Triethylene glycol - 112-27-6

Key Functions: Cosmetics & Personal Care, Industrial / Manufacturing, Pesticides & Biocides, Plasticizers & Polymer, Solvents & Cleaning, Textile Applications

Triethylene glycol is an ethylene glycol ether containing three ethylene oxide subunits. It is a colorless, hygroscopic liquid with low volatility and flammability. Triethylene glycol is manufactured by the reaction of ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol in the presence of sulfuric acid, or by the reaction of hydroxyacetic acid with glycol followed by hydrogenation (HSDB 2007). Its uses are predominantly industrial, including natural gas dehydration (28% of consumption in the United States) and as a solvent (6%), a plasticizer (6%), a chemical intermediate (6%), and a humectant (2%). Triethylene glycol is also used as a pesticide, bacteriostat, fungicide, virucide, miticide, and insecticide, and is approved by the U.S. FDA as a preservative for food packaging adhesives. Additionally, it is used as a fragrance ingredient and viscosity controlling agent and the reported maximum use level is 0.2% in personal care products. About 74,000 metric tons are produced in the United States and Japan every year (OECD 2004, 2007).

Chemical Synonyms 2,2’-(1,2-Ethanediylbis(oxy))bisethanol; 1,2-Bis(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethane; 2,2’- Ethylenedioxybis(ethanol); 2,2’-Ethylenedioxydiethanol; 2,2’-Ethylenedioxyethanol; 3,6-Dioxaoctane1,8-diol; Bis(2-hydroxyethoxyethane); Di-beta-hydroxyethoxyethane; Ethanol, 2,2-;(1,2- ethanediylbis(oxy))bis-; Ethanol, 2,2’-(ethylenedioxy)di-; Ethylene glycol dihydroxydiethyl ether; Ethylene glycol-bis-(2-hydroxyethyl ether); Glycol bis(hydroxyethyl) ether; TEG; Triethyleneglycol; Trigen; Triglycol; 2,2’-(Ethylenedioxy)diethanol (ChemIDplus 2019)

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