Mr Ripple
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Some useful information someone had taken the time to put together and post elsewhere.
Thought it was worth sharing.
Vegetable Glycerin (VG) Explained
Glycerin,also known as glycerol, is an organic compound of carbon, hydrogen and oxygenwith the chemical formula C3H8O3.
It is produced industrially, usually as a by-product of soap manufacture, from oils and fats.
It can be made from animal fat or, in the case of vegetable glycerin, vegetable oil.
The source of the raw material does not affect the chemistry of the final product,but, since glycerin is widely used in foods and medications, this distinctionis important for vegetarians.
It is also used as a sweetener and as aningredient in a number of cosmetic products.
Structure and Properties
The compound consists of a chain of three carbon atoms, to which are attachedhydrogen atoms on one side and hydroxyl (OH) groups on the other.
The three OH groups form hydrogen bonds between molecules, giving the compound a syrup-like viscosity and allowing it to dissolve easily in water.
Chemically speaking, glycerin is an alcohol, but for food purposes, it is classed as acarbohydrate because it provides calories and is not a fat or a protein.
Pure glycerol does not crystallize easily, but it can be chilled to form a solidthat melts at about 18°C.
It lowers the freezing point of water, however, by anamount that depends on the concentration.
For example, a 66.7% solution freezes at -46.1°C.
For this reason, it can be used as non-toxic anti freeze and for storing sensitive liquids, such as enzymes, in laboratory freezers.
Manufacture
Glycerol forms the “backbone” of many lipids, or oils and fats, and there arevarious processes that can be used to extract it from these substances.
Most glycerin is made as a by-product of the manufacture of soap.
In this process, either animal fat or vegetable oil can be used.
It is heated with a strong alkali, usually caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), which produces soap and a solution of glycerin in water.
This solution is then purified by distillation.
Vegetable glycerin can also be made directly from vegetable oil, often coconut or palm oil, by heating it to a high temperature under pressure with water.
The glycerin backbone splits off from the fatty acids, and is absorbed by the water, from which it is then isolated and distilled to obtain the pure product.Food-grade vegetable glycerin is 99.7% pure, with the remaining 0.3% being water. The interest in biodiesel fuel has resulted in the production of large amounts of low quality, non-food grade vegetable glycerin as a by-product.
Purifying the liquid is not considered economically viable and it cannot be casuallydisposed of as it contains toxic methanol, which is used in the manufacturing process.
As of 2013, there is much research into finding a use for this substance, something that does not require high purity glycerin.
One promising possibility is to use it as a precursor in the production of some useful plastics.
Main Uses
Glycerinis widely used in the food industry for two main reasons: it has a sweet taste, but has fewer calories than sugar; and it is hygroscopic, that is, it absorbs moisture from the air.
It is therefore used both to sweeten foods and to keep them moist.
The compound is metabolized more slowly than sucrose, the type of sugar mostcommonly found in candy and in processed foods, and therefore does not have such a dramatic effect on blood sugar levels.
It also does not contribute to bacterial tooth decay.
Foods marketed as being low in carbohydrates are often sweetened with glycerin.
Another major use is in the cosmetics industry.
Due toits hygroscopic properties, it is used in many moisturizing skin products, as it seems to help relieve dry skin problems by drawing water up from the lower layers.
It i salso a component of glycerin soap, which is often used by people with sensitiveskin.
Lotions containing this compound are also popular.
Vegetable glycerin can be used as a substitute for ethanol, the chemical commonly called “alcohol”, in making botanical extracts, such as herbal essences.
It acts as a solvent that dissolves the substances of interest from the raw plantmaterial. The advantage of this is that people who do not want to be exposed to alcohol can still have access to the botanical products. The disadvantage is that the resulting products have a much shorter shelf life.
There are also medical uses for vegetable glycerin.
It is a common ingredient in cough mixtures, due to its soothing properties.
Other applications are as a topical remedy for a number of skin problems, including psoriasis, rashes, burns, bedsores and cuts; as a laxative, in the form of suppositories; and to treat gum disease, as it inactivates the associatedbacterial colonies.
Glycerol
FromWikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
"Glycerine"and "Glycerin"
Glycerol
IUPAC name
propane-1,2,3-triol
Other names: glycerine, glycerine, propanetriol
Identifiers
CAS number
56-81-5
Pub Chem
753
ChemSpider
733
UNII
PDC6A3C0OX
Drug Bank
DB04077
KEGG
D00028
ChEBI
CHEBI:17522
ChEMBL
CHEMBL692
ATC code
A06AG04, A06AX01, QA16QA03
Properties
Molecular formula
C3H8O3
Molar mass
92.09 g mol−1
Appearance
colourless liquid
hygroscopic
Odour
odourless
Density
1.261 g/cm3
Melting point
17.8 °C, 291 K, 64 °F
Boiling point
290 °C, 563 K, 554 °F
Refractive index (nD)
1.4746
Viscosity
1.412 Pa·s
Hazards
MSDS
External MSDS
NFPA 704
1
1
0
Flash point
160 °C (320 °F) (closed cup)
176 °C (349 °F) (open cup)
Supplementary data page
Structure and
properties
n, εr, etc.
Thermodynamic
data
Phase behaviour
Solid, liquid, gas
Spectral data
UV, IR, NMR, MS
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in theirstandard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Thought it was worth sharing.
Vegetable Glycerin (VG) Explained
Glycerin,also known as glycerol, is an organic compound of carbon, hydrogen and oxygenwith the chemical formula C3H8O3.
It is produced industrially, usually as a by-product of soap manufacture, from oils and fats.
It can be made from animal fat or, in the case of vegetable glycerin, vegetable oil.
The source of the raw material does not affect the chemistry of the final product,but, since glycerin is widely used in foods and medications, this distinctionis important for vegetarians.
It is also used as a sweetener and as aningredient in a number of cosmetic products.
Structure and Properties
The compound consists of a chain of three carbon atoms, to which are attachedhydrogen atoms on one side and hydroxyl (OH) groups on the other.
The three OH groups form hydrogen bonds between molecules, giving the compound a syrup-like viscosity and allowing it to dissolve easily in water.
Chemically speaking, glycerin is an alcohol, but for food purposes, it is classed as acarbohydrate because it provides calories and is not a fat or a protein.
Pure glycerol does not crystallize easily, but it can be chilled to form a solidthat melts at about 18°C.
It lowers the freezing point of water, however, by anamount that depends on the concentration.
For example, a 66.7% solution freezes at -46.1°C.
For this reason, it can be used as non-toxic anti freeze and for storing sensitive liquids, such as enzymes, in laboratory freezers.
Manufacture
Glycerol forms the “backbone” of many lipids, or oils and fats, and there arevarious processes that can be used to extract it from these substances.
Most glycerin is made as a by-product of the manufacture of soap.
In this process, either animal fat or vegetable oil can be used.
It is heated with a strong alkali, usually caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), which produces soap and a solution of glycerin in water.
This solution is then purified by distillation.
Vegetable glycerin can also be made directly from vegetable oil, often coconut or palm oil, by heating it to a high temperature under pressure with water.
The glycerin backbone splits off from the fatty acids, and is absorbed by the water, from which it is then isolated and distilled to obtain the pure product.Food-grade vegetable glycerin is 99.7% pure, with the remaining 0.3% being water. The interest in biodiesel fuel has resulted in the production of large amounts of low quality, non-food grade vegetable glycerin as a by-product.
Purifying the liquid is not considered economically viable and it cannot be casuallydisposed of as it contains toxic methanol, which is used in the manufacturing process.
As of 2013, there is much research into finding a use for this substance, something that does not require high purity glycerin.
One promising possibility is to use it as a precursor in the production of some useful plastics.
Main Uses
Glycerinis widely used in the food industry for two main reasons: it has a sweet taste, but has fewer calories than sugar; and it is hygroscopic, that is, it absorbs moisture from the air.
It is therefore used both to sweeten foods and to keep them moist.
The compound is metabolized more slowly than sucrose, the type of sugar mostcommonly found in candy and in processed foods, and therefore does not have such a dramatic effect on blood sugar levels.
It also does not contribute to bacterial tooth decay.
Foods marketed as being low in carbohydrates are often sweetened with glycerin.
Another major use is in the cosmetics industry.
Due toits hygroscopic properties, it is used in many moisturizing skin products, as it seems to help relieve dry skin problems by drawing water up from the lower layers.
It i salso a component of glycerin soap, which is often used by people with sensitiveskin.
Lotions containing this compound are also popular.
Vegetable glycerin can be used as a substitute for ethanol, the chemical commonly called “alcohol”, in making botanical extracts, such as herbal essences.
It acts as a solvent that dissolves the substances of interest from the raw plantmaterial. The advantage of this is that people who do not want to be exposed to alcohol can still have access to the botanical products. The disadvantage is that the resulting products have a much shorter shelf life.
There are also medical uses for vegetable glycerin.
It is a common ingredient in cough mixtures, due to its soothing properties.
Other applications are as a topical remedy for a number of skin problems, including psoriasis, rashes, burns, bedsores and cuts; as a laxative, in the form of suppositories; and to treat gum disease, as it inactivates the associatedbacterial colonies.
Glycerol
FromWikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
"Glycerine"and "Glycerin"
Glycerol
IUPAC name
propane-1,2,3-triol
Other names: glycerine, glycerine, propanetriol
Identifiers
CAS number
56-81-5
Pub Chem
753
ChemSpider
733
UNII
PDC6A3C0OX
Drug Bank
DB04077
KEGG
D00028
ChEBI
CHEBI:17522
ChEMBL
CHEMBL692
ATC code
A06AG04, A06AX01, QA16QA03
Properties
Molecular formula
C3H8O3
Molar mass
92.09 g mol−1
Appearance
colourless liquid
hygroscopic
Odour
odourless
Density
1.261 g/cm3
Melting point
17.8 °C, 291 K, 64 °F
Boiling point
290 °C, 563 K, 554 °F
Refractive index (nD)
1.4746
Viscosity
1.412 Pa·s
Hazards
MSDS
External MSDS
NFPA 704
1
1
0
Flash point
160 °C (320 °F) (closed cup)
176 °C (349 °F) (open cup)
Supplementary data page
Structure and
properties
n, εr, etc.
Thermodynamic
data
Phase behaviour
Solid, liquid, gas
Spectral data
UV, IR, NMR, MS
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in theirstandard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)