Carbohydrate and polyol ethers as renewable oils, greases, and liquid fuels

Abstract

Alkyl ethers are produced directly from polyols or their salts in a single step reaction, or alternatively, the polyols are first converted to a ketal or acetal derivative which comprises at least one free hydroxyl moiety and one or more ketal or acetal moieties. In either embodiment, the polyol, its salt, or its ketal or acetal derivative is reacted with an alkylating agent to produce a first alkoxy polyol ether comprising one or more alkoxy moieties formed at the sites of the free hydroxyl moieties. Ethers prepared from the polyol ketal or acetal derivatives retain their ketal or acetal moieties, which may be hydrolyzed to additional free hydroxyls and reacted with alkylating agent to produce a second alkoxy polyol ether. Alkyl tosylates are preferred alkylating agents. The spent alkylating agents may also be recovered and regenerated. Recovered alkoxy polyol ethers may be used as renewable fuels, solvents and lubricants.