Explore More Than Just This Free Article

This article is a glimpse of the exclusive insights we provide daily to industry leaders. Dive deeper into our industry-specific reports and uncover the strategic information you need.

Study produces biosourced industrial additive, glycerol carbonate, in record time from CO2 and glycerol, a byproduct of cooking oil recycling and biodiesel industry; glycerol carbonate can be used as a biolubricant, formulation agent or green solvent

LIEGE, Belgium , February 23, 2024 (press release) –

A study by the Center for Integrated Technology and Organic Synthesis (CiTOS, Univerisity of Liège) demonstrates how glycerol carbonate, a biosourced industrial additive, can be produced in record time using CO2 and a by-product of the cooking oil recycling industry. In collaboration with colleagues from the Center for Studies and Research on Macromolecules (CERM) , this study lays the foundations for continuous industrial production.

Ambitious R&D and production directives in Europe are stimulating the integration of innovative technologies to reduce environmental impact and to move away from an exclusive reliance on petrochemical resources. In this context, researchers at CiTOS - directed by Jean-Chrsitophe Monbaliu - are developing new processes that privilege molecules derived from biomass. Among these biobased molecules, glycerol stands out as a prime target due to its abundance. Glycerol is mainly derived from the biodiesel industry and cooking oil recycling; its low economic value has relegated it to the status of waste until now. Another waste turned public enemy number one, CO2, is an industrial gaseous effluent with low economic value. By combining their respective areas of expertise, the teams at CiTOS (continuous flow organic chemistry in micro/mesofluidic reactors and upgrading of biobased compounds) and CERM (synthesis of organic materials from CO2) are developing new methods to valorize glycerol and CO2 toward high value-added molecules.

Glycerol carbonate, which formally results from the condensation glycerol and CO2, has recently become a rising star. It offers several advantages over other petroleum-based carbonates such as ethylene and propylene carbonates, which are key electrolyte carriers in lithium batteries. Its significantly lower flammability could greatly reduce the fire risks inherent in these batteries. The carbonate can also be used as a biolubricant, formulation agent, or alternative green solvent. "Despite such potential, the current market for glycerol carbonate remains very limited," comments Jean-Christophe Monbaliu. "The main reason is that current production processes are slow and expensive. Our work is in the process of changing that," he continues.

The work is based on a hybrid approach combining fundamental and applied organic chemistry: a detailed study of the mechanism through quantum chemistry and its deployment under mesofluidic conditions converge toward a unique intensified process. The process, validated at the pilot scale, transforms a direct derivative of glycerol, namely glycidol, in the presence of CO2 and an organic catalyst into glycerol carbonate. The efficiency of the process, which reaches completion in less than 30 seconds, far surpasses all current processes for glycerol carbonate production. "Such favorable metrics open unprecedented perspectives for potential future industrialization," concludes Jean-Christophe Monbaliu."

Media Contacts

Didier Moreau
University of Liège
dmoreau@ulg.ac.be
Office: (0)4-366-5217
Julie Louis
University of Liège
julie.louis@uliege.be
Expert Contact

Jean-Christophe Monbaliu
University of Liège
jc.monbaliu@uliege.be

Industry Intelligence editor's note: To read the full study at Angewandte Chemie International Edition, click here

* All content is copyrighted by Industry Intelligence, or the original respective author or source. You may not recirculate, redistrubte or publish the analysis and presentation included in the service without Industry Intelligence's prior written consent. Please review our terms of use.

See our dashboard in action - schedule an demo with Dan
Dan Rivard
Dan Rivard
- VP Market Development -

We offer built-to-order consumer packaged goods (cpg) coverage for our clients. Contact us for a free consultation.

About Us

We deliver market news & information relevant to your business.

We monitor all your market drivers.

We aggregate, curate, filter and map your specific needs.

We deliver the right information to the right person at the right time.

Our Contacts

1990 S Bundy Dr. Suite #380,
Los Angeles, CA 90025

+1 (310) 553 0008

About Cookies On This Site

This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to improve your website experience and provide more personalized services to you, both on this website and through other media. To find out more about the cookies we use, see our Privacy Policy. We won't track your information when you visit our site. But in order to comply with your preferences, we'll have to use just one tiny cookie so that you're not asked to make this choice again.