Raw material base for the production of food and pharmacological glycerin

This paper presents a comprehensive analytical review of feedstock sources for the production of food-grade and pharma ceutical glycerin, an important component in a wide range of products. The study covers six key feedstock categories: vegetable oils (palm, soybean, rapeseed, coconut), animal fats (beef, pork, poultry), biodiesel by-products, petrochemical feedstock (propylene), food industry waste, and microbiological synthesis using strains of Yarrowia lipolytica and Candida krusei . The results indicate that glycerin content ranges from 5–15% in natural sources to 40–85% in crude glycerol derived from biodiesel. The chemical compos i tion of various types of raw materials was investigated, and the main groups of impurities were identified, particularly fatty acids, methanol, salts, catalysts, phospholipids, sulfur-containing compounds, and heavy metals, which significantly affect the quality of the final product. A comparative analysis of technological approaches to raw material processing was conducted, including alkaline and enzymatic hydrolysis, transesterification, and the synthetic method, considering glycerin yield, the purity of the final product, energy consumption, and environmental impact. Glycerin purification methods were systematized, including vacuum distillation, ion exchange, adsorption, and membrane filtration, and their effectiveness in achieving pharmacopoeial purity standards (99.5%) was assessed. A critical analysis of modern scientific research identified promising areas for developing the raw material base, particularly the use of selective adsorbents for purification, integration of biodiesel and glycerin production, hydrolysis technologies, hybrid membrane methods, and microbiological synthesis based on waste. Economic analysis showed that the cost of glycerin obtained as a by-product of biodiesel production is 40–60% lower compared to its synthetic counterpart. However, the need for additional purification to meet pharmacopoeial quality standards reduces overall profitability by 15–25%. The practical significance of this study lies in its potential to help manufacturers find optimal sources of raw materials with high glycerin content to ensure the quality of the final product. Additionally, this study will facilitate the development of appropriate technological solutions for the optimal process of glycerin production from selected raw materials.