Glycerol Vs. Mineral Oil

Upon first inspection, glycerol and mineral oil appear to be identical (or at least very similar) compounds: They're both colorless, (mostly) odorless, and have mild lubricating properties that make them feel slippery when rubbed between the thumb and index finger. Chemically, however, they are very different compounds.

Chemistry

Mineral oil is a hydrocarbon, meaning it contains nothing except carbon and hydrogen, with each molecule typically containing somewhere between 15 and 40 carbon atoms. It typically has a density of about 0.8 g/mL (meaning 1 millileter of mineral oil would weigh 0.8 grams). Mineral oil is not soluble in water: If the two are mixed, they will form separate phases, with the mineral oil on top.

Glycerol, also known as glycerin or glycerine, is actually an alcohol. Its molecules only contain 3 carbons, and it has a density of about 1.3 g/mL. Unlike mineral oil, it is soluble in water. In fact, it is hygroscopic, meaning glycerol will actually absorb water vapor from the air.

Manufacture

Mineral oil is a byproduct of the crude-oil refining process.

Glycerol is produced by the saponification of animal fats. Saponification is the reaction between fats and strong bases (like lye) and is the primary reaction involved in the manufacture of soap; glycerol is a byproduct of the soap manufacturing process.

Medical Uses

Mineral oil is the primary ingredient of baby oil. It can also be taken orally as a laxative.

Glycerol is used in cough syrup (as a sweetener and thickener) and acts as a laxative in suppository form.

Food and Cosmetic Uses

Mineral oil is used in many topical creams and ointments.

Glycerol is used in foods as a sweetener and as a humectant (to keep foods moist). It is also used in toothpaste, shaving cream and soap.

Toxicity

Some mineral oils have been linked to cancer in animal studies involving exposure to oil mists.

Glycerol is not carcinogenic and is not believed to be toxic unless ingested in large quantities.

 

Purification of Crude Glycerol From Biodiesel

Crude glycerol is the by product produced throughout the biodiesel production process. However glycerol produced at this stage is crude glycerol which is about 80% pure and contains other contaminants like methanol, water, salt and soap. Crude glycerol has approximately about 45% glycerol, 10-15% water and methanol, 10-15% salt, and 30% soaps by weight2. This crude glycerol is not a highly valued chemical so a purification process must be done to make the crude glycerol into useful glycerol used for industrial application. Due to large supply of crude glycerol, purifying glycerol will maximise the biodiesel production profits. During the refinement process into technical grade glycerol, the methanol is evaporated from glycerol fraction. The salt, methanol, odors, and water are removed. Crude glycerol refine into technical grade glycerol gives <97% purity. The technical grade glycerol is much more useful for industrial application as it removes the high cost of toxic waste disposal which increases the value of the end product.

The purity of glycerol determines the value of glycerol, the higher the purity of glycerol the higher the market value for glycerol. Glycerol refinement will help biodiesel plants turn into a stronger profit with its refined glycerol’s since it cost less than fully refined grade. The refined grade greens the business as its takes less energy to produce and it is renewable. For this reason the demand for refining glycerol into technical grade glycerol and further has increased. The refining process is however currently expensive. USP (The United States Pharmacopeia) is highly purified glycerol, purity of glycerol >99.7%. This is a pharmaceuticals grade which is useful in cosmetics, personal care, food and other specialty application.

Typical Processes:

• Adsorption


• Vacuum Distillation


• Further purification


• Methanol Removal Step (Flash Evaporators or falling film evaporator)


• Neutralization Step (Soap Splitting)


• Crude glycerol


• Ion exchange

General process

There are many way to refine glycerol. Soap splitting is involved in all of the refining process as a glycerol pre-treatment step. The soap splitting involves to major separation step which removes methanol and salt. In all purification step process that are soap and other organic impurities need to be removed by centrifugation /filtration. Purification process can be done mainly in three steps.

Neutralisation involves in the 1st step which uses an acid to remove soaps and catalyst. FFA and salt will produce with the reaction of an acid with soap, and salt and water produces with the reaction with the base catalyst. Insoluble salt and FFA in the glycerol will precipitate out and some will be skimmed off. FFA and salt can also be eliminated by filtration. The colour of filtrate coming from neutralisation step is light brown or yellow colour. Removal of methanol is the purpose in 2nd step which is the preliminary stage of refining. Using a falling film evaporator or flash evaporators can be used to remove methanol from the glycerol. The advantage using a falling film evaporator is the short contact time and is better suited to this process because it decomposes due to temperature inclination of glycerol. The purity of glycerol is around 80% after the removal of methanol. In the 3rd step, a further purification of glycerol can be done by mixture of ion-exchange, vacuum distillation, adsorption, extraction and crystallisation, dialysis, precipitation. The glycerol is purified around >99.7% in the 3rd step of the purification.

Further purification

Ion exchange and concentration purification process

The ion exchange system uses cation, anion, and mixed bed exchangers to remove catalyst and other impurities. The removal of ionic substances by ion exclusion chromatography is the concentration step. Due to their charge, the ionic substances are repelled from the resin surface which stays in the liquid volume. The non-ionic substances are accommodated in the resins and pores. Anionic and cationic ion exchangers are exchanged for wash water, which first removes the ionic substances in the liquid and later the non-ionic substances. Negative anionic ion exchangers are exchanged for hydroxide ions where as positive cationic ion exchanged for hydrogen ions. The purification step is the next step which uses ion exchangers. The removal of odour and colour, inorganic salts, soap and fat components are done by the purification process.

For smaller capacity plants, ion exchange purification of glycerol is a good alternative to vacuum distillation. However for this process ion-exchange is not economical since high salt content of glycerol issued from biodiesel production. When the salt content is around 5-7 percent range the chemical regeneration costs becomes extremely high. The disadvantage of the ion- exchange is that it obstructs the process obtaining high purity glycerol and also the system is fouling by soaps and fatty acids. The other shortcoming is the necessity for water evaporation after purification, which results in additional losses of glycerin, carried over by water steam4.

Vacuum distillation

Vacuum distillation with steam injection, followed by activated carbon bleaching is the commonly practised method for the final purification of glycerol. Evaporation of components can be accomplished in vacuum distillation. Vacuum distillation is also known as low temperature distillation. Vacuum distillation is used as separator in some separation techniques because glycerol is sensitive to heat and the compound splits into water and decomposes. Due to high boiling point of glycerol an extreme deep vacuum should be used to distil glycerol from inorganic salt.

The advantages of vacuum distillation are that it is a commonly well established technology as it produces high purity glycerol in high yield. Another advantage is it is the reduced temperature requirement at lower pressures. Vacuum distillation could be used without heating the solution. The number of equilibrium stages needed can be reduced by utilizing the vacuum distillation. The disadvantage of this process is that distillation of glycerol has high capital cost and it is energy intensive. This is because glycerol heat capacity is high which demands a high energy input for vaporisation. The vacuum distillation cannot proceed out continuously and is accompanied by considerable losses of glycerol. It been suggested that vacuum distillation of glycerol is best suited to operations > 25 tons per day.

Column adsorption/crystallisation

An adsorption technique is an established technology for separating glycerol, ions, water and methanol. Odor and pigments can be eliminated by adsorption on activated carbon. Activated carbon in the adsorption process removes soluble substance from water. It is used to make the carbon extremely porous and therefore have a very large surface area available for adsorption. The large internal surface makes active carbon ideal for adsorption. The activated carbon functions longer when the pores are bigger. Using activated carbon is good in waste water cleaning. However activated carbon is expensive to regenerate the carbon.

Due to high pressure drop and high viscosity of crude glycerol, the operational cost of the column adsorption will be high. Chromatography separation is the new progress in adsorption techniques. Chromatography separation is used to separate small amounts of samples in laboratory. Some of the possible chromatography techniques are: ion exchanged chromatography, reversed phase, affinity chromatography and hydrophobic interaction, gel permeation or molecular sieves may be used as the solid stationary phase in column chromatography. Ion exchange chromatography as an adsorption provides an ionic environment which allows two or more solutes in the feed stream to be separated. Glycerol and water separation are based on particle size and affinity. Since water is difficult to separate from glycerol, a suitable type of adsorbent with respect to high separation efficiency at low pressure drops and at a high volume flow capacity is required.

New process route for glycerol purification

This process above can be either continuous or batch mode. The process consists of five separation steps: first reactor, second reactor, decanter, flash distillation column, and adsorption column. This new process  to be able to produce glycerol higher than 99.5% purity from typical crude glycerol.

First reactor:

The crude glycerol is preheated first before heading for the first reactor. The purpose of the first reactor is by reacting glycerol and methyl esters to produce methanol and glycerides. The water and methanol removed when nitrogen is sparged. The gas runoff stream is passed through a condenser. The nitrogen is recycled back to the reactor when water and methanol are condensed (separated) through a condenser.

Second reactor:

The purpose of this reactor is that the unreacted methyl esters are reacted to produce triglycerides and methanol. Wash water has glycerol, is also added to the 2nd reactor. From the 1st reactor the liquid effulent stream is heated to preserve the 2nd reactor at 120-160oc just like the 1st reactor. Wash water is recycled when water and methanol is separated from nitrogen.

Decanter:

The purpose of decanter placed after the reactor is to get rid of the oil layer from glycerol stream by reducing the pH below 7 and also skimming it from the glycerol layer. In this tank glycerol stream is mixed with the recycled stream from the bottom of the flash column.

Flash distillation column:

In the flash distillation, the top column (vapour fraction) product is about 80-90% of glycerol from the feed stream is to be condensing in two condensers in series. Condensing glycerol is used in the first condenser whereas water condensing used in the 2nd condenser that will be sent to waster water stream. The heavy compounds and glycerol comes out of the bottom product (liquid fraction) is pumped back to the decanter. To prevent glycerol and salts build up in the decanter, some of is purged.

Adsorption columns

Removing the trace impurities and colour is the last step of glycerol refining. Ion exchange resins and activated carbon can be used as adsorbent material. Glycerol is then purified into a storage tank.

Factors affecting acid treatment of saponified effluent

The factors affecting acid treatment are as follows.

1. Raw oil

The quality of saponification waste water depends on the quality of oils and fats. Generally, oils and fats contain protein, gum, pigment (chlorophyll, carotenoids, gossypol), resin, phospholipids, sterols, waxes and other impurities. If the oil has not been pretreated, these impurities will be salted out into the saponification waste liquor after the saponification, it not only affects the saponification waste liquor treatment, but also affects the quality of glycerol products.

2. influence of flocculants: The amount of ferric chloride is determined by the quality of saponified waste liquid during acid treatment.

In order to remove the impurities in the saponification waste water as much as possible, the pH and temperature of the solution must be controlled. The hydrolysis of 1mol ferric chloride produces 3mol hydrochloric acid. Under acidic conditions, the iron soap can be dissolved and the colloid of ferric hydroxide can be reduced. In this way, the precipitation of ferric chloride, electric neutralization, coagulation and adsorption at isoelectric point are reduced, and the impurities can not be completely removed. Therefore, the Ph control of general endpoints is more appropriate in 3.5-3.8. The average amount of ferric chloride is 0.3%-0.6% of saponification waste liquid. For the same waste liquor, the crude glycerol (fatty acid iron soap precipitated completely) obtained by increasing ferric chloride in proper amount has good quality and light color. However, the treatment cost is high, the filtration residue is much, and the filtration speed is slow. When the amount of ferric chloride is reduced, the amount of filter residue is low, the filtration speed is fast, and the cost is low. However, the coarse and sour color is deep and the quality is poor.

Aluminum salt is a good flocculant. When treating saponification waste liquid, aluminum hydroxide is formed by reaction with free alkali. Aluminum hydroxide is a kind of flocculant colloid with strong adsorption. At the same time, aluminum ions react with fatty acids to form fatty acid aluminum salts. Aluminum salt flocculants can completely remove higher fatty acids. The removal rate of fatty acids is also very high. The removal rate of hydrophilic impurities such as protein and amino acids can reach 80%. When using aluminium salt, the temperature should be controlled at 40-80 C, and the PH should be controlled at 4.5. But when treated with H2SO4 and AL2 (SO4) 3, Na2so4 is formed. If NA2SO4 is used in the salting out of soap glue, its effect is only half of that of Naci. Therefore, when the amount of Na2SO4 in the recovered salt exceeds 20%, the salting out effect of soap cooking operation will be affected, so it needs to be replaced. In addition, the price of aluminum salt is relatively high, so the Chinese soap making industry mostly uses FeCL3 solution.

3. Treatment temperature: When the treatment temperature is low, the coagulation and adsorption effect of iron soap precipitation formed by FeCl3 is better. The longer the static time is, the more black fatty acid is separated. In the same way, the water quality is lighter, but the filtration speed is slower. The acidification treatment temperature is 50-60 degrees.

Control points of acid treatment operation: Take 10ML filtrate into test tube, add 2 drops of 5% ferric chloride solution, shake well and place for 5 minutes. Observe that there should be no turbidity or precipitate in the filtrate. Otherwise, the ferric chloride solution should continue to be added. When Ph has reached 3.5, it is necessary to return to alkali, adjust PH with alkali, make the treatment solution alkaline and then add ferric chloride solution to treat Ph up to 3.8-4.2, until the filtrate is not turbid. When adding pH to pH value, a small test should be carried out to determine the amount of alkali added.

Sources of Glycerine

Glycerine, also called glycerol or glycerin, is an odorless chemical used as an additive in many pharmaceutical products and cosmetics. Glycerine is used in body care products as a lubricant to increase the ease of product application and as a humectant to draw moisture into the skin. Although all glycerine performs a similar function in cosmetics and products, it can be derived from numerous sources.

Animal Fats

One source of glycerine is a byproduct of animal fat soaps. Glycerol from animal fats comes from animal triglycerides, one type of fat molecule commonly found in animal blood and the major component of an animal's fatty tissue, according to the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Each triglyceride molecule contains three fatty acid chains, all connected to the glycerol backbone. During soap making, the bonds holding the fatty acids onto the glycerol are broken, giving off glycerine as a byproduct. Glycerine obtained from animal products is often labeled "glycerine."

Vegetable Oils

If you are concerned about consuming animal by products, you may also find products containing vegetable glycerine. Plants lipids are also typically stored as triglycerides. Plant triglycerides often differ from animal triglycerides because of their fatty acid chains; plant triglycerides commonly contain unsaturated fatty acid chains that form a bent shape, which allows the lipid to form a liquid oil at room temperature. Plant glycerine is obtained as a byproduct of soap making using plant oils. Many products that use vegetable oils as a source of glycerine may indicate that they are free of animal products or list "vegetable glycerine" as an ingredient.

Petroleum

In some cases, glycerine may come from a synthetic source, generated in the laboratory as a product of chemical reactions beginning with petroleum. However, the market for synthetic glycerine has diminished over time, since glycerine from natural sources is readily available as a byproduct of several industrial processes, including soap making and biodiesel production, reports "Biodiesel Magazine." As the demand for synthetic petroleum dwindles, the magazine reports, it is likely that natural glycerine will be used in more industries.

Chemically there are Five Grades of Glycerine

USP GLYCERIN(E) is a clear, almost colorless product for uses requiring glycerine of high purity with taste and odor characteristics desirable for pharmaceutical and food purposes. The designation USP is an abbreviation of U.S. Pharmacopeia and signifies that the glycerine thus designated meets or exceeds the standards established in U.S.

Pharmacopeia (USP XXII, 1990) monograph, Glycerin. The USP designation has official legal status in the United States since the U.S. Pharmacopeia has been incorporated by reference in various statutes and regulations governing drug and medical practices, of which the federal Food. Drug. and Cosmetic Act is the most significant. USP glycerine is commonly available commercially at anhydrous glycerol content levels of 96%.99.0% and 99.5%. Concentrations above 99.5% are also available commercially.

CP GLYCERINE or chemically pure glycerine is generally understood to be of the same quality or grade as USP glycerine,but this term is considered generic in the United States because it does not reflect compliance with any official quality requirements or specifications a s does the USP designation.

FOOD GRADE GLYCERINE in the United States meets the requirements outlined in the monograph Glycerin contained in the Food Chemicals Codex prepared by the Committee on Food Protection of the National Research Council. Food grade requirements are similar to USP standards. Within the European Economic Community, glycerine for use in food products must comply with Council Directive 78/663/EEC which specifies the standards of purity for emulsifiers,stabilizers thickeners, and gelling agents for use in foods.

HIGH GRAVITY GLYCERINE is a designation used in the United States for a commercial grade of glycerine that is clear,almost colorless and conforms to Federal Specification 0-G-491C issued November 14, 1983 by the General Services Administration. This product also conforms to Standard Specification for High-Gravity Glycerin, D-1257, issued by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). This grade must contain not less than 98.7% glycerol. It is commonly supplied at not less than 99.O% concentration.

DYNAMITE GLYCERINE in the United States meets all the High Gravity grade specifications except color, but it cannot be darker than the Federal Color Standard. In Europe, glycerine for use in explosives is defined by Specification 21D for dynamite glycerine issued by the Nobel Explosives Company Ltd. The British Standards Institution has also issued a standard specification for this grade of glycerine as British Standard Specification for Dynamite Glycerol.

New use of crude glycerin in biodiesel

Glycerol (also known as glycerin) is a major byproduct in the biodiesel manufacturing process. In general, for every 100 pounds of biodiesel produced, approximately 10 pounds of crude glycerol are created. As the biodiesel industry is rapidly expanding, a glut of crude glycerol is being created. Because this glycerol is expensive to purify for use in the food, pharmaceutical, or cosmetics industries, biodiesel producers must seek alternative methods for its disposal. Various methods for disposal and utilization of this crude glycerol have been attempted, including combustion, composting, anaerobic digestion, animal feeds, and thermochemical/biological conversions to value-added products. The objective of this article is to provide a general background in terms of waste glycerol utilization.

Characterizations of Glycerol Waste

Crude glycerol generated from biodiesel production is impure and of little economic value. In general, glycerol makes up 65% to 85% (w/w) of the crude stream (Gonzalez-Pajuelo et al. 2005; Mu et al. 2006). The wide range of purity values can be attributed to different glycerol purification methods or different feedstocks used by biodiesel producers. For example, Thompson & He (2006) have characterized the glycerol produced from various biodiesel feedstocks. The authors found that mustard seed generated a lower level (62%) of glycerol, while soy oil had 67.8 % glycerol, and waste vegetable oil had the highest level (76.6 %) of glycerol.

Methanol and free fatty acids (soaps) are the two major impurities contained in crude glycerol (Thompson & He 2006). The existence of methanol is due to the fact that biodiesel producers use excess methanol to drive the chemical transesterification to completion, and do not recover all the methanol. The soaps, which are soluble in the glycerol layer, originate from a reaction between the free fatty acids present in the initial feedstock and the catalyst (base).i.e.,

 

In addition to methanol and soaps, crude glycerol also contains a variety of elements such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, or sulfur. Thompson & He (2006) reported that the elements present in the glycerol of different feedstock sources (such as canola, rapeseed, and soybean) were similar. Calcium was in the range of 3-15 ppm, magnesium was 1-2 ppm, phosphorous was 8-13 ppm, and sulfur was 22-26 ppm. However, when crambe (a perennial oilseed plant) was used as feedstock, crude glycerol contained the same elements, but at vastly different concentrations. Schröder & Südekum (1999) also reported the elemental composition of crude glycerol from rapeseed oil feedstock. Phosphorous was found to be between 1.05 % and 2.36 % (w/w) of the crude glycerol. Potassium was between 2.20 % and 2.33%, while sodium was between 0.09% and 0.11%. Cadmium, mercury, and arsenic were all below detectable limits.

The crude glycerol derived from alkali-catalyzed transesterification usually has a dark brown color with a high pH (11-12). When pH is adjusted to a neutral range, soaps will be converted into free fatty acids, as shown in the following equation

 

The free fatty acids in the crude glycerol stream results in a cloudy solution. After settling for a period of time, this cloudy solution will be separated into two clear phases, with the top layer being the free fatty acid phase, and bottom layer the glycerol phase.

New Uses For Glycerol Waste

There are various outlets for disposal and utilization of the crude glycerol generated in biodiesel plants. For large scale biodiesel producers, crude glycerol can be refined into a pure form and then be used in food, pharmaceutical, or cosmetics industries. For small scale producers, however, purification is too expensive to be performed in their manufacturing sites. Their crude glycerol is usually sold to large refineries for upgrading. In recent years, however, with the rapid expansion of biodiesel industry, the market is flooded with excessive crude glycerol. As a result, biodiesel producers only receive 2.5-5 cents/lb for this glycerol . Therefore, producers must seek new, value-added uses for this glycerol.

There have been many investigations into alternative uses of crude glycerol. Combustion, composting, animal-feeding, thermo-chemical conversions, and biological conversion methods for glycerol usage and disposal have all been proposed. Johnson and Taconi (2007) reported that combustion of crude glycerol is a method that has been used for disposal. However, this method is not economical for large producers of biodiesel. It has also been suggested that glycerol can be composted  or used to increase the biogas production of anaerobic digesters . DeFrain et al. (2004) attempted to feed biodiesel-derived glycerol to dairy cows in order to prevent ketosis, but found that it was not useful.

Also, Lammers et al. (2008) studied supplementing the diet of growing pigs with crude glycerol. This study found that the metabolizable-to-digestible energy ratio of glycerol is similar to corn or soybean oil when fed to pigs. Therefore, the study concludes that “crude glycerol can be used as an excellent source of energy for growing pigs,” but also cautions that little is known about the impacts of impurities in the glycerol. Furthermore, Cerrate et al. (2006) have had some success with feeding glycerol to broiler chickens. Birds fed 2.5 % of 5% glycerin diets had higher breast yield than the control group, but the authors caution that there is still concern about methanol impurities in the glycerol.

Converting crude glycerol into valued-added products through thermo-chemical methods or biological methods is an alternative for utilizing this waste stream. It has been reported that glycerol can be thermochemically converted into propylene glycol , acetol , or a variety of other products. Cortright et al. (2002) have developed an aqueous phase reforming process that transforms glycerol into hydrogen. Virent Energy Systems is currently trying to commercialize this technology and claim that sodium hydroxide, methanol, and high pH levels within crude glycerol help the process.

For biological conversions of crude glycerol, the glycerol serves as a feedstock in various fermentation processes. For example, Lee et al. (2001) have used glycerol in the fermentation of Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens for the production of succinic acid. The fermentation of E. coli on glycerol leads to the production of a mixture of ethanol, succinate, acetate, lactate, and hydrogen. Glycerol can also be converted to citric acid by the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica. It has been reported that this organism produces the same amount of citric acid when grown on glucose or on raw glycerol. Rymowicz et al. (2006) found that acetate mutant strains of Y. lipolytica can produce high levels of citric acid while producing very little isocitrate. Furthermore, it has been shown that Clostridium butyricum can utilize biodiesel-derived glycerol to produce 1,3-propanediol  in both batch and continuous cultures. During the fermentation process, the organism also produces byproducts of acetic and butyric acid . The researchers at Virginia Tech also developing algal fermentation processes to convert crude glycerol into high value omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

What Is Vegan Toothpaste?

Vegan toothpaste refers to any brand of toothpaste that does not contain traces of animal products. Many types of toothpaste on the market today contain glycerin, a naturally produced bodily liquid found in animal fat. Toothpaste that is tested on animals may also be considered non-vegan, as the protection of animals is central to the vegan lifestyle.
Consumption of any kind of animal-based product in prohibited in veganism. Toothpaste is one of many products that some are surprised to find often contain traces of animal products — in this case, glycerin. The glycerin used in toothpaste is often derived from beef or pork sources, creating a conflict with some religious eating practices as well. Glycerin can also come from plant sources or be made synthetically, and many toothpaste manufacturers are switching to these sources in order to have their products fully classified as vegan toothpaste.
Avoiding glycerin in toothpaste and other toiletry products can be difficult for vegans and vegetarians. It is often found in hair care products and hand lotion as well. Although glycerin is listed in the ingredients for these products, it is often not specified as plant or animal glycerin. Doing research online or contacting the manufacturer before buying can help ensure that only vegan toothpaste is purchased.
Many popular toothpaste brands qualify as vegan toothpaste. Vegans may, however, choose to avoid some of these brands because their parent companies perform animal testing. As protecting the rights and well being of animals is a key facet of veganism, certain toothpastes may be boycotted even if they are classified as vegan toothpaste. Vegans may turn to tooth powder instead of toothpaste to ensure that they are not using a non-vegan product or using toothpaste that has been tested on animals.
Plant-based glycerin has the same properties as animal-based glycerin, helping to thicken toothpaste and other products. It also sweetens toothpaste. Vegans should take care to ensure that vegan toothpaste still meets proper requirements for tooth care. Some animal- and eco-friendly brands do not contain fluoride, a compound that is key to preventing tooth decay.
Some mistakenly confuse glycerin with gelatin, a substance found in animal collagen. Gelatin is commonly found in horse hooves and, much like glycerin, can be found in unexpected foods. Marshmallows, gelatin desserts, gummy bears, and many other foods that have spongy, jelly-like qualities contain gelatin. Much like with vegan toothpaste, there are substitutes for all of these foods that do not contain animal gelatin.

What Is Loofah Soap?

Loofah soap is soap which contains loofah, a plant product which is prized for its exfoliating properties. A bar of loofah soap can be used to wash and exfoliate at the same time in the shower or tub. Some bath supply stores sell loofah products, and it is also possible to make the soap at home, for people who like to do their own soap making.
There are several types of loofah soap. In the most basic, loofah is covered with glycerin in a melt and pour soap making process. This type of soap is very easy to make at home, as all that is required is a mold, a block of glycerin, and a piece of loofah. Once hardened, the soap can be cut into blocks for use. Some companies include a rope in their glycerin soap to provide something to hold on to, as glycerin is notoriously slippery.
Other soap makers embed loofah into different kinds of soap, such as castile soap, liquid soap, or cleansing cream. It is also possible to use shredded loofah for a more mild exfoliating soap. Soaps with shredded loofah tend to be more smooth, and they are often easier to manage. As the soap bar is used, the loofah will gradually wear away, unlike a soap bar with a solid wedge of loofah, which may start to protrude over time without wearing down, making the soap cumbersome to use.
On its own, loofah can be kind of difficult to manage. It tends to get very stiff with extended use, and it can start to attract mold and bacteria if it sits in the shower. By embedding loofah in soap, people can ensure that they change their loofahs regularly while enjoying ease of use. Regular changes don't just reduce the numbers of organisms camping out in the loofah: they also mean that people are using loofah which is still fresh, with lots of fiber for exfoliation, instead of older loofah, which tends to be smoother.
Some people like to make exfoliation a part of their regular skin care regimen. Loofah soap can make it easier to exfoliate on a regular basis, combining the soaping and exfoliating process for efficiency. This soap can also be very useful for removing embedded dirt and grime. Mechanics and other people who work in environments which tend to get greasy and dirty can use loofah soap to gently scrub their skin, and some loofah soap products are formulated specifically for people who work in dirty industries.

Industrial production method of glycerin

The industrial production of glycerin can be divided into two main categories:

1. Natural glycerin, which is from natural oils and fats.
2. The synthesis of glycerin, which is from propylene.

The production of natural glycerin glycerin was recovered from the by-products from soap made from animal and vegetable fat before 1984. Up to now, natural oils and fats are still the main raw materials for glycerin production. About 42% of the natural glycerol in the base is the by-product of self-made soap, and 58% is from fatty acid production. Saponification of oils and fats in soap making industry. The product of saponification reaction is divided into two layers: the upper layer is mainly containing sodium fatty acid salt (soap) and a small amount of glycerol, the lower layer is waste alkali solution, containing salt, sodium hydroxide glycerol dilute solution, generally containing 9-16% glycerol, inorganic salt 8-20%. Grease reaction. The glycerin content of glycerin water (also called sweet water) obtained by hydrolysis of oil is about 14-20% higher than that of waste soap liquor, and the inorganic salt is 0-0.2%. In recent years, the continuous high-pressure hydrolysis method has been widely used, the reaction does not use catalysts, the resulting sweet water generally does not contain inorganic acids, purification method is simpler than the waste lye. The glycerin content in the waste liquor of soap making or the glycerin water obtained by hydrolysis of oil and fat is not high, and it contains various impurities. The production process of natural glycerin includes purification, concentration to crude glycerin, and distillation, decolorization and deodorization of crude glycerin. This process is detailed in some books and periodicals. Production of synthetic glycerin  The ways to synthesize glycerin from propylene can be classified into two main categories, chlorination and oxidation. Propylene chlorination and propylene oxidation by acetic acid at irregular intervals are still used in industry currently.

1. Propylene chlorination is the most important method of glycerin synthesis, which includes four steps: high temperature chlorination of propylene, Chlorpropyl hypochlorite, saponification of dichloropropanol and hydrolysis of epichlorohydrin. Hydrolysis of epichlorohydrin to glycerin was carried out in 10% hydrogen peroxide and 1% sodium carbonate aqueous solution at 150 ℃ and 1.37 MPa CO_2 pressure. The glycerin solution containing 5-20% sodium chloride was obtained by concentration, desalination and distillation. The purity of glycerol was above 98%.
2. Propylene oxidation by acetic acid: Propylene is synthesized from propylene oxide with peracetic acid and isomerization of propylene oxide to propylene. The latter reacts with peracetic acid to form epoxy propanol (glycidyl), which is finally hydrolyzed to glycerol. Peracetic acid production does not need catalyst, acetaldehyde and oxygen phase oxidation, in atmospheric pressure, 150-160 (?) C, contact time 24 s, the conversion of acetaldehyde 11%, peracetic acid selectivity 83%. The above two steps are carried out in a reactive distillation column with special structure. After feeding allyl alcohol and ethyl acetate solution containing peracetic acid into the reactor, the reactor was controlled at 60-70 C and 13-20 kPa. At the top of the tower, ethyl acetate solvent and water were evaporated, and the kettle reached glycerol solution. This method has high selectivity and yield. Peracetic acid is used as oxidant and no catalyst is needed. The reaction speed is faster and the process is simplified. The production of 1t glycerol consumes allyl alcohol 1.001t, peracetic acid 1.184t and by-product acetic acid 0.947t. At present, natural glycerol and synthetic glycerol account for almost 50% of the total yield, while propylene chlorination accounts for about 80% of the total yield of Hezhi glycerol. Natural glycerin accounts for more than 90% of total output in China.

Natural glycerine is obtained primarily as a co-product from the production of fatty acid, fatty ester, or soap from oils and fats. Also a lot is produced in recent years as a byproduct in the making of biodiesel from (recycled) cooking oils. Splitting or hydrolysis of oil, carried out under pressure and high temperature, produced fatty acids and sweetwater. The sweetwater contains 10–20% glycerol. Transesterification of oil with methanol, in the presence of a catalyst, yielded methyl esters and glycerine. Since the process does not use water, the glycerol concentration is higher. Saponification of an oil/fat with caustic soda formed soap and soap lye. The soap lye formed contains 4–20% glycerol and is also known as sweetwater or glycerine. Sweetwater or glycerine obtained as a co-product from the above three processes contains impurities and must be made to undergo further purification.

How do I Remove Impacted Ear Wax?

In some cases, removing impacted ear wax must be done by a doctor or trained medical professional, but there are a few methods that can be tried at home before seeking professional help. The most common method requires only an eye dropper and cotton balls. There are a few products that can be used to help loosen the ear wax so that it can drain. These products are vegetable glycerin, which can be found at stores that specialize in vitamins and at-home remedies, and baby oil, which can be found at almost all grocery stores and drug stores. For those who are experiencing pain in the ear, it is best to go directly to a healthcare professional instead of using these techniques.
Those who try the at-home treatment can perform it on their own, but it's often much easier to have a friend or family member help. First, tilt the head to one side so that the affected ear is raised toward the ceiling. Then put three or four drops of vegetable glycerin or baby oil into the ear canal. Some people find that using a bit more of the liquid product works well, but beginning with just a few drops is a good way to start.
Once the liquid has been dropped into the ear canal, seal off the canal with a small cotton ball. Keep the cotton in place for up to 24 hours, but remove it before showering or bathing. Be careful and gentle during this process. While bathing, rinse the ear with warm water to help the ear wax drain out of the ear.
In some cases, it may be necessary to repeat this process to remove all of the impacted wax from the ear canal. If this process does not work, it may be necessary to have a medical professional remove the impacted ear wax. Medical professionals have small, delicate tools that are used specifically for this purpose, some of which involve the use of suction to pull the wax out of the ear canal.
It is important to avoid using rigid objects when trying to remove impacted wax from the ears. Doing so can damage the ear canal and the ear drum. Many experts believe it is best not to use cotton swabs when trying to remove ear wax as they may simply push the wax further into the ear canal.

What is Transparent Soap?

Transparent soap is clear soap with a high glycerin content. Often referred to as “glycerin soap,” transparent soap is less drying than opaque soap, and can have additional emollient oils added to it, such as shea butter or jojoba oil. The first mass produced clear soap was Pears® brand, introduced in 1807 and still available as of 2010.
Glycerin is a humectant, which means that it attracts moisture. This property of glycerin soap is what makes it more moisturizing than opaque soaps that contain less glycerin. Referring to transparent soap as glycerin soap is slightly misleading because all soap contains glycerin, a sugar-based compound found in all animal and vegetable fats. Whether it's clear or opaque, homemade and handmade soap usually has all the glycerin in it. In commercial soap-making, the glycerin is extracted and used in more expensive soaps and creams.
Transparent soap is so gentle that it is often recommended for people with very sensitive skin, such as babies, small children, and people with allergies or dermatitis. Soap with a high glycerin content rinses more easily from the skin and doesn't leave a film that could cause irritation. Additionally, glycerin soap is generally less expensive than other moisturizing or anti-aging beauty bars.
Soap is made from lye mixed with an animal or vegetable fat, such as tallow or olive oil. This is called cold-process soap-making, where the fatty acids in the soap react with the alkali in the lye. The oils become hard in a process called saponification. To extract glycerin, hardened soap is shaved and melted again. Salt is added, which causes the soap to curdle and separate from the glycerin. Glycerin can be added to soap to make the bar clearer and more moisturizing. To do this, the soap-maker melts soap shavings, then adds high-proof alcohol, sugar, and glycerin. The soap is allowed to harden, and then is melted several more times to remove any extra water that causes the bar to look cloudy.
It can be challenging to learn how to make soap with the cold-process method, so many craft stores sell blocks of “melt-and-pour” soap. These blocks contain varying amounts of glycerin, and some are already transparent. Melt-and-pour products are cold-process soaps that can be re-melted to add additional ingredients, such as essential oil, coloring, or other decorations before pouring them into attractive molds. Glycerin can also be added to melt-and-pour soap to make it even more transparent.

What is the Difference Between an Enema and Suppository?

There is a marked difference between an enema and suppository, although they are both used for the relief of constipation in some cases. An enema is a liquid that is inserted into the rectum using a nozzle attached to a bag made of plastic or cloth. The liquid is forced into the rectum through this device to relieve occasional constipation or prepare patients for surgery. A suppository is a small solid or semi-solid plug made from a particular type of medication. The most commonly used type is made from glycerin and is used to relieve constipation, although other medicines may also come in the form of a suppository.
In most cases an enema and suppository are used for very similar things and work in a very similar way. Both the liquid found in an enema and the glycerin in laxative suppositories work to lubricate hardened stools so that they pass more easily. Enemas generally work more effectively at cleaning out the entire colon, as they have a farther reach and contain more medication with each use. Suppository laxatives, however, are generally safer and can be used for a longer period with fewer side effects. Glycerin, although a solid, quickly melts once inside the rectum and provides lubrication for hard to pass stools.
It is important that patients do not use an enema and suppository at the same time unless directed by a doctor. Enemas can cause damage to the colon if performed too often. Suppositories are not generally absorbed by the body, but they do cause rectal stimulation, and this can lead to problems of its own. If the rectal area is stimulated with a suppository too often, it may become difficult to pass stools without the added stimulus. This can lead to dependence on suppository laxatives.
Both an enema and suppository may be used for different things. The same type of bag and nozzle device used for the relief of constipation may also be used for feminine douching or to perform a vaginal rinse for infections. Suppositories can contain various types of medication and may be used to treat certain other illnesses or conditions, primarily nausea when an oral medication will not stay down.
If symptoms of constipation persist or become worse, patients should discontinue use of all medications and consult a doctor. In most cases, suppositories are symptom-free other than mild discomfort just after insertion. Enemas may cause mild abdominal cramping and strong urge to evacuate the bowels. Neither treatment should be used if constipation is accompanied by severe abdominal cramps, blood in the stools, nausea, vomiting, or fever without consulting a physician.

What are the Best Methods for Glycerin Soap Making?

Homemade glycerin-rich soap is great for the skin. This translucent soap is a byproduct of fat and lye and is well known for its moisturizing properties. It’s also an excellent degreaser. Glycerin soap making is a relatively easy process, depending on the method used. These include the cold process, hot process, melt and pour process, and rebatching.
Traditionally, the cold process method was the most common glycerin soap making technique used. Due to the vapors created during this process, as well as with the hot process method, most people nowadays prefer the melt and pour option. This method is deemed to be the easiest and least time-consuming.
Using the cold process of glycerin soap making, a lye solution known as the base is created using dry lye and water. Generally, three ounces of water is required for each ounce of lye. Too much water often results in softer soap while too little can make it become too dry and caustic. Oil or fat is then prepared by melting the recommended amount and becomes the acid. Once each solution has cooled to a specific temperature, the base and acid are combined.
When added together, the base and acid produce a saponification reaction, which results in the glycerin soap formation. The hot process of glycerin soap making is similar but the mixture is performed in layers that are heated and reheated several times. The bottom layer consists of the base; the next layer includes the acid, and bubbles or foam make up the top layer. It is then cooled until the bubbles are gone and reheated again. This process is repeated until the layers become one with a Vaseline-like consistency.
For the melt and pour method of glycerin soap making, large blocks of glycerin base are used. These can be obtained through craft stores or candle-supply companies. The clear soap base is then melted down. Rebatching is similar to the melt and pour. This method simply involves the melting and reusing of leftover soap bars.
Once the product has been melted, regardless of the method used, fragrance and color can be added. In addition to scented essential oils and coloring, other substances can be used for glycerinsoap making. For instance, castor oil is sometimes added for additional lathering. Shea or cocoa butter can provide additional moisturizing. Oatmeal or sugar can be added for exfoliating.
After the glycerin mixture is complete, it is poured into molds that have been sprayed with rubbing alcohol. These are then allowed to cool until hardened, at which time the glycerin soap is ready to use. While the best method depends on the individual, the melt and pour technique seems to be the most popular. However, for even more simplicity, glycerin soap making kits are available.

What Is Glycerin Used for?

Glycerin, also known commercially as glycerol, is a byproduct of the transesterifcation process for producing biodiesel fuel. This is a fortunate fact due to the increasing demand for biodiesel fuel worldwide and the widespread uses for glycerin in industry. Established uses for it include in many cosmetics and foods, and in a variety of soaps. It is also being evaluated as a useful ingredient in animal feed.

As the biodiesel fuel market skyrockets, glycerin waste from its production has saturated the marketplace. In the United States, biodiesel production was around 75,000,000 gallons per year (284,000,000 liters) in 2004. As of 2008, that volume had increased to 650,000,000 gallons per year (2,461,000,000 liters). With every metric ton of biodiesel produced, 220 pounds (100 kilograms) of glycerin byproduct is also produced. Estimates put current glycerin production as a waste product of biodiesel alone at around 1,224,000 metric tons, with a global demand slightly below that of 900,000 metric tons.

Though this is a boon to industries that purchase it for their products, using glycerin from alternative fuels is not the best of choices. It is typically about 80% pure when acquired as a byproduct of biodiesel production, whereas intentionally refined glycerin is 99.5% pure. Due to its level of impurity and the excess of supply on the world market, the value has dropped nearly to zero, and some biodiesel producers have to pay to have it taken away as waste and incinerated.

When supply and demand balances out, prices will rise, as glycerin has such a diverse range of uses. It is commonly used as an artificial sweetener in low-fat foods and as a thickening agent. It can be made into industrial foam and substituted for polypropylene plastic, which is derived from petroleum. Glycerin is a core ingredient in many industrial chemicals, including explosives, hydraulic fluids, and coolants. It is also one of the key plasticizers in industry, a material that gives plastics better flexibility, softness, or viscosity.

Aside from those common uses, one of the biggest markets for many years has been in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and health and beauty products. Glycerin is routinely added to cough syrup, lotions, toothpaste, and more. Running athletes sometimes take glycerin as a method of staying hydrated in hot temperatures. Studies have shown that it can increase endurance at levels of between 22%-32%, and Olympic athletes have also used it for this reason. Stomach remedies for children are often made from liquid glycerin capsules as well.

While production levels increase, many researchers and companies are looking for further uses for the substance. Two big areas being investigated are as a 5% additive to chicken and other livestock feed, and as a suitable substitute for the propylene glycol market. Propylene glycol (PG) is currently used in pet food, paints, cosmetics, and many other compounds, and the market for PG is around 1,000,000 tons (907,184,740 kilograms) per year and growing. As glycerin is developed for these uses, it is finding its way into everything from fortified milk to ethanol and antifreeze.

What is Glycerin Soap?

Glycerin is an ingredient in oil and fat used to make translucent soaps. Glycerin soap may be made at home or purchased commercially. The opaque type of soap more commonly sold today has most or all of the glycerin removed; this takes out the moisturizing properties which is why many non-glycerin soaps can be drying to the skin. Soap with the highest amount of glycerin possible is translucent, while soaps with some glycerin are closer to being opaque.

Glycerin soap is sold in many different shapes, colors and scents. It may be round, oval, rectangular or shaped into novelty guest soaps such as flowers and animals. Most of the small guest soaps are more opaque and have less glycerin than the bar soap type. The scents of glycerin soaps include fruits such as peach and strawberry. Lavender and jasmine are common floral scents found in glycerin soaps.

Guest soaps look decorative on a bathroom countertop. They also make great hostess gifts. Some glycerin guest soap types are made in fun shapes for children to encourage them to wash their hands. A glycerin children’s soap may be shaped like a car or an animal. Some children’s glycerin soaps are just round or bar-shaped, but have different scents such as root beer or bubblegum.

Glycerin is a popular ingredient in shaving soaps because of its moisturizing quality. Some types of glycerin soap have moisturizers and skin nutrients added such as vitamin E and avocado oil. Green or white tea and cucumber scent can also be found in some glycerin moisturizing soaps.

The Pears® brand is the oldest glycerin soap made in the world. Its translucent amber color and oval shape are easily recognizable by many people. The glycerin used in Pears® soap is from vegetable oil rather than animal fat. Soap labels may or may not be required by law to list whether the glycerin is from animal or vegetable sources.

Some people like to make glycerin soap at home. Many craft stores sell a glycerin base for soap making. The soap can be cooked in a double boiler on a stove top or in a microwavable container in a microwave oven. Essential oils, herbs and flower petals as well as a small amount of beeswax are often added to homemade glycerin soaps. The soap mixture is poured into molds, cooled and removed from each mold. Some small home business entrepreneurs make and sell glycerin soap.

What are the Different Uses of Liquid Glycerin?

Liquid glycerin a compound that is widely used in food preservation, skin care products, and various medicines due to its unique physical and chemical properties. The organic compound is derived from animal fats, plants, biodiesel fuels, and several different types of cooking oils. It is water-soluble and hygroscopic, meaning it can easily absorb liquid water or vapor from its surrounding environment. Since it is so effective at maintaining desired moisture content, glycerin can be used in food recipes, lotions, and industrial lubricants. It is also an essential component in many cough syrups, laxatives, hair products, and soaps, among many other commercial products.

In its normal state, liquid glycerin is a colorless, sweet gel. It is commonly used in food laboratories and kitchens as a type of sweetener or preservative. Some cooks and consumers use it as a substitute for table sugar, as it is nearly as sweet as sucrose with fewer calories per serving. Since it's hygroscopic, it helps to preserve moisture in a number of different food products, including cake icing and candy. The compound is also an effective fruit preservative, as it prevents excess water from escaping from fruit through evaporation.

Glycerin's ability to absorb and hold moisture makes it perfect for use in many beauty products. It can leave skin dry and irritated in its natural state, but it helps to keep skin soft and healthy when diluted with water and other chemicals. Many soaps, hair gels, facial scrubs, lotions, and shaving creams are made with glycerin. Shampoos and conditioners also commonly contain the substance, as do toothpastes and liquid mouthwashes.

Several health products use liquid glycerin for its natural antiseptic and lubricating qualities. It is especially useful in cough syrups and expectorants to help soothe sore throats. Many oral gel tablets are made partially of glycerin, as it makes pills easy to swallow and allows medicine to be released quickly. When used as a suppository, it can provide lubrication to dry membranes and act as a laxative by irritating the colon, encouraging bowel movements.

Glycerin has many important industrial applications as well. Many manufacturing plants and trucking companies rely on it as a standalone lubricant for hydraulic parts and mechanical gears. It is also used in the production of watercolor paints, printing inks, and cosmetics. In addition, some alternative energy companies use this valuable chemical compound in producing hydrogen fuel and ethanol.

What are Glycerin Suppositories?

Glycerin suppositories are a type of medication that is placed directly into the rectum in order to relieve mild to moderate constipation. Most of the time they come in a torpedo-shaped capsule. The outer layer has a gelatin cover that will typically break down shortly after it enters the body, revealing glycerin in either liquid or solid form. Glycerin absorbs water and can soften stool, making it easier for a person to pass; the capsules also provide lubrication that can help reduce straining. These types of suppositories can get faster results than many oral laxatives, but in most cases they only work for blockages located in the lower intestine. They are generally considered safe though some medical experts discourage regular use because people can sometimes become dependent, and also because excessive exposure to glycerin can wear down the lining of the small intestine over time.

How They Work

The main goal behind most suppositories is to soften stool and make it easier and less painful to pass. Glycerin is unique in that it is a naturally occurring substance made primarily of sugar and alcohol that dissolves quickly and provides exceptional lubrication. These sorts of suppositories are usually made of hardened glycerin that will melt once in contact with the body’s internal heat; some also contain liquid that is released once the outer cover dissolves. In either case, the substance, if properly inserted high in the rectum, will stimulate the intestinal tract, absorb moisture from the immediate environment, and lubricate the way for stool to move down and out of the body. People usually take this sort of medication when they’ve been constipated for a few days or when surgery or other medical issue — childbirth is a common one — makes it painful to strain or push stool out naturally. It is best for mild to moderate blockages, and isn’t normally strong enough to combat serious intestinal issues.

Basic Usage Instructions

Glycerin suppositories must be inserted directly into the rectum, usually with one or two fingers. Manufactures often recommend that people use a glove coated with a water-based lubricant to push the suppository, which makes it easier to get it high up because it reduces friction; wearing a glove is also a good way to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria. Ideally the suppository should be held in place for about a minute in order to prevent it from being forced out. Many people find it helpful to lie down on their side and clench the anal muscles for several minutes after use to help keep the suppository in place. This may speed up the dissolving process. It’s also usually suggested that people wait at least 15 minutes before using the bathroom to get the best effect. This can be challenging because the urge to “go” gets tends to get strong when a suppository is in place. Still, even if people use the toilet and expel the suppository before the 15 minutes are up, they may retain some of the benefits and constipation could still be alleviated.

Different Kinds of Constipation

These sorts of suppositories usually only work to address constipation in the lower bowel. In most cases they works through direct contact, and as such they’re best suited in situations when fecal matter is hardened and difficult to pass near the rectal opening. If the blockage is in the upper gastrointestinal areas the glycerin may not do much at all, since it likely won’t be able to reach the problem. Oral laxatives are often better in these situations.

Risks and Warnings

Some experts have expressed concern that using these suppositories too often may create a dependence on them, to the extent that people may find it very difficult to have bowel movements without using one. Most medical professionals don’t recommend that people use these for more than about a week at a time. People who have constipation lasting longer than this may have a chronic condition that needs more aggressive treatment. There are also some concerns in the medical community that repeated use of suppositories of any kind can damage the tissue lining the intestine and colon. This sort of damage is usually only seen with extensive use over a long period of time, but it is something patients should consider. Most suppositories are intended for adult use, too, and should not be given to children or infants without express direction from a medical care provider.

What are Glycerin Suppositories?

Glycerin suppositories are a type of medication that is placed directly into the rectum in order to relieve mild to moderate constipation. Most of the time they come in a torpedo-shaped capsule. The outer layer has a gelatin cover that will typically break down shortly after it enters the body, revealing glycerin in either liquid or solid form. Glycerin absorbs water and can soften stool, making it easier for a person to pass; the capsules also provide lubrication that can help reduce straining. These types of suppositories can get faster results than many oral laxatives, but in most cases they only work for blockages located in the lower intestine. They are generally considered safe though some medical experts discourage regular use because people can sometimes become dependent, and also because excessive exposure to glycerin can wear down the lining of the small intestine over time.

How They Work

The main goal behind most suppositories is to soften stool and make it easier and less painful to pass. Glycerin is unique in that it is a naturally occurring substance made primarily of sugar and alcohol that dissolves quickly and provides exceptional lubrication. These sorts of suppositories are usually made of hardened glycerin that will melt once in contact with the body’s internal heat; some also contain liquid that is released once the outer cover dissolves.

In either case, the substance, if properly inserted high in the rectum, will stimulate the intestinal tract, absorb moisture from the immediate environment, and lubricate the way for stool to move down and out of the body. People usually take this sort of medication when they’ve been constipated for a few days or when surgery or other medical issue — childbirth is a common one — makes it painful to strain or push stool out naturally. It is best for mild to moderate blockages, and isn’t normally strong enough to combat serious intestinal issues.

Basic Usage Instructions

Glycerin suppositories must be inserted directly into the rectum, usually with one or two fingers. Manufactures often recommend that people use a glove coated with a water-based lubricant to push the suppository, which makes it easier to get it high up because it reduces friction; wearing a glove is also a good way to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria. Ideally the suppository should be held in place for about a minute in order to prevent it from being forced out.

Many people find it helpful to lie down on their side and clench the anal muscles for several minutes after use to help keep the suppository in place. This may speed up the dissolving process. It’s also usually suggested that people wait at least 15 minutes before using the bathroom to get the best effect. This can be challenging because the urge to “go” gets tends to get strong when a suppository is in place. Still, even if people use the toilet and expel the suppository before the 15 minutes are up, they may retain some of the benefits and constipation could still be alleviated.

Different Kinds of Constipation

These sorts of suppositories usually only work to address constipation in the lower bowel. In most cases they works through direct contact, and as such they’re best suited in situations when fecal matter is hardened and difficult to pass near the rectal opening. If the blockage is in the upper gastrointestinal areas the glycerin may not do much at all, since it likely won’t be able to reach the problem. Oral laxatives are often better in these situations.

Risks and Warnings

Some experts have expressed concern that using these suppositories too often may create a dependence on them, to the extent that people may find it very difficult to have bowel movements without using one. Most medical professionals don’t recommend that people use these for more than about a week at a time. People who have constipation lasting longer than this may have a chronic condition that needs more aggressive treatment.

There are also some concerns in the medical community that repeated use of suppositories of any kind can damage the tissue lining the intestine and colon. This sort of damage is usually only seen with extensive use over a long period of time, but it is something patients should consider. Most suppositories are intended for adult use, too, and should not be given to children or infants without express direction from a medical care provider.

What is Vegetable Glycerin?

Glycerin, also known as glycerol, is an organic compound of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen with 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 distinction is important for vegetarians. It is also used as a sweetener and as an ingredient in a number of cosmetic products.

Structure and Properties

The compound consists of a chain of three carbon atoms, to which are attached hydrogen 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 — in the USA — as a carbohydrate by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 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 solid that melts at about 64.4°F (18°C). It lowers the freezing point of water, however, by an amount that depends on the concentration. For example, a 66.7% solution freezes at -51°F (-46.1°C). For this reason, it can be used as non-toxic antifreeze 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 are various 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 casually disposed 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

Glycerin is 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 most commonly 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 to its 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 is also a component of glycerin soap, which is often used by people with sensitive skin. 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 plant material. 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 associated bacterial colonies.

What is Vegetable Glycerin?

Glycerin, also known as glycerol, is an organic compound of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen with 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 distinction is important for vegetarians. It is also used as a sweetener and as an ingredient in a number of cosmetic products.

Structure and Properties

The compound consists of a chain of three carbon atoms, to which are attached hydrogen 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 — in the USA — as a carbohydrate by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 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 solid that melts at about 64.4°F (18°C). It lowers the freezing point of water, however, by an amount that depends on the concentration. For example, a 66.7% solution freezes at -51°F (-46.1°C). For this reason, it can be used as non-toxic antifreeze 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 are various 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 casually disposed 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

Glycerin is 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 most commonly 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 to its 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 is also a component of glycerin soap, which is often used by people with sensitive skin. 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 plant material. 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 associated bacterial colonies.

What Are the Different Uses of Glycerin from Biodiesel?

Crude glycerol or glycerin is one of the byproducts of biodiesel production. Crude glycerin is not suitable for most commercial applications due to high impurity levels and requires further refinement prior to marketing. After refinement, the purified glycerin may be used in the same applications as conventionally produced varieties including food and pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, and chemical formulations. Refining crude glycerin is expensive, however, and the economics of the process have forced biodiesel producers to seek commercially viable uses for the crude product such as composting, combustion, animal feed, and explosives.

The use of glycerin from biodiesel can be divided into two categories: refined products which meet commercial pure glycerin standards and those based on unrefined crude glycerin. The refine ment of crude glycerin removes methanol, free fatty acids, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur and ensures minimum concentrations of glycerol, the active component in glycerin, of 80%. Pure glycerin refined from crude biodieselbyproducts is essentially the same as that produced by other means and may be employed in the similar applications. Crude glycerin, on the other hand, is either used as-is or partially refined.

Refined glycerin from biodiesel is used in a number of industries including food processing, pharmaceutical manufacture, and chemical formulation. The food industry utilizes glycerin as a sweetener, solvent, and thickener. It is also used as a humectant to keep foodstuff moist and as a filler in many low fat products. Pure glycerin from biodiesel is also included in many low glycemic index (GI) foods because it has around the same calorific or food energy value as table sugar but does not raise blood sugar levels.

The pharmaceutical industry uses refined glycerin from biodiesel in a number of medical and personal care products as a lubricant, humectant, and texture improving agent. These products include cough syrups, expectorants, toothpaste, skin care products, and shaving cream. Soap, hair care products, and personal lubricants also feature glycerin as an additive. Glycerin is also commonly used as a tablet holding agent in the formulation of solid dosage medication.

The chemical industry has several applications for purified glycerin from biodiesel. These applications include fuel additives such as glycerin acetate, a component in surface coatings, and as additives in artists paints. Glycerin is also found in paper manufacturing formulations, dyes, and inks and antifreeze agents.

Crude or partially refined glycerin is used in a number of industries which do not require high levels of purity. These include explosive production, aerobic composting, and a range of animal feed products. Biodiesel derived glycerin is also added to dust suppressant products and has been utilized as a base for combustion fuel pellets.

The Benefits of Glycerin for Skin

Glycerin, also called glycerol, can be used on all types of skin including oily skin. It is used to treat many oily skin conditions, like acne, skin infections, wrinkles and fine lines.  Glycerin attracts moisture onto your skin which is why it is considered a humectant. Glycerin is an emollient, making skin not only oist, but soft and supple to the touch.Glycerin in lotions or other skin care products can help prvent or combat dry skin.   And if you have dry skin on your face, you can apply glycerin topically onto your face to increase and lock in moisture on the skin to cure the dryness. It gives you moisturized and cleansed skin, without any side effects.  Glycerin suits most people and the effects of glycerin on skin are healthier. It can provide a more attractive, natural-looking appearance.

Moisturizing: Glycerin acts as a very effective moisturizer on the skin. It makes your skin absorbs water from air reducing the dry and dull patches on your skin. It’s therefore very useful in winters as well. Glycerin can be applied directly onto the skin as a moisturizer. Dab a cotton ball with glycerin and apply it onto your skin. Wow, you will feel your skin gets soft, supple and hydrated immediately on its application. It adds hydration and health to your skin. Glycerin is also known for its meditative properties that work to heal dry, rough and irritated skin.

Smoothing: As the skin ages, it looks dull and gets susceptible to irritation, redness and many other conditions, such as dry skin due to losing its ability to retain moisture. With aging, your skin gets rough – but using glycerin regularly can make your skin smooth and prevent other problems associated with dryness. This also helps in smoothing your skin and face by filling in the tiny cracks in the dry skin.

Maintains Water Balance:  Humectants in glycerin attract water from air and help in retaining water in the skin. When glycerin or glycerol is applied to the skin, it minimizes water loss due to evaporation and maintains the skin’s water balance on an intercellular level– so keeps the skin well hydrated and nourished.

Nourishes Skin: Because of its skin nourishing properties, glycerin can be used every day. Its regular use will help to keep your skin healthy, soft and fresh.

Enhances Skin Appearance: Glycerin acts as an emollient that keeps your skin not only moist, but soft and supple to touch. It makes your skin looks healthier and attractive, devoid of the scaly looks and other characteristics of dry skin. Its therapeutic effects on wounds and other skin disease also lead your skin to look healthier and smoother.

Heals Skin:  Glycerin is able to guide cells to grow and mature more effectively, thus helping the skin heal. Glycerin also acts as a natural medication for fungal infections like eczema and psoriasis, by reducing bruising and helping the infected tissue and cells to repair themselves more quickly.

Protects Skin:  Glycerin increases the thickness of the epidermal layer and improves barrier function. It helps keep harmful chemicals and environmental elements sout of the skin and locks moisture in.