Diethylene Glycol

Diethylene glycol is generally  a by-product of production process of Monoethylene Glycol (MEG)  . The process consists of the oxidation of ethylene at a high temperature in the presence of a silver oxide catalyst. The ethylene oxide is then hydrated to yield diethylene glycol with Monoethylene Glycol and Triethylene Glycol as co-products. Diethylene glycol has a variety of uses in the industry. Diethylene Glycol (DEG) is a clear liquid that has hygroscopic properties which makes it a useful industrial chemical that can be used as a solvent for lacquer, paint and varnish, coupling printing inks, and water-based coating. The compound is also used as a chemical intermediate in the manufacture of unsaturated polyester resins, plasticisers, acrylate and methacrylate resins, and urethanes. It can be used  as a cement grinding aid. It can also be used in petroleum solvent extraction and can be found in printing ink and drywall joint compounds. The tobacco industry makes use of its hygroscopic properties by utilising it as a humectant in tobacco products to control the moisture of the tobacco filler. This same property also makes it useful in the treatment of paper, cork, glue, and cellophane and it is utilised as a dehydrant in the natural gas industry where it removes water from gas pipelines.