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Chemical Name: Diethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether
Common Names: Ethoxydiglycol, DEGEE
CAS Number: 111-90-0
Physical State: Colorless liquid with a mild, sweet odor
Use Cases: Solvent in inks, paints, cosmetics, and cleaners
Structure: Belongs to Glycol Ether family
Global Harmonization System (GHS) Classification: Eye irritant, skin sensitizer, slight ingestion hazard
Warning Symbols: Exclamation mark for irritation
Health Risks: Exposure can lead to eye redness, headache, and dizziness within minutes
Routes of Exposure: Skin contact, inhalation, accidental ingestion
Most At Risk: Workers in paint, ink, cosmetic, and industrial sectors
Main Ingredient: Diethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether at concentrations above 99%
Impurities: Traces of other glycol ethers might appear due to manufacturing
Additives: Formulated products sometimes bring other solvents or stabilizers, but pure DEGEE rarely blends with additives in manufacturing
Eye Contact: Rinse with clean water for fifteen minutes, remove contact lenses, seek medical help if irritation sticks around
Skin Contact: Wash exposed skin with water and mild soap, strip soiled clothes
Inhalation: Get person to fresh air, back away from the source, offer oxygen if breathing grows hard
Ingestion: Avoid forcing vomiting, drink water if alert, contact a physician right away
Flash Point: Sits near 96°C, so not the highest fire risk in most rooms, but open flames do matter
Extinguishing Media: Carbon dioxide, dry chemical, foam preferred
Hazardous Combustion Products: Burns produce carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sometimes irritating smoke
Precautions: Firefighters slip on full protection plus self-contained breathing gear
Personal Protection: Gloves and goggles at a minimum, consider chemical-resistant apron in heavy use
Cleanup: Absorb spills using inert material like sand, scoop into tight containers
Ventilation: Open windows and improve air movement in affected space
Environmental Precautions: Stop spills from hitting drains or waterways; glycol ethers hurt aquatic life in decent doses
Handling: Avoid breathing mist or getting chemical on your skin, wash hands thoroughly after work
Storage: Keep containers dead-tight, store below 30°C in ventilated zones, keep out of sunlight and away from food
Separate Incompatible Materials: Strong acids, oxidizers, and alkalis all react
Workplace Controls: Exhaust ventilation makes big difference in busy or tight rooms
Personal Protection Gear: Nitrile gloves, chemical goggles, long sleeves, sometimes respiratory masks in high vapor concentrations
Occupational Exposure Limits: No strict OSHA limit, but NIOSH guidelines recommend staying below 25 ppm
Hygiene: Never eat, drink, or smoke near this chemical; always wash exposed skin
Appearance: Clear, colorless liquid
Odor: Faintly sweet, not overpowering
Boiling Point: About 196°C
Melting Point: -68°C
Vapor Pressure: Low, under 1 mmHg at room temperature
Density: Near 1.0 g/cm³
Solubility: Mixes into water in nearly all proportions
Evaporation Rate: Slow compared to lighter solvents
Stability: Stable without extreme heat or strong chemicals
Materials to Avoid: Oxidizing agents, strong acids, and alkalis
Hazardous Decomposition: Breaks down into smaller organics and gases during fire, so ventilation clears the space out faster
Dangerous Polymerization: No big risk of runaway reactions under normal handling
Acute Toxicity: Swallowing big sips leads to nausea and headache; regular skin contact can sometimes dry or inflame skin
Chronic Effects: Studies show long-term exposure causes stress on kidneys and liver
Carcinogenicity: No firm links between DEGEE and cancer in humans up to now
Reproductive Toxicity: Research on related glycol ethers once tied them to developmental issues in animals, leading to broad workplace caution
Sensitization: Rare, but can happen with repeated skin exposure
Aquatic Toxicity: Acute toxicity for fish and small aquatic life with high concentrations
Persistence: Biodegradable in natural settings, though breakdown takes days or weeks
Bioaccumulation: Very unlikely thanks to water solubility, breakdown by sunlight and bacteria
Risk Recommendation: Spills in water or soil call for cleanup because too much can upset local ecosystems
Waste Methods: Bring chemical waste to approved facility for burned or chemical-treated disposal
Contaminated Containers: Triple rinse, then send drums for approved recycling or incineration
Down-the-Drain Disposal: Not recommended, especially in countries with tough water rules
DOT (US): Not classified as hazardous for road or rail
International Transit: No strong restrictions but always double-check for local chemical rules
Packing: Secure, clearly labeled and upright containers
Global Regulations: Listed under international chemical inventories like TSCA and REACH
Labeling: GHS signal word and hazard pictogram for skin and eye irritation
Use Restrictions: Some product bans or restrictions for use in consumer cleaners or cosmetics in pieces of Europe and the US, based on exposure risk
Workplace Safety Mandates: Require training and regular review for at-risk workers using solvents
