the process of biodiesel, glycerin, alcohol which is the basis of many pharmaceuticals.

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Group researchers Chemical Process Technology and Biochemistry, University of Valladolid and the Laboratory of ACOR biodiesel plant in Olmedo work together on the recovery of one of the products obtained from the process of biodiesel, glycerin, alcohol which is the basis of many pharmaceuticals. As explained Maria Teresa García Cubero, one of the researchers of the group, "for every hundred pounds of biodiesel produced ten of glycerin, a significant amount that the pharmaceutical industry can not continue.

Therefore, trying to give new outlets for this product. "There are many treatment options and we opted for one that involves the procurement of high value added products, such as obtaining precursor chemicals used in the production of biodegradable plastic," advances. Through a project of the Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN), studying the transformation of glycerine in two alternative ways.

One is the chemical transformation of shape-selective catalysts that can be derived propanediol, which is the precursor to which they work, and the other is a biochemical transformation "with microorganisms able to assimilate glycerol. While the first method gives 1.3 propanediol, the biochemical transformation as a product provides 1-2 propanediol. "This is similar isomers although slightly different properties," explains the expert.

The research group working on this project with different microorganisms which are used to, aerobic and anaerobic, but not "strict." "We need anerobiosis conditions (no oxygen) to complete the body to function well," said Maria Teresa García Cubero. The research group is currently a doctoral student to a doctoral student working on this line, which are already getting results "promising."
Byproduct

Of rapeseed and sunflower seeds that are used for biodiesel production can be exploited as glycerin derivatives, flour and gums. In this sense, the biodiesel plant that cooperative societies ACOR is located in Olmedo (Valladolid), is equipped for pharmaceutical grade glycerine. First, the seed is received and analyzed partner in the laboratory of the plant according to the parameters of quality, cleaned and stored in silos, where part to the area of extraction. There comes a mechanical pressing through which earns about 70 percent of crude oil.

The remaining 30% is achieved with showers of hexane, an expensive solvent mostly recovered for reuse. The remains of seed flour and become animal feed, while crude oil is stored in tanks and subsequently refined (extracted gums, phosphorus, magnesium, waxes, calcium and acidity) and purified.

In a new phase, and refined oil is introduced into a reactor with solid methane and methylate which is, on the one hand, biofuels, and other, glycerin. This in turn is purified with hydrochloric acid to separate the oleins or fatty acids and methanol in excess. This glycerin can be used for animal feed and plastics, which when contaminated plant and animal fats, along with traceability of the process, has pharmaceutical grade for processing, for example, in detergents.

Source: DiCYT