Modeling thermodynamic properties of glycerol involved in cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries: Boiling point, heat capacity and thermal conductivity

Glycerol is known as a byproduct resulted especially from biodiesel industry involving the transesterification of triglycerides. Even though large amounts of glycerol are disposed without utilization, lately, after a prior purification, this byproduct is also employed as valuable ingredient in personal care products, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Since its thermodynamic properties (boiling point, heat capacity and thermal conductivity) influence the good functioning of industrial equipment and the quality of finished products, we have considered as appropriate to express their evolution with pressure, temperature and concentration as simple mathematical models. Statistical analysis of the equations showed correlation coefficients with values higher than 0.995 and relative errors below -0.15% sustaining the fact that the obtained models are able to accurately describe the real tendency of the cited properties.