1,2,3-Propanetriol glycidyl ether

Chemical properties

The polyglycidyl ether of substituted glycerin is the reaction product of epichlorohydrin and glycerin. Although the exact molecular arrangement in not known, it is of uniform composition.

The Uses of 1,2,3-Propanetriol glycidyl ether

The polyglycidyl ether of substituted glycerine is obtained as a reaction mixture of epichlorohydrin and glycerin. It is used in conjunction with the epoxy resins in the manufacture of adhesives. Because the compound is generally used in conjunction with a curing agent, frequently active amines, the hazardous properties of these substances must also be considered.

Carcinogenicity

Carcinomas were produced on the skin of mice painted with the material from once to thrice weekly over a period of a year. No tumors were produced on rabbit ears in a similar test. Sarcomas were produced in rats by subcutaneous injection. When fed to strain A mice at a concentration of 0.2% in the diet, there was no increase in the incidence of spontaneous pulmonary adenomas compared to controls. In a 6 month tumor promotion study in mice, the material was assessed for both tumor promotion and tumor initiation compared to positive controls of dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA) and tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA), respectively. Test materials were applied in 0.1mL quantities twice weekly for 26 weeks, with initiation applications beginning on test day 2 and promotion applications beginning on test day 6. Results for initiation were inconclusive, since a small number of skin masses were observed; however, the authors potentially attributed these to high doses of TPA resulting in repeated injury and healing cycles. As no lesions were observed with the material in combination with DMBA, it was judged to have no potential for tumor promotion.