reported JME and relevant biodiesel fuel standards, such as ASTM D6751 and EN 14214. The CP, CFPP, and PP values of JMA were 2, -10, and -16 °C, respectively. These results were comparable to JME with the exception of a higher CP in the case of JMA. The kinematic viscosity (40 °C) of JMA was 7.64 mm²/s, which was higher than that observed for JME. Blends (B5 and B20) of JMA in ultralow sulfur diesel fuel (ULSD) were also evaluated for the aforementioned fuel properties and compared to an analogous set of blends of JME in ULSD and relevant petrodiesel fuel standards such as ASTM D975 and D7467. Blends of JMA in ULSD displayed similar low temperature properties to neat ULSD and blends of JME in ULSD. This research demonstrates utilization of a byproduct as feedstock for biofuel preparation and establishes a new innovative class of biofuel, which can be prepared via the acetylation of fatty alcohols.