Renewable glycerol: challenges and opportunities for its valorization in Mexico

Abstract

Glycerol can be obtained from biodiesel production processes, which are constantly increasing. To exemplify it, global biodiesel production generated more than 4.5 billion liters of glycerol in 2021. Due to the excessive volume of produced glycerol, it has come to be considered a financial and environmental challenge for the biodiesel industry. Therefore, it has become necessary to look for alternatives to use glycerol as a renewable source for obtaining chemical products that represent a considerable economic profit. On the other hand, Mexico has great potential to produce biodiesel from African palm, castor and Jatropha oils, with estimations of a production potential of up to 368 million litres of biodiesel by 2030. This article therefore presents some of the challenges and opportunities offered by the valorization of glycerol in Mexico, a country that seeks to promote the use of biofuels and develop a green and sustainable chemical industry.