Polyglycerol Esters

Abstract

Abstract When glycerol is heated with an alkaline catalyst to over 230 C, water is evolved and polymerization occurs to form a whole family of polyglycerols ranging from diglycerol with 3 hydroxy groups, to triacontaglycerol with 32 hydroxy groups. The carboxylic acid esters of polyglycerols prepared by direct esterification or by interchange, may be solid or liquid; saturated or unsaturated; aliphatic or aromatic; mono, di‐ or polycarboxylic acid esters; mono‐, di‐, or polyesters of the polyglycerol; single or mixed acid esters; high or low molecular weight; water or oil soluble; and with an HLB from about 4 to about 13. Polyglycerol esters find utility in a wide variety of food products including beverages, desserts, topping and baked goods. They are thermally stable and find application in several industrial systems.