Cradle to Gate
Identity ID
88d96c6c4fce4605a450a54b4ccb216a
Materials
Associated ID
9e9e1619-0536-49ab-899c-40b4b6233571
Included activities starts
Included activities ends
Description
Glycerol can be used in FDA-approved wound and burn treatments, bacterial culture media, as an effective biomarker for liver disease, as a sweetener in the food industry, and as a humectant in pharmaceutical formulations; this dataset includes primary raw and auxiliary materials, energy consumption, atmospheric emissions, and waste from the production process, while infrastructure such as production equipment and facility construction is excluded from the system boundary; the life cycle inventory data were sourced from literature and optimized based on the best available information for 2022; the process of producing biodiesel from animal fats includes steps such as fat extraction, impurity removal, transesterification, separation, and post-treatment, with glycerol being a co-product. Product under production.
Activity Description
The process flow for producing biodiesel from the collection, treatment, and processing of waste cooking oil includes oil extraction, impurity removal (separating impurities and water from the oil by heating and sedimentation), transesterification, separation, and post-treatment steps, with glycerol as a co-product.
Process Description
Glycerol, also known as glycerin, is an organic compound with the chemical formula C3H8O3. It is a simple polyol compound, appearing as a colorless, odorless, non-toxic, viscous liquid with a sweet taste. Due to its three hydroxyl groups, glycerol is miscible with water and exhibits hygroscopic properties. Because of its antibacterial and antiviral characteristics, it is widely used in FDA-approved wound and burn treatments. It can also serve as a bacterial culture medium and an effective biomarker for assessing liver diseases. Additionally, glycerol is extensively used as a sweetener in the food industry and as a humectant in pharmaceutical formulations.
Time period
2020
2026
Geography
China
Macroeconomic value
Business-as-Usual
Data validation
Yes
Technology
Current Technology