Glycerol, a renewable by-product of biodiesel production, is an increasingly attractive bio-feedstock for conversion into value-added chemicals. Among its transformations, acetalisation to produce solketal and acetal holds promise due to their use as fuel additives, solvents, and polymer precursors. This review critically examines the properties, synthesis, and applications of glycerol, with a focus on heterogeneous catalytic acetalisation using catalysts such as heteropoly acids, metal oxides, and polymer-supported materials. It also analyzes how reaction parameters such as temperature, molar ratio, water content, and time affect conversion and selectivity. Despite considerable advances, problems persist. Catalyst deactivation, lengthy reaction times, low product yields, and the negative influence of water continue to hamper process effectiveness because of an inherently low equilibrium constant. Another gap is that most of the researchers in literature utilise pure glycerol, while crude glycerol from the biodiesel process contains impurities that deactivate catalysts and necessitate stronger changes in the process. Research in the future must focus on the use of continuous flow systems, recyclable catalysts and reactor systems with enhanced features. Methods such as azeotropic water removal techniques through in-situ water removal or using acetone in excess can enhance selectivity and yield. Further, the adoption of green synthesis routes to catalysts and the acceptance of crude glycerol as a feedstock are imperative for large-scale and sustainable operations. Overcoming these challenges can enable glycerol acetalisation to play a crucial role in life circle analysis (LCA), and circular bioeconomy approaches that integrate environmental benefits with economic value in the transition toward renewable, bio-based industrial processes. Advancements in this area highlight glycerol’s potential in sustainable industrial processes and future biorefineries.     Keywords: Acetalisation, biodiesel, glycerol, heterogeneous catalysis, solketal

Figure 1. Global biodiesel and glycerol production and prices between 2003 to 2020 with acknowledgement of (Chilakamarry et al., 2021).

Figure 2. Some applications of glycerol production to other products

Figure 3. chematic catalytic transformations of glycerol to high-value chemicals

Source: Lawan Mohammed Mustapha, Irmawati Ramli, Yun Hin Taufiq-Yap, Ernee Noryana Muhamad, Mohd Rafein Zakaria, and  Noor Armylisas Abu Hassan (2026). Glycerol Acetalisation for Sustainable Biorefineries: A Review on Catalysts and Reaction Parameters. Pertanika J. Sci. & Technol. 34 (1): 143 - 176    Link : https://doi.org/

Date of Input: 19/05/2026 | Updated: 19/05/2026 | ainzubaidah