Comparison and Combination of Solvent Extraction and Adsorption for Crude Glycerol Enrichment

Abstract

A comparative study of enrichment of crude glycerol via solvent extraction and adsorption was performed at a laboratory scale at ambient temperature (30 oC). Effect of various parameters on the properties of the obtained glycerol including glycerol-, ash- and contaminant contents and color, was explored. The results showed that the enrichment of glycerol by solvent extraction was significantly affected by the solvent type and ratio of solvent to pre-treated crude glycerol. The use of n-C3H7OH at a ratio of 2.0 gave the highest purity of glycerol, but the lowest color reduction. The use of C4H10O at a ratio of 1.0 gave a low glycerol content but the highest color removal. On the other hand, adsorption with activated carbon gave poor glycerol purity of 70.3 wt.% but it could decrease the color by more than 97.1%. The combined process of extraction with n-C3H7OH at a ratio of 2.0 followed by activated carbon adsorption gave the highest glycerol purity with color removal to a clear solution. The cost analysis of crude glycerol enrichment by the combined approach was also explored.

Keywords

• Crude glycerol; Extraction; Adsorption; Enrichment

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