Re: Glyoxal

Sandor Mathe (sandor.mathe@prior.ca)
Thu, 06 Nov 1997 07:56:31 -0500

> On Wed, 5 Nov 1997, Philippe Monnoyer wrote:
>
> > At 03:49 4/11/97 -0500, you wrote:
> > >
> > >Can glyoxal harden OR chemically react with gum arabic?
> >
> > If formaldehyde does, glyoxal certainly will because glyoxal has the same
>
>
> Ok, formaldehyde doesn't harden gum arabic.
>
> You indicate that glyoxal is chemically twice as active as formaldehyde
> but does it harden or chemically react with gum arabic?
>
> Sincerely, Art

I believe he meant that glyoxal has two aldehyde groups, but I don't
think that means that it is twice as reactive. I would think that
its use as a replacement for formaldehyde means that it is less
reactive in some senses (less carcinogenic, less smelly, ...).

In case anyone else is interested I found:
http://www.acdlabs.com/iupac/nomenclature/79/r79_261.htm

which is one of a whole bunch of chemistry nomenclature pages that
shows the formulas of formaldehyde and glyoxal (amoung others).
O
//
H - C
\
H
formaldehyde

and:

O O
\\ //
C - C
/ \
H H

glyoxal

Sandor Mathe -- sandor.mathe@prior.ca
(905) 670-1225 x333 -- FAX (905) 670-1344