Waterglycerol

Waterglycerol refers to an aqueous solution of glycerol (propane-1,2,3-triol) in water. Glycerol is a polar, hygroscopic triol that mixes with water in all proportions, producing a range of homogeneous liquids used across industry and science.

In terms of properties, water-glycerol mixtures are fully miscible at all compositions. The density and viscosity of the solution depend on the glycerol fraction and temperature: as glycerol content increases, viscosity rises markedly whereas density typically lies between that of water and pure glycerol, increasing with glycerol concentration. Pure glycerol has a high intrinsic boiling point and a high heat capacity, and mixtures with water inherit elevated boiling characteristics relative to pure water. Conversely, glycerol strongly depresses the freezing point of water, giving antifreeze-like behavior that is exploited in cryopreservation and low-temperature applications. The solutions are typically colorless, viscous liquids with significant hydrogen-bonding.

Applications of water-glycerol solutions are varied. They serve as environmentally friendlier solvents and humectants in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and foods; as stabilizing, non-volatile media in analytical chemistry and chromatography; and as cryoprotectants in biological sample preservation. In some industrial contexts, glycerol-water mixtures are used as heat-transfer fluids or lubricants due to their high boiling point and lubricity.

Preparation is straightforward: glycerol is added to water in the desired ratio and mixed until homogeneous. Safety considerations reflect glycerol’s low acute toxicity, though high-viscosity handling and skin or eye contact should be minimized; as with many glycerol-containing solutions, environmental disposal should follow local guidelines.