Solubility of hydrocarbon oils in alcohols (≤C6) and synthesis of difusel carbonate for degreasing

Abstract

The empirical solubility of hydrocarbon fluids, polyalphaolefin (PAO) and mineral oil, in thirteen small molecular weight alcohols (C₁–C₆) was determined. Butanols, pentanols, and 1-hexanol could dissolve up to PAO-10 and mineral oil. tert-Pentanol and 1-hexanol could also dissolve high-viscosity PAO-150. The dialkyl carbonate of fusel oil (DFC) was synthesized from dimethyl carbonate in 69% yield. DFC had excellent non-polar solubility and could dissolve PAO-150 and several common industrial lubricants. The flash point of DFC was 93 °C, more than twice that of isoamyl alcohol. DFC had net heating value of 30.47 MJ kg⁻¹, nearly double that of dimethyl carbonate. However, its derived cetane number of 22.8 indicates DFC could not be used directly as diesel fuel.