Introduction:

Fusel oil is a residue from the ethanol rectification process, composed of different light alcohols where isoamyl alcohol and isobutanol predominate.

Objective:

To carry out a literature review that allows us to know the main uses of fusel oil at present.

Materials and Methods:

Works carried out by different authors are consulted to identify the advantages of the use of fusel oil as an alternative fuel in internal combustion engines, for steam generation and for obtaining esters.

Results and Discussion:

Fusel oil as an alternative fuel in internal combustion engines reduces the density, calorific value and cetane number of the modified fuels. The blends of fusel oil and diesel in these engines increase the presence of hydrocarbons up to 40 % and reduce the content of nitrogen oxides in gas emissions. Its use as fuel in steam generators in distilleries allows a fuel oil saving of 2.12 % in relation to the total required in the process of obtaining alcohol. In the esterification from isobutanol and isoamyl alcohol, molar yields of 57.48 % and 54.04 % are achieved for isobutyl acetate and isoamyl acetate respectively, esters that are demanded in the food industry.

Conclusions:

Fusel oil has wide industrial utilities by employing it as fuel and as a source of raw material for obtaining high value-added products such as esters.

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