Glyceryl Distearate BP EP USP Pharma Grade: Properties, Structure, and Industrial Insights

What is Glyceryl Distearate BP EP USP Pharma Grade?

Glyceryl Distearate holds a significant role as a pharmaceutical-grade raw material. Acting as an emulsifier, it finds regular use in creams, lotions, ointments, and personal care formulas. Derived from glycerol and stearic acid, this compound presents itself as a white, waxy solid that melts easily, blending smoothly into oil or water-based systems. In my work with formulation scientists, Glyceryl Distearate comes up again and again for stability reasons. Its BP EP USP designations show compliance with several widely recognized pharmacopeias, which gives manufacturers around the world confidence in quality standards.

Product Description and Structure

This compound consists of a glycerol backbone with two stearic acid chains. The molecular formula sits at C39H76O5, delivering a molecular weight of about 623.02 g/mol. Its structure lets it bridge oily and watery environments by pulling them together—a key advantage in creams and suspensions that shouldn’t separate. Glyceryl Distearate can appear as hard flakes, coarse powder, or even shiny pearl-like granules. In heated form, the product turns into a clear liquid, cooling back to a solid at room temperature. These physical forms suit manufacturing processes that call for bulk handling or precise metering.

Specifications and Physical Characteristics

Describing physical properties without getting too technical matters when you’re overseeing production or handling inventory. Glyceryl Distearate carries a melting point between 54°C and 70°C. Bulk density usually ranges from 0.60 to 0.90 g/cm³, depending on whether you’re dealing with powder, flakes, or cast solid. This white or off-white material often comes with a neutral or faint fatty odor—an expected marker for natural-sourced excipients. Water solubility stays low, but it dissolves easily in most cosmetic oils and hot alcohols.

Many companies label product containers with the HS code 29157090, categorizing it under organic chemicals for customs and trade. Looking at my experience managing raw materials, suppliers tend to keep this number handy for documentation and compliance.

Molecular Properties and Chemical Behavior

With Glyceryl Distearate, the molecular structure gives the molecule both hydrophilic and lipophilic regions. This duality keeps oil droplets suspended and prevents them from separating. It has a low Acid Value, indicating most of the fatty acids are fully esterified to glycerol. Saponification Value measures in the range typical for diglycerides. Its compatibility with a broad range of chemicals makes it valuable in multi-phase formulas, where both active ingredients and skin conditioners come into play.

Forms and Materials: Flakes, Powder, Pearls, Solid, Liquid

The flexibility in product form impacts the manufacturing process. Flakes and coarse powder feed smoothly into mixing vessels, while larger pearls handle well in big batch operations. Solid slabs might call for more handling, but offer better shelf stability. Heated to its melting point, Glyceryl Distearate forms a colorless to pale liquid. Cooling brings it back to a semi-hard, waxy consistency. The various forms each serve real purposes, whether for large-scale pharmaceutical blending or artisan cosmetics.

Safety, Hazards, and Handling

Safety concerns always run high with pharmaceutical raw materials. Glyceryl Distearate rates as safe for both topical and oral administration in its designated use cases. It’s regarded as non-toxic and non-irritating under standard formulations. Handling this material needs only standard personal protective equipment: gloves, goggles, and a dust mask for those working with powder. Chemical reactivity poses a low risk; it stays stable under normal storage and transportation conditions, without flammable or corrosive tendencies. Large spills can create slip hazards, and inhaling dust for extended periods may bother sensitive individuals.

In my two decades working with cosmetic and pharma ingredient warehouses, nobody ever got seriously hurt handling this material—but following a regular Material Safety Data Sheet keeps the whole team aware. Regulatory agencies continue monitoring ingredients like this, but right now no major red flags come up in globally harmonized safety databases.

Industry Applications and Raw Material Importance

Every pharmaceutical production facility deals with the constant balance between safety, stability, and process efficiency. Glyceryl Distearate achieves all three by stabilizing active pharmaceutical ingredients and helping blend ingredients more consistently. Its raw material status describes not just its function, but its position early in the value chain—serving as a building block for creams, gels, washes, and injectables calling for smooth texture and reliable shelf life.

Many of the products we use daily, from medicated creams to skincare sunscreens and oral tablets, wouldn’t perform as well without this emulsifying base. In practice, its consistency and mildness mean chemists return to it over and over for new formulas. For companies, securing a stable, pharma-grade supply avoids disruptions and keeps regulatory compliance simple. Storage conditions only demand a cool, dry place with tightly sealed containers—a far cry from far more hazardous raw ingredients.

Specifying Glyceryl Distearate and Addressing Industry Needs

Specifying the right grade for pharmaceutical applications requires a clear look at both the product’s chemical fingerprint and the supplier’s reliability. Certifications under BP, EP, and USP standards confirm purity, melting range, and absence of unwanted contaminants. In dealings with procurement teams, the question usually turns to supply chain resilience: is there enough material in stock to serve both routine production and spikes in demand?

One solution for manufacturers facing volatility in the market involves negotiating longer-term contracts with reputable suppliers, locking in advance shipment schedules and price points. Technical teams should conduct regular in-house quality checks—even when trusting a source with a solid track record. In regions where warehouses handle both food and pharma-grade chemicals, setting up dedicated storage zones for Glyceryl Distearate keeps quality high and risk of cross-contamination low. Choosing products that clearly display grade status, HS Code, and lot traceability upgrades both safety and efficiency for every step in the supply chain.