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Diethylene glycol
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Diethylene glycol
Diethylene glycol (DEG) is an organic compound with the formula (HOCH2CH2)2O. It is a colorless, practically odorless, and hygroscopic liquid with a sweetish taste. It is a four carbon dimer of ethylene glycol. It is miscible in water, alcohol, ether, acetone, and ethylene glycol. DEG is a widely used solvent. It can be a normal ingredient in various consumer products, and it can be a contaminant. DEG has also been misused to sweeten wine and beer, and to viscosify oral and topical pharmaceutical products. Its use has resulted in many epidemics of poisoning since the early 20th century.
DEG is produced by the partial hydrolysis of ethylene oxide. Depending on the conditions, varying amounts of DEG and related glycols are produced. The resulting product is two ethylene glycol molecules joined by an ether bond.
"Diethylene glycol is derived as a co-product with ethylene glycol (MEG) and triethylene glycol. The industry generally operates to maximize MEG production. Ethylene glycol is by far the largest volume of the glycol products in a variety of applications. Availability of DEG will depend on demand for derivatives of the primary product, ethylene glycol, rather than on DEG market requirements."
Diethylene glycol is one of several glycols derived from ethylene oxide. Glycols related to and co-produced with diethylene glycol and having the formula HOCH2CH2(OCH2CH2)nOH are:
These compounds are all hydrophilic, more so than most diols, by virtue of the ether functionality.
Diethylene glycol is used in the manufacture of saturated and unsaturated polyester resins, polyurethanes, and plasticizers. DEG is a precursor to morpholine and 1,4-dioxane. It is a solvent for nitrocellulose, resins, dyes, oils, and other organic compounds. It is a humectant for tobacco, cork, printing ink, and glue. It is also a component of brake fluid, lubricants, wallpaper strippers, artificial fog and haze solutions, and heating/cooking fuel. In personal care products (e.g. skin cream and lotions and deodorants), DEG is often replaced by selected diethylene glycol ethers. Most types of ethylene glycol antifreeze contain a few percent of diethylene glycol, present as a by-product of ethylene glycol production.
DEG is an important industrial desiccant. It absorbs water from natural gas, minimizing the formation of methane hydrates, which can block pipes.
The toxicity of DEG was discovered in 1937. The toxic dose is 0.14 mg/kg body weight and the lethal dose between 1.0 and 1.63 g/kg. Some suggest that the LD50 in adults is about 1 mL/kg, while others suggest that that is the LD30. Because of its adverse effects, DEG is rarely allowed in foods and drugs. The U.S. Code of Federal Regulations allows no more than 0.2% of diethylene glycol in polyethylene glycol when the latter is used as a food additive. In Australia, it is only allowed at less than 0.25% w/w of DEG as an impurity in polyethylene glycol (PEG), even in toothpaste.
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Diethylene glycol
Diethylene glycol (DEG) is an organic compound with the formula (HOCH2CH2)2O. It is a colorless, practically odorless, and hygroscopic liquid with a sweetish taste. It is a four carbon dimer of ethylene glycol. It is miscible in water, alcohol, ether, acetone, and ethylene glycol. DEG is a widely used solvent. It can be a normal ingredient in various consumer products, and it can be a contaminant. DEG has also been misused to sweeten wine and beer, and to viscosify oral and topical pharmaceutical products. Its use has resulted in many epidemics of poisoning since the early 20th century.
DEG is produced by the partial hydrolysis of ethylene oxide. Depending on the conditions, varying amounts of DEG and related glycols are produced. The resulting product is two ethylene glycol molecules joined by an ether bond.
"Diethylene glycol is derived as a co-product with ethylene glycol (MEG) and triethylene glycol. The industry generally operates to maximize MEG production. Ethylene glycol is by far the largest volume of the glycol products in a variety of applications. Availability of DEG will depend on demand for derivatives of the primary product, ethylene glycol, rather than on DEG market requirements."
Diethylene glycol is one of several glycols derived from ethylene oxide. Glycols related to and co-produced with diethylene glycol and having the formula HOCH2CH2(OCH2CH2)nOH are:
These compounds are all hydrophilic, more so than most diols, by virtue of the ether functionality.
Diethylene glycol is used in the manufacture of saturated and unsaturated polyester resins, polyurethanes, and plasticizers. DEG is a precursor to morpholine and 1,4-dioxane. It is a solvent for nitrocellulose, resins, dyes, oils, and other organic compounds. It is a humectant for tobacco, cork, printing ink, and glue. It is also a component of brake fluid, lubricants, wallpaper strippers, artificial fog and haze solutions, and heating/cooking fuel. In personal care products (e.g. skin cream and lotions and deodorants), DEG is often replaced by selected diethylene glycol ethers. Most types of ethylene glycol antifreeze contain a few percent of diethylene glycol, present as a by-product of ethylene glycol production.
DEG is an important industrial desiccant. It absorbs water from natural gas, minimizing the formation of methane hydrates, which can block pipes.
The toxicity of DEG was discovered in 1937. The toxic dose is 0.14 mg/kg body weight and the lethal dose between 1.0 and 1.63 g/kg. Some suggest that the LD50 in adults is about 1 mL/kg, while others suggest that that is the LD30. Because of its adverse effects, DEG is rarely allowed in foods and drugs. The U.S. Code of Federal Regulations allows no more than 0.2% of diethylene glycol in polyethylene glycol when the latter is used as a food additive. In Australia, it is only allowed at less than 0.25% w/w of DEG as an impurity in polyethylene glycol (PEG), even in toothpaste.
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