BIOBASED CHEMICALS
Glycerol carbonate : A biobased hydroxyl cyclic carbonate for multiple uses
Javier Navas & Ana Maria Belda of Ube introduces Daxsol glycerol carbonate
Figure 1 - Structure of glycerol carbonate Figure 2 - Reaction process for intumescent paints
Daxsol glycerol carbonate ( GC )* ( Figure 1 ) is a hydroxylfunctional carbonate that can be used in several applications as a raw material or active solvent , diluent , plasticiser or synthetic intermediate . It can be classified according to whether it acts as a solvent or a reactive . The main physical properties are depicted in Table 1 .
Daxsol GC has recently announced that it has earned the US Department of Agriculture ( USDA ) certification as containing 76 % biobased product and is thus permitted to display a USDA label that highlights this . It has also been proven to achieve 90.5 % degradation of the test substance after 29 days according to standard OECD 301B , showing it to be readily biodegradable .
When used in different applications , Daxsol GC offers dual function properties , such as being both a
Table 1 - Physical properties of Daxsol GC
Properties Boiling point Density at 20 ° C Viscosity ( 25 ° C )
Value wetting agent and plasticiser , as well as low flammability , low VOC profile , low reactivity , high polymer solubility and water-solubility . Its low toxicity and high biodegradability make it suitable for replacing other solvents that do not meet environmental requirements .
Solvent applications
One of the applications for Daxsol GC is as wetting and plasticiser agent for cement . 1 Here it can replace tributylphenol ethoxylate , lauryl polyglycol ether sulfate , improving the wetting of fine particles in the dry plaster or mortar . Thus , it improves the workability , penetration , and binding strength of concrete to surfaces and leads to a higher performance and time savings .
Another application is as a cosolvent for a resin for a road-marking paint , because of its high polymer solubility . The commonly used solvents
125-135 ° C / 0.1mmHg 1.40 g / ml 85.4 cp
Flash point 149.5 ° C ( EU Method A . 9 closed cup )
here are aromatic hydrocarbons like orthoxylene , n-butyl acetate and isopropyl acetate .
Daxsol ’ s triple function as an emulsifier , plasticiser and humectant means that it finds use in cosmetics , personal care and health care . Another potential application is a plant energiser in the agricultural field .
A common application where Daxsol GC can be used is as lubricant . It can replace commonly used solvents , like polyisobutylene , esters and polyalphaolefins among others , due to its adhesion to metal surfaces and high resistance to oxidation and hydrolysis .
Daxsol GC has ability as an electrolyte solvent and additive as other carbonates offering excellent properties like high dielectric constant ( 111 ); better lithium solvation properties ; oligomer formation ; 2 and the formation of electrode passivation layers that improve cell longevity .
Another potential application is as plasticiser in polyurethane formulations . Here , the commonly used solvents are ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate . Daxsol GC can be used to offer solvent properties like high solubility and low reactivity .
It is also possible to use Daxsol GC for detergent applications , where the main target is improving the hand-feel performance . This is achieved with glycerol . For this reason , developed
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