New biodiesel process yields useful waste product

A professor from the University of Missouri has developed a process to make propylene glycol using the glycerin that's normally left behind as a waste product from the biodiesel production process. Propylene glycol can be used in a wide variety of products, from non-toxic antifreeze to shampoo and even ice cream. Since its economic value is so much higher than glycerin, the cost of biodiesel can be reduced by up to $0.40 per gallon. The long-term sustainability of this is questionable (as biodiesel production increases, the market might get flooded with propylene glycol), but for the time being, it could be a very significant step towards reducing dependency on fossil fuels.