The design, synthesis, and pilot scale production of soybean oil-based alkyl nitrates for use as diesel fuel cetane improvers

The purpose of this research was to develop soybean oil based alkyl nitrates for industrialization as diesel fuel cetane improvers. Cetane improvers are a class of fuel additive used to accelerate the auto ignition of diesel fuel by acting as radical initiators. Alkyl nitrate cetane improvers readily experience homolytic decomposition at the elevated temperatures found within operating diesel engines. This decomposition yields a cascade of reactive fragments including NO₂, aldehydes, and alkoxy radicals that attack the gross diesel fuel charge and initiate combustion. The fact that fatty acid esters have high natural cetane values implies these materials readily decompose in a radical chain reaction mechanism. Adding alkyl nitrate triggers into these fatty fragments results in highly active cetane improvers. These materials have shown the ability to rival 2-ethylhexyl nitrate for activity as a diesel fuel ignition stimulant, and are in pilot scale production in an attempt to model the industrialization of these fatty products, with the intention to market these additives.