The
biodiesel obtained from nonedible and waste-cooking oils through
the transesterification process has been recognized as a renewable
energy source. This transesterification process produces glycerol
as the main byproduct. Glycerol and its derivatives have a lot of
applications in the pharmaceutical industry, organic synthesis, and
the cosmetic industry. The glycerol can be converted into value-added
derivatives via several catalyzed chemical reactions, viz. esterification,
selective reduction, selective oxidation, pyrolysis, halogenation,
condensation, carboxylation, dehydration, reformation, transesterification,
etherification, etc. Among various glycerol derivatives, glycerol
carbonate is one of the most value-added products which is employed
in industrial application for the preparation of polyurethanes. There
are several methods for its preparation using glycerol as a platform
molecule, but the transesterification method using dimethyl carbonate
is the most efficient way employing mild reaction conditions and the
least harmful reagents. This review presents a critical assessment
of the available published information on large scale production of
glycerol carbonate using various homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts
reported in the last five years. Effects of relevant reaction parameters
affecting the transesterification route have been discussed with some
suggestions for future work in this area.
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