What is propylene glycol?
Propylene glycol is a chemical made by reaction of propylene oxide with water. For more than five decades propylene glycol india has had an unsurpassed reputation for safe use in a wide range of consumer products, including foodstuffs, animal feed, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, as well as industrial applications.
Features
A multi-talent
With its unique combination of properties propylene glycol fulfils various roles in different environments. It
• serves as a solvent
• connects and stabilises insoluble fluids (emulsifier)
• helps to bind and transport other substances (excipient)
• holds and dissolves active ingredients equally in a medium
• attracts/holds water/moisture (hygroscopic)
• reduces the freezing point
• increases the boiling point
• offers outstanding stability with high flash and boiling points
The propylene glycol molecule is chemically neutral, i.e. it usually does not react with other substances. This is a particularly helpful property when seeking to combine contrasting chemical elements, for example in a perfume, to create a single, homogeneous fluid.
By emulsifying the active ingredients, which otherwise would not mix, the propylene glycol creates a stable homogeneous fluid that will allow the intended final product, be it a face cream or shampoo, for example, to do its job.
Production
Simple process
In the traditional production process propylene glycol is made from propylene oxide reacted with water.
The resulting mixture of mono-, di- and tri-glycols is distilled to purify the different grades before being stored and distributed to customers.
Propylene glycol india is typically produced in two grades: technical or industrial grade, and USP/EP grade. The latter designates the requirements for the US Pharmacopiea and the European Pharmacopoeia, but this grade is also the grade for use in food, feed and personal care applications.
The production of propylene glycol USP/EP is seamlessly monitored and controlled through a track-and-trace system from the base material throughout the production process up to the point of delivery. The high product quality
standards, and compliance with stringent hygiene conditions, qualifies propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical grade) for use in health-sensitive applications.
Markets
Enabling every day convenience
Propylene glycol enables a large variety of consumer and industrial applications: In food and beverage, feed, cosmetics and pharmaceutical applications, propylene glycol USP/EP (pharmaceutical grade) is used, for example, to dissolve flavouring in drinks, to keep animal feed moist, to homogeneously emulsify oily and watery elements in creams, sprays and liquids, or as solvent (excipient) for the active ingredients in medicines.
In industrial applications propylene glycol is used as an intermediate to make other chemical substances, such as the unsaturated polyester resins which are used in bath and kitchenware, pipes or windmill blades. It is also used to manufacture plastics, resins, paints and coatings, and plays an important role as an ingredient of formulations for heat transfer fluids, liquid detergents or aircraft de-icing.
Safety
Safe use for over 50 years
The use and effects of propylene glycol have been thoroughly researched. It has been used safely for more than 50 years, including adoption in health-sensitive applications such as food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, where the molecule mainly serves as non-active ingredient or carrier of other substances.
Studies have proven that propylene glycol has a very low degree of toxicity. In the body, propylene glycol is rapidly converted into lactic acid, in a similar manner to what happens with with sugar (energy) in the muscles during sports.
For the environment, studies have shown that propylene glycol is neither persistent nor does it bio-accumulate - it is readily biodegradable.
Science
A well understood substance
Chemically, propylene glycol has a very simple structure:
The two parts of the molecule, the alcohol groups ("OH", likes water) and the hydrocarbon backbone ("CH", likes oil), represent fundamental chemical characteristics. Their behaviour both in industrial processes, as well as in the human body or in the environment, is well understood.
In the human body, propylene glycol is quickly metabolised and excreted. Its metabolic pathway is comparable to that of sugar: propylene glycol is rapidly converted into lactic acid, in a similar manner to what happens with sugar (energy) in the muscles during sports. It is the lactic acid in your muscles which makes them ache following intensive exercise. Lactic acid, the metabolite of propylene glycol, therefore, is also naturally present in our bodies. It is excreted via urine.
In the environment, tests have shown that propylene glycol is readily biodegradable.
Studies show that propylene glycol has a very low degree of toxicity. From a toxicological point of view, alcohol is more toxic than the same amount of propylene glycol.
Industrial propylene glycol
Used in following fields:
• Plastic Resin
• Aircraft de-icers
• Heat transfer fluids
• Liquid detergents
• Paints & coatings