Upgrading of a raw blend into a diesel fuel substitute: poly(dimethoxymethane)

A system for forming poly(dimethoxymethane) comprising:

• a source that provides a feedstock, the feedstock includes a first formaldehyde-containing blend;
• a heater configured to heat the first formaldehyde-containing blend to breakdown poly(oxymethylene) glycols and poly(oxymethylene) hemiformals into formaldehyde, methanol, water and shorter oligomers to form a second formaldehyde-containing blend;
• a first reaction and separation station that receives the second formaldehyde-containing blend as the feedstock and outputs a first bottom stream and a first top stream, the first reaction and separation station positioned downstream of the heater, the second formaldehyde-containing blend including methanol, formaldehyde, and water, the first top stream including dimethoxymethane that is produced from a reaction between methanol and formaldehyde, the first bottom stream including water;
• a second reaction and separation station that receives the first top stream and outputs a second bottom stream and a second top stream, the second bottom stream including poly(dimethoxymethane) and the second top stream including dimethoxymethane, methanol and ethanol;
• and
• a third separation station that receives the second top stream and outputs a third bottom stream and a third top stream, the third bottom stream including methanol and ethanol and the third top stream including dimethoxymethane.