Recent progress in the synthesis and applications of glycerol carbonate

Glycerol carbonate results from the cyclo-condensation of glycerol, arguably the best studied and most promising biomass-derived compound. Glycerol is highly abundant and relatively cheap as it is produced as a waste stream within the biodiesel industry. The direct reaction of carbon dioxide with glycerol is possible, and the prospect of combining these two abundant waste products into such a versatile and exciting molecule has resulted in a linear increase in the number of patents and scientific publications in the last ten years. Glycerol carbonate has already been commercialised, but many opportunities to develop better production routes and new applications exist. In this critical review, we examine the relevance of this bio-derived compound and the recent advances in preparation methods and recent applications.