Glycerol
Discover Glycerol, the versatile and valuable substance that plays an important role in numerous industries and applications.
Glycerol, also known as glycerin, has attracted the attention of scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs around the world because of its unique properties and wide range of applications.
Whether you are curious about the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food or chemical industries, or interested in the sustainable aspects of glycerol, you have come to the right place.
Be inspired by its versatility and discover the possibilities of glycerol.
What is Glycerol?
Glycerol (also known as glycerin or 1,2,3 propane triol) is an alcohol with 3 hydroxyl groups.
It is produced as a by-product in the production of biodiesel from vegetable oil. During the process, oil is reacted with methanol (=catalyst) and transformed into methyl esters (=biodiesel) and glycerol:
Triglyceride (=oil) + methanol => Methyl esters (=biodiesel) + glycerol + by-product
Depending on the purification processes, different purity levels of glycerol mixtures with varying levels of glycerol, methanol, water, salts and free fatty acids are created.
Applications of Glycerol
Applications of glycerol are diverse and used in various industries, including:
- Cosmetics (production of toothpaste, soaps and shampoos)
- Medical preparations (to improve smoothness or as an emollient, for example in cough syrup and suppositories)
- Industry (as plasticiser in plastics and antifreeze)
- Human food (as a solvent or sweetener in sweets, cakes and margarine)
- Animal feed (as glucose precursor and energy supplier, it increases feed intake)
- Pet food industry (producing semi-moist snacks)
Offer
- GMO & Non GMO glycerol
- Glycerine 99.5% Pharma grade
- Glycerine 80%
- Customised mixtures: we can produce and fill every possible combination
- Glycopower: this is a specially developed formula tailored for animal feed applications (see below).
Applications of Glycopower®
Pigs
Glycerol is converted to glucose via gluconeogenesis, which in turn is used by the body as a source of energy. Glycerol provides an alternative source of glucose.
Sows
- GLYCOPOWER ® in the lactation feed of high-yielding sows improves condition maintenance.
- GLYCOPOWER ® around farrowing has a positive effect on the weight gain of suckling piglets (and higher milk production?), especially when glycopower is administered over a longer period.
Piglets
- 10% glycerol → improvement in daily growth and feed conversion (p<0.01)
- When increasing from 2.5% to 5% glycerol, we see a linear increase in daily growth and feed intake (p<0.05)
- No significant effect is seen in the pre-starter period.
- When increasing from 5% to 10% glycerol in the starter period → a linear increase in daily growth and feed intake (p <.0.01)
- At the end of the trial, piglets fed glycerol were 1kg (5%) to 1.5kg (10%) heavier than the control group (p<0.01)
Meat pigs
Zootechnical results:
- Higher daily growth rate
- Higher feed intake (+7.5% vs. control)
- Increasing effects with increasing level of inclusion
Meat quality:
- Increased water-binding capacity of muscles
- Less drip loss
- Decrease in proportion of unsaturated fat
- Change in fatty acid profile
- Increase in ‘belly firmness’ – firmer belly fat
Technical:
- Better palatability
- Better pellet quality
Cattle
Negative energy and glucose balance
- At the beginning of lactation (pre- and postpartum)
- In highly productive dairy cattle
Feed intake is not sufficient to meet energy and glucose needs.
For milk production, glucose is a must. The body’s own production of glucose should accommodate this.
Role in metabolism
- Direct and efficient source of energy
- Raw material of gluconeogenesis (= new formation of glucose), in the liver
- Source of propionic acid (through rumen fermentation), which is also a glucogenic precursor
- Prevention of ketonemia (calf disease)
- Triggers an uptake increase
