Synthesis and testing of glycerol ketals as components for diesel fuel

In the general context of replacing classical fuel with alternative fuels based on renewable raw materials, biodiesel production has increased in the last years, generating a large amount of glycerol as by-product. Therefore, it is important to find new applications for the excess of produced glycerol. This paper presents the synthesis of three oxygenated compounds, obtained from catalytic condensation of glycerol with ketones. Glycerol derivatives were prepared in very good yields using solid superacid SO42 −/SnO2 as catalyst. The influence of blended ratio of oxygenated compound synthesized on the quality parameters of diesel fuel like viscosity, pour point and flash point was studied.

► The synthesis of three oxygenated compounds is proposed.
► Glycerol derivatives were prepared in very good yields on SO42 −/SnO2 catalyst.
► The addition of glycerol ketals improves diesel fuel quality parameters.