Polyvinyl alcohol
- Pronunciation: \ ˌpä-lē-ˈvī-nᵊl \ ˈal-kə-ˌhȯl \
- Type: Synthetic
What Is Polyvinyl alcohol?
Polyvinyl alcohol is an odorless white or cream-colored powder or grainy substance.[1]
What Does Polyvinyl alcohol Do in Our products?
Polyvinyl alcohol is a finishing agent used in household cleaning products. In food, it can be a glazing agent or thickener. It is also used as a lubricant to relieve dry or irritated eyes.[2] The ingredient can be found in makeup, face masks, moisturizer, and other personal care products; it can also be a barrier against CO2 in certain kinds of plastic bottles.[3,4] In laundry detergent it helps prevent dirt from getting back into fabrics during washing.[5] We use the ingredient in our dishwasher detergent powder because it dissolves in water, which facilitates the production of individual packets. It is not an active cleaning ingredient.
Why Puracy Uses Polyvinyl alcohol
Polyvinyl alcohol mixes well with water, and studies show the ingredient is not a skin or eye irritant.[7,8,9] The FDA has deemed the ingredient safe to use in food contact surfaces.[10,11]
How Polyvinyl alcohol Is Made
Commercially, manufacturing polyvinyl alcohol occurs by dissolving polyvinyl acetate in some methanol or ethanol, along with a catalyst and heat. This separates the polyvinyl alcohol from the solution.[6]
Certifications
Sources
[1]U.S. National Library of Medicine
[2] U.S. National Library of Medicine
[3] Environmental Working Group
[4] Cosmeticsinfo.org
[5] American Cleaning Institute
[6] Bingham, E.; Cohrssen, B.; Powell, C.H.; Patty's Toxicology Volumes 1-9 5th ed. John Wiley & Sons. New York, N.Y. (2001)., p. V7 494
[7]U.S. National Library of Medicine
[8] Personal Care Council
[9] Personal Care Council
[10]Food and Drug Administration
[11]Food and Drug Administration
