Catalysis in glycerol: a survey of recent advances

There is currently a significant increase in the use of glycerol as a renewable solvent for catalytic reactions. Glycerol has often been the solvent of choice in both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalyses, despite its high viscosity at ambient temperature and the low solubility of highly hydrophobic reagents found in glycerol. Its biodegradability and non-toxicity have led to reports of improved reaction performance and selectivity, as well as easier product separation and effective catalyst recycling. All relevant advances in this emerging field of “green” catalysis are thoroughly reviewed below.