Glycerol and Catalysis by Waste/Low-Cost Materials—A Review

The growing global demand for renewable energy sources can be reached using biofuels such as biodiesel, example. most used route to produce biodiesel is the transesterification reaction of oils or fats with short-chain alcohols, generating fatty acid esters (biodiesel) and a very important by-product, glycerol (Gly). Gly widely in different sectors industry, order add value this heterogeneous catalysis becomes relevant tool, whether transform into other chemical products interest even use it production catalysts. Among several studies found literature, low-cost materials and/or wastes from diverse activities prepare active catalytic transformation has been increasingly reported due its valuable advantages, especially related cost raw environmental aspects. Thus, brief review article presents relationship between catalysis, materials, waste, glycerol, through that show being transformed reactions catalyzed by produced sources/waste itself catalyst.