Raw glycerol re-valuing through etherification with isobutylene: process design and techno-economical assessment

•Production of tert-butyl ethers of glycerol by etherification with isobutylene.•The production cost is evaluated in Colombian context using different configuration.•Techno-economic assessment to evaluate the most promising configuration.•The production prices varied from 0.8 to 1.38 USD/kg for processes considered.•Refining crude glycerol and a mixture of C4 and isobutylene as raw materials.