Bio-glycerol was synthesized
from Cameroon palm kernel oil (PKO) through the transesterification procedure.
Palm kernel oil extracted from palm kernel seeds using mechanical expression
and solvent extraction was purified and characterized by physico-chemical
methods and used in the transesterification process to give biodiesel and
bio-glycerol. The biodiesel was purified and characterized as reported in
previous articles. Our focus in this article is on glycerol, an important
by-product of the transesterification process which has potential
pharmaceutical, cosmetic and engineering applications. The bio-glycerol was
purified by acidification and the purified glycerol was subjected to physical
and chemical characterization. The specific gravity of glycerol was obtained as
1.2 kg/L, viscosity at 40°C gave 1500cSt and 500cSt at 100°C; pH was 7.4; the flash point was
160°C, and the ASTM color was 2.0 before purification and zero after
purification. The sulfur content was 0.016%w/v. This sulfur content is low thus
posing no environment threat. The chemical composition of the synthesized
bio-glycerol determined using IR spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass
spectrometry (GC-MS) confirmed the known chemical structure of glycerol. The
purification and analysis of bio-glycerol is important as it can find
applications in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries inter alia.
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