Walk back a few decades, and it’s clear how chemistry often follows need. Tetraethylene glycol monomethyl ether—some call it TEGMME or Methyl Tetraglycol—turned up as a lab curiosity in the growing family of glycols. Early on, industrial labs turned to it for specialized tasks where run-of-the-mill glycols simply didn’t cut it. As more folks experimented with solvents in coatings, cleaning agents, and even pharmaceuticals, the unique properties of TEGMME made it hard to ignore. It stuck around not because it dazzled, but because it got the job done where others fell short.
TEGMME shows up as a clear liquid with almost no smell, making it pretty easy to handle in most lab and factory settings. You won’t find it in your garage, but in industrial warehouses and specialty production lines, it’s a regular. Industries turn to it for its ability to dissolve stubborn materials, help complicated reactions along, and sit comfortably in harsh environments. It doesn't crave the spotlight; it simply helps other ingredients do their jobs faster and safer, then disappears into the final product.
This molecule, C9H20O5, carries a molecular weight a little over 208, with a liquid state at room temperature and a high boiling point—somewhere between 270°C and 290°C, depending on the source. Water and many organic solvents mix well with it. It shrugs off many acids and bases, refuses to freeze until you drop the temperature well below zero, and doesn’t easily catch fire. For operators, this means less worry about dangerous reactions, though you still need to pay attention to vapors if temperatures run high and ventilation runs low.
Out in the world, TEGMME arrives packed in steel drums, IBS totes, or specialized containers. Labels carry hazard markings—usually under GHS or related regional standards—flagging precautions around inhalation and skin contact. Spec sheets from suppliers often list assay percentages over 98%, moisture below 0.1%, and details on acidity, color, and purity. Anchoring all this, regular testing by gas chromatography and IR spectroscopy makes sure impurities stay below critical thresholds. These standards aren’t just bureaucracy; they help prevent costly mistakes that ripple through product batches and safety records.
Manufacturers build TEGMME from basic glycol ethers using the Williamson ether synthesis or direct alkoxylation. This process involves feeding mono-methyl ether into a reactor with ethylene oxide under pressure, letting chemistry do the heavy lifting. Temperatures and timings matter. Lean too hard on heat, you generate unwanted byproducts. Go too cold, and conversion lags. Afterward, the product benefits from distillation and scrubbing to hit purity targets—trust between buyers and sellers often rests on consistency across batches.
Chemists don’t leave well enough alone. TEGMME gets tweaked to make specialty surfactants or complex esters. It accepts further substitution along the ethylene backbone for even higher-chain compounds, making room for products with both tailored solvency and specific reactivity. In certain synthesis protocols, its oxygen-rich nature lets it participate in phase-transfer reactions or act as both reactant and medium—cutting steps and boosting yields.
Anyone who’s spent time in R&D knows it by different names: Tetraethylene glycol methyl ether, Methyl Tetraglycol, or even 1-Methoxy-3,6,9,12-tetraoxapentadecane. Large producers like Sigma-Aldrich and Merck keep it in their catalogs under these aliases, with CAS number 1559-34-8 as a dependable identifier. Keeping up with synonyms saves more headaches than most folks realize, especially when cross-referencing safety data sheets for multi-national projects.
Most regulations treat TEGMME with a middle-of-the-road caution similar to other glycol ethers. You want gloves and goggles, and a functioning fume hood or exhaust. In my experience, training usually sticks when operators realize reactions involving glycol ethers occasionally slip out sudden vapors. Skin absorption can be a concern for long shifts. Cleaning up a spill means mopping up with inert absorbent and scrubbing—no shortcuts. Local disposal rules usually call for collection as hazardous waste, with incineration or specialized treatment.
TEGMME steps into coatings, inks, textile dyeing, surface cleaners, agrochemical formulations, and even some electronics manufacturing. Its knack for dissolving pigments and resins gives it a home in glossy paints and water-based varnishes; it helps inks flow smoother—no streaks, no blockages. In microelectronics, it acts as a carrier or process additive, keeping delicate parts safe from harsher chemicals. Pharmaceutical applications value its low toxicity and high compatibility for solvents, especially when making injectable or topical preparations.
Academic and industrial labs dig deeper into its potential as green chemistry takes center stage. Researchers search for ways to reduce environmental impact and improve biodegradability. Recent publications showcase TEGMME in solvent recycling and process intensification. Teams push for modifications unlocking new surfactants, plasticizers, and pharmaceutical ingredients. Experience shows that investments here often pay off—process improvements with glycol ethers ripple into more efficient factories, less waste, and new product lines.
Toxicologists measure TEGMME’s safety margins in rodents and cell cultures. Acute toxicity runs low, but repeated or high exposures build up risk—mainly irritation to the eyes and respiratory tract, sometimes mild effects on the liver and kidneys with chronic contact. Regulatory agencies update exposure limits as data rolls in, keeping operators informed with new safety data sheets and workplace posters. Learning from the past, environmental monitoring at production sites prevents contamination of soil and groundwater, with regular audits to catch leaks or spills before they spiral.
TEGMME faces new opportunities as industries pivot towards safer and more sustainable chemicals. Pressure from markets and regulators nudges manufacturers toward greener synthesis routes—using renewable ethylene oxide and recycling spent solvent streams. Engineering teams look for ways to improve batch processes, tighten emission controls, and support circular economy goals. In pharmaceuticals and electronics, researchers seek more effective, less hazardous substitutes but acknowledge TEGMME’s staying power while these candidates mature. Watching how new legislation and consumer demands shift the landscape, companies will keep revisiting where and how TEGMME fits, aiming to get the work done while raising the bar for both safety and sustainability.
Tetraethylene glycol monomethyl ether sounds heavy, but its uses reach into things people use every day. One spot it shows up most: industrial cleaning. Lots of companies favor it for removing grease and tough residues from machine parts, printed circuit boards, and tools. I’ve worked in a warehouse where nothing cuts through sticky messes like a good solvent blend — tetraethylene glycol monomethyl ether stands out for not giving off harsh fumes and for handling oily jobs without eating through plastic or rubber. That’s a big plus for equipment longevity and worker comfort.
The role of this glycol ether stretches way beyond factories. Paint industries use it to keep surfaces smooth. If you ever rolled a wall and wondered why some brands dry evenly, the answer often points to this ingredient. It thins paints and prevents clumping or weird textures, offering painters more breathing room in how it finishes. I once tried a do-it-yourself paint with a rushed formula, and it dried before I finished a patch; compare that to commercial products, and you see the results right away.
Auto shops rely on it for brake fluids. Brakes need a reliable mix that works in freezing cold and summer heat. This glycol ether keeps brake fluids stable and prevents them from breaking down. I’ve walked mechanics’ lines and seen how much they swear by brands that use a good glycol ether. Faulty brake fluid leads to spongy pedals, and, frankly, that’s terrifying.
Printers chase consistency, especially in inkjet and offset printing. This chemical acts as a solvent in ink formulas. It delivers two wins — vibrant color flow and ink that doesn’t dry up in the cartridge. People who run small presses at home get irritated replacing dried cartridges too often; choosing the right ink, often with tetraethylene glycol monomethyl ether, can be the difference between crisp prints and a lot of waste.
I worked a summer job blending personal care products and learned something surprising: this same chemical shows up in lotions and creams. Its main job is keeping the texture light and helping ingredients mix smoothly. No one wants a greasy after-feel, so skin care labs turn to it for that subtle, pleasant finish. Drug makers lean on it for similar reasons, especially in topical creams and gels where comfort matters as much as medication delivery.
Like anything with a technical name, safety questions follow. Read the data sheets and you see warnings: eye irritation, skin reactions, and the threat that comes from accidental swallowing. Factories that use it keep strict logs and train folks to wear gloves and goggles. My own experience handling it made me cautious, but not fearful — with common-sense care, risks go way down. Regulators in Europe and the US check companies for safe storage and disposal.
Consumer safety sticks in people’s minds, especially as more folks read labels looking for anything unfamiliar. The solution sits with better disclosure and labeling. The chemical itself isn’t the villain. Problems usually pop up from sloppy handling or lack of information. Open conversations, along with stricter checks in personal care and industrial applications, help close the gap.
Tetraethylene glycol monomethyl ether may not turn heads the way trendy consumer products do, but its fingerprints touch many corners of life. Responsible use, solid safety routines, and open conversation between companies and people using the final products make all the difference.
Anyone who has spent time around labs or industrial supply catalogs knows that long chemical names come with their fair share of confusion. Tetraethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether may not roll off the tongue, but most people just call it TEGMME to save time. Digging into the formal details, TEGMME carries the chemical formula C9H20O5. If you’re searching for it in a chemical database, the number tied to it is the CAS Number 1559-34-8. These small facts make a world of difference to workers who rely on chemicals with exact specifications for their projects or manufacturing.
My own experience has shown me that in any lab or plant, one missed letter or digit in a formula can turn a good day bad really quickly. Safety data sheets, regulatory filings, even simple orders with suppliers—all those depend on nailing down the right formula and CAS number. C9H20O5 and CAS 1559-34-8 are non-negotiable. I’ve lost count of the times a simple misunderstanding of chemical identity slowed down a shipment or brought confusion to a team. Getting to know these numbers and what they represent actually saves lives, keeps products consistent, and protects companies from expensive errors.
TEGMME isn’t some obscure lab curiosity. It has a job to do. Factories and research facilities use TEGMME as a solvent, a part of inks and dyes, and even in specialty cleaning. Anything demanding a liquid that dissolves oils but doesn’t break down plastics can use it. Unlike household cleaners, industrial solvents like this require careful handling. Splashing some around without knowing what it is won’t end well. Once, a lab I worked in learned the hard way that thinking all glycol ethers behaved the same was a mistake. Product quality got hit, leaving us to do a lot of explaining.
Chemicals like TEGMME don’t come without risks. Long hours in research have shown me that even seasoned workers can get complacent when they see the same labels day after day. Chronic exposure to glycol ethers brings health effects, mostly skin and eye irritation, sometimes worse if ventilation falls short. Companies still get fined for improper labeling, usually because someone skipped a check in the rush to finish a job. Anyone handling this chemical should pull out the Safety Data Sheet, check ventilation, and use the right gloves. These steps seem tedious, but accidents tend to happen when shortcuts get taken. I remember hearing about an incident where mislabeled barrels led to a near-fire. Proper labeling and knowing the real CAS number could have avoided it all.
All the safety protocols and regulations don’t mean much if no one knows what’s really in the drum or bottle on the shelf. One solution I’ve seen work is routine training focused on reading and understanding both chemical formulas and CAS numbers. In one facility, regular spot checks and short training sessions cut error rates in half. This is not just about compliance. Workers become more confident and even take more pride in their attention to detail when they can recite, without hesitation, that C9H20O5 and CAS 1559-34-8 refer to Tetraethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether.
Tetraethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether, often seen on safety sheets as Tetra EGME, gives off the vibe of something only scientists worry about. Truth is, lots of folks from painters and industrial workers to everyday lab techs can find themselves exposed to it, sometimes without realizing. You’ll spot it in specialty solvents, inks, and cleaning liquids that promise results where plain water or alcohol falls short. Because it doesn’t show up in grocery store cleaners, most consumers don’t see it much, but the number of people working with it is higher than you’d guess.
The clouds of mystery around chemicals like Tetra EGME usually clear up once you check some real cases. People on shop floors and research benches sometimes get sick after a bad spill or a splash on bare skin. Skin absorbs this ether pretty fast, and the vapor gets into the lungs if there’s not enough fresh air circulating. Symptoms range from headaches and nausea to tiredness and foggy thinking. After a while, liver and kidney problems start to show up, though you won’t notice these right away without medical tests. People who work around large amounts for months or years run the risk for more lasting trouble, such as changes in their blood or issues with fertility.
There’s solid data showing this compound can harm organs with regular exposure, which the International Chemical Safety Cards and NIOSH fact sheets back up. The problem comes from not always wearing gloves, goggles, or ventilation masks on the job. Too many think it's “just another solvent” and skip safety gear, especially if the boss needs things done in a hurry. The smell isn’t strong, so you might not realize how much vapor fills the air. Because of this, medical experts say managers shouldn’t wait for symptoms. Workers need routine monitoring—things like blood and urine tests once or twice a year if there’s regular contact.
Lots of companies want to move away from solvents linked to serious health problems. The truth is, replacements cost money and sometimes don’t clean as well or mix as smoothly. But there’s no shortcut here. Companies with a solid track record in health and safety look into safer solvents, upgrade ventilation, or automate jobs to keep people away from splashes and fumes.
No one likes paperwork or extra meetings about safety. But if you’ve watched a coworker head home sick or spent a night at the ER after a spill, you learn quickly how much is at stake. Solutions start with teaching everyone in the building what’s in the bottles and which ones matter most for safety. Good ventilation—open windows, working fans—and a stash of gloves and goggles do more than just tick boxes on an inspection list. They keep people out of the hospital and spare businesses from lawsuits or fines down the line. In the end, knowledge, honest conversations, and smart gear change the story for anyone working with Tetra EGME.
If you spot Tetra EGME on a label at your workplace, don’t shrug and carry on. Ask about the safety plan. Check if air is moving right, gloves fit, and goggles actually stay put. Regular training updates go a long way, especially as new folks join the team. Even small changes—like swapping out an old fan or buying better gloves—can keep problems from turning serious. Looking out for each other beats getting blindsided by a chemical most people don’t even know is in the room.
Tetraethylene glycol monomethyl ether doesn’t come up in regular conversation, but it shows up in places you might not expect—like specialty inks, cleaning agents, and even as an additive in some chemical processes. It’s a colorless liquid, smells faintly sweet, and slides easily under the radar. Yet, anyone who works with chemicals knows: even the shy ones can cause trouble if you’re not paying attention.
If you leave this solvent sitting in an open drum, it will grab moisture from the air without hesitation. I’ve seen containers develop a slick film after just a few days in a humid warehouse, so keeping lids tightly sealed matters. Choose containers made from stainless steel or tight-sealing polyethylene. Avoid aluminum and other metals because there’s always a risk of a chemical reaction sneaking in. Rusty containers don’t just look bad—they can contaminate your solvent and ruin your next batch of product.
Leaving drums in a sun-baked loading dock or chilly storeroom leads to headaches. This chemical flows better around room temperature, between 15°C and 30°C. Hotter, and you invite evaporation. Colder, and you run into pouring issues and possible changes in purity. Storage away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and frost will keep things simple. I’ve seen companies save money just by tucking their drums inside a vented shed instead of a sunroom.
Spend one shift gassing up a warehouse with poorly-ventilated chemicals, and you’ll learn why airflow matters. Vapors can irritate eyes and lungs, and nobody wants to explain that to a safety inspector. Keep rooms ventilated with a steady blow of moving air—think industrial fans, not just a window cracked open. If you’re handling larger amounts, splash goggles and gloves make sense. I’ve seen more than one person get a nasty skin rash by ignoring the basics.
Spills happen, even to careful crews. This liquid streaks across concrete quickly and seeps into low spots, leaving behind slick surfaces and possible fire risks. Mopping with sand or inert absorbent powder stops the spread. Clean-up crews need a plan and should never send runoff down the drain. Local regulations usually frown on flushing industrial solvents through basic plumbing—and hefty fines hurt more than extra time spent treating waste.
This ether holds a flash point over 100°C, so it won’t explode into flames at the drop of a match like gasoline, but it still burns. Nearby smokers, motorized tools, or sparks can start trouble if vapors build up. Fire extinguishers rated for chemical and liquid fires should stand close by. I’ve seen damage from someone assuming “high flash point” means zero fire risk, and nobody likes rebuilding after a preventable accident.
I’ve seen too many storage rooms where old drums sit, dusty and half-forgotten. Over time, labels fade and drums corrode. If you store this ether, rotate inventory—use older stock first and keep numbers in a simple spreadsheet or log. If a drum is leaking or past its shelf life, call hazardous waste services. Landfilling or pouring out is a poor patch. Safe disposal follows local rules; one bad choice can draw more attention than anyone wants.
Training matters more than fancy signs. I once worked with a new hire who stopped a major spill because he recognized the smell. Regular safety meetings, gloves within reach, and a culture that rewards quick clean-up go a long way. Hazards rarely shout—most sneak up on teams distracted by deadlines or routine. Treat chemicals like tools, stay alert, and every batch stands a better chance at moving safely from drum to shelf and beyond.
Tetraethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether, or sometimes PEG-4 methyl ether in shorthand, isn’t a name you’ll see on the ingredients of your morning cereal or shampoo, but it quietly handles tough jobs in industry and the lab. This clear, almost syrupy liquid stands out for being pretty easy to mix with all sorts of things—water, alcohols, solvents—without kicking up a fuss or separating. That simple physical trait makes a huge difference when manufacturers need something that won’t complicate a formula or stir up unpredictable reactions. Its lack of color and faint odor mean it often flies under the radar; it doesn’t draw attention to itself in a mixture or end product.
Pick up a bottle of this stuff and you’ll notice it’s denser and more viscous than water—almost like handling liquid resin. The density averages out around 1.04 grams per cubic centimeter at room temperature. Pouring it, you’ll see it resists just a little, almost like glycerin, though it flows more easily than honey. Its boiling point comes in north of 275°C, so you won’t see it feebly drifting off as fumes unless you’re really cranking up the heat. In places where things get steamy or where liquids get left out, the low evaporation rate saves headaches and mess. It also has a freezing point well below zero, which keeps it fluid in cold weather—a must in antifreeze solutions or de-icers.
The thing with Tetraethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether is how quietly it handles extremes. It doesn’t ignite easily; flash point hovers around 137°C, which means working with it feels a lot safer than with some of the more volatile solvents out there. The vapor pressure sits low, so there’s not much left hanging in the air even in a warm lab. For folks using this as a solvent or a carrier in coatings, inks, or specialty cleaners, its stability makes accidental surprises pretty rare.
This compound stands out because it stays stable—doesn’t break down or react unless really pushed. Under regular temperatures, it won’t gnaw away at your metal containers, nor does it cause problems mixing with most organic chemicals. The ether and alcohol groups in its chemical structure open the door for it to blend with polar and non-polar substances, which is often why companies pick it over more stubborn alternatives. It’s not the star of any dramatic reactions, but sometimes, that’s exactly the point.
The safety factor with Tetraethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether should not be overlooked. Compared to other solvents, it causes less irritation if it comes in contact with skin—though, as with any industrial liquid, nobody wants to splash it around for fun. Studies indicate it doesn’t produce the kinds of toxic vapors or residues that have haunted other ethers and glycols, but protective gloves and goggles help prevent surprises. There are rare reports of it breaking down into smaller, potentially harmful compounds at very high temperatures, so it pays to avoid exposing it to naked flames or excessive heat.
In my experience working alongside folks in industrial settings, substituting Tetraethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether means fewer headaches every time something needs dissolving or thinning out. Paint shops and printer ink refillers count on it to keep things consistent when the old standbys prove too risky or temperamental. I’ve seen maintenance teams pick this over faster-evaporating ethers because spills clean up easier and don’t stink up a workspace. In research labs, its reputation for predictability cuts down wasted time and accidental messes—something that anyone who’s ever had to scrub dried goo off a flask will appreciate.
Should concerns come up about waste or runoff, I’d argue a solid solution sits in smarter collection and disposal programs, especially in big facilities. Tetraethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether doesn’t pack the environmental punch some petrochemical solvents carry, but it’s still not a friend to rivers and wildlife if let loose. Stricter guidelines, clear labeling, and investing in closed-loop systems help keep both workers and neighbors out of harm’s way, so everyone benefits from this workhorse compound without facing the fallout of careless use.
| Names | |
| Preferred IUPAC name | 2-[2-[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy]ethanol |
| Other names |
2-(2-(2-Methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethanol Methyl tetraethylene glycol Tetraethylene glycol methyl ether Methyl Tetreglycol TEGME |
| Pronunciation | /ˌtɛtrəˌiːθɪˈliːn ˌɡlaɪˈkɒl ˌmɒnoʊˈmɛθɪl ˈiːθər/ |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 112-35-6 |
| Beilstein Reference | 1721397 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:44944 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL1355987 |
| ChemSpider | 6826 |
| DrugBank | DB14001 |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.119.014 |
| EC Number | EINECS: 203-924-7 |
| Gmelin Reference | 1291077 |
| KEGG | C19550 |
| MeSH | D018295 |
| PubChem CID | 8224 |
| RTECS number | KL5950000 |
| UNII | MWB0AEO36H |
| UN number | UN3082 |
| CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | DTXSID6046949 |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | C9H20O5 |
| Molar mass | 222.28 g/mol |
| Appearance | Colorless transparent liquid |
| Odor | Odorless |
| Density | 1.045 g/cm³ |
| Solubility in water | Miscible |
| log P | -0.4 |
| Vapor pressure | 0.01 mmHg (20°C) |
| Acidity (pKa) | 14.8 |
| Basicity (pKb) | 6.48 |
| Magnetic susceptibility (χ) | -64.6·10⁻⁶ cm³/mol |
| Refractive index (nD) | 1.437 |
| Viscosity | 7.7 cP (25 °C) |
| Dipole moment | 2.92 D |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | 417.11 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | -909.6 kJ/mol |
| Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) | -3164.2 kJ/mol |
| Pharmacology | |
| ATC code | D08AX06 |
| Hazards | |
| Main hazards | Harmful if swallowed. Causes serious eye irritation. Causes skin irritation. |
| GHS labelling | **"Warning; H302, H319, H335, P261, P305+P351+P338"** |
| Pictograms | GHS07 |
| Signal word | Warning |
| Hazard statements | H302, H319 |
| Precautionary statements | P261, P280, P305+P351+P338, P337+P313 |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | 1-2-0 |
| Flash point | Flash point: 143 °C (289 °F) |
| Autoignition temperature | 215°C |
| Explosive limits | Explosive limits: 1.0–13.5% |
| Lethal dose or concentration | LD50 Oral - rat - 6,650 mg/kg |
| LD50 (median dose) | LD50 (median dose): Oral-rat LD50: 6,043 mg/kg |
| NIOSH | KKJ69600 |
| PEL (Permissible) | Not established |
| REL (Recommended) | 1 ppm |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds |
Ethylene glycol Diethylene glycol Triethylene glycol Tetraethylene glycol Methoxyethanol Diethylene glycol monomethyl ether Triethylene glycol monomethyl ether |
