Sophia Marie D. Verdeflor Grade 9-1 STEP July 21, 2014

Assignment in Consumer Chemistry

The Chemistry and Uses of ethylene glycol

Ethylene glycol is a chemical commonly used in many commercial and industrial applications including antifreeze and coolant. Ethylene glycol helps keep your car’s engine from freezing in the winter and acts as a coolant to reduce overheating in the summer. Other important uses of ethylene glycol include heat transfer fluids used as industrial coolants for gas compressors, heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems, and ice skating rinks.

Ethylene glycol also is used as a raw material in the production of a wide range of products

including polyester fibers for clothes, upholstery, carpet and pillows; fiberglass used in products such as jet skis, bathtubs, and bowling balls; and polyethylene terephthalate resin used in packaging film and bottles. Many of these products are energy saving and cost efficient as well as recyclable.

Ethylene Glycols Chemistry

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. The structural formulas of ethylene glycols (and their isomers) are: Ethylene Glycol CH2 – OH | CH2– OH Diethylene Glycol

CH2 – CH2 – OH / O \ CH2 – CH2 – OH

Triethylene Glycol CH2 – O – CH2 – CH2 – OH | CH2 – O – CH2 – CH2 – OH Tetraethylene Glycol CH2 – CH2 – O – CH2 – CH2 – OH / O \ CH2 – CH2 – O – CH2 – CH2 – OH

Ethylene glycol (EG) is an important organic compound and chemical intermediate used in a large number of industrial processes (e.g. energy, plastics, automobiles, and chemicals). Indeed, owing to its unique properties and versatile commercial applications, a variety of chemical systems (e.g., catalytic and non-catalytic) have been explored for the synthesis of EG, particularly via reaction processes derived from fossil fuels (e.g., petroleum, natural gas, and coal) and biomass-based resources. This critical review describes a broad spectrum of properties of EG and significant advances in the prevalent synthesis and applications of EG, with emphases on the catalytic reactivity and reaction mechanisms of the main synthetic methodologies and applied strategies.

Ethylene glycol (IUPAC name: ethane-1,2-diol) is an organic compound primarily used as

a raw material in the manufacture of polyester fibers and fabric industry, and polyethylene terephthalate resins (PET) used in bottling. A small percent is also used in industrial applications like antifreeze formulations and other industrial products. It is an odorless, colorless, syrupy, sweet-tasting liquid. Ethylene glycol is only weakly toxic, but cases of poisonings are not uncommon. Very small amounts of ingested antifreeze (an ounce or less) can be fatal.

EG is primarily used as a raw material in the manufacture of polyester fibers and fabric

industry, and polyethylene terephthalate resins (PET) used in bottling. A small percent is also used in other applications such as antifreeze formulations and other products.