An Overview of Recent Research in the Conversion of Glycerol into Biofuels, Fuel Additives and other Bio-Based Chemicals
by
Usman Idris Nda-Umar 1,2,*, Irmawati Ramli 1,3,*
, Yun Hin Taufiq-Yap 1,3 and Ernee Noryana Muhamad 1,3
Usman Idris Nda-Umar 1,2,*, Irmawati Ramli 1,3,*, Yun Hin Taufiq-Yap 1,3 and Ernee Noryana Muhamad 1,3
1
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400 UPM, Selangor, Malaysia
2
Department of Chemical Sciences, Federal Polytechnic, Bida PMB 55, Niger State, Nigeria
3
Catalysis Science and Technology Research Centre, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400 UPM, Selangor, Malaysia
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Catalysts 2019, 9(1), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal9010015
Received: 19 October 2018 / Revised: 16 November 2018 / Accepted: 19 November 2018 / Published: 27 December 2018
(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Catalysis)
The depletion of fossil fuels has heightened research and utilization of renewable energy such as biodiesel. However, this has thrown up another challenge of significant increase in its byproduct, glycerol. In view of the characteristics and potentials of glycerol, efforts are on the increase to convert it to higher-value products, which will in turn improve the overall economics of biodiesel production. These high-value products include biofuels, oxygenated fuel additives, polymer precursors and other industrial bio-based chemicals. This review gives up-to-date research findings in the conversion of glycerol to the above high-value products, with a special focus on the performance of the catalysts used and their challenges. The specific products reviewed in this paper include hydrogen, ethanol, methanol, acetin, glycerol ethers, solketal, acetal, acrolein, glycerol carbonate, 1,3-propanediol, polyglycerol and olefins.
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MDPI and ACS Style
Nda-Umar, U.I.; Ramli, I.; Taufiq-Yap, Y.H.; Muhamad, E.N. An Overview of Recent Research in the Conversion of Glycerol into Biofuels, Fuel Additives and other Bio-Based Chemicals. Catalysts 2019, 9, 15.
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