Polyoxymethylene dimethyl ether compounds have high oxygen contents and cetane numbers (CN)

low condensation point and cold filtration point

are promising environmental protection diesel additive to improve diesel combustibility

enhance combustion efficiency

and reduce emission of NOx and carbon smog pollutants. In this review

latest achievement in catalyst system

reaction mechanism and synthesis kinetics of polyoxymethylene dimethyl ether by acetalization reaction was summarized. The catalyst systems included liquid acid

solid acid

and ionic liquid systems in literature. The reaction materials contained end-group (-CH3

-OCH3) provider such as methanol

methylal and dimethyl ether

which were downstream products of methanol

and chain segment (-CH2O-) provider such as 1

3

5-trioxane (TOX)

paraformaldehyde (PF) or formaldehyde (FA). Synthesis kinetic models and parameters of polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers were reviewed briefly. The acetalization and kinetics research are moving towards the direction that benefits large scale commercial production.