Glycerine

Glycerine, or glycerol is a simple polyol compound. It is almost sweet tasting, colorless, odorless, nontoxic, viscous liquid what is widely used in pharmaceutical formulations. Glycerine has three hydroxyl groups that are responsible for its solubility in water and its hygroscopic nature. The glycerine backbone is central to all lipids known as triglycerides.
Glycerol is a 3-carbon alcohol, aka glycerol. It is nonvolatile and intensely hygroscopic (water-loving), and can be rinsed off any surface with ordinary water. Pure glycerine has recently been found to hasten cell maturation and suppress inflammation. Glycerol is a major component of numerous expensive soaps.
Glycerol is produced in huge quantities in its impure form as a byproduct of biofuel generation. This crude form is treated mostly as a waste product and is generally disposed of or burned.

Applications

Pure glycerine, or glycerol, has a wide range of applications in the food, pharmaceutical, medical and personal care industries, as well as a variety of industrial and scientific uses.
In foods and beverages, glycerol serves as a humectant, solvent, and artificial sweetener. It is also used as filler in commercially prepared low-fat food, and as a thickening agent in liqueurs.
Glycerine is used in medical, pharmaceutical and personal care preparation mainly as a means of improving smoothness, providing lubrication, and as a
humectant. It is found in allergen immunotherapies, cough syrups, elixirs and expectorants, toothpaste, mouthwashes, skin care products, shaving cream, hair care products, glycerin soaps and water-based personal lubricants. Nitroglycerin is the most commonplace treatment for chronic angina, the chest pain of heart disease.
Topical pure or nearly pure glycerine is an effective treatment for psoriasis, burns, bites, cuts, rashes, bedsores, and calluses. It can be used orally to eliminate halitosis, as it is a contact bacterial desiccant. The same property makes it very helpful with periodontal disease; it penetrates biofilm quickly
and eliminates bacterial colonies.
In surface science, glycerinel is shown to reduce the  coefficient of friction of polymer-coated surfaces by several orders of magnitude. It is also used as an alcohol-free alternative to ethanol as a solvent in preparing herbal extractions. Glycerine is used to produce nitroglycerin, or glyceryl tinitrate , which is an essential ingredient of smokeless gunpowder and various explosives such as dynamite, gelignite, and propellants like cordite.