Diethylene Glycol CAS 111-46-6
Chelora Chemicals supplies industrial-grade diethylene glycol to resin, gas processing, plasticiser and textile producers worldwide. Every consignment leaves with a batch-specific COA covering purity, water, MEG and TEG content and colour, the current SDS and full export documentation.
Also known as: DEG · 2,2′-Oxydiethanol · Diglycol · Dihydroxydiethyl ether · Ethylene diglycol
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Price, lead time and a sample COA for Diethylene Glycol, usually within one working day. We ship worldwide.
Request a Quote Email the DeskDocumentation
- Batch-specific COA (purity, water, glycol distribution, colour)
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
- Transport and export documents
- Third-party inspection on request
- Certificate of origin
What is Diethylene Glycol?
Diethylene glycol is an ether-linked diol, C₄H₁₀O₃, a clear, colourless, odourless and viscous liquid, completely miscible with water and with most polar solvents.
It is a co-product of ethylene glycol manufacture rather than a product made on purpose. The hydration of ethylene oxide always produces some DEG and TEG alongside MEG, and the ratio depends on the water ratio in the reactor.
Its main uses are unsaturated polyester resins, natural gas dehydration, plasticisers such as DEG dibenzoate, polyurethanes, and as a humectant and solvent in textile and industrial applications.
DEG is acutely toxic by ingestion and must never enter food, pharmaceutical or cosmetic products. Historical poisoning incidents from DEG contamination of medicines have led to strict controls on glycol identity testing.
Why Diethylene Glycol specifically
- An ether-linked diol. The ether oxygen adds flexibility and water affinity compared with MEG.
- Higher boiling than MEG. At 245 °C it stays in place where MEG would evaporate, which suits gas dehydration and humectant use.
- A resin building block. Used in unsaturated polyester and polyurethane chemistry where a longer, more flexible diol is wanted.
- Co-product economics. Availability follows MEG production, which can make DEG attractively priced when polyester output is high.
How Diethylene Glycol is Manufactured
DEG is produced alongside MEG in ethylene oxide hydration, and the plant's water ratio determines how much is made.
- Ethylene oxide hydration. EO reacts with water; some product MEG reacts further with EO to form DEG.
- Water ratio control. A high water ratio favours MEG and suppresses DEG; lower ratios increase DEG and TEG yield.
- Evaporation. Excess water is removed in the evaporator train.
- Vacuum distillation. MEG, DEG and TEG are separated by boiling point in a vacuum column train.
- Finishing. Final distillation controls colour, water and residual glycol distribution.
- On-purpose adjustment. Some plants can swing the reactor conditions to make more DEG when its market is strong.
Typical Commercial Specification
Figures below are representative of commercial industrial-grade diethylene glycol. Tell us the application and we will confirm which limits apply.
| Parameter | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Clear colourless liquid, free of suspended matter |
| DEG purity | 99.5% min by weight |
| Water content | 0.1% max |
| Mono ethylene glycol | To grade, typically 0.3% max |
| Triethylene glycol | To grade, typically 0.3% max |
| Acidity (as acetic acid) | To grade, typically 10 ppm max |
| Ash content | To grade, typically 50 ppm max |
| Iron | To grade, typically 0.5 ppm max |
| Colour (Pt-Co) | 10 max |
| Specific gravity at 20/20 °C | 1.1180 to 1.1200 |
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Chemical formula | C₄H₁₀O₃ (HOCH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂OH) |
| Molecular weight | 106.12 g/mol |
| Appearance | Clear colourless viscous liquid, practically odourless |
| Boiling point | 245 °C |
| Melting point | −10.5 °C |
| Flash point | About 143 °C (closed cup) |
| Density | 1.118 g/cm³ at 20 °C |
| Viscosity | About 35 mPa·s at 20 °C |
| Vapour pressure | Very low, about 0.001 kPa at 20 °C |
| Solubility in water | Completely miscible |
| Hygroscopicity | Strongly hygroscopic |
| Incompatibilities | Strong oxidisers, strong acids and bases at high temperature |
Behaviour in the process
DEG handles much like MEG, with a few differences worth knowing:
- More viscous and higher boiling. Pumps and heat tracing need sizing accordingly, especially in cold weather.
- Strongly hygroscopic. Absorbs water readily, which is exactly why it works as a gas dehydration agent and a humectant.
- Thermally degrades above about 160 °C. In dehydration service this limits reboiler temperature and drives glycol losses.
- Oxidises slowly to acids. Air exposure at temperature raises acidity, which attacks equipment and degrades performance.
DEG and Alternative Glycols
Glycols are chosen by boiling point, hygroscopicity and toxicity, and DEG sits between MEG and TEG on all three.
| Material | Origin / type | When it is the right choice |
|---|---|---|
| Diethylene glycol | C₄ ether diol, co-product of MEG | Resins, plasticisers, humectants and some dehydration duty |
| Mono ethylene glycol | C₂ diol, CAS 107-21-1 | Polyester and coolant; lower boiling, less hygroscopic |
| Triethylene glycol | C₆ ether diol, CAS 112-27-6 | The standard for natural gas dehydration, higher boiling |
| Mono propylene glycol | C₃ diol, CAS 57-55-6 | Food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic use where toxicity rules DEG out |
| Glycerine | Trihydric alcohol, CAS 56-81-5 | Humectant applications requiring food or pharmaceutical acceptability |
Stated plainly: DEG must never be used where propylene glycol or glycerine is specified for food, pharmaceutical or cosmetic purposes. That substitution has killed people, and the regulatory response has been correspondingly severe.
Industries We Supply Diethylene Glycol To
DEG serves resins, gas processing, plasticisers and textiles, with no single dominant outlet.
Where Diethylene Glycol is Used
Unsaturated polyester resins and gas dehydration are the two largest uses, with plasticisers and polyurethanes behind them.
In unsaturated polyester resins
DEG is used alongside or instead of propylene glycol to give a more flexible, tougher resin backbone. The ether linkage improves impact resistance at the cost of some water resistance, so formulators balance DEG against the other diols according to whether toughness or hydrolytic stability matters more.
In gas dehydration
Glycol absorbs water from natural gas in a contactor tower and is then regenerated by heating. TEG is the industry standard because it can be regenerated to higher purity, but DEG is used where lower contactor temperatures or lower cost favour it. Thermal degradation above about 160 °C sets the regeneration limit.
Need a specific grade, purity and packing format?
Tell us the grade, the application, the glycol distribution limits and the colour you need, the packing format you can receive and the annual quantity. We will come back with a price, a lead time, a sample COA and the full documentation set.
Quality Control & Testing
Every lot is released against a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis, with the full glycol distribution reported because MEG and TEG carry-over affects performance.
- DEG purity and water content — by gas chromatography and Karl Fischer titration.
- MEG and TEG content — reported because carry-over from the separation train affects boiling range and performance.
- Acidity — measured because it rises with thermal and oxidative degradation.
- Iron and ash — reported for colour and contamination reasons.
- Colour — confirming freedom from degradation and contamination.
- Specific gravity and refractive index — confirming identity, which matters particularly for this product.
Common Process Problems & Likely Causes
When DEG causes trouble, it is usually water pick-up, acidity, glycol distribution or thermal degradation. This table is the shortcut our technical desk works through before anyone opens a complaint file.
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Water content high on arrival | Hygroscopic pick-up from humid air or a wet tank | Water result, tank breather and dryer |
| Glycol losses high in a dehydration unit | Reboiler temperature above the degradation limit | Reboiler operating temperature and acidity trend |
| Acidity rising in a circulating system | Oxidative and thermal degradation | Acidity trend, oxygen ingress and filtration |
| Resin flexibility or cure off target | MEG or TEG carry-over shifting the diol balance | Glycol distribution on the COA |
| Colour in the finished product | Iron pick-up or degraded glycol | Iron figure and material of construction |
| Foaming in a contactor tower | Hydrocarbon or surfactant contamination of the glycol | Filtration, carbon bed and contamination source |
Packaging, Storage & Shipping
- Standard packing. 200 L drums, 1000 L IBCs, flexitanks, ISO tank containers and bulk parcel cargoes.
- Moisture control. DEG is strongly hygroscopic; use a desiccant breather or nitrogen blanket where water specification matters.
- Material compatibility. Stainless steel preferred; carbon steel is acceptable for industrial grades but contributes iron and colour.
- Temperature. Ambient storage; viscosity rises substantially in cold weather, so size pumps and lines accordingly.
- Storage. Clean, dry, covered storage with bunding; not a flammable-liquid hazard in normal handling.
- Segregation. Keep apart from strong oxidisers and strong acids. Critically, store well away from food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic raw materials.
- Shelf life. Typically 24 months in sealed storage. Water content and colour are the practical checks.
- Transport classification. Not classified as dangerous goods for transport.
Hazards & Safe Handling
DEG is not a flammable or corrosive hazard in normal handling, but it is acutely toxic by ingestion and has caused mass poisoning incidents when substituted for glycerine or propylene glycol in medicines.
- Acute oral toxicity. Harmful and potentially fatal if swallowed, causing kidney and liver failure. There is no safe level of DEG in any product intended for human consumption.
- Substitution incidents. DEG contamination of cough syrup, toothpaste and other medicines has caused mass fatalities. Identity testing of every glycol lot entering a pharmaceutical chain is the established control.
- Repeated exposure. May cause damage to kidneys and liver through prolonged or repeated exposure.
- Low flammability. Flash point above 140 °C; not a flammable-liquid hazard in ordinary handling.
- Skin and eye contact. Mild irritant; use gloves and eye protection for routine handling.
- Hot glycol. Dehydration and regeneration systems operate hot; thermal burns are the realistic process hazard.
- Environment. Biodegradable but causes oxygen depletion in watercourses at volume; contain spills.
Regulatory & Compliance Notes
DEG is unregulated for transport but subject to strict controls where it could reach food or pharmaceutical products. The notes below are orientation rather than legal advice.
- GHS classification. Acute toxicity Category 4 by ingestion and STOT RE Category 2.
- Pharmaceutical identity testing. Regulators including the US FDA and WHO require identity testing of every container of glycerine and propylene glycol entering pharmaceutical manufacture, specifically because of DEG substitution incidents.
- Transport. Not classified as dangerous goods. Standard bulk and packaged cargo documentation applies.
- Food and cosmetic prohibition. DEG is not permitted in food, pharmaceutical or cosmetic products in any jurisdiction.
- REACH and inventories. Registered under EU REACH and listed on the major chemical inventories.
- Quality agreements. Resin and gas processing users commonly expect documented glycol distribution and acidity limits with change control.
We Supply Diethylene Glycol Worldwide
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and export partner, not a single-plant trader. We ship Diethylene Glycol from India and from partner sources to customers across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and North and South America, handling the export documentation, transport paperwork and freight so the material arrives ready to use.
- Incoterms. EXW, FOB, CIF, CFR and DAP quoted to suit your purchasing terms and freight arrangements.
- Ports. Regular shipments through Nhava Sheva (JNPT) and Mundra, with other ports arranged where routing and cargo rules allow.
- Documentation. Commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, COA, SDS and the transport declaration issued as a complete set.
- Flexible volumes. From a pallet of drums up to repeat bulk shipments on a supply contract.
- Supply continuity. Because we are independent of any one producer, a plant turnaround or a shipping disruption at one source does not have to become your stock-out.
Buying Diethylene Glycol from Chelora
We are an independent sourcing and supply partner. For DEG that means settling three things at enquiry: the purity and glycol distribution your application needs, the packing format for your receiving setup, and clear confirmation that the end use is industrial, because this product must never reach a food or pharmaceutical chain.
- Documentation on every lot. Batch-specific COA (purity, water, glycol distribution, colour), plus SDS and the full transport paperwork.
- Analysis before commitment. Representative analysis shared ahead of a commercial order so your lab can qualify the material.
- Quantities. From a pallet of drums through to full bulk shipments on contract supply.
- Grade matching. Industrial grade to the purity, glycol distribution and colour limits your resin or dehydration system requires.
- Inspection. Independent third-party inspection available at loading when the contract requires it.
- Related products. Mono Ethylene Glycol, Triethylene Glycol, Mono Propylene Glycol and other feedstocks alongside Diethylene Glycol from one supplier.
How ordering works
- Send the enquiry. Product, grade or purity, quantity, destination port and the Incoterm you buy on. If you have a spec sheet, attach it — it saves a round trip.
- We quote. Price, lead time, packing format and a sample COA, normally within one working day.
- Qualify the supply. For first orders or critical applications, we share the analysis and handling documentation so your technical and safety teams can sign off before you commit.
- Confirm the order. Proforma invoice issued; payment terms agreed against the volume and the relationship.
- Allocation and QC. Material allocated and released against a batch-specific COA, with an independent inspection where the contract calls for it.
- Ship and document. Filled, labelled and loaded with the full export document set, and tracked through to arrival.
Diethylene Glycol — Common Questions
The questions our technical desk is asked most often about Diethylene Glycol. If yours isn't here, call or email and you will reach someone who knows the chemistry.
What is the CAS number of diethylene glycol?
The CAS number for DEG is 111-46-6, and its EC number is 203-872-2. Its molecular formula is C₄H₁₀O₃ with a molecular weight of 106.12 g/mol, and it is classified under HS code 2909.41.
What is DEG used for?
For unsaturated polyester resins, natural gas dehydration, DEG dibenzoate plasticisers, polyurethane chain extenders, textile processing aids, and as an industrial humectant and solvent.
Do you supply DEG worldwide?
Yes. Chelora Chemicals supplies and exports DEG worldwide — across Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas, as well as throughout India, in drums, IBCs, flexitanks, ISO tanks and bulk.
How is DEG manufactured?
As a co-product of ethylene glycol manufacture. When ethylene oxide is hydrated, some MEG reacts further with EO to form DEG and TEG. The glycols are then separated by vacuum distillation.
Why does DEG availability follow polyester demand?
Because it is a co-product of MEG rather than a product made on purpose. When polyester output is high, DEG is plentiful; when MEG production falls, DEG can tighten even if nobody has changed their DEG consumption.
Can DEG be used in food or medicines?
Absolutely not. DEG is acutely toxic by ingestion and has caused mass fatalities when substituted for glycerine or propylene glycol in medicines. It must never enter any food, pharmaceutical or cosmetic product.
Is DEG hazardous?
It is not classified as dangerous goods for transport and is not flammable in normal handling, but it is acutely toxic by ingestion and causes kidney and liver damage. Strict labelling and segregation are essential.
What is the difference between DEG and TEG for gas dehydration?
TEG is the industry standard because it can be regenerated to higher concentration and achieves lower water dew points. DEG is used where lower contactor temperatures or lower cost favour it, but it gives less drying.
How should DEG be stored?
In clean, dry, preferably stainless tanks with a desiccant breather or nitrogen blanket, since DEG is strongly hygroscopic. Store physically separate from any food or pharmaceutical raw materials.
What packing sizes and order quantities are available?
200 L drums, 1000 L IBCs, flexitanks, ISO tank containers and bulk parcel cargoes. Orders run from a pallet of drums up to repeat bulk cargoes on contract supply.
Why does DEG degrade in dehydration service?
Because thermal degradation begins above about 160 °C in the regeneration reboiler, producing acids that corrode equipment and reduce drying performance. Reboiler temperature control is the main lever against glycol loss.
What is the typical shelf life?
Around 24 months in sealed storage. Because DEG is hygroscopic, water content and colour are the practical checks on stored material.
Ready to source Diethylene Glycol?
Send us your specification, grade and annual volume. You will get a price, a realistic lead time and a sample COA from someone who understands what the material has to do in your process — delivered anywhere in the world.