Research Explorer

Project

Sustainable Production of propylene glycol from glycerine
Code
179P1312
Duration
01 June 2012 → 31 May 2015
Funding
Private funding via IWT/VLAIO
Research disciplines
  • Natural sciences
    • Analytical chemistry
    • Macromolecular and materials chemistry
  • Engineering and technology
    • Automotive engineering
    • Catalysis and reacting systems engineering
    • Chemical product design and formulation
    • General chemical and biochemical engineering
    • Process engineering
    • Separation and membrane technologies
    • Transport phenomena
    • Other (bio)chemical engineering
Keywords
kinetics glycerol propylene glycol hydrogenolysis
 
Project description
 

The transesterification of triglycerides to methyl esters inevitably leads to a 10wt% yield of glycerol. Even if this glycerol has direct applications, it can be upgraded towards propylene glycol. A proper understanding of the dominant factors on the kinetics of this reaction as well as on byproduct formation and catalyst stability is aimed at.