Glycerin

Glycerol molecules [C3H5 (OH) 3] contain hydroxyl groups (OH-) attached to carbon atoms, the substance is classified as an alcohol. Also known as glycerin, glycerol occurs in the form of glycerol esters, or glycerides, in all fats and natural oils.

In fact, olive oil was the substance in which glycerol was first discovered in 1783 by Carl Wilhelm Scheele while he was studying a variety of fruit and vegetable materials.

 

Michel Eugene Chevreul, a pioneer in the chemical analysis of fats, was the first scientist, who discovered that all animal fats break down into fatty acids and glycerin through the process called hydrolysis. Although most glycerol is still produced along with soap, large quantities are now synthesized from propylene, a hydrocarbon made from petroleum.

Charles Friedel (1832-1899), the French organic chemist who conducted the first thorough research on alcohols, discovered a method for synthesizing glycerol from propylene in 1871.

 

TYPES OF GLYCERIN

 

NATURAL GLYCERIN
Natural Glycerin is obtained as a by-product during the production of Soaps, Fatty Acids, and Fatty Acid Methyl Esters.

 

SYNTHETIC GLYCERIN
When petroleum is distilled, propylene comes off as a top fraction. Glycerin is made by adding chlorine to the molecule and then hydrolysing the trichloropropane produced.

 

GRADES OF GLYCERIN

• CHEMICALLY PURE (CP) with a GLYCEROL content of 99%.

• INDUSTRIAL WHITE (IW) with a GLYCEROL content of 98%.

• PALE STRAW (PS) technical with a GLYCEROL content of 98%.

• DYNAMITE GLYCERIN with a GLYCEROL content of 98.7%

 

APPLICATIONS OF GLYCERIN

 

Food and Beverages
In foods and beverages, glycerine functions as a humectant, solvent, sweetener, and preservative. It acts as a solvent for flavours and food colors in soft drinks and confections and as a humectant and softening agent in candy, cakes, and casings for meats and cheese. Glycerine is also used in dry pet foods to help retain moisture and enhance palatability.

 

Drugs
It functions as a solvent, moistener, humectant, and bodying agent in tinctures, elixirs, ointments, and Capsules for medicinal use, which are plasticized with glycerine, are another important application.

Medically, glycerine serves as an emollient and demulcent. Nitro glycerine as a treatment for bronchial asthma in dogs.

 

Cosmetics and Toiletries

Glycerine is a major toothpaste ingredient, preventing drying out and hardening in the tube and around the cap threads.  Skin lotions, shaving creams and soaps, deodorants, facial clays that use glycerin.

It is a useful ingredient because glycerin holds moisture and helps a product to hold its form. It allows smooth application to skin and acts a preservative. Glycerin is also used in hair products like shampoo and conditioner to provide softness and lustre to hair.

 

Tobacco
A glycerine content of about 3% keeps tobacco moist and soft to prevent breaking and crumbling during processing and to ensure freshness in packaged cigarettes and other tobacco products.

 

Textiles
Glycerine is a textile conditioning agent used widely in lubricating, sizing, and softening yarn and fabric. Its effectiveness in these and similar applications is mainly due to its viscosity and hygroscopicity. Glycerine is also successfully used to lubricate many kinds of fibres in spinning, twist setting, knitting and weaving operations.

 

Glue and Adhesives
Glycerin has strong hydrogen-bonding properties and acts as a plasticizer when mixed with glues to make it flexible and prevents the glue from completely drying out. These properties make glycerin a popular additive for labels, envelope flaps, book binding, and sealing food and drink cartons.