Butyrin

• Tributyrin
• Glycerin
• Glyceroltributyrat
• 1,2,3- Tributyrylglycerol

Colorless, bitter -tasting liquid

Liquid

1.032 g · cm -3 ( 20 ° C)

-75 ° C

305-310 ° C; 190 ° C (20 hPa)

Sparingly soluble in water, soluble in ethanol, diethyl ether and acetone

1.435 (20 ° C)

3200 mg · kg -1 ( LD50, rat, oral)

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Tributtersäureglycerinester ( systematically Tributansäureglycerolester, common name tributyrin ) is formed by esterification of the trivalent alcohol glycerol ( propane -1 ,2,3 -triol ) and butyric acid. He is thus one of the fats and fatty oils.

Properties

Tributyrin is an oily, colorless liquid with a bitter taste. The ester is insoluble in water but soluble in acetone, benzene, diethyl ether and ethanol.

Physiological properties

In the gastrointestinal tract Tributtersäureglycerinester is enzymatically cleaved into glycerol and butyric acid; the carboxylic acid is necessary for nutrition and protection of intestinal epithelial cells as well as for the reconstruction of altered cells. Furthermore, butyric acid inhibits gastric and colon cancer cells.

Production

Tributyrin is prepared by esterification of butyric acid with glycerol.

Use

The ester used as a plasticizer, as an emulsifier and as a feed additive, in pharmaceutical and medical materials and as a starting material for a partial transesterification with long-chain fatty acids to fat substitutes ( salatrim ).