Fermentation processes, combined with traditional recovery methods, are emerging as a successful path to biobased coproducts from biodiesel production. Worldwide, interest in industrial biotechnology grows as new technologies prove product capabilities and economics.

Glycerin is one of the most widely available chemicals in the world, touting a production of more than 2 billion pounds1 and growing. As the biodiesel industry well knows, the supply of glycerin will continue to dwarf demand until more than 5 billion pounds is expected to hit the world by 20201. Prices of glycerin in the U.S. have either been widely fluctuating or painfully low, reflecting a dependence on soybeans, refining capacity and biofuels policy, but predominantly reflecting the large supply of glycerin entering the U.S. marketplace.

In 2008, biodiesel crude glycerin production reached approximately 251 kilotons in the U.S., on top of the estimated 150 kilotons of glycerin from nonbiodiesel sources2,3. U.S. demand for glycerin