RETRACTED: Commodity Chemicals Derived from Glycerol, an Important Biorefinery Feedstock (Retracted Article. See vol 110, pg 1807, 2010)

The commodity chemicals derived from glycerol, and used as an important biorefinery feedstock was studied. Glycerol is a potentially important biorefinery feedstock, available as a byproduct in the production of biodiesel by transesterification of vegetable oils, or animal fats. It can readily be oxidized, reduced, halogenated, etherified, and esterified to obtain commodity chemicals other than just biodiesel. The study investigated the technical an economic aspects of production of commodity chemicals from glycerolizing chemical and biological catalysts. Glycerol, simplest triol off all natural fats and oils in the form of fatty acid and is an important intermediate in the metabolism. It is also the most important byproduct of oleochemistry, with the increasing supply in oleochemical production. This can also be produced by fermentation and chemical synthesis and is used as an important biorefinery feedstock.