Glycerol phase from biodiesel cycle. A potential feedstock for direct use and process

The development of Fatty Acid Methyl Esther technology based biodiesel production has increased crude glycerol availability worldwide for the last years. After a period of low prices, which stimulated basic and applied research, in order to use crude glycerol as a platform for “green” materials and energy production, a very recent bullish market has cooled the enthusiasm for these prospects. However, several direct uses and processes have been investigated and, after a careful economical evaluation, can be exploited as downstream activities of F.A.M.E. production.