Alcohols
DETAIL
Medical uses
Main articles: Macrogol and PEGylation
PEG is the basis of a number of laxatives (as MiraLax). Whole bowel irrigation with polyethylene glycol and added electrolytes is used for bowel preparation before surgery or colonoscopy.
PEG is also used as an excipient in many pharmaceutical products.
PEG used in medicines for treating disimpaction and maintenance therapy for children with constipation.
PEG is often used (as an internal calibration compound) in mass spectrometry experiments, with its characteristic fragmentation pattern allowing accurate and reproducible tuning.
PEG derivatives, such as narrow range ethoxylates, are used as surfactants.
PEG has been used as the hydrophilic block of amphiphilic block copolymers used to create some polymersomes.
PEG has also been used as a propellent on the UGM-133M Trident II Missile, in service with the United States
Biological uses
PEG can be modified and crosslinked into a hydrogel and used to mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) environment for cell encapsulation and studies.
Commercial uses
PEG is the basis of many skin creams (as cetomacrogol) and personal lubricants (frequently combined with glycerin).
PEG is used in a number of toothpastes as a dispersant. In this application, it binds water and helps keep xanthan gum uniformly distributed throughout the toothpaste.
PEG is also under investigation for use in body armor, and in tattoos to monitor diabetes.
In low-molecular-weight formulations (e.g. PEG 400), it is used in Hewlett-Packard designjet printers as an ink solvent and lubricant for the print heads.
PEG is also used as an anti-foaming agent in food and drinks– its INS number is 152 or E1521 in the EU.
Industrial uses
A nitrate ester-plasticized polyethylene glycol (NEPE-75) is used in Trident II submarine-launched ballistic missile solid rocket fuel.
Dimethyl ethers of PEG are the key ingredient of Selexol, a solvent used by coal-burning, integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plants to remove carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide from the syngas stream.
PEG has been used as the gate insulator in an electric double-layer transistor to induce superconductivity in an insulator.
PEG is also used as a polymer host for solid polymer electrolytes. Although not yet in commercial production, many groups around the globe are engaged in research on solid polymer electrolytes involving PEG, with the aim of improving their properties, and in permitting their use in batteries, electro-chromic display systems, and other products in the future.
PEG is injected into industrial processes to reduce foaming in separation equipment.
PEG is used as a binder in the preparation of technical ceramics.
Recreational uses
PEG is used to extend the size and durability of very large soap bubbles.
PEG is the main ingredient in many personal lubricants. (Not to be confused with propylene glycol.)
PEG is the main ingredient in the paint (known as "fill") in paintballs.