ABSTRACT
Glycerol can be produced from sugar by the fermentation of alcohol, or the hydrogenation of carbohydrates such as starch, cellulose or sugar. The reaction mixture is cooled before going to the first fractionating column where excess propylene and hydrogen chloride are separated by refluxing with liquid propylene. Allyl chloride is oxidized with hypochlorite solution at 30–40°C in a stirred tank to yield a mixture of dichlorohydrins. Purified acrolein and isopropyl alcohol are reacted in the liquid-phase at a temperature of 400°C using the catalyst sec-butoxide. Propylene is oxidized to propylene oxide which is then isomerized in the vapour phase to allyl alcohol. Glycerol mist can cause irritation to eyes, skin and respiratory tract. Store glycerol in closed containers in a dry, well ventilated area away from strong oxidizing agents. Glycerol reacts violently with acetic anhydride, chromium oxides, calcium oxychloride and alkali metal hydrides.
