Properties and uses Description of properties: Colorless oily liquid. Melting point 3ºC, boiling point 258-259ºC, 130.5ºC (0.39kPa), relative density 1.1596 (20/4ºC), refractive index 1.4301, flash point 148.8ºC. It is miscible with ethanol, ether, chloroform and benzene, slightly soluble in water and carbon disulfide, and has a solubility in water of 5.9g/100ml at 25°C, with a bitter taste.
production methods : derived from glycerol and acetic acid esterification. After preheating the glycerol to 50-60°C, add acetic acid; benzene and sulfuric acid. Heating, stirring and refluxing for dehydration, recovery of benzene after dehydration, adding acetic anhydride, and heating for 4 h. After cooling, neutralize the pH to 7 with 5% sodium carbonate, separate the aqueous layer, and dry the crude oil with calcium chloride. Distill under reduced pressure, collect 128-131 ºC (0.93kPa) fraction, which is triacetin.
Uses: Used as spice fixative, solvent, toughening agent. It is used in cosmetics; the production of medicines and dyes, as a plasticizer for cigarette filter rods, etc.