Photoelectrochemical glycerol oxidation as a sustainable and valuable technology

With large quantities of glycerol generated as a byproduct of the biodiesel industry, glycerol valorization through, e.g. oxidation reaction, has become a profitable technology for proper disposal and value addition. Although relatively nascent, photoelectrochemical glycerol oxidation offers a promising and sustainable approach by harnessing sunlight as the energy source. This review presents an overview of the development of photoelectrochemical glycerol oxidation, starting from the fundamentals, product distribution, analysis and market valuation. State-of-the-art photoelectrodes are assessed based on their performance (photocurrent, selectivity), and the interesting trends that have been observed are highlighted. Finally, some of the remaining challenges hindering the transition from lab-scale demonstrations to practical implementation are discussed, particularly in the context of crude glycerol oxidation and integration with valuable reduction reactions.

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