4. Discussion
On account of its diesel-like characteristics, 1-octanol is an attractive biofuel target. In comparison to petrodiesel, its lower vapour pressure could reduce transportation and storage hazards, while its higher auto-ignition temperature could raise the air:fuel compression ratios and in turn improve fuel combustion efficiency. Real simulation tests with compression ignition engines have shown that 1-octanol can reduce particulate matter by as much as 20-fold in comparison to petrodiesel (Heuser et al., 2013). In the case of alternative fuels such as biodiesel, inefficient combustion can lead to the formation of hygroscopic by-products such as fatty acids, mono- and di-glycerides which can promote engine corrosion (Atabani et al., 2012). Furthermore, the cold flow properties of biodiesel are inferior to 1-octanol, (e.g. pour point; −9 °C vs−13.5 °C) making the latter a potentially better fuel to handle and operate under cold conditions, at least as a blending component.