As biodiesel production increases in response to federal and state tax credits and mandates, more and more glycerol (a byproduct of biodiesel production) will be produced as well.
While glycerol (also known as glycerin) is a useful product for the food and pharmaceutical industries, the glycerol that results from biodiesel production is “crude” because it is contaminated with methanol and other impurities. Crude glycerol generally sells for less than 5 cents per pound if a buyer can be found.
New research done by graduate student Randy Maglinao and associate professor Brian He at the University of Idaho shows that a thermochemical process using a metal catalyst can convert glycerol to propylene glycol, which is a high-value product. Propylene glycol is used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, automotive, and food industries.
Read details of this research in the latest Tech Note from the University of Idaho Biodiesel Education Program: http://www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/bioenergy/Glycerol.pdf
