What Is Glyoxal?
Glyoxal is a dialdehyde compound with the molecular formula C2H2O2.
Its IUPAC nomenclature is ethanediyl, and it is also known as oxalic aldehyde.
It has a molecular weight of 58.04, a melting point of 15°C, and a boiling point of 51°C. At room temperature, it is colorless to pale. At room temperature, it exists as a colorless to pale yellow liquid. In the solid state, it is a yellow columnar crystal.
With a density of 1.27 g/cm3, it is soluble in water and organic solvents, and is often handled in a 40% aqueous solution.
Uses of Glyoxal
Glyoxal is used as a cross-linking agent in the field of resin and fiber manufacturing due to its ability to cross-link polymer compounds with hydroxyl groups (e.g., polyvinyl alcohol). The use of glyoxal as a cross-linker can reduce water solubility and help in surface processing.
In R&D, glyoxal is also used as a denaturing agent in electrophoresis and blotting reagents and in reagents for polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Glyoxal is useful in RNA electrophoresis because of its ability to dissolve the secondary structure of RNA.
Other applications include pharmaceuticals, fragrances, and other organic synthesis materials, soil hardeners, paper finishers, and deodorants. Glyoxal is also produced in the autoxidation of glucose or the peroxidation of lipids and is known to be present in a variety of foods and tobacco smoke.
Characteristics of Glyoxal
Glyoxal has the property of quickly absorbing moisture and polymerizing into a white powder in air. Therefore, it is mostly handled in aqueous solution.
In aqueous solution, glyoxal is present in the form of hydrates or hydrate oligomers, and therefore has little volatility or odor. The flash point of a 40% aqueous solution is over 100℃. The pH range is 2.1 to 2.7.
In terms of reactivity, it is a mutagenic substance that binds specifically to guanine residues in DNA. In vivo, glyoxal, along with methylglyoxal, is responsible for the formation of terminal glycation products by reacting with guanidine groups.
Types of Glyoxal
Currently, glyoxal is generally sold primarily as an R&D reagent product. Basically, it is not sold as a stand-alone product, but as a 40% aqueous solution.
Product volume types include 500 mL and 500 g. The product is offered in volumes that are easy to handle in the laboratory. The product is handled as a reagent that can be stored at room temperature.
As mentioned above, it is a hazardous substance that is both flammable and mutagenic. When handling it, it is required to comply with various laws and regulations and to handle it safely.
Other information on Glyoxal
Synthesis of Glyoxal
Glyoxal can be synthesized by catalytic oxidation of ethylene glycol or by the oxidation of acetylene with ozone or air in the presence of oxygen and copper catalysts. Alternative synthesis methods include the oxidation of paraldehyde with selenite and the oxidation of acetaldehyde with nitric acid.