Solubilization of methanol and triglycerides: Unsaturated long-chain fatty alcohol/medium-chain alkanol mixed amphiphile systems

This work examines the suitability of unsaturated C₁₈ fatty alcohol/1-alkanol mixed amphiphile systems as solubility enhancers for methanol in triglyceride solutions. Four fatty alcohols (all-cis monoene, diene and triene, and all-trans diene) and five alkanols (C₄−C₁₂) were investigated. Effects of the degree of unsaturation and configuration of the double bonds in the fatty alcohol tailgroup and the chainlength of the alkanol tailgroup were examined. Ternary equilibrium diagrams showed that addition of fatty alcohol/alkanol amphiphiles dramatically affect miscibility between methanol and triglyceride. Solubility, kinematic and relative viscosity, and refractive index data were analyzed to determine mechanisms responsible for the apparent solubilization effects. Under most experimental conditions, formation of large micellar aggregates of amphiphiles was unlikely, and the results were consistent with those expected for co-solvency. However, some viscosity and refractive index data showed that formation of large methanol-in-amphiphile aggregates resembling a nonaqueous microemulsion was feasible, but under limited conditions.