What is Polyethylene Glycol 400 USP / NF/ FCC / Non-GMO?
Polyethylene glycol, commonly referred to as, PEG, is a clear viscous liquid with mild alcohol odor. Polyethylene Glycol is completely soluble in water and has a low toxicity with systemic absorption less than 0.5%. PEG refers to an oligomer or polymer of ethylene oxide and water. This material also has a flash point of 435°F. There are several different grades of PEG with varying molecular weights. The general molecular formula for PEG is H(OCH2CH2)nOH, where n represents the number of ethylene glycol units contained in the PEG polymer, this varies from 300 grams per mole to 10,000,000 grams per mole. The molecular weight in turn determines the characteristics of each type or category of PEG. Low molecular weight PEGs, containing two-to-four ethylene glycol units per polymer, are clear, watery or thin viscosity liquids (Polyethylene glycol 300, 400, 600). PEGs containing up to 700 ethylene glycol units are clear, thick liquids. PEGS having 1,000 or more ethylene glycol units are waxy solids. PEGs have many industrial / commercial, food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical uses.
Characteristics:
- Non-toxic, odorless, colorless, nonirritating, will not easily evaporate esily.
- Inert, will not react with other materials.
- Soluble in many organic solvents.
- Readily dissolve in water, but will not change color, odor, or taste
Industrial / Commercial Uses:
- anti-dusting agents in agricultural products
- brighteners in electroplating, cleaners, detergents, paint dye, packaging products, non-stick agents for mold products, color stabilizers for paper products, technical ceramics, anti-static in textiles and in Hewlett-Paackard designjet printers as an ink solvent and lubricant for print heads*
- PEG is also one of the main ingredients in paintballs fills, because of its thickness and flexibility.
- in preservation of objects that have been salvaged from underwater; boats and historic warships. It replaces water in wooden objects, making the wood dimensionally stable and preventing warping or shrinking of the wood when it dries. In addition, PEG is used when working with green wood as a stabilizer, and to prevent shrinkage.
Medical Uses:
- used as lubricants, such as eye drops. .
- in pharmaceutical products: dispensing agents, ointments, delivery liquids for medications, filler for tablets, as suppository bases, ophthalmic products, as well as many veterinary products.
- used in laxatives and as whole bowel irrigation with polyethylene glycol and added electrolytes and used for bowel preparation before surgery or colonoscopy. This preparation in sold OTC for short term relief of chronic constipation under brands names, MiraLAX and Dulcolax Balance in the US.**
- as solvents in oral liquids and soft capsules.
Cosmetic and Personal Care Uses:
- used in toothpastes, breath fresheners and mouthwashes, including anti-plaque and antiseptic mouth rinses.
- used in skin creams and moisturizers as an humectant.
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