A method of producing a solid glycerol derived material includes the steps ofcombining glycerol with a metal oxide,the glycerol having a water content of between about 5 and 50%, and the rateof combination of the glycerol and the metal oxideand the amount of the metal oxide being selected so that at least part of thewater present in the glycerol reacts with the metaloxide in an exothermic reaction and at least part is driven off by heatproduced in the exothermic reaction to produce the solidglycerol derived material.
