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Review
. 2022 Aug 10;25(9):104903.
doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104903. eCollection 2022 Sep 16.

Insights on production mechanism and industrial applications of renewable propylene glycol

Jude A Okolie  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Insights on production mechanism and industrial applications of renewable propylene glycol

Jude A Okolie. iScience. .

Abstract

Propylene glycol is a ubiquitous sustainable chemical that have several industrial applications. It can be used as a non-toxic antifreeze, moisturizers, and in cosmetics products. Commercial production of propylene glycol uses petroleum-based propylene oxide. Therefore, there is a need to develop alternative and renewable propylene glycol production routes. Renewable propylene glycol can be produced from catalytic hydrogenolysis of glycerol. This study reviews different catalyst for glycerol hydrogenolysis, the reaction mechanism, and process challenges. Additionally, previous studies related to the economic and environmental assessment of propylene glycol production are presented in detail. The technology readiness level of different production pathways were outlined as well as the challenges and future direction of propylene glycol production from glycerol and other renewable feedstocks. Catalytic transfer hydrogenolysis, a process that uses renewable H-donors in liquid medium for hydrogenolysis reaction is also discussed and compared with conventional hydrogenolysis.

Keywords: Catalysis; Industrial chemistry; Organic chemistry.

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Figures

None
Graphical abstract
Figure 1
Figure 1
Global distribution of propylene glycol production in 2021 Data obtained from MMR, (2021).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Different technologies for the commercial production of propylene glycol
Figure 3
Figure 3
Products obtained from the catalytic hydrogenolysis of glycerol
Figure 4
Figure 4
An overview of the reaction mechanism for the dehydration–hydrogenation mechanism of glycerol to RPG
Figure 5
Figure 5
An overview of the dehydrogenation–dehydration–hydrogenation mechanism for the hydrogenolysis of glycerol to RPG and other side reactions An overview of the reaction mechanism for the dehydration–hydrogenation.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Comparison between conventional hydrogenolysis and catalytic transfer hydrogenolysis (CTH) Reproduced from Sun et al.,(2022).
Figure 7
Figure 7
Propylene glycol market share and key players in the propylene glycol production (A) Propylene glycol market share. (B) Key players in the propylene glycol production. Data obtained from PGM, (2022).
Figure 8
Figure 8
Schematic representation of the catalytic hydrogenolysis of glycerol to RPG Adapted from Sun et al., (2022).
Figure 9
Figure 9
Schematic representation of the catalytic transfer hydrogenolysis Adapted from Sun et al.,(2022).
Figure 10
Figure 10
Different levels and definitions of TRL Adapted from Okolie et al., (2022).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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