Value-added uses for crude glycerol--a byproduct of biodiesel production

Fangxia Yang,Milford A Hanna,Runcang Sun

doi:10.1186/1754-6834-5-13

Abstract

Biodiesel is a promising alternative, and renewable, fuel. As its production increases, so does production of the principle co-product, crude glycerol. The effective utilization of crude glycerol will contribute to the viability of biodiesel. In this review, composition and quality factors of crude glycerol are discussed. The value-added utilization opportunities of crude glycerol are reviewed. The majority of crude glycerol is used as feedstock for production of other value-added chemicals, followed by animal feeds.

Highlights

The dramatic increase in demand for transportation fuels and the increase in environmental concerns, coupled with diminishing crude oil reserves, have increased the emphasis on renewable energy
Effective utilization of crude glycerol is very crucial to the commercialization and further development of biodiesel production
This review addresses the value-added opportunities for crude glycerol from biodiesel production, mainly as a feedstuff for animal feed and as feedstocks for chemicals

Summary

Background

The dramatic increase in demand for transportation fuels and the increase in environmental concerns, coupled with diminishing crude oil reserves, have increased the emphasis on renewable energy. From different biodiesel producers, were analyzed as energy sources. The production of 1, 3propanediol, from crude glycerol from Jatropha biodiesel by K.pneumoniae ATCC 15380, was optimized. Chatzifragkou et al [37] studied the effects of different impurities in crude glycerol on 1, 3-propanediol production by C.butyricum. With C. protothecoides and crude glycerol (62% purity), Chen and Walker [66] demonstrated that the maximum lipid productivity of 3 g/L per day was obtained in a fed-batch operation, which was higher than that produced by batch process. Canola oil-derived crude glycerol was the most favorable carbon source and showed great potential for the production of additional value-added products such as the recombinant human erythropoietin and cell growth [72]. For the co-liquefaction, too much addition of crude glycerol affected the carbon content and heat value of the bio-oil [92,93]

Conclusions

Findings

Biodiesel 2020