1-Pentanol
1-Pentanol, (or n-pentanol, pentan-1-ol), is an organic compound with the formula Template:Chem2 and is classified as a primary alcohol.<ref name=crc>CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics 65th ed.</ref> It is a colourless liquid with a distinctive aroma. It is one of 8 isomeric alcohols with the formula Template:Chem2. It is used as a solvent, a biological drying agent and in the synthesis of some fragrance compounds. It is also a common component of fusel alcohols (fusel oils), the undesirable byproducts of alcoholic fermentation.
PreparationEdit
1-Pentanol is prepared from 1-butene by hydroformylation followed by hydrogenation of the resulting pentanal.<ref name=ull>Template:Cite book</ref>
Pentanol can be prepared by fractional distillation of fusel oil. To reduce the use of fossil fuels, research is underway to develop cost-effective methods of producing (chemically identical) bio-pentanol with fermentation.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite thesis</ref>
Uses and occurrenceEdit
The hydroxyl group (OH) is the active site of many reactions. The ester formed from 1-pentanol and butyric acid is pentyl butyrate, which has an apricot-like odor. The ester formed from 1-pentanol and acetic acid is amyl acetate (also called pentyl acetate), which has a banana-like odor.
It is a precursor to dipentyl zinc dithiophosphates, which are used in froth flotation.<ref name=ull/>
In 2014, a study was conducted comparing the performance of diesel fuel blends with various proportions of pentanol as an additive. While gaseous emissions increased with higher concentrations of pentanol, particulate emissions decreased.<ref name=cheung>Wei, Liangjie & Cheung, C.s & Huang, Zuohua. (2014). Effect of n-pentanol addition on the combustion, performance and emission characteristics of a direct-injection diesel engine. Energy. 70. 10.1016/j.energy.2014.03.106.</ref>
Pentanol is often used as a solvent.