Overview
What Is Refined Glycerin?
Refined glycerin is the purified form of glycerol (propane-1,2,3-triol) obtained after distillation and polishing of crude glycerin streams—or from selected synthetic routes in specialty plants. For SUAT Fuels customers, the dominant narrative remains vegetable-derived material upgraded from FAME or oleochemical refining, delivered with full Certificate of Analysis traceability.
The commercial product is a clear, hygroscopic liquid with sweet taste, high boiling point and broad solvency. Key quality markers include glycerol assay, chloride and sulphate limits, residual MONG, refractive index or specific gravity, colour (APHA / Hazen) and microbial compliance when pharma-grade sterility statements are needed.
Key Advantages
Why Source Refined Glycerin With SUAT Fuels?
Monograph alignment
Lot-release testing mapped to the pharmacopoeia or technical data sheet you nominate—reduces QC friction at formulation sites.
Global supply lanes
Access to APAC, Indian Ocean and Atlantic refinery hubs with arbitrage-aware pricing for term offtakers.
Packaging flexibility
ISO flexitanks for ocean moves, IBC totes for factory feeds, plated drums for specialty chemical batches.
Chemical-grade optionality
Ultra-low chloride cuts available for epichlorohydrin and resin producers needing tight ion ceilings.
Technical Data
Typical Specification Targets (USP / Technical)
Targets below summarise common commercial agreements; final acceptance always follows the supplier CoA attached to the bill of lading.
| Parameter | Target | Typical limit | Method (indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glycerol content | 99.5–99.7% | min 99.5% | EN 14199 |
| Water | <0.5% | per monograph | Karl Fischer |
| Colour (APHA) | ≤ 10–20 | grade-dependent | ASTM D1209 |
| Chlorides | <10 ppm | tighter on request | USP / titration |
| Density at 20°C | 1.261–1.265 kg/L | pure glycerol band | EN ISO 3675 |
| Refractive index | 1.473–1.474 | 25°C | ISO 5661 |
| MONG | <0.5% | — | USP residue |
| Identity (IR / GC) | Pass | pharmacopoeia | compendial |
Compliance
Regulatory Positioning
Biofuel vs industrial use
- Refined glycerin is primarily a food, pharma and chemical raw material—not a drop-in lipid HVO/HEFA feedstock.
- If directed to SAF or other renewable fuel chemistry, RED III / CORSIA treatment follows the configured pathway and mass balance—not automatic inheritance from crude glycerin status.
- Allergen / GMO / palm-origin declarations are managed per supplier and customer QA policy.
Applications
End Uses
Personal care & pharma
Humectant in topicals, excipient in liquid dosage forms, cough syrups—compendial grades.
Food & beverage
E422 humectant and carrier with regional FEMA/FDA or EFSA compliance per supplier pack.
Epichlorohydrin & resins
Low-chloride glycerol feeds bio-based epoxy precursors and engineering polymers.
Polyols & lubricants
Polyether polyol builders, hygroscopic fluids, antifreeze and heat-transfer formulations.