title: Value-added processing of crude glycerol into chemicals and polymers.
abstract: Crude glycerol is a low-value byproduct which is primarily obtained from the biodiesel production process. Its composition is significantly different from that of pure glycerol. Crude glycerol usually contains various impurities, such as water, methanol, soap, fatty acids, and fatty acid methyl esters. Considerable efforts have been devoted to finding applications for converting crude glycerol into high-value products, such as biofuels, chemicals, polymers, and animal feed, to improve the economic viability of the biodiesel industry and overcome environmental challenges associated with crude glycerol disposal. This article reviews recent advances of biological and chemical technologies for value-added processing of crude glycerol into chemicals and polymers, and provides strategies for addressing production challenges.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, The Ohio State University/Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691-4096, USA.
authors.forename: Xiaolan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, The Ohio State University/Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691-4096, USA.
authors.forename: Xumeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.affiliation: Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, The Ohio State University/Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691-4096, USA.
authors.forename: Shaoqing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, The Ohio State University/Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691-4096, USA. Electronic address: li.851@osu.edu.
authors.forename: Yebo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056804:Biofuels / Q000032:analysis*; D003246:Conservation of Energy Resources; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005285:Fermentation; D005990:Glycerol / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D055772:Green Chemistry Technology; D000432:Methanol / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011108:Polymers / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012915:Soaps / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D005227:Fatty Acids; D011108:Polymers; D012915:Soaps; D005990:Glycerol; D000432:Methanol
keywords: Biological conversion; Chemical conversion; Crude glycerol; Purification; Value-added processing