494
good rate, and its valorization has become a necessity and already taking place via
various methodologies. This is to act effectively against the future consequences of
the by-product and also to mitigate the production cost of biodiesel. Glycerol can be
effectively converted into various valued products by several different reaction pathways. These products consist of important chemicals, fuels and fuel additives. This
chapter presents recent studies for the conversion of glycerol into useful chemicals
and fuels. Among the various catalytic processes discussed for the glycerol conversion are oxidation, dehydration, carbonylation, esterification and acetalization
which result in acrylic acid, acrolein, glycerol carbonate, glycerol esters, solketal,
etc. Different catalyst systems, reaction parameters, reaction mechanism and catalyst shortcomings are also adequately discussed. The challenges that still remain are
the deactivation of the catalyst, low selectivity to a particular desired product, usage
of harsh reaction conditions, prolonged reaction time and catalyst separation difficulty. Surmounting the crude glycerol impurity still remains another big challenge
for its efficient usage in the industry. To deal with the challenges, the global scientific community should explore new process technologies, novel catalysts with high
tolerance, improvement of activation methods, reactor system improvement and
overcoming intrinsic weaknesses related to a catalyst. Finally, if some of the hurdles
can be conquered, the production and usage of biodiesel will become more effective
and sustainable, as well as undoubtedly glycerol will become an enormous feedstock that will potentially succeed conventional petroleum-based fuels and
chemicals.
Acknowledgement The authors would like to acknowledge Indo-German Centre for Science and
Technology (IGSTC) for funding under project IGSTC/Call2018/CO2 Biofeed/15/2019-20) and
Mr. Aniruddha Singha for his help.
References
1. Sudarsanam P, Peeters E, Makshina EV, Parvulescu V, Sels BF (2018) Advances in porous
and nanoscale catalysts for viable biomass conversion. Chem Soc Rev 48:2366–2421
2. Wang T, Noltea MW, Shanks BH (2013) Catalytic dehydration of C 6 carbohydrates for the
production of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) as a versatile platform chemical. Green Chem
16:548–572
3. Chheda JN, Huber GW, Dumesic JA (2007) Liquid-phase catalytic processing of biomassderived oxygenated hydrocarbons to fuels and chemicals. Angew Chem Int Ed 46:7164–7183
4. Christensen CH, Rass-Hansen J, Marsden CC, Taarning E, Egeblad K (2008) The Renewable
Chemicals Industry. ChemSusChem 1:283–289
5. Yang CY, Fang Z, Li B, Long YF (2012) Review and prospects of Jatropha biodiesel industry
in China. Renew Sust Energ Rev 16:2178–2190
6. Knothe G, Razon LF (2017) Biodiesel fuels. Prog Energy Combust Sci 58:36–59
7. Fan X, Burton R (2009) Recent development of biodiesel feedstocks and the applications of
glycerol: a review. Open Fuels Energ Sci J 2:100–109
8. Quispe CAG, Coronado CJR, Carvalho JA Jr (2013) Glycerol: production, consumption,
prices, characterization and new trends in combustion. Renew Sust Energ Rev 27:475–493
K. Bhaduri et al.
good rate, and its valorization has become a necessity and already taking place via
various methodologies. This is to act effectively against the future consequences of
the by-product and also to mitigate the production cost of biodiesel. Glycerol can be
effectively converted into various valued products by several different reaction pathways. These products consist of important chemicals, fuels and fuel additives. This
chapter presents recent studies for the conversion of glycerol into useful chemicals
and fuels. Among the various catalytic processes discussed for the glycerol conversion are oxidation, dehydration, carbonylation, esterification and acetalization
which result in acrylic acid, acrolein, glycerol carbonate, glycerol esters, solketal,
etc. Different catalyst systems, reaction parameters, reaction mechanism and catalyst shortcomings are also adequately discussed. The challenges that still remain are
the deactivation of the catalyst, low selectivity to a particular desired product, usage
of harsh reaction conditions, prolonged reaction time and catalyst separation difficulty. Surmounting the crude glycerol impurity still remains another big challenge
for its efficient usage in the industry. To deal with the challenges, the global scientific community should explore new process technologies, novel catalysts with high
tolerance, improvement of activation methods, reactor system improvement and
overcoming intrinsic weaknesses related to a catalyst. Finally, if some of the hurdles
can be conquered, the production and usage of biodiesel will become more effective
and sustainable, as well as undoubtedly glycerol will become an enormous feedstock that will potentially succeed conventional petroleum-based fuels and
chemicals.
Acknowledgement The authors would like to acknowledge Indo-German Centre for Science and
Technology (IGSTC) for funding under project IGSTC/Call2018/CO2 Biofeed/15/2019-20) and
Mr. Aniruddha Singha for his help.
References
1. Sudarsanam P, Peeters E, Makshina EV, Parvulescu V, Sels BF (2018) Advances in porous
and nanoscale catalysts for viable biomass conversion. Chem Soc Rev 48:2366–2421
2. Wang T, Noltea MW, Shanks BH (2013) Catalytic dehydration of C 6 carbohydrates for the
production of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) as a versatile platform chemical. Green Chem
16:548–572
3. Chheda JN, Huber GW, Dumesic JA (2007) Liquid-phase catalytic processing of biomassderived oxygenated hydrocarbons to fuels and chemicals. Angew Chem Int Ed 46:7164–7183
4. Christensen CH, Rass-Hansen J, Marsden CC, Taarning E, Egeblad K (2008) The Renewable
Chemicals Industry. ChemSusChem 1:283–289
5. Yang CY, Fang Z, Li B, Long YF (2012) Review and prospects of Jatropha biodiesel industry
in China. Renew Sust Energ Rev 16:2178–2190
6. Knothe G, Razon LF (2017) Biodiesel fuels. Prog Energy Combust Sci 58:36–59
7. Fan X, Burton R (2009) Recent development of biodiesel feedstocks and the applications of
glycerol: a review. Open Fuels Energ Sci J 2:100–109
8. Quispe CAG, Coronado CJR, Carvalho JA Jr (2013) Glycerol: production, consumption,
prices, characterization and new trends in combustion. Renew Sust Energ Rev 27:475–493
K. Bhaduri et al.