Glycerol
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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
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Purifying glycerol
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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