Synthesis of a Green Diesel Fuel Additive Over Cation Resins

The synthesis of polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers (PODEn), being green diesel fuel additives, from dimethoxymethane (DMM) and paraformaldehyde over three different cation resins, namely NKC-9, D001-CC, and D72, in a stirred-autoclave reactor was investigated. The pore size distribution and surface area were measured with nitrogen adsorption-desorption. NKC-9 had a larger exchange capacity, better developed porosity structure, and higher reaction activity than D001-CC and D72. The effects of reaction temperature, DMM/CH2O molar ratio, reaction time, and catalyst loading were studied with NKC-9. A possible mechanism was explored to describe the bond reorganizations during the reactions.