Recent Advances on the Valorization of Glycerol into Alcohols
Louise R. Smith,
Mark Douthwaite,
Karl Mugford,
Nicholas F. Dummer,
David J. Willock,
Graham J. Hutchings,
Stuart H. Taylor
Affiliations
Louise R. Smith
Max Planck-Cardiff Centre on the Fundamentals of Heterogeneous Catalysis FUNCAT, Cardiff Catalysis Institute, School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK
Mark Douthwaite
Max Planck-Cardiff Centre on the Fundamentals of Heterogeneous Catalysis FUNCAT, Cardiff Catalysis Institute, School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK
Karl Mugford
Max Planck-Cardiff Centre on the Fundamentals of Heterogeneous Catalysis FUNCAT, Cardiff Catalysis Institute, School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK
Nicholas F. Dummer
Max Planck-Cardiff Centre on the Fundamentals of Heterogeneous Catalysis FUNCAT, Cardiff Catalysis Institute, School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK
David J. Willock
Max Planck-Cardiff Centre on the Fundamentals of Heterogeneous Catalysis FUNCAT, Cardiff Catalysis Institute, School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK
Graham J. Hutchings
Max Planck-Cardiff Centre on the Fundamentals of Heterogeneous Catalysis FUNCAT, Cardiff Catalysis Institute, School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK
Stuart H. Taylor
Max Planck-Cardiff Centre on the Fundamentals of Heterogeneous Catalysis FUNCAT, Cardiff Catalysis Institute, School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK
Glycerol, a highly functionalised polyol, can be used as a platform molecule to produce a variety of high-value chemicals. As glycerol production is projected to increase over the coming years, it’s critically important that technology and infrastructure are developed to make use of the inevitable surplus. The catalytic production of ‘green’ mono alcohols from glycerol, in the absence of H2, is an emerging area of research that, in recent years, has generated significant industrial interest. Herein, we provide an update on recent advances in this field and discuss challenges which need to be overcome if this approach is to be considered viable industrially. The economic significance of using crude glycerol as a feedstock for glycerol valorisation strategies is also addressed and suggestions for improving the impact of research conducted in this field are proposed.
