Glycerol: Difference between revisions

From Helpful
Jump to navigation Jump to search
mNo edit summary
mNo edit summary
 
(14 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{stub}}
{{stub}}


 
'''Glycerol'''  - a clear, viscous, odourless, slightly sweet, non-toxic liquid
===Chemically===
: used e.g. as a solvent, a sweetener, a preservative, a thickening agent, a humectant
 
'''Glycerol'''  - a clear, viscous, odourless, slightly sweet, non-toxic, liquid
: used e.g. as a humectant, a solvent, a sweetener, a preservative, a thickening agent
: has some anti-freeze properties
: has some anti-freeze properties
: has a few medical uses
: has a few medical uses
: A specific compound (C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>8</sub>O<sub>3</sub>), and technically a triol (with three OH groups)
: A specific compound (C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>8</sub>O<sub>3</sub>), and technically a triol (with three OH groups)


Glycerol and '''glycerin''' (US) / '''glycerine''' (UK) refer to the same molecule,
but glycerin is a commercial term that typically refers to mixes that are mostly (>95%) glycerol.


See also:
<!--
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycerol
If you're wondering how nasty or chemical it is:
 
Glycerol is actually a small byproduct of your metabolism, and part of supporting your skin's moisture barrier {{verify}}
 
Glycerin is one of the most common ingredients in cosmetics, moisturizers, and lotions, and some soaps.  
It also has a few uses around food and baking.




But in any of those uses, the concentration matters.


'''More widely''', you can look at diols and triols.
Being a dessicant, it is hygroscopic, basically meaning it draws in water that touches it.
In moist air the net effect may be putting more water near your skin for more time.


You may see the term '''glycol'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycol], which is the property/grouping of aliphatic diols, where
On skin, glycerin's small size also means it gets absobed, meaning it can act as a barrier.
: aliphatic = non-aromatic
This seems to have the side effect of keeping moisture where it is.
: diol = alcohols with two OH functional groups (triols have three)


However, this is an interesting balance - higher concentrations act a little faster, but more importantly,
if the only source of water is your skin, the net effect is actually drawing it out.


In moisturizers, glycerin is combined with other things to avoid that.
Pure glycerin can, under some coditions, dry out skin, sometimes even to the point of blistering.




Some compounds in this area include  (but are certainly not limited to)
Under 10% or so - which also frequently means a bunch of the rest is already water - the drying effect should be minimal,
: glycerol (E422), as mentioned
and cosmetics tend to keep it even lower than that.


: propylene glycol, somewhat similar to glycerol
:: E1520 when used for food
:: E490 when used for cosmetics


: ethylene glycol (used in classical antifreeze, and toxic)
In personal lube, it is mixed ''with'' water. That water evaporates so adding water or more lube later means it's .




-->


===Uses===
Glycerol and '''glycerin''' (US) / '''glycerine''' (UK) refer to the same molecule,
yet glycerin is a commercial term that typically refers to mixes that are >95% of it by volume.
 
See also:
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycerol


Smoke machine fluids were often basically just glycerol (sometimes other glycols, but not ethylene glycol) and water,
though there appear to be some newer formulations that leave less residue{{verify}}.




Vaping liquid has a base that is often a mix of part glycerin (smoother, cloudier) and propylene glycol.


'''More widely''', you can look at diols and triols.


You may see the term '''glycol'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycol], which is the property/grouping of aliphatic diols, where
: aliphatic = non-aromatic
: diol = alcohols with two OH functional groups (triols have three)


Used as a sweetener, humectant, preservant, and is used in personal lube.




<!--
'''Some compounds in this area''' include  (but are certainly not limited to)
====Glycerol/glycerin in lube bad?====
* '''glycerol'''/'''glycerin'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycerol], as mentioned
:: used as a sweetener (then also known as E422), humectant, preservant, and is used in [[personal lube]]


Glycerol/glycerin is a common ingredient in personal lubricants.


And yes, it is not ideal in the vagina, as it could help yeast infections happen.
* '''propylene glycol'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propylene_glycol], functionally somewhat similar to glycerol
But there area lot of misconceptions here.
:: E1520 when used for food
:: E490 when used for cosmetics


* '''polyethylene glycol'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylene_glycol]
:: biologically inert
:: used in skin creams, [[personal lubricant]], used for larger and longer-lasting soap bubbles


Some assume it's because it's sugar. But glycerol/glycerin is not a sugar.
<!--
It may have sweet taste, but none of the properties of carbohydrates.
* propanediol can refer to a few different related things
Chemically it is an alcohol, though that's such a general term you should probably zoom in on what kind.
:: you mostly see it something very close to propylene glycol, but derived from corn {{verify}}
-->


It is also not poison. Its use should to be monitored, it needs to be produced to good standards,
* '''ethylene glycol'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethylene_glycol]
and it is a fact that some lubes (mostly cheaper ones) pay attention to neither.
:: e.g. used in classical antifreeze
But that does not make it a poison. Not even if you repeat that statement a lot.
:: treat as being bad for people


* '''diethylene glycol'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diethylene_glycol]  (hydrolysed ethylene glycol)
:: e.g. a solvent
:: treat as being bad for people


It does raise osmolality, which ironically has an overall drying side-effect,
which may help a budding yeast infection along.
Note that the amount a lube does this varies a lot between lubes,
and while the effect is not too noticeable  for most people and most lubes,
it is one real reason some lubes may be more comfortable for you.


Also, glycerol/glycerin, being made from oils, and may contain some fatty acid and other
leftovers that might not necessarily be controlled. There ''might''




Misconceptions:
Smoke machine fluids seem to often be glycerol or propylene glycol (sometimes other glycols, but not ethylene glycol) and water,
* it does not ''cause'' yeast infections - but it may make an existing one take a little better. But the same is true of e.g. washing it too much.
though there appear to be some newer formulations that leave less residue{{verify}}.
* it does not cause STIs. It might be that if one's introduced it may take a little faster{{verify}}, but that's hardly the actual problem there.
* it is not sugar - it chemically does not act like one
* it is not poison - though like almost anything, high concentrations are bad. Some lubes could stand to use less.




-->
Vaping liquid has a base that is often a mix of part glycerin (smoother, cloudier) and propylene glycol.

Latest revision as of 14:38, 16 October 2023

✎ This article/section is a stub — some half-sorted notes, not necessarily checked, not necessarily correct. Feel free to ignore, or tell me about it.

Glycerol - a clear, viscous, odourless, slightly sweet, non-toxic liquid

used e.g. as a solvent, a sweetener, a preservative, a thickening agent, a humectant
has some anti-freeze properties
has a few medical uses
A specific compound (C3H8O3), and technically a triol (with three OH groups)


Glycerol and glycerin (US) / glycerine (UK) refer to the same molecule, yet glycerin is a commercial term that typically refers to mixes that are >95% of it by volume.

See also:



More widely, you can look at diols and triols.

You may see the term glycol[1], which is the property/grouping of aliphatic diols, where

aliphatic = non-aromatic
diol = alcohols with two OH functional groups (triols have three)


Some compounds in this area include (but are certainly not limited to)

  • glycerol/glycerin[2], as mentioned
used as a sweetener (then also known as E422), humectant, preservant, and is used in personal lube


  • propylene glycol[3], functionally somewhat similar to glycerol
E1520 when used for food
E490 when used for cosmetics
  • polyethylene glycol[4]
biologically inert
used in skin creams, personal lubricant, used for larger and longer-lasting soap bubbles


  • ethylene glycol[5]
e.g. used in classical antifreeze
treat as being bad for people
  • diethylene glycol[6] (hydrolysed ethylene glycol)
e.g. a solvent
treat as being bad for people



Smoke machine fluids seem to often be glycerol or propylene glycol (sometimes other glycols, but not ethylene glycol) and water, though there appear to be some newer formulations that leave less residue(verify).


Vaping liquid has a base that is often a mix of part glycerin (smoother, cloudier) and propylene glycol.

Retrieved from "https://helpful.knobs-dials.com/index.php?title=Glycerol&oldid=91662"