Anyone know a UK source of Mono-Ethyl-Glycol ? I need about 15 litres or so.
NB although this is an antifreeze it is NOT normal automotive antifreeze (which I think is Ethylene-Glycol) as it apparently has different electrical qualities.
Any chemists reading who know what the differences are please let me know as for once Googling hasn't produced anything that I can understand
Thanks for that - my confusion is wether 'mono-ethyl-glycol' and 'mono-ethylene-glycol' are the same stuff or not. If they are then quite a few sources, but I cannot seem to get confirmation.
Mono-ethyl-glycol is not a chemically "proper" name, so it doesn't define a specific structure. You'd need more info to be sure what is meant.
My best guess is that they mean ethane-1,2-diol, otherwise ethylene glycol HO-C2H4-OH, which is the main component of anti-freeze, though far from the only one - modern formulations are full of other things, mainly corrosion inhibitors.
I'm not talking about a food additive.. the stuff I'm thinking of is used in heat exchanger / chillier systems... it is non toxic only in case of a plate crack which would lead to contamination of the product. Anyway... it's not the Mono-Ethyl-Glycol the OP was after...
Ellis & Everard can supply MEG... in 200 Kg drums for £ 940 :-(
Union carbide number is now Dow ...who are unable to help at all.
Maybe E&E might be able to identify the manufacturer.. who might know of someone who sells small quantities...
There isn't any difference between ethylene glycol and mono ethyl glycol, although commercial automotive antifreeze will have lots of other chemicals in it.
Ethylene glycol has a (not very noticeable) tendency to polymerise, forming molecules with such exotic names as diethylene glycol (DEG), triethylene glycol (TEG), and polyethylene glycol (which you will find in products from "icecream" to shampoo under the acronym PEG).
Not-very-good chemists who are interested in using ethylene glycol as a feedstock for making polymers sometimes call it monoethylene glycol or MEG, and even worse chemists (usually chemical salesmen from the Indian subcontinent) sometimes call it mono ethyl glycol.
It is also used in co-polymers, where it joins with some other compound or two into larger molecules. These are widely used as fibres for clothing.
(monoethyl glycol is not a proper name for a chemical - neither is monoethylene glycol for that matter, but that name is actually used far more often. They all refer to 2-hydroxyethanol, aka 1,2-dihydroxyethane, aka
1,2-ethanediol, aka ethane-1,2-diol, aka antifreeze, but most commonly known as ethylene glycol:
. H H . | | . H - O - C - C - O - H . | | . H H
CAS no 107-21-1 )
There is also a propylene glycol which is much less toxic. Both ethylene glycol and propylene glycol are widely available.
Ethylene glycol solution is used for liquid coolant circuits in computers, as is propylene glycol, so I imagine they have some relevant electrical properties. I did once read about them, but I forget the details, sorry, it was a long time ago. However using the correct name you may have more success when googling.
Thanks for the tip - I'll keep an eye on it. I'm currently using a copper 'hot tank' full of cold water and pumping the water to be cooled through the primary coil. OK for short term use.
What I really want is a water cooler / chiller of the sort used in HVAC applications often seen on office and shop roofs with a biggish fan and radiator.
PolyTech Forum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.