New Applications for Soybean Biodiesel Glycerol

Glycerol (Fig. 1.1) is a viscous and polar substance that has long been known for its useful properties. As long ago as 1779, the Swedish scientist Karl Wilhelm Scheelle obtained glycerol from olive oil. In 1813, Michael E. Chevreul showed that glycerol was involved in the triglyceride structure, and called it glycerin, from the greek word that means sweet. The elucidation of its structure as a trihydroxylated alcohol was due to Wurtz in 1855. The name glycerin was changed to glycerol to indicate its alcohol nature. It is now common to refer to the pure chemical product as glycerol and refer to the commercial grades with varying glycerol content as glycerin (or glycerine). The first example of a chemical industrial application of glycerol is nitroglycerin which was synthesized by Ascanio Sobrero. In 1860 it was transformed into a safer and more convenient form of use by Alfred Nobel [Jerome et al, 2008; Shreve & Brink, 1977; Kirk & Otmer, 1951].