Chapter 6
By-Products of Biodiesel and Their
Recycling
Lin Lin, Mohamed Abdel Shafi Abdel Samie, and Haiying Cui
Abstract After transesterification reaction for biodiesel production, the glycerolrich phases have to be separated. These phases are traditionally separated by settling,
requiring long residence time, especially when soaps and gels are formed. This
chapter presents the use of glycerol, showing the quantity and diversity of work
related to the search for alternatives to add value to glycerol. It was found that
85.7% of the filed patents fell into four categories of applications: (1) manufacture of
chemical products; (2) production of polymer compounds; (3) production of biofuels
and biogas; and ((4) purification and use of glycerol. In this regard, the development of
new technologies for the use of glycerol, without the need for traditional purification
steps, is fundamental. This chapter portrays the efforts that have been made in this
direction and the obstacles that still have to be overcome.
Keywords Biodiesel · By-product · Glycerol · Recycling
6.1 Introduction
To enhance reaction yield in biodiesel production, an excessive amount of alcohol
is often needed. Therefore, the recycling of methanol is a significant approach to
cut production cost. Besides, since glycerol is produced in the reaction, we should
consider its recycling and refining as well. Given that methanol recycling is relatively
simple, we will focus on glycerol.
L. Lin · M. A. S. Abdel Samie · H. Cui (B)
School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
e-mail: cuihaiying@ujs.edu.cn
M. A. S. Abdel Samie
Faculty of Environmental Agricultural Sciences, Arish University, El-Arish, North Sinai, Arish,
Egypt
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
C. Li et al. (eds.), Industrial Oil Plant,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-4920-5_6
157
By-Products of Biodiesel and Their
Recycling
Lin Lin, Mohamed Abdel Shafi Abdel Samie, and Haiying Cui
Abstract After transesterification reaction for biodiesel production, the glycerolrich phases have to be separated. These phases are traditionally separated by settling,
requiring long residence time, especially when soaps and gels are formed. This
chapter presents the use of glycerol, showing the quantity and diversity of work
related to the search for alternatives to add value to glycerol. It was found that
85.7% of the filed patents fell into four categories of applications: (1) manufacture of
chemical products; (2) production of polymer compounds; (3) production of biofuels
and biogas; and ((4) purification and use of glycerol. In this regard, the development of
new technologies for the use of glycerol, without the need for traditional purification
steps, is fundamental. This chapter portrays the efforts that have been made in this
direction and the obstacles that still have to be overcome.
Keywords Biodiesel · By-product · Glycerol · Recycling
6.1 Introduction
To enhance reaction yield in biodiesel production, an excessive amount of alcohol
is often needed. Therefore, the recycling of methanol is a significant approach to
cut production cost. Besides, since glycerol is produced in the reaction, we should
consider its recycling and refining as well. Given that methanol recycling is relatively
simple, we will focus on glycerol.
L. Lin · M. A. S. Abdel Samie · H. Cui (B)
School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
e-mail: cuihaiying@ujs.edu.cn
M. A. S. Abdel Samie
Faculty of Environmental Agricultural Sciences, Arish University, El-Arish, North Sinai, Arish,
Egypt
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
C. Li et al. (eds.), Industrial Oil Plant,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-4920-5_6
157