Glycerol

Introduction

Glycerol, a colorless and odorless liquid, is readily available as an inevitable by-product in the process of biodiesel production by transesterification of vegetable oils and can also be potentially obtained from more sustainable sources such as microalgae or cellulose.[1] It is widely used in pharmaceutical formulations because of its low price, low toxicity, and special physicochemical properties, including water solubility and hygroscopicity.[2]

Glycerol and some of its derivatives are already used in the chemical industry as precursors to produce various more valuable products such as hydroxyacetone,[3] acrolein,[4] lactic acid,[5] and 1, 3-propanediol.[6] Besides, glycerol is also widely used in organic synthesis because it dissolves inorganic salts, acids, bases, many transition-metal complexes, and enzymes.[7] It is also used in other fields, such as protein crystallization,[8] cosmetics, pharmaceutical formulations, and foodstuffs.[9]

• References

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