Heterogeneous Catalysts for Conversion of Biodiesel-Waste Glycerol into High-Added-Value Chemicals

Abstract

The valuable products produced from glycerol transformation have become a research route that attracted considerable benefits owing to their huge volumes in recent decades (as a result of biodiesel production as a byproduct) as well as a myriad of chemical and biological techniques for transforming glycerol into high-value compounds, such as fuel additives, biofuels, precursors and other useful chemicals, etc. Biodiesel has presented another challenge in the considerable increase in its byproduct (glycerol). This review provides a recent update on the transformation of glycerol with an exclusive focus on the various catalysts’ performance in designing reaction operation conditions. The different products observed and cataloged in this review involved hydrogen, acetol, acrolein, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol (1,3-propanediol and 1,2-propanediol) from reforming and dehydration and hydrogenolysis reactions of glycerol conversions. The future prospects and critical challenges are finally presented.