Manufacturing, Properties and Applications of

Polyethylene glycol (PEG)

Presented by-
SHIMUL CHAKMA
2K19/PTE/05
Date: 16/09/2019
 It covers the followings
 Introduction of Poly(ethylene Glycol)
Monomer of PEG
Preparation of PEG
Production Process
Different forms of PEGs
 Properties
Applications
Global PEG Market
References
 Poly(ethylene Glycol) (PEG)
 Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is an oligomer or polymer of
ethylene glycol (ethane-1,2-diol);
 It is a synthetic, hydrophilic, biocompatible polymer;
 Commercially known as Carbowax (for industrial use) and
Carbowax Sentry (for food and pharmaceutical use);
 Depending on its molecular weight PEG is also known
as polyethylene oxide (PEO) or polyoxyethylene (POE).
 The structure of PEG is commonly expressed as
H−(O−CH2−CH2)n−OH.
 IUPAC Name

poly(oxyethylene) {structure-based}

poly(ethylene oxide) {source-based}

 Monomer of PEG
 Monomer of PEG is ethylene glycol (ethane-1,2-diol);
 Ethylene glycol is produced from ethylene (ethene), via the
intermediate ethylene oxide (EO);
 The EO is first produced by the oxidation of ethylene in the
presence of oxygen or air and a silver oxide catalyst;
 Ethylene oxide reacts with water to produce ethylene glycol.
 Preparation of PEG
 Polyethylene glycol was first prepared in 1859 by A. V. Lourenço
and Charles Adolphe Wurtz.
 Produced by the interaction of ethylene oxide with water, ethylene glycol
or ethylene glycol oligomers.
HOCH2CH2OH + n(CH2CH2O) → HO(CH2CH2O)n+1H
 Ethylene oxide can be polymerized with NaOH to give PEG.
 Polymerization of ethylene oxide is an exothermic process.
 Alkaline catalysts such as NaOH, KOH, or Na2CO3 are used to prepare
polyethylene glycol.
Preparation
 Preparation

Fig: Ethylene oxide polymerized with NaOH to give PEG.

Production Process

Source: http://cpmaindia.com/
 Different Forms of PEGs

 PEG, PEO, and POE refer to an oligomer or polymer of ethylene

oxide.
 PEG is preferred in the biomedical field,
 PEO is more prevalent in the field of polymer chemistry.
 PEG has tended to refer to oligomers and polymers with a
molecular mass below 20,000 g/mol,
 PEO to polymers with a molecular mass above 20,000 g/mol,
 Different Forms of PEGs
PEGs are also available with different geometries.
- Branched PEGs have 3 to 10 PEG chains emanating from a
central core group.
- Star PEGs have 10 to 100 PEG chains emanating from a central
core group.
- Comb PEGs have multiple PEG chains normally grafted onto a
polymer backbone.
 Different Forms of PEGs
 The molecular weight of PEGs are determined by the number of ethylene
glycol units which vary from 300 gms/mole to 10,000,000 gms/mole.

 The molecular weight determines the characteristics of each type or

category of PEG.
 Clear & watery liquids PEG: Low molecular weight, containing two-
to-four ethylene glycol units per polymer;
 Clear & thick liquids PEG: Containing up to 700 ethylene glycol units
per polymeric product;
 Waxy solids PEG: Having 1,000 or more ethylene glycol units per
polymeric product.
 Properties
 PEGs are non-toxic, odorless, colorless, nonirritating and do not
evaporate easily;
 PEGs are considered inert (they do not react with other materials);
 PEGs are soluble in many organic solvents;
 All PEGs readily dissolve in water and do not change the color, odor or
taste of the water.

Molar mass 44.05n + 18.02 g/mol

3
Density 1.125 g/cm
Melting point 4 to 8 °C
Viscosity 90.0 cSt at 25 °C, 7.3 cSt at 99 °C
 Applications
 used in the pharmaceutical industry as lubricants,
Medical solvents, dispensing agents, ointments, delivery
Application liquids for medications, fillers for tablets,
 used as suppository bases, in ophthalmic solutions
 used in veterinary products.

 used in toothpastes, breath fresheners and

Oral Health mouthwashes, including anti-plaque and antiseptic
mouth rinses.
Uses
 used to keep all ingredients in solution and to
increase the shelf-life and stability of the products.
 Applications

 used as water-based coatings, anti-dusting agents in

agricultural products;
 brighteners in electroplating, cleaners and detergents,
Industrial
moisturizers in cosmetic products;
Applications  dye carriers for paints and inks, packaging products;
 non-stick agents for molded products;
 color stabilizers for paper, ceramics manufacture;
 a softener and anti-static agent in textile manufacture.
 Health effects

 PEGs are generally considered to be a biologically inert substance;

 PEG oligomers and polymers are recognized to be safe for use in
food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications.
 Due to the PEG’s structure and its water solubility, these compounds
are generally considered to be non-toxic,
Global PEG Market, by Applications, 2012 - 2020 (Kilo Tons)

Source: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/polyethylene-glycol-peg-market
 References

1-Harris, J. Milton, and Robert B. Chess. “Effect of pegylation on pharmaceuticals.” Nature reviews Drug
discovery 2.3 (2003): 214.
2-Webster, Rob, et al. “PEG and PEG conjugates toxicity: towards an understanding of the toxicity of PEG
and its relevance to PEGylated biologicals.” PEGylated protein drugs: Basic science and clinical applications.
Birkhäuser Basel, 2009. 127-146.
3-Fruijtier-Pölloth, Claudia. “Safety assessment on polyethylene glycols (PEGs) and their derivatives as used
in cosmetic products.” Toxicology 214.1-2 (2005): 1-38.
4-EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (EFSA ANS Panel), et al. “Refined
exposure assessment of polyethylene glycol (E 1521) from its use as a food additive.” EFSA Journal 16.6
(2018): e05293.
5- https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/polyethylene-glycol-peg-market
6- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylene_glycol
7- Polymer Science by V R Gowariker, N V Viswanathan, Jayadev Sreedhar
Thank You