NBB and SDA increase amount of Glycerin Innovation Award

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) has announced the approval of funding to double the amount of the Glycerin Innovation Award starting in 2006. The award will increase from $2,500 to $5,000. The Glycerin Innovation Award recognizes outstanding achievement for research into new applications for glycerin with particular emphasis on commercial viability. "We are pleased to partner with the Soap and Detergent Association (SDA) to double the funding they have provided on an annual basis over the last three years," said Steve Howell, technical director for NBB and membership chairman of American Oil Chemists Society (AOCS) Industrial Oil Products (IOP) Division. Howell said NBB is tightening details with SDA and AOCS, and will issue a formal announcement soon.

"With the dramatic increase in biodiesel production, increased high value uses for glycerin will assist in the profitability of biodiesel operations," said Joe Jobe, executive director of NBB. For every 10 pounds (or about 1.4 gallons) of biodiesel, one pound of glycerin is produced.

"Worldwide biodiesel production has already driven glycerin prices low enough to where it is now re-taking market share of other lower priced petrochemicals like ethylene glycol and propylene glycol," Howell said. "There is a natural floor for glycerin prices that we are essentially at worldwide. Most prospective biodiesel companies are already taking this into account in their economics, but higher value glycerin uses would help both the new biodiesel businesses and the existing oleochemical businesses who produce glycerin byproduct for detergents and soaps."

This Glycerin Innovation Award is administered by the AOCS IOP Division. It goes to the individual researcher not the company or organization-who develops the most innovative new use for glycerin that has commercial potential. It has been solely sponsored over the last three years by SDA, the trade association representing manufacturers of household, industrial and institutional cleaning products; their ingredients and finished packaging; and oleochemical producers. The award review panel consists of members of the AOCS IOP Division and SDA's Oleochemical Committee.