Glycerol: A Versatile and Valuable Substance
Glycerol, also known as glycerin or glycerine, is a simple polyol compound that is commonly produced as a byproduct of biodiesel production and soap making. With its wide range of applications, glycerol has emerged as an important industrial chemical that provides significant economic and environmental benefits.
Industrial Uses of Glycerol
Polyglycerols: Glycerol can be polymerized to form polyglycerols and derivatives which are the feedstock for biodegradable detergents, emulsifiers, thickeners used widely in food, personal and industrial products.
Explosives: Nitroglycerin, an important ingredient in dynamite is produced by nitrating glycerol. Other derivatives like glycidyl ethers find application as thermosetting epoxy resins and coatings.
Solvents: Glycerol's hygroscopic and solvent properties make it a suitable solvent and humectant for inks, paints, resins. It is used to produce glycerin candles.
De-Icing: Glycerol's high boiling point and hygroscopicity helps anti-freeze formulations prevent freezing at sub-zero temperatures. It is a key component in de-icing sprays and aircraft de-icers.
Biodiesel Production and the Environmental Role of Glycerol
With growing global demand for renewable fuels, biodiesel production from plant oils and animal fats has been on a rise over the past few decades. Glycerol is formed as a byproduct during the transesterification of triglycerides with alcohol to produce biodiesel and alkyl esters.
For every 10 pounds of biodiesel produced, about 1 pound of glycerol is formed as a byproduct. With increasing biodiesel capacities, glycerol supply from this sector has also increased manifold. However, glycerol production has outpaced its consumption leading to a glycerol glut in the market.
This poses economic and environmental challenges if not utilized properly. Finding innovative applications and conversions has thus become important to develop a sustainable glycerol-based biorefinery model. Overall, the advent of biodiesel industry has put glycerol on the global map, boosting demand while mitigating dependence on petrochemical routes.
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