Glycerol is widely used as a moisturizing ingredient. Combined with the cream products available on the market, its essential components are glycerol.
The esters of glycerol and fatty acids become glycerol esters, which are widely found in animals and plants. Glycerol ester is the main component of oil, so the main natural resource of glycerol is oil. Oil and ester belong to glycerol ester in chemical composition, but they are different in physical state. They are usually called lipids in solid state at room temperature and become oil in liquid state.
Glycerol is the simplest triol. It is a colorless, viscous liquid with a mild sweetness when pure and odorless. Neutral reaction to indicator. The molecular formula of glycerol is C3H8O3, the molecular weight is 92.09, CAS NO. 56-81-5. In its molecular formula, hydrogen on the hydroxyl group can be replaced by metal to form glycerol compounds, esters after being replaced by acid radicals, and ethers after being replaced by alkyl and aryl groups.
Under normal conditions, glycerol is stable in the atmosphere, but easy to be oxidized by other oxidants. Strong oxidants, such as potassium permanganate, potassium dichromate or sodium dichromate, can completely oxidize glycerol to produce carbon dioxide and water.In the presence of catalysts, oxygen in the air oxidizes glycerol. Long-term exposure of glycerol to iron or copper in air can produce acidity and corrode metals. Heating promotes oxidation. When metals are dissolved in solution, the oxidation reaction is accelerated by catalysis.In the presence of sodium hydroxide (or potassium), glycerol reacts with oxygen to form formic acid and other substances at room temperature. Glycerol and sodium ferrophosphate can be oxidized to carbon dioxide in aqueous solution at near neutral and room temperature. The oxidation of glycerol in the air can also be caused by the presence of ferrous hydroxide or sodium sulfate. Carbon dioxide and aldehydes can be obtained.
When glycerol is heated with solid or melted caustic soda, it will decompose and produce various products, including hydrogen, methane, methanol, ethanol, propanol and isopropanol, depending on the temperature and the concentration of alkali used.
