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Ethylene glycol is a colorless, viscous fluid with a sweet syrupy taste and no odor. It is commonly used as a coolant, heat transfer agent, and antifreeze agent, as well as a component in household products, polymer manufacturing, and wood rot treatment. However, it is toxic and can cause fatal poisoning if ingested. French chemist Charles-Adolphe Wurtz first synthesized ethylene glycol in 1859, and it saw little commercial use before 1914. It is widely used in the 21st century, but must be stored and used with great care.
Ethylene glycol is an organic compound produced by a reaction between ethylene oxide and water. The compound is a colorless, viscous fluid with a sweet syrupy taste and no odor. The most common uses of ethylene glycol are as a coolant, heat transfer agent, and antifreeze agent, as well as a component in many household products such as paints, cosmetics, and cleaners. It is also widely used as a process agent in polymer manufacturing. Ethylene glycol is toxic and can cause fatal poisoning if ingested.
French chemist Charles-Adolphe Wurtz first synthesized ethylene glycol in 1859 from potassium hydroxide using a saponification process similar to the one used to make commercial soaps. He continued his work with the compound and eventually perfected the current method of producing ethylene oxide hydration in 1860. The compound saw little commercial use before 1914, but began to be used extensively as a substitute for glycerol in the production of dynamite during and after the First World War. In the 21st century, ethylene glycol is a common component in a number of household and industrial products and processes.
One of the more common uses of the compounds is as an antifreeze and conductive heat transfer agent. In this role, it is used in automotive cooling systems, air conditioners with water coolers, and air-handling systems, and is even used as a cooling agent in high-performance computers. It is especially effective as an antifreeze agent with a 60/40 percent ethylene glycol/water blend that resists freezing down to -49° Fahrenheit (-45° Celsius). However, it should never be used on its own as an automotive coolant, as it can cause a drop in engine cooling efficiency.
The plastics industry is also a large consumer of ethylene glycol for use as a precursor in the production of polymer resins and polyester fibers. The compound is also a widely used component in the manufacture of many detergents, cosmetics and some medicines such as vaccines. It is also used in the formulation of a range of dyes, inks, varnishes and shoe polish. Many schools also use the compound as a safe alternative to formaldehyde for storing lab samples. Ethylene glycol is also used as a cheap and highly effective agent in the treatment of rot in wooden structures, especially boats.
The storage and use of pure ethylene glycol, or any product containing significant quantities of it, must be approached with great care, as the compound is toxic. This is especially true for environments where young children are present, as the sweet taste of the compound often leads to accidental ingestion of large quantities. Absorption of large quantities can affect the heart, central nervous system and kidneys and is often fatal. If a case of ethylene glycol poisoning is suspected, the victim should be taken to hospital immediately as any delay in treatment will significantly reduce the prognosis for an acceptable recovery.
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