The Future of Glycerol

By-products of global biodiesel manufacturing are a global fact, and can be clearly identified as one of the modern day catalysts, responsible for igniting a number of year's worldwide intensive research activity into human chemical ingenuity. A large surplus of glycerol by-product has entered the chemical market causing closure of existing glycerol plants and the discovery of processes that use glycerol as a raw material for the production of value-added chemicals and even of energy. For instance, the batteries of your laptop and iPod, as well as your car's antifreeze will soon be based on glycerol, the same sweet viscous substance currently present in soaps.