Product Name: Triethylene Glycol Ethyl Ether
Synonyms: Ethoxytriethylene glycol; TEGEE
CAS Number: 112-50-5
Recommended Use: Solvent in coatings, inks, cleaning fluids, and chemical manufacturing
Manufacturer: Chemical manufacturers and distributors who focus on specialty solvents typically carry this.
Contact Information: For emergencies, reliable points of contact are available on the shipping container or supplier documentation.
Classification: Not classified as an immediate health hazard. Hazard for eyes and skin irritation determined with prolonged or repeated contact.
Signal Word: Warning
Hazard Statements: Causes mild skin and eye irritation, heavy inhalation may lead to headache or dizziness, ingestion can affect gastrointestinal tract.
Pictogram: Exclamation mark
Precautionary Statements: Avoid breathing vapors. Use personal protective equipment for skin and eye. Wash thoroughly after handling. Do not eat, drink, or smoke during use.
Emergency Overview: Clear, odorless to slightly sweet liquid that produces few acute hazards, but prolonged exposure increases risk.
Chemical Name: Triethylene Glycol Ethyl Ether
CAS Number: 112-50-5
EC Number: 203-978-9
Concentration: 100% (commercial, not blended); commercial preparations may have water or other ethylene glycol ethers as impurities in trace amounts.
Inhalation: Move person to fresh air. Keep comfortable for breathing. Seek medical attention if symptoms persist or worsen, especially dizziness or nausea.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing. Rinse skin thoroughly with water and non-abrasive soap. Medical assessment required if irritation or rash continues.
Eye Contact: Rinse carefully with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do, continue rinsing. If irritation continues, consult medical help.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth gently, sip water if conscious, avoid inducing vomiting. Immediate professional medical advice needed for larger amounts ingested.
Most Important Symptoms: Irritation to eyes, mild redness or dryness to skin, possible headache or nausea if overexposed to vapors.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Water spray, foam, dry chemical, carbon dioxide. Selection based on immediate fire environment.
Specific Hazards: Vapors heavier than air, but product is mildly combustible. Thermal decomposition above 200°C produces acrid smoke and possibly carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.
Advice for Firefighters: Wear full protective clothing and positive-pressure, self-contained breathing apparatus. Cool containers with water to prevent rupture.
Unusual Fire Hazards: Containers may rupture under extreme heat. Vapors may travel along surfaces to distant ignition sources.
Personal Precautions: Use gloves, goggles, and chemical-resistant footwear. Ensure ventilation.
Environmental Precautions: Prevent from entering drains, surface water, and soil. Not classified as highly hazardous, but large spills can cause localized harm.
Containment: Absorb with sand, earth, or inert absorbent. Collect with non-sparking tools.
Clean-Up Methods: Place collected material in appropriate waste containers. Decontaminate spill zone with water and detergent.
Handling: Wear appropriate PPE, avoid contact with skin and eyes, do not inhale vapors or mist. Practice regular handwashing.
Storage: Store tightly closed in dry, well-ventilated areas away from direct sunlight and strong oxidizers. Store at ambient temperature, keep away from food and drink.
Incompatibilities: Strong acids, bases, and oxidizing agents. Segregate from incompatible materials to avoid hazardous reactions.
Special Precautions: Use spill trays, maintain good housekeeping, label containers accurately.
Permissible Exposure Limits: No specific OSHA or ACGIH exposure limit; use general ventilation and personal judgement.
Engineering Controls: Local exhaust ventilation in enclosed areas. Use splash guards and closed process systems.
Personal Protective Equipment: Chemical-resistant gloves, safety goggles, protective apron. Respiratory protection if ventilation is not adequate.
Hygiene Measures: Do not eat, drink, or smoke during use. Wash hands and arms thoroughly after handling.
Appearance: Clear, colorless, viscous liquid
Odor: Slight, sweet odor
Odor Threshold: Not determined
pH: Not applicable for pure material
Melting/Freezing Point: Approximately -12°C
Boiling Point: About 285°C
Flash Point: 143°C (closed cup)
Evaporation Rate: Slower than water
Flammability: Not considered highly flammable
Vapor Pressure: Low (less than 0.01 kPa at 20°C)
Vapor Density: Heavier than air
Relative Density: 1.06 (water = 1)
Solubility: Miscible with water and most organic solvents
Partition coefficient (n-octanol/water): Log Kow approximately -1.56
Auto-ignition Temperature: Approximately 345°C
Decomposition Temperature: Above 300°C
Viscosity: Moderate (81 mPa·s at 20°C)
Chemical Stability: Stable under normal storage and handling conditions.
Reactivity: Low reactivity with most materials under ambient conditions.
Hazardous Reactions: May react with strong oxidizing agents and acids, possible fire in extreme cases.
Conditions to Avoid: Excess heat, open flames, incompatible materials.
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, potentially irritating smoke.
Acute Toxicity: Low oral and dermal toxicity. LD50 (oral, rat) > 4000 mg/kg.
Skin Corrosion/Irritation: Mild, usually reversible irritation; longer contact may cause dryness.
Serious Eye Damage/Irritation: Mild, may cause sting and redness.
Respiratory or Skin Sensitization: Not classified as a sensitizer.
Chronic Effects: Limited data, but large repeated exposures not recommended. No evidence for mutagenic or carcinogenic activity.
Target Organs: Prolonged inhalation or ingestion in large amounts might impact the liver or kidneys.
Other Effects: No reports of reproductive toxicity in standard animal studies.
Ecotoxicity: Low toxicity to aquatic organisms. LC50 (fish, 96 hr) > 10,000 mg/L.
Persistence and Degradability: Readily biodegradable by standard laboratory protocol, but large spills may cause mild oxygen depletion.
Bioaccumulation Potential: Log Kow suggests low bioaccumulative risk.
Mobility in Soil: High mobility, readily dissolves in water and runs with groundwater movement.
Other Adverse Effects: No toxic breakdown products under typical conditions. In high concentrations, can affect biological treatment in wastewater utilities.
Waste Treatment Methods: Dispose of product and contaminated packaging according to national or local regulations for chemical waste.
Contaminated Packaging: Rinse thoroughly before recycling if permitted or treat as hazardous waste.
Other Disposal Recommendations: Never pour into domestic sewage, bodies of water, or landfill landfill without treatment.
UN Number: Not regulated as hazardous under UN Model Regulations.
Shipping Name: Triethylene Glycol Ethyl Ether
Class: Not assigned a dangerous goods class
Packing Group: Not assigned
Environmental Hazards: Not a marine pollutant
Special Precautions for Transport: Prevent container damage and leaks, secure upright on vehicles.
OSHA Status: Not listed as a hazardous chemical.
TSCA Inventory: Listed
REACH Status (EU): Pre-registered, refer to local guidelines for volume thresholds
Canadian DSL: Listed
SARA Title III: Not subject to reporting for emergency planning
Other Regulations: Evaluate local regulations, such as workplace exposure controls and waste handling rules.
