Did you know that a byproduct of biodiesel production can be transformed into a key ingredient for paints, coatings, and even acrylic nails? In this episode of Papers Illuminated – Člankarnica, we sit down with Maja Gabrič from the Department of Catalysis and Chemical Reaction Engineering (National Institute of Chemistry) to discuss how innovative catalysts are turning waste glycerol into valuable, bio-based acrylic acid.We dive deep into their latest research published in the journal Carbon, focusing on how the structure of carbon supports, often seen as "invisible" players in catalysis, actually dictates the success of the entire chemical reaction.In this episode, we discuss:The Big Picture: Why shifting from fossil-fuel-based production to sustainable, bio-based chemicals is a necessity for the industry.From Waste to Everyday life: The chemical journey from waste oil to the acrylic acid, that is used in everyday, for example in paints, textiles and personal care.The "Invisible" Game Changer: Why the choice of carbon support (from activated carbon to nanotubes) makes or breaks the catalyst's performance.The Breakthrough: How Maja’s team achieved up to 83% selectivity using specific mesoporous carbon supports, while others remained almost inactive.Future Frontiers: The challenge of catalyst leaching and Maja’s "dream experiment"—monitoring rhenium’s oxidation states in real-time (operando) under high pressure and temperature.Join us for a fascinating look at how fundamental chemistry is solving global sustainability challenges one molecule at a time.Paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0008622326000187