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2013wastemanagementjudges 2013wastemanagementjudges

Jul 10, 2013
11:14

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Thank you for your entry and we appreciate the work you're doing in New Orleans. This proposal focuses on the use of glycerol/glycerin, a byproduct of biodiesel production, for a variety of consumer products (soaps, detergents, etc.). However, we need clarification on the chemistry of what you are proposing. What is the major ingredient in the soap production,a fat or oil (often palm oil due to its chemistry and low cost)? Also, the soap production process itself can result in excess glycerol, although the "glycerin" soaps (e.g., translucent soaps) have more glycerin left in them than the more opaque soaps. Is this oil-based soap with some glycerine from biodiesel added? If so, the carbon impact/impact on climate change would be minimal. Another concern is that the biodiesel-sourced glycerol must be purified, which would make it an extremely expensive source of a commodity chemical compared to current open market sources where it is readily available at low cost. Is this an overly expensive way to get glycerol?

Tippy Tippens

Jul 15, 2013
12:55

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Proposal
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Hello Waste Management Judges! Thank you for your comment & apologies for my delayed reply, I was out of my office the past few days. The detergents/soaps would be a glycerin base (from biodiesel manufacture) combined w/ organic aloe and fair trade olive oil. Currently we use this mix in BirdProject Soaps (http://www.matternola.com/birdproject/), but the recipes would be modified for liquid soaps and detergent use. Palm oil would not be used due to its poor effects on society and environment. It is the intent of the project to help with a building glut of glycerol, which is the natural by-product of biodiesel manufacture which already occurs locally. Currently, producers pay to have the glycerol removed. To add the step of converting the glycerol to glycerin has not appeared to be an expensive addition. This would create a benefit to local companies that already 1. collect restaurant's waste oil & 2. produce biodiesel glycerin. (http://sustainablechemeng.blogspot.com/2011/06/wanted-glycerine-by-product.html) Please let me know if this sufficiently answered your questions & happy to supply further info! All my best & many thanks, Tippy Tippens