Refined Glycerine

Brief Overview

Refined Glycerine, also known as glycerol or glycerin, is a simple straight-chain sugar alcohol that has three hydroxyl groups, which results in water solubility and hygroscopicity of glycerin. This is a clear, colorless, odorless, high boiling, viscous liquid. It is naturally sweet and has low toxicity. It has a typical melting point and boiling point of 17.8°C and 290°C, respectively. The refined Glycerine density is 1.26 g/cm³. It comes from petrochemical feedstock. Due to its low toxicity and environmental friendliness, it is used in many applications such as food, medicine, cosmetics, and personal care items. It is also a versatile and valuable product from biodiesel production. Each year, about 950,000 tons are produced in the United States and Europe.

Manufacturing Process

Glycerine is obtained from the saponification or transesterification of triglycerides. Triglycerides are esters of glycerol with long-chain carboxylic acids, which are found in fats and oils. The by-products formed are salts of long-chain carboxylic acids. Crude glycerine also comes from the production of biodiesel through the transesterification process. Triglycerides react with alcohol, such as ethanol with small amounts of bases, as a catalyst to give esters of fatty acids and glycerol.

Synthetic glycerine can be obtained from sources other than triglycerides, for example from propylene, via a chlorine process or an epichlorohydrin process, and a chlorine-free process. For the epichlorohydrin process, propylene is chlorinated to form allyl chloride, which is oxidized to produce dichlorohydrins with hypochlorite. Dichlorohydrin then reacts with a strong base to produce epichlorohydrin, which hydrolyzes to glycerine. The chlorine-free process includes obtaining glycerine from acrolein and propylene oxide.

Food Industry

Glycerine is used in foods and beverages to act as a solvent and a preservative. Additionaly, it can create a moist texture and a sweet taste. It is used as a filler in commercial low-fat foods such as cookies and also as a thickening agent in food products such as liqueurs. It is used as a sugar substitute because it does not cause cavities because bacteria do not feed glycerine.

Pharmaceuticals Industry

Glycerine is used to improve smoothness and lubricity and maintain moisture. It is widely used in a variety of medical and pharmaceutical products, such as cough syrup, and personal care products such as mouthwashes. It is also a component of glycerine soap, which adds essential oils for fragrance. Because of the water-retaining properties of glycerine, soap is used by people with sensitive skin.

ban form strong hydrogen bonds with water, so glycerol-water bonds are superior to water-water hydrogen bonds. Therefore, the formation of ice is hindered unless the temperature is very low. This antifreeze is used in automobiles because glycerine is still non-toxic despite the fact that glycerine is replaced by ethylene glycol.

Intermediate chemicals

Glycerine is used in the production of other chemicals such as nitroglycerine for explosives and propellants. It is used in the production of allyl iodide from phosphorus and iodine, which is used in polymers, preservatives, organometallic catalysts, and pharmaceuticals, etc.