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The cold filtration plugging point (CFPP) is the method most commonly applied to characterize the low‐temperature behavior of diesel and its components. However, this method is time‐consuming and does not have good repeatability, especially for samples with very low CFPP values like kerosene, light cycle oil, etc. Three new models for CFPP prediction were developed and compared: a combined density and distillation curve, differential scanning calorimetry, and near‐infrared. A set of 133 samples of diesel components were used to create the models, containing streams from different sources and levels of treatment. A further 28 diesel samples were used to validate and compare the models. All three models not only were faster than the standard method but also were found to be in good agreement with CFPP values. Each model has its own particular advantages suiting it to a particular type of diesel sample and stage of the diesel production process.

In spite of the rapid developments in synthesis methodologies in different fields, the traditional methods are still used for the synthesis of organic compounds, and regardless of the type of chemistry, these reactions are typically performed in standardized glassware. The high-throughput chemical synthesis of organic compounds such as fragrant molecules, with more economic benefits, is of interest to investigate and develop a process that is more economical and industrially favorable. In this research, the catalytic activity of Mg-Al catalyst derived from hydrotalcite-like precursors with the Mg/Al molar ratio of 3 was investigated for the solvent-free synthesis of jasminaldehyde via aldol condensation of benzaldehyde and heptanal. The reaction was carried out in a fixed-bed flow reactor, at 1 MPa, and at different temperatures. Both Brønsted and Lewis (O2− anions) base sites, and Lewis acid sites exist on the surface of the Mg-Al catalyst, which can improve the catalytic performance. Increasing the reaction temperature from 100 °C to 140 °C enhanced both heptanal conversion and selectivity to jasminaldehyde. After 78 h of reaction at 140 °C, the selectivity to jasminaldehyde reached 41% at the heptanal conversion 36%. Self-condensation of heptanal also resulted in the formation of 2-n-pentyl-2-n-nonenal. The presence of weak Lewis acid sites creates a positive charge on the carbonyl group of benzaldehyde, and makes it more prone to attack by the carbanion of heptanal. Heptanal, is an aliphatic aldehyde, with higher activity than benzaldehyde. Therefore, the possibility of activated heptanal reacting with other heptanal molecules is higher than its reaction with the positively charged benzaldehyde molecule, especially at a low molar ratio of benzaldehyde to heptanal.

Aldol condensation reaction is usually catalysed using homogeneous catalysts. However, the heterogeneous catalysis offers interesting advantages and the possibility of cleaner biofuels production. Nowadays, one of the most used kinds of heterogeneous catalysts are hydrotalcites, which belong to a group of layered double hydroxides. This paper describes the aldol condensation of cyclohexanone (CH) and furfural (F) using Mg/Al mixed oxides and rehydrated mixed oxides in order to compare the catalyst activity after calcination and rehydration, as well as the possibility of its regeneration. The catalysts were synthesized by calcination and subsequent rehydration of the laboratory-prepared and commercial hydrotalcites, with Mg:Al molar ratio of 3:1. Their structural and chemical properties were determined by several analytical methods (inductively coupled plasma analysis (ICP), X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFT), specific surface area (BET), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), temperature programmed desorption (TPD)). F-CH aldol condensation was performed in a continuous fixed-bed reactor at 80 °C, CH:F = 5:1, WHSV 2 h−1. The rehydrated laboratory-prepared catalysts showed a 100% furfural conversion for more than 55 h, in contrast to the calcined ones (only 24 h). The yield of condensation products FCH and F2CH was up to 68% and 10%, respectively. Obtained results suggest that Mg/Al mixed oxides-based heterogeneous catalyst is suitable for use in the aldol condensation reaction of furfural and cyclohexanone in a fixed-bed reactor, which is an interesting alternative way to obtain biofuels from renewable sources.

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