Glycidol
Encyclopedia
Glycidol is an organic compound
that contains both epoxide
and alcohol
functional group
s. Being bifunctional, it has a variety of industrial uses. The compound is a slightly viscous liquid that is slightly unstable and is not often encountered in pure form.
.
Glycidol is used as a stabilizer for natural oils and vinyl polymers and as a demulsifier. It is used as a chemical intermediate in the synthesis of glycerol
, glycidyl ethers, esters and amines. It is used in surface coatings, chemical synthesis, pharmaceuticals, sanitary chemicals and sterilizing milk of magnesia, and as a gelation agent in solid propellants.
depression, followed by central nervous system stimulation.
It is listed as IARC group2 carcinogen.
Organic compound
An organic compound is any member of a large class of gaseous, liquid, or solid chemical compounds whose molecules contain carbon. For historical reasons discussed below, a few types of carbon-containing compounds such as carbides, carbonates, simple oxides of carbon, and cyanides, as well as the...
that contains both epoxide
Epoxide
An epoxide is a cyclic ether with three ring atoms. This ring approximately defines an equilateral triangle, which makes it highly strained. The strained ring makes epoxides more reactive than other ethers. Simple epoxides are named from the parent compound ethylene oxide or oxirane, such as in...
and alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
functional group
Functional group
In organic chemistry, functional groups are specific groups of atoms within molecules that are responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of those molecules. The same functional group will undergo the same or similar chemical reaction regardless of the size of the molecule it is a part of...
s. Being bifunctional, it has a variety of industrial uses. The compound is a slightly viscous liquid that is slightly unstable and is not often encountered in pure form.
Synthesis and applications
Glycidol is prepared by the epoxidation of allyl alcoholAllyl alcohol
Allyl alcohol is an organic compound with the structural formula CH2=CHCH2OH. Like many alcohols,it is a water soluble, colourless liquid, but it is more toxic than typical small alcohols. Allyl alcohol is used as a raw material for the production of glycerol, but is used as a precursor to many...
.
Glycidol is used as a stabilizer for natural oils and vinyl polymers and as a demulsifier. It is used as a chemical intermediate in the synthesis of glycerol
Glycerol
Glycerol is a simple polyol compound. It is a colorless, odorless, viscous liquid that is widely used in pharmaceutical formulations. Glycerol has three hydroxyl groups that are responsible for its solubility in water and its hygroscopic nature. The glycerol backbone is central to all lipids...
, glycidyl ethers, esters and amines. It is used in surface coatings, chemical synthesis, pharmaceuticals, sanitary chemicals and sterilizing milk of magnesia, and as a gelation agent in solid propellants.
Safety
Glycidol is an irritant of the skin, eyes, mucous membranes, and upper respiratory tract. Exposure to glycidol may also cause central nervous systemCentral nervous system
The central nervous system is the part of the nervous system that integrates the information that it receives from, and coordinates the activity of, all parts of the bodies of bilaterian animals—that is, all multicellular animals except sponges and radially symmetric animals such as jellyfish...
depression, followed by central nervous system stimulation.
It is listed as IARC group2 carcinogen.