Indian Institute of Chemical Technology has developed a process for producing Glycerol carbonate, a fast-growing wonder chemical, which has many industrial applications. The process uses dimethyl carbonate and urea as carbonating agents.
Glycerol, a by-product from many chemical industries, is an abundantly available and inexpensive chemical in the market. It can yield many other chemicals, the most promising of which is Glycerol carbonate. Inexpensive glycerol carbonate could serve as a source of new polymeric materials for the production of polycarbonates and polyurethanes.
Apart from that, GC is also a valuable compound for the production of glycidol which is widely used in pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and plastics industries. In addition, GC is a potential renewable substitute for petroleum-based chemicals such as ethylene carbonate or propylene carbonate which are novel components in synthesizing CO2 separation membrane.
Glycerol carbonate is a relatively new material to the chemical industry and could serve as a monomer for the synthesis of new functionalised polymers.
Glycerol carbonate (4–hydroxymethyl–1,3–dioxolan–2–one) is one of the most promising chemical, due to its ideal physico chemical properties such as high stability, low toxicity, good biodegradability, high boiling point and low inflammability. Glycerol carbonate (GC) has many applications in the synthesis of polycarbonates, polyurethanes, surfactants, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
Glycerol and Dimethyl carbonate/urea, are the raw materials used.
For details, contact:
Dr. S Chandrasekhar
Director, Head of the Institute
CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad – 500 007
Phone: +91 40 27193030
