Ethylene Glycols
Ethylene Glycols
Ethylene Glycols
Physical Properties
(3)
Electrical conductivity values are measured on highest quality, pure materials. Contamination by other
ionic species from storage, handling, or use may significantly affect the electrical conductivity. The
literature value for ethylene glycol is 1.07x10-6 mhos/cm at 25°C.
Ethylene glycol is a colorless, practically odorless, low-volatility, low-viscosity, hygroscopic liquid. It is completely
miscible with water and many organic liquids.The hydroxyl groups on glycols undergo the usual alcohol chemistry,
giving a wide variety of possible derivatives. Hydroxyls can be converted to aldehydes, alkyl halides, amines, azides,
carboxylic acids, ethers, mercaptans, nitrate esters, nitriles, nitrite esters, organic esters, peroxides, phosphate esters
and sulfate esters.
This chemistry permits ethylene glycol to act as an intermediate in a wide range of reactions. Especially significant is
resin formation, including the condensation with dimethyl terephthalate or terephthalic acid resulting in a polyester
resin.
The reactivity and solubility of ethylene glycol provide the basis for many applications. The widespread use of
ethylene glycol as an antifreeze is based on its ability to lower the freezing point when mixed with water. The physical
properties of ethylene glycol-water mixtures are therefore extremely important. The end uses for ethylene glycol are
numerous
Ethylene glycols play a significant role in industry due to their wide range of applications, such as:
Polyester Resins
Antifreeze and Coolants
Gas Dehydration & Treating
Chemical Intermediates
Heat Transfer Fluids
Solvents
Other Application
1. POLYESTER RESINS
Ethylene glycols are used as a reactant in the manufacture of polyester resins. Dow produces ethylene glycols
for use in polyester fiber, films and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin production, as well as alkyd resins
used in paints. The uses for polyester resins are extremely varied, and include boat and marine, construction
materials, automotive and aircraft bodies, luggage, furnishings, appliances, textiles and packaging.
Polyester fibers are commonly found in textile applications including clothing and carpets.
Polyester films are frequently used in packaging and wraps for consumer goods, as well as video, audio and
computer tapes. PET is widely used in the manufacturing of beverage bottles and containers, and other
consumer goods packaging.
Products:
Monethylene glycol (MEG)
Diethylene glycol (DEG)
Triethylene glycol (TEG)
Tetraethylene glycol (TETRA EG)
Products:
Monethylene glycol (MEG)
Diethylene glycol (DEG)
Ethylene glycols are commonly used in natural gas hydration and treating applications to remove water and
impurities. Diethylene glycol (DEG), Triethylene glycol (TEG) and Tetraethylene glycol (TETRA EG) have
excellent hygroscopicity and low volatility. Because of these characteristics, DEG, TEG and TETRA EG are in
high demand in the natural gas drying market.
Products:
Diethylene glycol (DEG)
Triethylene glycol (TEG)
Tetraethylene glycol (TETRA EG)
4. CHEMICAL INTERMEDIATES
Ethylene glycols including monoethylene glycol (MEG), diethylene glycol (DEG), triethylene glycol (TEG) and
tetraethylene glycol (TETRA EG), are versatile chemical intermediates used to produce a variety of products for
commercial and industrial use:
Products:
Monethylene glycol (MEG)
Diethylene glycol (DEG)
Triethylene glycol (TEG)
Tetraethylene glycol (TETRA EG)
Monoethylene glycol (MEG), diethleyene glycol (DEG), triethylene glycol (TEG) and tetraethylene glycol (TETRA
EG), due to their low freezing point, freezing point depressant and high boiling point are predominantly used in
heat transfer fluids.
Products:
Monethylene glycol (MEG)
Diethylene glycol (DEG)
Triethylene glycol (TEG)
Tetraethylene glycol (TETRA EG)
6. SOLVENTS
Diethylene glycol (DEG), triethylene glycol (TEG) and tetraethylene glycol (TETRA EG) have excellent solvent
properties. TEG and TETRA EG are used as solvents in several applications:
Products:
Diethylene glycol (DEG)
Triethylene glycol (TEG)
Tetraethylene glycol (TETRA EG)
7. OTHER APPLICATIONS
Triethylene glycol (TEG) and tetraethylene glycol (TETRA EG) may be used directly as a plasticizer or modified by
esterification. As a plasticizer, TEG and TETRA EG are used in the manufacture of:
Safety glass
Separation membranes (silicone rubber, polyvinyl acetate, cellulose triacetate)
Ceramic materials (resistant refractory plastics, molded ceramics)
Demand for tetraethylene glycol is strong in the area of BTX (benzene, toluene, xylene) extraction to separate
aromatic hydrocarbons from non-aromatic hydrocarbons.
Monoethylene glycol (MEG), diethylene glycol (DEG) are often used in water-based paints, dry-wall compounds,
glass cleaners, dyes, waxes and adhesives as a freezing point depressor to avoid damage by low-temperature
extremes.
In addition, monethylene glycol and diethylene glycol are also used as binders for foundry sand molding, and a
lubricant for glass- and cement-grinding. In addition, both homologs are also used as humectants in textile fiber,
paper, leather, adhesive and glue applications.
Products:
Monethylene glycol (MEG)
Diethylene glycol (DEG)
Triethylene glycol (TEG)
Tetraethylene glycol (TETRA EG)
Ethylene glycols (EG), referred to as monoethylene glycol (MEG), diethylene glycol (DEG), triethylene glycol
(TEG) and tetraethylene glycol (TETRA EG) are colorless, low-volatility, low-viscosity, hygroscopic liquids. They
are completely miscible with water and many organic liquids.
Ethylene glycols are members of the class of compounds called alcohols and part of the group of chemicals
called diols, because they have two hydroxyl groups attached to separate carbon atoms in an aliphatic
(hydrocarbon) chain. Ethylene glycols have properties characteristic of alcohols and undergo reactions typical of
alcohols and diols.
Ethylene Glycol
CH2 – OH
|
CH2– OH
Diethylene Glycol
CH2 – CH2 – OH
/
O
\
CH2 – CH2 – OH
Triethylene Glycol
Tetraethylene Glycol
Proper handling precautions, safety equipment and personnel training are essential when handling and using
ethylene glycols in supported applications.
Specific precautions with regard to human health, the environment and the physical characteristics of ethylene
glycol, must be known and obtained from Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
PPL is committed to the proper handling, use and storage of Ethylene Glycols. For more than a decade, PPL has
embraced and advocated Responsible Care®, a voluntary industry-wide commitment to safely handle our
chemicals from inception in the laboratory to ultimate disposal.
Ethylene glycol
IUPAC name[hide]
Ethane-1,2-diol
Other names[hide]
1,2-Ethanediol
Glycol
Ethylene Alcohol
Hypodicarbonous acid
Monoethylene glycol
Identifiers
Abbreviations MEG
5 (14C2),2219-52-5 (2H),(2H)
,134462 (14C2),10986148 (2H),(2H)
UNII FC72KVT52F
EC number 203-473-3
DrugBank DB01867
KEGG D06424
MeSH Ethylene+glycol
ChEBI CHEBI:30742
ChEMBL CHEMBL457299
3DMet B00278
SMILES
[show]
InChI
[show]
Properties
Melting point
−12.9 °C, 260 K, 9 °F
Boiling point
197.3 °C, 470 K, 387 °F
in all proportions.
Hazards
R-phrases R22 R36
S-phrases S26 S36 S37 S39 S45 S53
NFPA 704
1
2
1
Flash point 111 °C (231.8 °F) (closed cup)
temperature
Related compounds
Diethylene glycol
Triethylene glycol
Polyethylene glycol
properties
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Infobox references