How is glycerol formed?

Answer 1

There are two basic ways glycerol forms. The first is natural, by the combinaation of fats and oils. The second is by sythesizing it, by a cehmical process that begins by chlorinating propylene, which gives allyl chloride, which is oxidized with hypochlorite to dichlorohydrins, which reacts with a strong base to give epichlorohydrin. Epichlorohydrin is then hydrolyzed to give glycerol.

Answer 2

Glycerol is formed through the hydrolysis of fats and oils, releasing glycerol and fatty acids. This process typically involves treating fats with water or an alkaline solution to break down the ester bonds between the glycerol and fatty acids. Glycerol is then separated from the fatty acids through a process called distillation or extraction.