Valorization of glycerol into triacetin: Green innovation in sustainable biodiesel additive development for ecological stability

To ensure stable high prices for glycerol, it is essential to process glycerol into high-value products.The low price of glycerol and the high cost of its separation could potentially turn glycerol into waste, ultimately disrupting ecological stability.However, converting glycerol into triacetin through a reaction with acetic acid poses challenges due to the presence of water in the reaction system.Water is a byproduct of triacetin synthesis.The presence of water can significantly reduce reaction performance, causing reverse reactions toward reactants and hindering the diffusionreaction process, which is the core stage in triacetin synthesis.Therefore, this research was conducted to analyze the phenomenon and the extent of water's influence on the performance of triacetin synthesis reaction based on the acetic acid conversion produced.Additionally, this research attempts to model the reaction process with a simple mathematical model to understand the phenomena occurring.Observations were conducted using two different batch reactors: one equipped with a condenser (which allowed for water condensation) and the other without a condenser (where water evaporated).The reactions were carried out at temperatures ranging from 90 to 110 C for 4 hours, with a stirring speed of 700 rpm.The reactant ratio varied between 1:3 and 1:5 mol of glycerol per mole of acetic acid.Reaction results were analyzed using acid-base titration and GC MS for acetic acid conversion and the percentage of triacetin produced.This research demonstrated that increasing the reactant ratio to 1:3 mol of glycerol per mole of acetic acid at 90 C and raising the reaction temperature positively influenced the conversion of acetic acid.The reactor without a condenser achieved significantly higher acetic acid conversion compared to the reactor with a condenser, and the optimal reaction kinetics model identified was the second-order kinetics model.This research provides good information regarding the influence of water on reaction performance in triacetin synthesis.The aim of this research is to collaborate with prior studies to enhance the understanding of the triacetin synthesis process.Further observation is needed, as the main product, triacetin, produced is still relatively small compared to the intermediate products, monoacetin and diacetin.