Purification of Crude Glycerol for Omega-3 Fatty Acids Production

According to Biodiesel Magazine, a technology was developed by Wen at Virginia Tech that uses glycerin to aid in the production of algae that produce omega-3 fatty acids. For this purpose,the soap and methanol present in crude glycerin must be removed before it can be used to aid in the algae growth.

When adjusting pH of the medium containing crude glycerol for algae to grow, the soap contained in the glycerol will be precipitated out of the medium, i.e. the process used to adjust the pH of the solution causes the soap to solidify and settle out of the glycerin.

Next when the glycerin is sterilized at 120 C before used to cultivate algae, the residual methanol will be evaporated and collected.