Glycerol formal is a monovalent alcohol, linked with a cyclic ether group.

Owing to these two chemical groups of different polarity the molecule shows high affinity to polar as well as to less polar or even up to non-polar substances. As an outstanding property in this sense the complete miscibility with water may be mentioned. For these reasons glycerol formal is especially qualified for the use as solvent for very miscellaneous applications.

The most important industrial applications will be found in colours and varnishes, printing inks, adhesives, pesticides, detergents and cleaning agents or metal cleaners. But beside its function as a plain solvent glycerol formal can exhibit discrete lacquer-forming properties like retardation of drying or film formation.

Glycerol formal is being used for years by pharmacists and veterinarians particularly as carrier or enhancer for active ingredients. The alcoholic hydroxyl functionality of the molecule allows for the participation as building block in many reactions. Within condensation reactions causing the release of water glycerol formal is being incorporated into polyesters, polyurethanes, polyacrylates, polyethers et cetera, accompanied by very distinct modification of their properties. The reaction with anhydrides and acids will yield esters. Results of our lab experiments addressing the characterisation of this substance are available on request.

GLACONCHEMIE will produce GLYCAMAL® / Glycerol formal exclusively from biogenous glycerine originated from vegetable oils. The proportion of biogenous material in the finished product GLYCAMAL® will be 86.6 %.

According to GHS we have classified Glycerol formal with the codes H319 and H361, both category 2, and label our samples with the pictograms GHS07 and GHS8 as well as with the signal word “warning”. For additional information on the safe handling and toxicity of the product, consult the Material Safety Data Sheet.

SYNONYMS
I 1,3-Dioxolane-4-methanol (4-Hydroxymethyl-1,3-dioxolane) [40-50%]
II 1,3-Dioxane-5-ol [50-60%] (Mixture of isomers)

At room temperature glycerol formal is a clear, colourless, practically odourless, mobile liquid. It consists of two structural isomers: