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Unprecedented process toward high value added biobased glycerol carbonate feeding upon low cost industrial wastes.
About
The innovation of biobased glycerol carbonate is spearheading a transformative approach in the production of industrial additives. Utilizing carbon dioxide and a byproduct from recycled cooking oil, a team at the Center for Integrated Technology and Organic Synthesis (CiTOS) has developed a groundbreaking method to create this biosourced additive in record times. The use of continuous flow technology and organocatalysis has led to a scalable process that completes in under 30 seconds, far surpassing current production methods in both speed and cost-efficiency. With its considerably lower flammability than petroleum-based carbonates and potential uses as a biolubricant, green solvent, and safe electrolyte carrier in lithium batteries, biobased glycerol carbonate is poised to make a notable impact on reducing environmental footprints and dependence on petrochemical resources.
Key Benefits
- Unprecedented process toward high value added biobased glycerol carbonate feeding upon low cost industrial wastes.
- The overall process is associated with a low environmental factor (E-factor = 4.7).
- The process is validated at pilot scale in a commercial mesofluidic reactor and ready to be transposed to commercial scale.
- Reactor effluents can be recycled through simple separation processes.
- Glycerol carbonate is obtained in >95% purity.
Applications
Biobased glycerol carbonate, a product of the condensation of glycerol with CO2, is emerging as a promising material due to several advantages over petroleum-based carbonates such as ethylene and propylene carbonates. It offers a significantly lower flammability, which can greatly reduce the fire hazards associated with lithium batteries, where these petroleum-based carbonates are commonly used as key electrolyte carriers. Furthermore, biobased glycerol carbonate can be utilized as a biolubricant, a formulating agent, or an alternative green solvent in the cosmetic, coating or feed industry. Despite its high potential, the market for glycerol carbonate is currently quite limited due to the slow and expensive production processes. However, recent advancements indicate a potential for future industrialization driven by improved and more efficient production metrics.