Diethylene Glycol
A versatile glycol co-product behind unsaturated polyester resins, polyurethanes, plasticizers, solvents and industrial gas-drying operations worldwide.
Chelora Chemicals supplies DEG to resin, polyurethane, solvent and gas-processing industries, with full documentation and consistent purity on every consignment.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 111-46-6
- IUPAC name
- 2,2'-Oxydiethanol
- Molecular formula
- C₄H₁₀O₃
- Molecular weight
- 106.12 g/mol
- Boiling point
- 245 °C
- Melting point
- -10.45 °C
- GHS Pictograms
- GHS07 / GHS08
- HS Code
- 2909 49
Note: we confirm the exact transport classification for your specific shipment size and destination before booking.
What Diethylene Glycol is used for
Diethylene Glycol (DEG) is a colourless, practically odourless, hygroscopic liquid with a sweetish taste, fully miscible with water and many organic solvents. Structurally it is two ethylene glycol units joined by an ether oxygen, and it forms as a co-product whenever ethylene oxide is hydrolysed to make Mono Ethylene Glycol.
DEG's largest uses are in the manufacture of unsaturated polyester resins and polyurethanes, where it functions as a diol building block, and as a plasticizer in resin and cellulose-based formulations. It is a widely used solvent for nitrocellulose, resins, dyes and oils, and a humectant in tobacco, cork, printing-ink and glue formulations. DEG is also the principal industrial precursor to morpholine and 1,4-dioxane, and finds use in brake fluids, lubricants, wallpaper-stripping formulations, artificial fog/smoke fluids, and as a desiccant for drying natural gas.
Where it sits in the petrochemical value chain
- Ethylene Oxide the shared feedstock hydrolysed to form MEG, DEG and TEG together. See that page.
- Mono Ethylene Glycol the primary, highest-volume product of the same hydrolysis step. See that page.
- Diethylene Glycol (this product) a co-product valued in its own right for resin, polyurethane, solvent and desiccant applications.
Handling character
DEG carries a GHS Warning signal word and must never be confused with or substituted for food-, drug- or cosmetic-grade glycols. Full hazard detail is in the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Clear, colourless liquid |
| Assay | 99.5% min (industrial grade) |
| Water content | < 0.2% |
| Colour (APHA) | Within producer specification |
Important: the figures above are indicative of commercial material and are offered for planning only. The batch certificate of analysis is the governing document.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Clear, colourless, hygroscopic liquid |
| Boiling point | 245 °C |
| Melting point | -10.45 °C |
| Density | 1.118 g/mL |
| Water solubility | Fully miscible |
| Flash point | ~143-166 °C (combustible) |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 111-46-6 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put this glycol to work
A quietly versatile intermediate spanning resins, polyurethanes, solvents and gas processing.
Unsaturated polyester resins
Used as a diol building block in UPR formulations for coatings, laminates and composites.
- Industrial-grade specification
- Bulk & drum supply
- Technical desk review on request
Polyurethane manufacture
A diol component in flexible and rigid polyurethane resin systems.
- Consistent purity specification
- Documented batch traceability
Plasticizer & solvent
Plasticizes resin and cellulose systems, and dissolves nitrocellulose, dyes, oils and resins.
- Contract & spot supply
- Full analytical documentation available
Humectant & glue/ink formulations
A humectant in tobacco, cork and printing-ink/glue formulations where moisture retention matters.
- Packs sized to customer volumes
- Retained sample held against the lot
Morpholine & 1,4-dioxane precursor
The principal industrial precursor route to morpholine and 1,4-dioxane.
- Research & process-scale quantities
- Full documentation supplied
Natural-gas desiccant & brake fluids
Used as an industrial desiccant for drying natural gas, and in brake fluids, lubricants and wallpaper strippers.
- Annual contracts with scheduled call-off
- Second source held in reserve
How we supply Diethylene Glycol
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. Purity, colour and freedom from contamination are critical given this product's downstream resin and regulatory sensitivity — that shapes how we manage this line.
We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your required grade, your price point and your delivery window, and confirm your jurisdiction's import requirements before booking.
We keep a second qualified source on this line, so a single-plant disruption never becomes your production problem.
- Purity and colour confirmed before we quote. Consistency matters to resin, polyurethane and solvent quality alike.
- Classification and documentation managed end to end. Labelling and carrier compliance confirmed before booking.
- Scheduled call-off scheduling. We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
- Batch traceability to the producing plant. Full chain of custody documentation on request.
- Export machinery handled in-house. Classification, approved packing, labelling, freight booking and customs paperwork are ours to manage.
- Industrial grade sourced to your specification. Matched precisely to your resin, polyurethane or desiccant process.
Packed the way your plant receives it
Drum, tote or bulk tank — tell us your preferred format and we will quote and classify to it.
200-230 kg drums
Steel or plastic drums for smaller-volume orders and trial quantities.
~1,000 litre totes
Returnable or one-way IBC totes sized for mid-volume converter orders.
Large-volume bulk shipment
ISO tank or flexi-tank bulk shipment for continuous-consumption resin and industrial plants.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with documentation filed before booking.
Trial / sample quantities
Small packs dispatched for process trials before a commercial order is placed.
Contracted call-off supply
We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
Harmful if swallowed — never substitute for food-grade glycols
DEG must be stored, labelled and handled separately from any food-, drug- or cosmetic-grade material. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch is the authoritative document.
Classified hazards
H302Harmful if swallowed.H373May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure.
Keep away from children and food-grade materials. DEG must never be used in or substituted for food, drug or cosmetic formulations; always read the SDS issued with your specific batch and store accordingly.
Storage
Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, clearly labelled and segregated from food, feed and consumer-grade glycol products.
Handling
Use standard PPE (gloves, eye protection) for liquid transfer. Avoid ingestion and prolonged or repeated skin contact; provide adequate ventilation when handling heated or atomised material.
Transport
DEG typically ships under GHS pictograms GHS07/GHS08 without a dedicated UN dangerous-goods number for standard industrial shipments; we confirm and document the exact classification for your specific shipment and destination.
Every batch, documented
We verify documentation before dispatch so there are no surprises at your incoming-goods bench.
Specification agreed
Assay, colour and water content confirmed against your process requirement before order placement.
Producer batch testing
The producing plant tests each batch against the agreed specification before release.
Documentation review
COA, SDS and transport paperwork checked by our desk before the shipment is booked.
Traceable dispatch
Each shipment is traceable to its producing batch, with full chain-of-custody records on request.
How DEG is made
DEG forms as a co-product of ethylene oxide hydrolysis, the same reaction used industrially to produce Mono Ethylene Glycol. As ethylene oxide reacts with the MEG already formed, a smaller proportion of DEG (and a still smaller proportion of TEG) is generated alongside the primary MEG stream.
We do not publish operating process parameters here; this is background only. Full technical documentation accompanies every shipment, and any process-specific detail you need is best confirmed directly with our technical desk.
| Chemical family | Diol / glycol ether |
|---|---|
| Functional groups | Two primary hydroxyl groups, one ether linkage |
| Reactivity | Esterifies with diacids and anhydrides; dehydrates to 1,4-dioxane; aminates to morpholine |
| Related compounds | Ethylene Oxide (feedstock), Mono Ethylene Glycol, Triethylene Glycol (co-products) |
Explore the wider petrochemical range
Diethylene Glycol, answered
What is Diethylene Glycol used for?
How is DEG related to Mono Ethylene Glycol?
Is Diethylene Glycol hazardous?
What grade do you supply?
What packing do you offer?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
- Need a related glycol? See our Mono Ethylene Glycol and Triethylene Glycol pages.
Get a quote on Diethylene Glycol today
Send us your required grade, pack size and delivery window. We will come back with a firm quote, lead time and full documentation.