Abstract
As a promising alternative renewable liquid fuel, biodiesel production has increased and eventually led to an increase in the production of its by-product, crude glycerol. The vast generation of glycerol has surpassed the market demand. Hence, the crude glycerol produced should be utilized effectively to increase the viability of biodiesel production. One of them is through crude glycerol upgrading, which is not economical. A good deal of attention has been dedicated to research for alternative material and chemicals derived from sustainable biomass resources. It will be more valuable if the crude glycerol is converted into glycerol derivatives, and so, increase the economic possibility of the biodiesel production. Studies showed that glycerol carbonate plays an important role, as a building block, in synthesizing the glycerol oligomers at milder conditions under microwave irradiation. This review presents a brief outline of the physio-chemical, thermodynamic, toxicological, production methods, reactivity, and application of organic carbonates derived from glycerol with a major focus on glycerol carbonate and dimethyl carbonate (DMC), as a green chemical, for application in the chemical and biotechnical field. Research gaps and further improvements have also been discussed.
Highlights
Throughout history, the survival of human beings has been fully dependent on the resources found on the Earth
Among the available renewable energy resources, biomass plays a significant role as feedstock in most biofuel production [3]
The main aim of this article is to review the recent publications on the process of glycerol upgrading into glycerol carbonate
Summary
Throughout history, the survival of human beings has been fully dependent on the resources found on the Earth. The world has been threatened with increasing environmental problems, global warming. Statistics show that the carbon dioxide (CO2 ) levels in the atmosphere have been increasing every year and touched a record of 411.93 ppm in February. It is projected that conventional petroleum in Malaysia will run out by 2050 with the current consumption rate [2]. Sustainable development by replacing conventional fossil fuels with alternative renewable and sustainable resources is a must to overcome the fossil fuel depletion issue and protect the global environment. Among the available renewable energy resources, biomass plays a significant role as feedstock in most biofuel production [3]
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