Triglycerides are renewable chemical feedstocks available from a variety of resources, including vegetable oils, tall oils and beef or pork fat. Chemical synthesis methods, reaction conversions and performances of a series of organic acid glycol nitrates were investigated to evaluate the viability of converting triglycerides into nitrates for use as cetane improvers. Organic acid glycol nitrates were synthesized from five acids ranging from C-6 to C-18 to determine the impact of the acid＇s carbon number and degree of saturation on performance as a cetane improver. Chemical synthesis included acid catalyzed esterification of organic acids with ethylene glycol followed by nitration of the terminal alcohol group to form fatty acid glycol nitrates. Fatty acid glycol nitrates with carbon numbers between 8 and 14 exhibited the best performance-a balance between high carbon numbers and high nitrate group concentration. All the nitrates provided good cetane improving capabilities.