Propylene glycol (IUPAC name: propane-1,2-diol) is a viscous, colorless liquid, which is nearly odorless but possesses a faintly sweet taste. Its chemical formula is CH3CH(OH)CH2OH. Containing two alcohol groups, it is classed as a diol. It is miscible with a broad range of solvents, including water, acetone, and chloroform. In general, glycolsare non-irritating and have very low volatility. It is produced on a large scale primarily for the production of polymers. In the European Union, it has E-number E1520 for food applications. For cosmetics and pharmacology, the number is E490. Propylene glycol is also present in propylene glycol alginate, which is known as E405. Propylene glycol is a compound which is GRAS (generally recognized as safe) by the US Food and Drug Administration under 21 CFR x184.1666, and is also approved by the FDA for certain uses as an indirect food additive. Propylene glycol is approved and used as a vehicle for topical, oral, and some intravenous pharmaceutical preparations in the U.S. and in Europe. Propylene glycol is also used in various edible items such as coffee-based drinks,liquid sweeteners, ice cream, whipped dairy products and soda.Vaporizersused for delivery of pharmaceuticals or personal-care products often include propylene glycol among the ingredients.In alcohol-based hand sanitizers, it is used as a humectant to prevent the skin from drying.Propylene glycol is used as asolventin manypharmaceuticals, includingoral,injectable, andtopicalformulations. Many pharmaceutical drugs which areinsolublein water utilize propylene glycol as a solvent and carrier; benzodiazepine tablets are one example.Propylene glycol is also used as a solvent and carrier for many pharmaceuticalcapsulepreparations. Additionally, certain formulations ofartificial tearsuse propylene glycol as an ingredient
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