Glycerol, also known as glycerin or glycerine, is a simple polyol compound. It is widely used in pharmaceutical formulations, personal care products, foods, and many industrial applications. In this article, we will discuss the various properties and uses of this versatile organic compound.

Chemical Properties

Glycerol is a clear, colorless, viscous liquid that is sweet-tasting and odorless. Its chemical formula is C3H8O3. It is moderately water-soluble and hygroscopic in nature. Its boiling point is 290°C which makes it less volatile compared to other mono-alcohols. Some important properties of glycerol include:

- It is a triol compound having three hydroxyl groups.

- Its molecular weight is 92.09 g/mol.

- It is highly viscous as compared to water and other alcohols.

- It is non-toxic and does not undergo oxidation easily.

Production

Glycerol is produced worldwide as a byproduct of biodiesel production. It accounts for approximately 10% of the total weight of biodiesel. The most commonly used process for its production involves:

Transesterification Process

In this process, triglycerides present in vegetable oils and animal fats are reacted with methanol in the presence of a basic catalyst like sodium or potassium hydroxide. This reaction produces fatty acid methyl esters (biodiesel) and crude glycerol. The crude glycerol obtained contains 80-85% glycerol along with other components like methanol, catalyst residues, glycerides, soaps etc. It undergoes further purification using processes like distillation, ion exchange etc. to produce refined glycerol.

Uses

Due to its versatile properties, glycerol finds applications across many industries as discussed below:

Pharmaceutical Industry

Glycerol is widely used as an excipient in suppositories, cough syrups, oral liquids etc. It acts as a moisturizing, sweetening and thickening agent. It also helps in improving mouthfeel and adhesion of formulations.

Personal Care Products

Skin care products like soaps, lotions, creams extensively use glycerol as it possesses humectant and moisturizing properties. It helps hydrate the skin by attracting water. Glycerol also finds use in dental care products, hair care products and deodorants.

Food Industry

Glycerol is employed as a humectant in chewing gums, candies and frostings. It prevents these products from hardening by inhibiting moisture loss. As a sweetener, glycerol masks bitter tastes in drinks and supplements. It is also used as a thickening agent.

Industrial Applications

In the industrial domain, glycerol has uses as a polyol compound in the manufacturing of solvents, hydraulic and brake fluids, printing inks, polymers etc. It acts as a co-solvent and humectant. Some engineering applications of glycerol are discussed below:

Glycerol in Explosives

Glyceryl trinitrate is an important explosive material used in the production of nitroglycerin. It has a high explosive power due to the presence of three oxygen-containing nitrate ester functional groups.

Glycerol as a Deicer

The low freezing point and hygroscopic nature of Glycerol makes it suitable as a deicer fluid. Many airports use propylene glycol-glycerol based deicers for removing snow and ice from aircraft surfaces.

Glycerol in Concrete Production

Research has shown that partial replacement of water with glycerol in concrete improves its durability and other mechanical properties. Its internal curing effect increases long term strength. It has a plasticizing effect as well.

Biopolymer Production

The hydroxyl groups in glycerol serve as initiation sites for alcohols like propanediol or butanediol. This produces biodegradable polymers like polyesters which find usage as bioplastics, textiles, adhesives etc.

Glycerol Market and Future Outlook

The global glycerol market was estimated at USD 1.5 billion in 2020 and is expected to display a steady growth rate due to increased biodiesel production worldwide. Emerging applications in biopolymers, pharmaceuticals, personal care are driving its demand. With sustainable production via bio-routes and novel applications on the horizon, the future of glycerol as a platform chemical looks promising.

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