Glycerine (Glycerol)

Explanatory note

Glycerine, also called glycerol, is prevalent in nature. Chemically, it belongs to the alcohols and is a component of all fats and oils. Glycerine (translated: "sweet wax") is a viscid substance that binds water and has a sweet taste.

Utilisation

There are many possible applications for glycerine. For example, in the food industry the substance is used to sweeten beverages. In addition, manufacturers use the additive as wetting agent for specific foods such asbaking goods and dried fruits. Glycerine also prevents the formation of crystals in confectionary and is used as a resolvent for food dyes as well as a carrier substance for essences.

Further application areas:

• as feed additive:
  "raw" glycerine is added to feed in order to reduce the formation of dust and to retain moisture. Furthermore, the substance improves taste and thereby increases feed intake.
• in the production of synthetics and dyes, toothpaste, cosmetics, brake fluid and antifreeze, as well as to retain moisture in tabacco.

Gene technology

Glycerine can be won synthetically from propene. It also accrues during the production of biodiesel fuel.

In Europe, only rapeseed oil is used as raw material for the production of biodiesel. After heating and with the aid of a catalyst and methanol, esters are converted into fatty acid methyl ester (biodiesel). Thereby, glycerine is discharged and may be isolated. Subsequently, this "raw" glycerin is purified. During the production of bio-diesel, 100 kilograms of glycerine accrue per tonne.

Rapeseed: GM rapeseed is cultivated extensively in Canada. In the EU, various GM rapeseed plants (mostly herbicide resistant) have been approved. Currently, with the exception of a few sample areas, there are no GM rapeseed species commercially cultivated in the EU.

Labelling: Glycerine from GM rape is subject to a labelling requirement. Coincidental, technically unavoidable GMO admixtures in rapeseed raw materials up to a part of 0.9 per cent, and the foods produced thereof, are not subject to a labelling requirement.