Value-added Chemicals from Crude Glycerol

According to a new research paper, bBoth conventional catalysis and biological conversion can offer promising opportunities for the biodiesel industry to convert crude glycerol into a wide variety of value-added products.

A list of compounds that can be made via oxidation or reduction of glycerol are:

1. Tartronic acid (C3H3O5)
2. Dihydroxyacetone
3. Mesoxalic acid (Ketomalonic acid)
4. Glyceraldehydes
5. Glyceric acid
6. Malonic acid
7. Hydroxypyruvic acid
8. Lactic acid
9. Pyruvic acid
10. Propylene glycol
11. Propionic acid
12. Glycidol
13. Acrylic acid
14. Propanol
15. Isopropanol
16. Acetone
17. Propylene oxide
18. Propionaldehyde
19. Allyl alcohol
20. Acrolein
21. Hydrogen

Production of various coproducts via anaerobic fermentation of glycerol by clostridia:

1. 1,3-PDO
2. Acetic acid
3. Butyric acid
4. Lactic acid
5. Succinic acid
6. Butanol
7. Ethanol
8. Acetone