Polymerization of purified residual glycerol from biodiesel production
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Abstract
In the face of climate change and the increasing frequency of climate-related disasters, there is a growing emphasis on renewable fuel sources to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Biodiesel, produced from crude or residual vegetable oils and animal fats, represents a significant biofuel option. Its production process involves transesterifying triglycerides with short-chain alcohols, resulting in biodiesel and low-purity glycerol as byproducts. This study explores the polymerization of residual glycerol as a sustainable strategy to enhance its value, particularly in light of the rising biodiesel production rates, which generate approximately 10% residual glycerol. The research focuses on synthesizing polymers from glycerol and highlights its potential as a method to repurpose a byproduct of biodiesel production. Experimental tests were conducted in a batch reactor, utilizing glycerol and adipic acid polycondensation in ratios of 1:0.75, 1:1, 1:1.5, and 1:2 to produce adipic polyglycerol. The reactions were carried out at 160 ºC with stirring at 60 RPM, using dibutyl phthalate as a catalyst, and monitored for water accumulation. Both partially purified and commercially bi-distilled glycerol were employed in the experiments. Infrared spectrophotometry analysis revealed significant molecular transformations in the polymers synthesized under varying reaction conditions. These findings provide promising prospects for utilizing this material in the production of polymers with the potential to serve as robust alternatives to petroleum-based plastics. This study concludes that residual glycerol from biodiesel production can be effectively utilized as a raw material for polymer synthesis, offering considerable potential to replace fossil-based polymers and significantly reduce environmental impact.
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