Editing Glycerol (section)

===Antifreeze===
{{Main|Antifreeze}}
Like [[ethylene glycol]] and propylene glycol, glycerol is a non-ionic [[kosmotropic|kosmotrope]] that forms strong hydrogen bonds with water molecules, competing with water-water [[hydrogen bonds]]. This interaction disrupts the formation of ice. The minimum freezing point temperature is about {{convert|−36|F|C|order=flip}} corresponding to 70% glycerol in water.

Glycerol was historically used as an anti-freeze for automotive applications before being replaced by ethylene glycol, which has a lower freezing point. While the minimum freezing point of a glycerol-water mixture is higher than an ethylene glycol-water mixture, glycerol is not toxic and is being re-examined for use in automotive applications.<ref>{{cite book |last1= Hudgens |first1= R. Douglas |title= SAE Technical Paper Series |volume= 1 |last2= Hercamp |first2= Richard D. |last3= Francis |first3= Jaime |last4= Nyman |first4= Dan A. |last5= Bartoli |first5= Yolanda |year= 2007 |doi= 10.4271/2007-01-4000 |chapter= An Evaluation of Glycerin (Glycerol) as a Heavy Duty Engine Antifreeze/Coolant Base }}</ref><ref>[https://www.astmnewsroom.org/default.aspx?pageid=2115&year=2010&category=Standards%2FTechnical Proposed ASTM Engine Coolant Standards Focus on Glycerin] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914125754/http://www.astmnewsroom.org/default.aspx?pageid=2115&year=2010&category=Standards%2FTechnical |date=14 September 2017}}. Astmnewsroom.org. Retrieved on 15 August 2012</ref>

In the laboratory, glycerol is a common component of solvents for [[enzymatic]] [[reagents]] stored at temperatures below {{convert|0|C|F}} due to the [[Freezing-point depression|depression of the freezing temperature]]. It is also used as a [[cryoprotectant]] where the glycerol is dissolved in water to reduce damage by ice crystals to laboratory organisms that are stored in frozen solutions, such as [[fungi]], [[bacteria]], [[nematode]]s, and mammalian embryos. Some organisms like the [[moor frog]] produce glycerol to survive freezing temperatures during hibernation.<ref name="Shekhovtsov-2022">{{Cite journal |last1=Shekhovtsov |first1=Sergei V. |last2=Bulakhova |first2=Nina A. |last3=Tsentalovich |first3=Yuri P. |last4=Zelentsova |first4=Ekaterina A. |last5=Meshcheryakova |first5=Ekaterina N. |last6=Poluboyarova |first6=Tatiana V. |last7=Berman |first7=Daniil I. |date=January 2022 |title=Metabolomic Analysis Reveals That the Moor Frog ''Rana arvalis'' Uses Both Glucose and Glycerol as Cryoprotectants |journal=Animals |language=en |volume=12 |issue=10 |pages=1286 |doi=10.3390/ani12101286 |issn=2076-2615 |pmc=9137551 |pmid=35625132 |doi-access=free}}</ref>