New chemical products on the basis of glycerol

摘要

Glycerol is a versatile chemical which has been known for centuries. Due to the fact that its production has increased dramatically because of the production of fuels such as biodiesel out of renewable raw materials, science and industry have a huge interest in finding economic ways to utilize the emerging surplus. The present article gives a broad overview on the chemistry of glycerol like the synthesis of well-known esters and oligomers but also of completely new derivatives. Especially catalytic reactions via heterogeneous, homogeneous and biocatalysis will be presented and some considerations will be given which products will have the best chances of entering the market.