Journal of Environmental Biology

Bio-conversion of glycerol into commercial production of

1,3-propanediol - A review

Chozhavendhan Sivasankaran^1,2, Kirubalini Govindaraj² and Jayakumar Mani³*

¹PRIST University, Thanjavur-613 403, India

²Arunai Engineering College, Tiruvannamalai-606 603, India

³Institute of Technology, Haramaya University, P.O. Box-138, Ethiopia

*Corresponding Author E-mail: drjkumar2012@gmail.com

Publication Data

Paper received:

20 September 2015

Revised received:

05 May 2016

Accepted:

24 August 2016

Abstract

Depletion of crude oil resources with consequent increase in price of petroleum fuel has led to significant increase in the production of fluid biofuels derived from renewable sources. Methyl esters of higher fatty acids, commonly called biodiesel, are made in the transesterification process. The dynamic growth of biodiesel production results in generation of huge amount of waste glycerol fraction, which constitutes a major obstacle in profitability of the process.Many microorganisms can utilize glycerol as a carbon and energy source for the production of high value products like bioplastics, ethanol, succinic acid, propanediol etc. Impurities present in waste glycerol may inhibit the growth of microorganism and hence, it requires purification process. Utilization of waste glycerol solves its disposal and environmental concerns. Products like polyesters and bioplastics obtained from 1, 3-propanediol are highly biodegradable with better specificity. This paper elucidates various microbes for production of emerging commodity 1, 3-propanediol by utilizing low grade waste glycerol.   

 Key words

Biodiesel, 1, 3-propanediol, Renewable sources, Waste glycerol

Copyright ? 2016 Triveni Enterprises. All rights reserved. No part of the Journal can be reproduced in any form without prior permission. Responsibility regarding the authenticity of the data, and the acceptability of the conclusions enforced or derived, rest completely with the author (s).