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Is there a difference in look or feel of different glycerin products?
This may be a silly question, but is there a discernible difference in look or feel between different glycerin products, for example from different manufacturers or between for example, 98/99/100% glycerin? Have you as chemists or formulators developed any preferences over time?
Thank you for any opinions.
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2 Replies
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Why would there be a difference unless you’re working with an anhydrous product and use 80% v.s. 98% glycerol or try to pre-disperse a gelling agent such as xanthan gum in 80% instead of 99.5%. Even the 98% can be suboptimal for that and hence, using a dry solvent is my preferred choice.I always take water ‘contamination’ into account and adjust for that. This means, no difference in the end product observed.Drawback of using >98% is that it’s hygroscopic and dry glycerol becomes <98% at some point. Alas, there’s usually no knowing how wet your glycerol actually is. With hygroscopic powders you’ll see when they turn too wet and sticky but a liquid always remains a liquid. -
Pharma said:Why would there be a difference unless you’re working with an anhydrous product and use 80% v.s. 98% glycerol or try to pre-disperse a gelling agent such as xanthan gum in 80% instead of 99.5%. Even the 98% can be suboptimal for that and hence, using a dry solvent is my preferred choice.I always take water ‘contamination’ into account and adjust for that. This means, no difference in the end product observed.Drawback of using >98% is that it’s hygroscopic and dry glycerol becomes <98% at some point. Alas, there’s usually no knowing how wet your glycerol actually is. With hygroscopic powders you’ll see when they turn too wet and sticky but a liquid always remains a liquid.Thanks @Pharma, always a great source of wisdom.
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