Propanediol

Other names: 1,2-Propanediol (Propylene glycol), 1,3-Propanediol

Propanediol is an amino acid that has several names.1,2-Propanediol is also known as Propylene Glycol and 1,3-Propanediol. It is an organic compound that is characterized by a colorless liquid form with a slightly sweet odor. Propanediol also occurs in several stereoisomers, although in commercial production a racemic mixture is most commonly used. The substance can be found in many cosmetic and personal care products such as shampoos, body creams, skin cleansers, as well as in many medical preparations.

The use of propanediol is very wide, as it is a substance that is largely absorbed by the skin. For this reason, it often appears in moisturising creams, where it acts as a moisturising ingredient. In the pharmaceutical industry it is used, for example, as a solvent in oral medicines. 1,2-Propanediol is also found in the food industry as an additive, i.e. a substance that modifies the properties of foodstuffs. 1,3-Propanediol is in turn used in industry as a raw material for the production of polyester and polyurethane resins, clothing fibres, coolants and many others.