Viability of newly developed process for catalytic conversion of bio-glicerin into various 'green chemical' and development opportunities for Serbia

Abstract

Crude bio-glycerin is a by-product in the production of biodiesel. An economically efficient valorization of crude bio-glycerin usually significantly defines the profitability of the biodiesel plant. A strong technological development in recent years has provided an additional option for economically viable use of glycerin through conversion of a crude bio-glycerin, in first step into a technical glycerin, and then further by use of new catalytic processes into various 'green chemicals', such as epichlorohydrin, propylene-glycol, bio-methanol, acrolein, acrylic acid, etc. Many of those newly-developed technologies are already in use on an industrial scale. This trend had caused a growth in demand of bio-glycerin, which gradually has led to a rise of bio-glycerin's market value and contributed to an overall growth in profitability of biodiesel industry. This paper has the aim to assess: global availability of the emerging technologies intended for valorization of bio-glycerin via production of commercially attractive 'green chemicals', local and regional availability of bio-glycerin for an economically justifiable production of 'green chemicals', and local and regional potential for marketing of the most viable 'green chemicals'. All market assessments and expected challenges that are stated in this paper took into account a reality that development of the biodiesel industry is still largely influenced by government subsidies and mandates, and also by a price of crude oil.