Frequently asked questions

• What are glyoxal's physico-chemical characteristics?
• What about glyoxal's chemical behavior?
• What are current fields of application for glyoxal?
• What benefits does BASF offer glyoxal customers?

What are glyoxal’s physico-chemical characteristics?

• Chemical properties of glyoxal 40%:
  Form: liquid
  Color: colorless to pale yellow (color index: max. 20 APHA)
  Odor: almost odorless
  Solubility: miscible with water and with all water-miscible organic solvents
• Physical properties of glyoxal 40%:
  Freezing point: approx. -14°C
  Boiling point: approx. 104°C
  Density at 20°C: approx. 1.27 g/cm³
  pH: 2 to 3.5
  Ignition temp.: 285°C
  Acid number: 1.5 mg KOH/g max.
  Formaldehyde: 100 ppm max.
  Vapor pressure of glyoxal 40% at 20°C: 24 mbar
  Evaporation of the 40% solution yields a white solid mass of polyglyoxal.

What about glyoxal’s chemical behavior?

What are current fields of application for glyoxal?

What benefits does BASF offer glyoxal customers?

Glyoxal from BASF provides sustainable solutions that fulfill customer needs. On the strength of our resources we deliver more than the product.

• Delivering glyoxal reliably around the world
  BASF’s annual global output of 80,000 metric tons makes the company the No. 1 producer of glyoxal.
  ”We are there, wherever our customers operate.” Our globe-spanning operations put us within local reach.
  Reliable supply: glyoxal is part of BASF’s petrochemical value chain.
• BASF’s glyoxal application services make its customers successful faster
  With over 55 years of experience in glyoxal R&D and recourse to more than 8,300 in-house R&D practitioners, we are positioned to supply significant glyoxal applications know-how.
  BASF’s pipeline is filled with new products and applications from the glyoxal value-chain (e.g. imidazole and ionic liquids).
  BASF’s worldwide technical marketing and joint development with customers yield successful tailor-made solutions.
  Last but not least, BASF’s proven track record as an innovative partner makes customers more successful.
• Customer-specific logistics services
  BASF supplies bulk or packaged materials throughout the world, advises on packaging and, on request, develops tailor-made responses.
  BASF’s global logistics and sales team services provides efficiencies in expediting shipments, drawing on dedicated storage facilities to ensure supply.
• Sustainable development of customer products made with our glyoxal
  BASF will register glyoxal under the “Biocidal Products Directive” as well as REACH.
  BASF advises on REACH-related issues.
  BASF successfully completed and submitted the European registration for cosmetic applications and in the United States registered glyoxal with the FDA as a component in food packaging applications.
  Glyoxal, being a biodegradable product in conformance with OECD criteria, enhances efforts to boost sustainability.