1,3-Propanediol

1,3-Propanediol is the organic compound with the formula CH2(CH2OH)2. This three-carbon diol is a colorless viscous liquid that is miscible with water. 1,3-Propanediol is the organic compound with the formula CH2(CH2OH)2. This three-carbon diol is a colorless viscous liquid that is miscible with water. It is mainly used as a building block in the production of polymers such as polytrimethylene terephthalate. 1,3-Propanediol can be formulated into a variety of industrial products including composites, adhesives, laminates, coatings, moldings, aliphatic polyesters, copolyesters. It is also a solvent and used as an antifreeze and in wood paint. 1,3-Propanediol is mainly produced by the hydration of acrolein. An alternative route involves the hydroformylation of ethylene oxide to afford 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde. The aldehyde is subsequently hydrogenated to give 1,3-propanediol. Biotechnological routes are also known. Two other routes involve bioprocessing by certain micro-organisms: 1,3-Propanediol does not appear to pose a significant hazard via inhalation of either the vapor or a vapor/aerosol mixture.