Glycerol

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This book provides a concise discussion on glycerol as a renewable raw material for the chemical industry. With the rise of biodiesel production from oils and fats, glycerol is now abundant and inexpensive. It can be converted into commodities, specialty chemicals, and fuels. The first chapter introduces biofuels, detailing biodiesel production and emphasizing glycerol as its main byproduct, along with statistics on global glycerol production. The second chapter explores common glycerol uses and evaluates their capacity to absorb the surplus generated from biodiesel, weighing the pros and cons of each application. The third chapter focuses on key biotechnological processes for glycerol transformation. The fourth chapter delves into thermochemical processes that convert glycerol into commodities for the chemical industry, such as polymers. The fifth chapter discusses the production of high-value glycerol derivatives. Finally, the sixth chapter examines glycerol's role within a biorefinery context, highlighting that many processes could be entirely green, relying solely on renewable raw materials.