PEG 200

CAS Number: 25322-68-3 (general for PEGs)
 EC Number: 500-038-2
 Molecular Formula: H(OCH₂CH₂)ₙOH where n=3-5 (average)
 Average Molecular Weight: 190-210 g/mol

 Synonyms:
Polyethylene glycol 200,PEG-4 (INCI name),Macrogol 200 (pharmaceutical name),Carbowax 200 (trade name),Polyoxyethylene (4) glycol

Physical and Chemical Properties:
 PEG 200 appears as a clear, colorless, viscous liquid with a mild characteristic odor. It exhibits complete water miscibility and excellent solubility in most polar organic solvents including alcohols, ketones, and chlorinated hydrocarbons. Key physical parameters include density of 1.12 g/cm³ at 20°C, viscosity of 40-50 mPa·s at 25°C, freezing point of -65°C, boiling point >250°C, and flash point of 171°C (closed cup). The hydroxyl end groups (pKa ~14-15) enable typical alcohol chemistry including esterification, etherification, and urethane formation. PEG 200 demonstrates excellent thermal stability up to 200°C and chemical stability across pH 3-11.
Catalyst: Sodium or potassium hydroxide (0.1-0.5%)
Temperature: 120-150°C
Pressure: 2-5 bar
Molecular Weight Control: Achieved through water:ethylene oxide ratio and reaction time
Process Steps:
Initiation: Water reacts with ethylene oxide to form the first ethoxylate unit
Propagation: Sequential addition of ethylene oxide units
Termination: Natural termination or addition of acid to neutralize catalyst
Purification: Removal of catalyst residues, unreacted ethylene oxide, and low molecular weight oligomers
Stabilization: Addition of antioxidants (typically BHT at 50-200 ppm)
Quality Control Parameters:
Molecular Weight Distribution: Polydispersity index (PDI) typically 1.02-1.05
Hydroxyl Value: 540-600 mg KOH/g
Water Content: <0.2% (Karl Fischer)
pH (5% solution): 4.5-7.5
Color (APHA): <30
Ethylene Oxide Residual: <1 ppm
1,4-Dioxane: <10 ppm (pharmaceutical grade)
Global production capacity exceeds 500,000 metric tons annually, with major producers including Dow Chemical, BASF, Clariant, and numerous regional manufacturers. Pricing is highly competitive, ranging from $1.50-2.50/kg for industrial grades to $3-6/kg for pharmaceutical and cosmetic grades meeting stringent purity requirements.
Functional Properties and Mechanism of Action
Solvent Properties:
 PEG 200 serves as an excellent solvent for many organic compounds and inorganic salts due to its high polarity and ability to form hydrogen bonds. Its solvating power is characterized by:
Dielectric Constant: ~15 at 25°C
Dipole Moment: ~2.0 D
Hansen Solubility Parameters: δD=16.0, δP=10.0, δH=12.0 MPa¹/²
Donor Number: 20 (moderate Lewis basicity)
Humectant and Hygroscopic Properties:
 PEG 200 exhibits significant water absorption capacity, absorbing up to 30% of its weight in water at 50% relative humidity. This property makes it valuable as a humectant in formulations requiring moisture retention.
Chemical Reactivity:
 The primary hydroxyl groups participate in various chemical transformations:
Esterification: With acids or anhydrides
Etherification: With alkyl halides or epoxides
Urethane Formation: With isocyanates
Oxidation: To aldehydes or carboxylic acids
Biological Properties:
 PEG 200 exhibits low toxicity and excellent biocompatibility, though it can act as an osmotic agent at high concentrations. It is not metabolized in the body but is excreted largely unchanged via renal clearance.
Comprehensive Application Spectrum
Pharmaceutical Industry (40% of consumption):
Solvent and Co-solvent: For poorly water-soluble drugs, typically at 10-40% in oral and topical formulations.
Liquid Fill for Soft Gelatin Capsules: As non-aqueous vehicle (20-60%).
Topical Formulations: Ointments, creams, and gels (5-30%).
Suppository Bases: Alone or in combination with higher PEGs.
Case Example: In oral solutions of poorly soluble anticonvulsants, PEG 200 (30-40%) increases solubility 50-100 fold while maintaining acceptable taste and stability.
Personal Care and Cosmetics (25%):
Humectant: In skin care products (3-10%).
Solvent: For active ingredients in cosmetics (5-20%).
Viscosity Modifier: In lotions and creams (2-8%).
Hair Care: As plasticizer in styling products (1-5%).
Case Example: In leave-on hair treatments, PEG 200 (3-5%) reduces styling polymer brittleness while providing humectant properties without tackiness.
Industrial Applications (20%):
Chemical Intermediate: For polyester and polyurethane production.
Metalworking Fluids: As lubricity additive and corrosion inhibitor (5-15%).
Textile Processing: As lubricant and antistatic agent.
Ceramics: As binder and plasticizer in clay formulations.
Case Example: In water-based metalworking fluids, PEG 200 (8-12%) provides boundary lubrication, reducing tool wear by 20-30% compared to mineral oil-based systems.
Food and Agriculture (10%):
Food Additive: As humectant, texturizer, and solvent (E1521).
Pesticide Formulations: As solvent and penetration enhancer.
Animal Feed: As pelletizing aid and dust suppressant.
Case Example: In moisture-controlled bakery products, PEG 200 (0.5-1.5%) maintains soft texture for extended shelf life without requiring preservatives.
Other Applications (5%):
Analytical Chemistry: As stationary phase in gas chromatography.
Electronics: As solvent for photoresist strippers.
Printing Inks: As viscosity modifier and humectant.
Adhesives: As plasticizer and moisture regulator.
Compatibility Considerations:
Excellent Compatibility: With water, alcohols, glycols, most resins
Good Compatibility: With many organic solvents, oils (with emulsifiers)
Limited Compatibility: With strong oxidizers, concentrated acids/bases
Incompatible: With certain antibiotics (aminoglycosides), some dyes
Stability and Storage:
Oxidative Stability: Good when stabilized with antioxidants
Hydrolytic Stability: Excellent across wide pH range
Thermal Stability: Stable to 200°C in absence of oxygen
Storage Conditions: Tight containers, avoid moisture pickup
Shelf Life: 24-36 months in original packaging

SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT PEG 200

 
 
 
 
 
 
First aid measures:
Description of first aid measures:
General advice:
Consult a physician. 
Show this safety data sheet to the doctor in attendance.
Move out of dangerous area:
 
If inhaled:
If breathed in, move person into fresh air. 
If not breathing, give artificial respiration.
Consult a physician.
In case of skin contact:
Take off contaminated clothing and shoes immediately. 
Wash off with soap and plenty of water.
Consult a physician.
 
In case of eye contact:
Rinse thoroughly with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes and consult a physician.
Continue rinsing eyes during transport to hospital.
 
If swallowed:
Do NOT induce vomiting. 
Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. 
Rinse mouth with water. 
Consult a physician.
 
Firefighting measures:
Extinguishing media:
Suitable extinguishing media:
Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide.
Special hazards arising from the substance or mixture
Carbon oxides, Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Hydrogen chloride gas
 
Advice for firefighters:
Wear self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighting if necessary.
Accidental release measures:
Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures
Use personal protective equipment. 
 
Avoid breathing vapours, mist or gas. 
Evacuate personnel to safe areas.
 
Environmental precautions:
Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so.
Do not let product enter drains.
Discharge into the environment must be avoided.
 
Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up:
Soak up with inert absorbent material and dispose of as hazardous waste. 
Keep in suitable, closed containers for disposal.
 
Handling and storage:
Precautions for safe handling:
Avoid inhalation of vapour or mist.
 
Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities:
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. 
Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage.
Storage class (TRGS 510): 8A: Combustible, corrosive hazardous materials
 
Exposure controls/personal protection:
Control parameters:
Components with workplace control parameters
Contains no substances with occupational exposure limit values.
Exposure controls:
Appropriate engineering controls:
Handle in accordance with good industrial hygiene and safety practice.
Wash hands before breaks and at the end of workday.
 
Personal protective equipment:
Eye/face protection:
Tightly fitting safety goggles. 
Faceshield (8-inch minimum). 
Use equipment for eye protection tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or EN 166(EU).
 
Skin protection:
Handle with gloves. 
Gloves must be inspected prior to use. 
Use proper glove
removal technique (without touching glove's outer surface) to avoid skin contact with this product. 
Dispose of contaminated gloves after use in accordance with applicable laws and good laboratory practices. 
Wash and dry hands.
 
Full contact:
Material: Nitrile rubber
Minimum layer thickness: 0.11 mm
Break through time: 480 min
Material tested:Dermatril (KCL 740 / Aldrich Z677272, Size M)
Splash contact
Material: Nitrile rubber
Minimum layer thickness: 0.11 mm
Break through time: 480 min
Material tested:Dermatril (KCL 740 / Aldrich Z677272, Size M)
It should not be construed as offering an approval for any specific use scenario.
 
Body Protection:
Complete suit protecting against chemicals, The type of protective equipment must be selected according to the concentration and amount of the dangerous substance at the specific workplace.
Respiratory protection:
Where risk assessment shows air-purifying respirators are appropriate use a fullface respirator with multi-purpose combination (US) or type ABEK (EN 14387) respirator cartridges as a backup to engineering controls. 
 
If the respirator is the sole means of protection, use a full-face supplied air respirator. 
Use respirators and components tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or CEN (EU).
Control of environmental exposure
Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so. 
Do not let product enter drains.
Discharge into the environment must be avoided.
 
Stability and reactivity:
Chemical stability:
Stable under recommended storage conditions.
Incompatible materials:
Strong oxidizing agents:
Hazardous decomposition products:
Hazardous decomposition products formed under fire conditions. 
Carbon oxides, Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Hydrogen chloride gas.
 
Disposal considerations:
Waste treatment methods:
Product:
Offer surplus and non-recyclable solutions to a licensed disposal company. 
Contact a licensed professional waste disposal service to dispose of this material.
Contaminated packaging:
Dispose of as unused product