Diesel fuel composition

A method comprising:

• a) providing a first mixture of oxygenates including C1-5 alcohols and a component selected from the group consisting of including C1-5 aldehydes, C1-5 ketones, C1-5 organic acids, and combinations thereof;
• b) separating and dehydrating oxygenated compounds from the first mixture to form a second mixture as separated and dehydrated oxygenated compounds, the second mixture comprising the separated and dehydrated oxygenated compounds which include the C1-5 alcohols;
• c) partially separating C1-5 alcohols from the second mixture to form a third mixture, the third mixture including the C1-5 alcohols;
• d) synthesizing C1-5 aldehydes and/or C3-5 ketones from the C1-5 alcohols in a portion of the third mixture;
• e) forming a fourth mixture including acetals formed from C1-5 alcohols in the third mixture and the C1-5 aldehydes and/or C3-5 ketones synthesized in step d);
• f) separating acetals from the fourth mixture;
• and
• g) blending an additive with the acetals, the additive comprising a component selected from the group consisting of C3-8 dialkyl ethers, alkylated phenols, R—NO2, and combinations thereof, where R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon with oxygenate functionality in an alpha or beta position to NO2.