Glycerol: a solvent and a building block of choice for microwave and ultrasound irradiation procedures

Glycerol has the potential to be both an excellent renewable solvent in modern chemical processes and a versatile building block in biorefineries. Both of these potential applications may be made easier and more convenient by microwave and/or ultrasound irradiation. As glycerol is a nontoxic, biodegradable compound, it will provide important environmental benefits to new platform products. Furthermore, significant markets in polymers, polyethers, fuel additives, nanoparticles and other valuable compounds may well be opened up by cutting down the high purification cost of glycerol. The aim of this review is to highlight the best literature examples of glycerol being used, either as a solvent or as a reagent, to give interesting results under microwave or ultrasound irradiation.