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Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Glycerin Purification

Glycerin Purification: "In the transesterification process, oils and/or fats rich in triglycerides are mixed with an alcohol such as methanol and base such as potassium or sodium hydroxide, resulting in a methyl ester biodiesel stream and a glycerine side stream.

This glycerine side stream typically contains a mixture of glycerine, methanol, water, inorganic salts (catalyst residue) free fatty acids, unreacted mono-, di-, and triglycerides, methyl esters, and a variety of other matter organic non-glycerol (MONG) in varying quantities.

The methanol is typically stripped from this stream and reused, leaving behind, after neutralization, what is known as crude glycerine. In raw form, this crude glycerine has high salt and free fatty acid content and substantial color (yellow to dark brown).

Consequently, crude glycerine has few direct uses due to the presence of the salts and other species, and its fuel value is also marginal. The US biodiesel industry generates millions of gallons of crude glycerin waste each year, and the amount produced is growing rapidly along with the dramatic growth of biodiesel production."

Helge: Good to know.



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