Glycerol as carbon source for production of added-value compounds

Abstract

Glycerol and crude glycerol from the biodiesel industry have become large scale and inexpensive products making them very attractive for biotechnological use of these carbon sources. Glycerol catabolic pathways (aerobic and anaerobic) in microorganisms (bacteria such as Klebsiella, Escherichia coli, Clostridia, or yeast) are discussed in the context of products which can be derived from glycerol with good to excellent productivities. Important products are dihydroxyacetone, 1,3-propanediol, acetol, 3-hydroxypropionic acid, ethanol, succinate, malate, aromatic amino acids, hydrogen, polyhydroxyalkanoates, lipids, various natural products, and novel fine chemicals. Glycerol and crude glycerol have become attractive carbon sources for biotechnological uses.