Synthesis of Solketal Ethers as Cold Flow Improver for Palm‐Based Biodiesel

In this study, glycerol derivatives, namely solketal ethers (SEs), were synthesized by Williamson etherification of solketal with alkyl bromide, catalyzed by tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI) and basic aqueous potassium hydroxide (KOH). Under optimized reaction conditions: solketal/alkyl bromide (1 : 1), TBAI (5 mol %), KOH solution (2 equiv), 100 °C, 24 hours, SE were obtained between 21 and 94 %. The influence of the incorporation of SE in palm‐based biodiesel was evaluated using kinematic viscosity, cloud point (CP), and pour point (PP). The addition of 5 wt % of 4‐((butoxy)methyl)‐2,2‐dimethyl‐1,3‐dioxolane reduced PP and CP by 5 and 3 °C, respectively, with viscosity values well within the range of ASTM D6751‐12 standard specifications.