Triacetin

The triester of glycerol with three acetic acid molecules. The most widely used of the glycerol acetates, with applications spanning flavor and fragrance solvent, pharmaceutical film-coating plasticizer, food humectant, and cellulose acetate cigarette filter plasticizer.

Clear, almost colorless oily liquid. Faint sweet odor. Limited water solubility (approximately 7 percent), fully miscible with ethanol, ethyl acetate, and most polar organic solvents.

We supply Food-Grade and Pharmaceutical-Grade Triacetin from manufacturers in China holding ISO, Halal, Kosher and other certifications relevant to the product and production.

Common market grades include Food-Grade Triacetin for flavor and fragrance carrier use, Pharmaceutical USP/EP/JP Grade for film-coating plasticization and pharmaceutical excipient use, and Technical Grade for cigarette filter plasticization and industrial applications.

Bulk and reduced-MOQ shipments. Batch-level COA covering assay, water content, acidity, residual mono- and diacetin, and microbiology.

Triacetin was first synthesized in 1854 by Berthelot and has been an industrial commodity since the late nineteenth century. Today it is produced at large scale primarily for the cellulose acetate cigarette filter industry, with food and pharmaceutical applications as smaller but important secondary markets.

Production is by esterification of glycerol with acetic anhydride or acetic acid under acid catalysis, followed by neutralization, dehydration, and distillation. The high-purity grades meet pharmacopoeial specifications for film-coating plasticizer and food-grade carrier applications.

Regulated as E1518 in the EU, classified as Generally Recognized as Safe by the U.S. FDA, listed in USP, NF, EP, JP, and BP pharmacopoeias, and approved by JECFA without a numerical Acceptable Daily Intake limit.

In pharmaceutical use Triacetin is one of the most common plasticizers for film coatings on solid dosage forms, where it modulates film flexibility, prevents cracking during tablet handling, and supports controlled drug release. The compound is also the dominant plasticizer for cellulose acetate cigarette filter fiber globally.

• Pharmaceutical film-coating plasticizer; the dominant plasticizer for hypromellose and cellulosic film coatings on tablets
• Cellulose acetate cigarette filter plasticizer; the largest single industrial application globally
• Flavor and fragrance carrier solvent in confectionery, beverage, and fragrance compounding
• Food humectant in baked goods and confectionery
• Pharmaceutical excipient in oral and topical preparations
• Fuel additive and biodiesel coproduct upgrading
• Cosmetic and personal-care solvent and emollient
• Industrial solvent for resins, dyes, and intermediates