摘要
Crude glycerol is the principal by-product of biodiesel industry, accounting for 10 wt% of biodiesel production. As the production of biodiesel grows, the environmental and sustainable valorization of crude glycerol becomes an imperative task which affects directly the biodiesel production cost. The present study focuses on co-valorization of crude glycerol with conventional and/or renewable resources. The use of pyrolysis and gasification, as waste management practices, closing the loop in energy and agriculture, by using the extracted oil for biodiesel production and the remaining residual biomass for combined heat and power generation, has great potential in a circular economy. The paper is of scientific interest as it investigates the valorization of glycerol waste streams produced from small-scale biodiesel plants, targeting to an effective management solution of the above streams in countries such as Greece, where a chemical biorefinery is not viable due to small availability of glycerol supply. Results have shown that co-valorization of crude glycerol with waste biomass fulfilling the energetic needs of the biodiesel plant within the boundaries of the company, can contribute in decreasing the cost of biodiesel production, while providing a rather short-term solution to the existing environmental problem of waste glycerol. Keywords Biodiesel Glycerol Agricultural residues Lignite Energy Co-valorization Industrial symbiosis