Technology for the production of pharmaceutical-grade propylene bioglycol

The technology for the production of high-quality propylene bioglycol through the hydrogenation of glycerin produced as a by-product in the production of biodiesel from fatty raw materials includes three process stages:

• purification of glycerin by distillation under reduced pressure,
• hydrogenation of glycerin to propylene glycol on a heterogeneous catalyst in a flow reactor,
• purification of the product by distillation.

Advantages of the technological process:

• use for the production of a renewable and readily available raw material, which is the glycerin fraction (a by-product in the production of biodiesel),
• method of purifying the glycerin fraction dedicated specifically to the needs of the process, providing glycerin of the desired quality and favorable price,
• developed by Łukasiewicz – ICSO “Blachownia” heterogeneous catalyst used in the process of glycerin hydrogenation to propylene glycol with high selectivity and activity, produced from available raw materials and easy to regenerate,
• an environmentally friendly product with high added value,
• raw material diversification for the chemical industry based on propylene bioglycol,
• no solvents or toxic substances in the process,
• use of small amounts of non-toxic by-products in the process,
• the concept of the reaction system, process management and product separation,
• circulation of technological streams optimized in terms of full use of raw materials and energy.