Process to separate 1,3-propanediol or glycerol, or a mixture thereof from a biological mixture

A method for separating 1,3-propanediol, glycerol or a mixture of 1,3-propanediol and glycerol selectively from a mixture comprising the steps of:

• (a) contacting a mixture containing a mixture of 1,3-propanediol and glycerol with a sufficient amount of a first zeolite selected from the group consisting of MFI, MEL, BEA, MOR, FAU, LTL, GME, FER, MAZ, OFF, AFI, AEL, and AET, and materials with the same topology as these zeolites, the zeolite selected on the basis of its selectivity to 1,3-propanediol and glycerol approaching unity;
• (b) contacting tie first zeolite of step (a) with a desorbant of an ethanol:water solution or any C1-C4 alcohol:water solution;
• (c) collecting the 1,3-propanediol and glycerol eluted from the zeolite in step (b);
• (d) repeating steps (a) through (c) at least one time with the 1,3-propanediol and glycerol collected in step (c);
• and
• (e) performing step (a)′ by contacting the mixture of 1,3-propanediol and glycerol of steps (c) or (d) with a second zeolite to selectively adsorb 1,3-propanediol or glycerol, (b)′ contacting the second zeolite of step (a)′ with a desorbant of an ethanol:water solution or of any C1-C4 alcohol:water solution, (c)′ collecting the 1,3-propanediol or glycerol eluted from the zeolite in step (b)′, and (d)′ repeating the series of steps (a)′ through (c)′ at least one time to obtain a purified 1,3-propanediol or glycerol.