%0 Journal Article %T Editorial: Glycerol: Problem or solution? - That is the question/Glicerol: problema ou solu o? Eis a quest o %A Adilson Beatriz %J Orbital : the Electronic Journal of Chemistry %D 2009 %I Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul %X In 2004 the Brazilian Program for Biodiesel Production and Use (PNPB) was launched by the Federal Government, aimed at the production of alternative, non-fossil fuels and, more broadly, at the country¡¯s economic development [1]. On January 13, 2005, Law 11097 was passed, establishing the inclusion of biodiesel in Brazil¡¯s energy balance and mandating the addition of 2% biodiesel (B2) to the composition of diesel by 2008, a ratio to be increased to 5% by 2013 (B5) [1, 2]. Because all diesel oil sold in Brazil has contained as much as 3% of biodiesel (B3) since 2008, a glycerol surplus of the order of 100 000 tons a year is now projected for the Brazilian market¡ªa huge increase from the traditional domestic production of around 30 000 tons a year. In 2013, when the B5 standard goes into effect, the yearly output of glycerol is forecast at 250 000 tons [3]. In the European Union, fuels for vehicles will be required to contain at least 5.75% of biocomponents obtained from renewable sources by the end of 2010. If this target is achieved, it should increase the European demand for biodiesel to over 10 million tons a year by 2010, leading to an annual generation of nearly 1 million tons of glycerol as a co-product........... %K glycerol %K biodiesel %U http://www.sumarios.org/download/pdf/31847_4107.PDF