Tripalmitin
Description
Tripalmitin (CAS 555-44-2), also referred to as palmitic triglyceride, is a saturated triglyceride composed entirely of palmitic acid chains. It functions as a structuring agent, emollient base, and lipid excipient across personal care, pharmaceutical, and food manufacturing applications.
In cosmetics and skincare, tripalmitin is used to build solid or semi-solid textures in balms, sticks, and cream formulations. It provides a smooth skin feel without relying on synthetic waxes, making it a versatile choice for natural product lines.
Pharmaceutical manufacturers incorporate it as a lipid matrix component in solid lipid nanoparticles and controlled-release dosage forms. Its defined melting behavior supports consistent drug encapsulation and delivery in various therapeutic applications.
In food processing, it functions as a structuring fat in confectionery coatings and specialty fat blends. This is particularly useful where a high palmitic acid profile is required for precise tempering and texture control in finished goods.
It also serves as a reference standard and model compound in lipid research and quality testing of fat-based raw materials. This allows laboratories to maintain high accuracy when analyzing complex lipid profiles in industrial settings.
Tripalmitin is supplied as a white to off-white powder or flake solid. Food-grade and pharmaceutical-grade specifications are available, with the latter typically conforming to USP or Ph.Eur. standards for global compliance.
High-purity research grades are also offered for analytical and formulation development use. These materials ensure that manufacturers meet the rigorous demands of modern chemical processing and high-end product development cycles.
Physical Properties
| Melting Point | 66.5 °C |
| Boiling Point | 591.06 °C @ Press: 760 Torr |
| Density | 0.8752 g/cm³ (liquid) |
| Appearance | White, crystalline powder. Soluble in ether and chloroform; insoluble in water. Combustible. |
| Color | White to almost white |
| Form | Fine Crystalline Powder |
| Refractive Index | nD80 1.43807 |
| Log P | 21.615 (est) |
Safety & Handling (Learn More)
Trade & Regulatory
| HS Code | 29157090 |
| Storage Class | 11 - Combustible Solids |
Documentation
Other Names
Triglyceryl palmitate|TG(16:0/16:0/16:0)|Palmitic triglyceride|Palmitic acid triglycerin ester|Hexadecanoic acid, 1,2,3-propanetriyl ester|Glyceryl tripalmitate|Glyceryl trihexadecanoate|Glycerin tripalmitate
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