Glycerol

Main > Materials

---

Main > Energy > Biofuel

---

Glycerol (glycerin, glycerine) is the main byproduct of biodiesel production. It is a colourless, odourless, viscous, nontoxic liquid with a sweet taste. Pure glycerine has thousands of uses. However, the biodiesel byproduct is crude (and it's not colourless, and it's not only glycerine).

Byproduct in biodiesel production

[insert text here if you can write it !]

Purifying glycerol

[insert text here if you can write it !]

Main uses and product ecology

• as mentioned, glycerol is the main by-product of biodiesel production (see our blog post: Open Source Biodiesel Tutorial).
• also a byproduct in the soapmaking process
• use in biodigestor: feed slowly, very slowly. The addition of glycerin can dramatically increase biogas production (more information here). Special bacterial strains are being developed that can efficiently utilize glycerin to make methane
• when of low purity, can be burned along with biomass such as sawdust
• crude glycerol from homemade biodiesel makes a powerful degreaser.
• feed additive for cattle [1][2][3] and other ruminants (caution ! toxic methanol residues !)
• nitration, to make nitroglycerin (probably not a good idea, unless you want to end up like Nobel's brother)
• other uses: in skin moisturizers, lotions, deodorants, makeup, toothpaste, sweets and cakes, pharmaceuticals and patent medicines, in paper manufacturing, printing ink, in textiles, plastics, electronic components…

External Links

• Journey To Forever: Glycerin
• Science-Projects.com: Making Glycerol from Biological Fats and Oils
• Wisegeek: What Is Glycerin?
• Permaculture.com Making Glycerin Soap from Biodiesel By-Products