Glycerin Uses

The Glycerin or propanetriol, organic chemical compound of formula (CH₂OH) - (CHOH) - (CH₂OH) is widely diffused in nature, constituting fats and oils, which are esters of Glycerin with Organic Acids (Glycerides).

Obtaining Glycerin

By saponification of these Natural Glycerides, Glycerin and Soap are obtained:

C₃H₅(OOC-C₁₇H₃₅)₃ + 3NaOH -> 3C₁₇H₃₅COONa + C₃H₅(OH)₃

Triestearin + Sodium Hydroxide -> Sodium Stearate + Glycerin

In the Twitchell process, the fats are boiled with water in the presence of a complex catalyst, obtaining the fatty acids and glycerin in their pure state. Glycerin can be obtained synthetically from Propylene (C₃H₆) and also by special fermentation of sugars in the presence of Bisulfite.

Germany, deficient in fat, transformed in its last two wars thousands of tons of sugar into glycerin, through fermentation, to cover its needs for Nitroglycerin.

In another method, Allyl Chloride can in turn add chlorine to form Trichloropropane, which hydrolyzes directly to Glycerin.

Characteristics and Properties of Glycerin

Glycerin is a colorless, viscous, sweet-tasting liquid, very hygroscopic, miscible with Water and Alcohol, but immiscible with Ether.

Glycerin Uses

Glycerin is used as such in Medicine, in the preparation of cosmetics (by dissolving many substances that can thus penetrate through the skin), in preparations, inks for tampon, as a preservative of Tobacco and in the Manufacture of Nitroglycerine. One of the most prominent and demanded is Nitroglycerin Manufacturing.

Nitroglycerin Manufacturing

The action of Nitric Acid HNO₃ concentrated on Glycerin, in the presence of Sulfuric Acid H₂SW₄ concentrated as a dehydrating agent, gives rise to Nitroglycerin or Glyceryl Trinitrate C₃H₅(NOT₃)₃, which is an oily liquid that explodes very easily on percussion and is difficult to handle.

When mixed with infusorial soil, "kieselgur", it forms dynamite, which is easier to handle. Since kieselguhr is an inert substance that attenuates the potency of Nitroglycerin, it is currently used an absorbent mixture made up of wood pulp (a fuel) and an oxidizing substance such as Potassium Nitrate KNO₃ o Ammonium NH₄NOT₃, whose reaction energy is added to that of dynamite explosion.

A 1% solution of Nitroglycerin in Alcohol is used in Medicine as a heart stimulant due to its action on the arteries.

Examples of uses of Nitroglycerin

1. Cosmetic Preparation
2. Tobacco Conservator
3. Nitroglycerin Manufacturing
4. Sweetening agent to replace sugar
5. In watercolors
6. As a component of paints, varnishes and lacquers
7. Printing inks
8. In medicine, like component of capsules, suppositories, anesthetics, syrups and lozenges.
9. What cleaning products ingredient
10. Antifoam agent
11. Produced by insulators in the form of alkyl resins
12. As a participant in polymerization to produce Cellophane
13. When it is required to have a heating bath At temperatures above 250 ° C, a temperature that exceeds the boiling point of Water, Glycerin is used as heat conducting fluid.
14. Glycerin can be used as supplement in food for animal feedThanks to the fact that it is an easily absorbed product, it is antiseptic, has a sweet taste and has binding properties due to its hygroscopic power.
15. Its application has been studied as ingredient of lubricants for mechanical systems, paying special attention to requirements such as reducing energy consumption, reducing friction, reducing wear, cool components, transmit heat, possess insulating properties, transmit power.