The use of biobased building block for the preparation of chemicals represents one of the 12 principles of green chemistry. Glycerol valorization through catalysis (glycerochemistry) is a valuable example with several repercussions at industrial level. Among glycerol derivatives, following the benign-by-design approach, we propose a mini-review on glycidol (2,3-epoxy-1-propanol), a versatile molecule (e.g. applications in laundry detergents, disinfectants, cosmetics, skin creams, moisturizing lotions, shampoos, etc.) with high reactivity due to oxiranic and alcoholic functionalities. Glycidol market is expected to reach USD 180 million in 2026, globally. Glycidol may be produced from fossil resources (e.g. allyl alcohol epoxidation with H₂O₂ and tungsten oxide/salts of tungstic acid or TS-1 as catalytic system) or from bio-based glycerol a platform molecule with a market projected to reach 4 Mt by 2027. At least 15 alternative routes are available. As described, its high versatility may lead to the synthesis of 1,2-propanediol or 1,3-propanediol (precursor of polyethers, propylene, unsaturated polyester resins or as monomer in the synthesis of polypropylene terephthalate and polyesters), glycerol carbonate (one of the most valuable molecules for the possibility to be used as a solvent, lubricant, coating agent, ingredient in pharmaceutical/personal care and as building block in organic and polymer chemistry) and monoalkyl glyceryl ethers (MAGEs, that serve several industrial areas, e.g. C1-C6 solvents, C1-C24 detergents and surfactants, C1-Cx additives for lubricants, inks, etc., C4-C18 cosmetics). In addition, glycidol may be used as monomer to produce poly(glycidyl-ether)s, sustainable and biodegradable polymers obtained through anionic polimerization with protected glycidols, and glycidyl esters, a valuable epoxy resin monomers obtained through the selective transformation of glycidol catalyzed by a quaternary alkyl ammonium salt by transesterification of methyl esters.
GLYCIDOL: OVERVIEW ON MAIN SYNTHESES AND CONVERSIONS INTO VALUE-ADDED COMPOUNDS
Daniele Cespi
Conceptualization
;Fabrizio PassariniValidation
;Antonio ProtoSupervision
;
2022
Abstract
The use of biobased building block for the preparation of chemicals represents one of the 12 principles of green chemistry. Glycerol valorization through catalysis (glycerochemistry) is a valuable example with several repercussions at industrial level. Among glycerol derivatives, following the benign-by-design approach, we propose a mini-review on glycidol (2,3-epoxy-1-propanol), a versatile molecule (e.g. applications in laundry detergents, disinfectants, cosmetics, skin creams, moisturizing lotions, shampoos, etc.) with high reactivity due to oxiranic and alcoholic functionalities. Glycidol market is expected to reach USD 180 million in 2026, globally. Glycidol may be produced from fossil resources (e.g. allyl alcohol epoxidation with H₂O₂ and tungsten oxide/salts of tungstic acid or TS-1 as catalytic system) or from bio-based glycerol a platform molecule with a market projected to reach 4 Mt by 2027. At least 15 alternative routes are available. As described, its high versatility may lead to the synthesis of 1,2-propanediol or 1,3-propanediol (precursor of polyethers, propylene, unsaturated polyester resins or as monomer in the synthesis of polypropylene terephthalate and polyesters), glycerol carbonate (one of the most valuable molecules for the possibility to be used as a solvent, lubricant, coating agent, ingredient in pharmaceutical/personal care and as building block in organic and polymer chemistry) and monoalkyl glyceryl ethers (MAGEs, that serve several industrial areas, e.g. C1-C6 solvents, C1-C24 detergents and surfactants, C1-Cx additives for lubricants, inks, etc., C4-C18 cosmetics). In addition, glycidol may be used as monomer to produce poly(glycidyl-ether)s, sustainable and biodegradable polymers obtained through anionic polimerization with protected glycidols, and glycidyl esters, a valuable epoxy resin monomers obtained through the selective transformation of glycidol catalyzed by a quaternary alkyl ammonium salt by transesterification of methyl esters.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
