Biodiesel is an alternative fuel which is helping to reduce dependence on petroleum. One concern regarding biodiesel production is what to do with the major by-product, glycerol.

A global glut of glycerol is occurring as industrialised nations move to substitute fossil fuels with more sustainable alternatives. Glycerol production in the United States already averages more than 350,000 tons per year and in Europe production has tripled within the last ten years. Currently disposal of surplus glycerol is by incineration.

Now researchers in the School of Chemistry working with Vertellus Specialities UK Ltd, a global supplier of chemical specialties, have won a grant to investigate the possibility of converting glycerol to high-added value speciality chemicals. The £60,000 project, with £40,000 financial support from the Department of Trade and Industry-led Technology Programme will allow the research team, led by Professor Graham Hutchings, School of Chemistry and Brian Tarbit, Vertellus Specialities, to ultimately improve the environmental benefits and economic viability of biodiesel manufacture.

Science and Innovation Minister, Malcolm Wicks said: "The UK has a proud history of innovation in science and technology. We believe that we must work with industry to develop the marketable products and services of tomorrow, so that we can maintain our position as a leading global economy."

"That is why we are supporting this project to find valuable uses for glycerol, a major by-product of the renewable fuel source biodiesel. It provides a great opportunity to harness the UK’s world-class expertise."

Dr David Grant, Vice-Chancellor Cardiff University said: "I am delighted that Cardiff’s leading expertise in chemistry is being directed at such an industrially important topic. Several other companies have expressed interest in supporting this important research and I look forward to announcing further success later this year."

The award will allow the team to assemble a bid for the £10M Zero Emission Enterprise competition as part of the Department of Trade and Industry-led Technology Programme.

"The application of green chemical technology has become increasingly important to both ourselves and our customers," commented Timothy Zappala, CEO and President of Vertellus Specialties Inc. "The chemical structure and increasing abundance of glycerol makes it an excellent platform chemical for us to use as a renewable feedstock."

Further information about the project can be found at http://www.theglycerolchallenge.org

ENDS

Editors' Notes:

During the manufacture of biodiesel via the transesterification of oils from plants such as rape, soya and palm, 100kg of glycerol (also known as glycerin) is produced for every 1 tonne of biodiesel. In Europe alone, the production of glycerol has tripled within the last 10 years to ca. 600 thousand metric tonnes per year. This can only increase further as Europe implements EU directive 2003/30/EC which targets 5.75% incorporation of biofuel to be achieved by 2010. Finding value-added alternatives to glycerol incineration would assist with the environmental benefits and economic viability of biodiesel manufacture.

Cardiff School of Chemistry

The School of Chemistry is one of the largest chemistry schools in the UK, and both teaching and research benefits from a multi-million pound investment in laboratories and other facilities. It currently has over 200 undergraduate and postgraduate students. The joint strengths are of academic excellence within the School and extensive industrial contacts outside. The School has received the highest “Excellent” rating in the ongoing independent government assessment of teaching quality.

The School conducts industry-relevant research, focusing on six areas: surface science and catalysis; structural and computational chemistry; organic synthesis; co-ordination and speciation chemistry; magnetic resonance spectroscopy; and materials chemistry. Research income has increased more than threefold in recent years, including a substantial increase in industrial funding. It is also home to two of only six national centres that are funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. These are the X-ray Diffraction Centre and the ENDOR centre.

Cardiff University

Cardiff University is recognised in independent government assessments as one of Britain’s leading teaching and research universities. Founded by Royal Charter in 1883, the University today combines impressive modern facilities and a dynamic approach to teaching and research. The University’s breadth of expertise in research and research-led teaching encompasses: the humanities; the natural, physical, health, life and social sciences; engineering and technology; preparation for a wide range of professions; and a longstanding commitment to lifelong learning. Cardiff is a member of the Russell Group of Britain’s leading research universities.

Visit the University website at: www.cardiff.ac.uk

Vertellus Specialties Inc.

Vertellus is a specialty chemicals company focused on the manufacture of high growth, high-value products to the agricultural, nutritional, pharmaceutical, personal care and performance materials markets. The majority of the Company’s annual sales are derived from products that lead their respective markets. Vertellus benefits from a global supply chain, a technologically advanced and flexible global manufacturing base and long-standing, contract relationships with significant blue-chip clients. Vertellus also holds a number of industry trademarks, registrations and patents. Vertellus has approximately 750 employees and is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Vertellus Specialties UK Ltd, based at Seal Sands in Middlesbrough, is a major supplier of monomers and performance enhancers for the plastics and polymer markets, this location also specializes in the production of advanced intermediates for pharmaceutical, agricultural chemicals, and photographic applications. The Seal Sands' site’s key technologies include sulfonation, alkylation, and amination. The site is an ISO 9001:2000 certified batch processing facility with six manufacturing plants. The facility also manufactures a range of biocompatible polymers and other life enhancing products with the aim of being the preferred global supplier of chemical specialties that embraces environmentally friendly chemistries, in markets where our products enhance the quality of life by improving crop production yields, human and animal health, life expectancy, wellness and physical properties of materials.

Visit the Vertellus website at www.vertellus.com

About the Technology Program

The Technology Programme provides funding using two of the DTI's business support products: Collaborative Research & Development and Knowledge Transfer Networks. Over the period 2005-2008, £320 million in funding is being made available from DTI to businesses to support research and development in technology areas identified by the Government's Technology Strategy Board. This funding is increased by contributions from other Government Departments such as Defra (£30m), Regional Development Agencies and Devolved Administrations (£30m) and Research Councils (£26m).

The Programme is investing directly in new and emerging technologies and has been designed to help businesses work collaboratively with each other or with academic partners to develop technologies that will underpin products and services of the future.

In November 2006, DTI announced that, building on its success to date, the Technology Strategy Board would in 2007 become an Executive Non Departmental Public Body taking over responsibility for the delivery of the Technology Programme.

Since 2004, the Technology Programme has supported over 600 projects across 40 technology areas with a combined business and Government investment worth over £900m. 22 Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTNs) have also been established with funding of around £40m over 3 years.

For further information:
http://www.dti.gov.uk/innovation/technologystrategy/

Further information:

Dr Keith Simons,
Project Manager,
info@theglycerolchallenge.org
+44 (0)20 7558 8670

Stephen Rouse
Public Relations Office,
Cardiff University.
Tel: 029 2087 5596
E-mail: RouseS@Cardiff.ac.uk