Glycerol

Glycerol /ˈɡlɪsərɒl/ (also called glycerine or glycerin; see spelling differences) is a simple polyol (sugar alcohol) compound. It is a colorless, odorless, viscous liquid that is widely used in pharmaceutical formulations. Glycerol has three hydroxyl groups that are responsible for its solubility in water and its hygroscopic nature. The glycerol backbone is central to all lipids known as triglycerides. Glycerol is sweet-tasting and is non-toxic.

Production

Glycerol can be either synthetic, or derived from plants (usually soybeans or palm) or animals (usually tallow). It can also be a blend of both animal and vegetable oils. Approximately 950,000 tons per year are produced in the United States and Europe; 350,000 tons of glycerol were produced per year in the United States alone from 2000 to 2004. Production will increase as the EU directive 2003/30/EC is implemented, which requires the replacement of 5.75% of petroleum fuels with biofuel across all Member States by 2010, as glycerol is a byproduct in the production of biodiesel. It is projected that by the year 2020, production will be six times more than demand.

Glycerol (data page)

This page provides supplementary chemical data on glycerol.

Material Safety Data Sheet

The handling of this chemical may incur notable safety precautions. It is highly recommended that you seek the Material Safety Datasheet (MSDS) for this chemical from a reliable source and follow its directions.

Structure and properties

Thermodynamic properties

Vapor pressure of liquid

Table data obtained from CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 44th ed.

log₁₀ of Glycerol vapor pressure. Uses formula: obtained from CHERIC

Freezing point of aqueous solutions

Table data obtained from Lange's Handbook of Chemistry, 10th ed. Specific gravity is at 15°C, referenced to water at 15°C.

See details on: Freezing Points of Glycerine-Water Solutions Dow Chemical

Distillation data

Spectral data

References