Novel anaerobic digestion induced by bacterial components for value-added byproducts from high-loading glycerol

► Glycerol readily decomposed by fermentation induced by sewage sludge. ► Glycerol anaerobically digested with Escherichia coli and yeast as fermentation promoters. ► Hydrogen, 1,3-propanediol and various organic acids produced using this method. ► Method could be used to obtain value-added products from glycerol degradation.