Mono ethylene glycol is an organic compound with the formula CH2OHCH2OH. It is a colorless, odorless, sweet and syrupy liquid. It is miscible with various organic solvents such as water, alcohol, ether and chloroform. Approximately 1.5 million tons are produced annually.

Mono ethylene glycol is used in many fields in industry and daily life. Mono ethylene glycol is polymerized or esterified to produce various ethylene glycol derivatives. These derivatives are used in glass, ceramics, soap, fertilizer, fertilizer, paint, textile, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, adhesives, sealants, water treatment and other industries.

The chemical and physical properties of mono ethylene glycol are as follows:

• Its molecular weight is 62.07 g/mol.
• Its melting point is -12.9 °C.
• Its boiling point is 197 °C.
• Its density is 1.11 g/mL.
• Solubility is high in water and alcohol, medium in ether, low in chloroform².
• pKa value is 14.5.

Production methods of mono ethylene glycol are as follows:

• Ethylene oxide hydrolysis method: This is the most common production method of mono ethylene glycol. Ethylene oxide (EO) is hydrolyzed with water under pressure to produce mono ethylene glycol. This reaction can be accelerated with acid or base catalysts. This method also produces by-products such as diethylene glycol and triethylene glycol.
• Oxidative carbonylation method: This is an alternative production method of mono ethylene glycol. Mono ethylene glycol is produced by the reaction of ethylene with carbon monoxide and oxygen. This reaction is carried out with metal catalysts such as palladium or rhodium. Water is also produced in this method.

Uses of mono ethylene glycol include:

• As antifreeze Mono ethylene glycol is the main component of antifreeze formulations. It is used as a heat transfer medium in automobile, computer and cooling systems. Mixed with water, it lowers the freezing point and raises the boiling point. It also helps prevent corrosion.
• For polyester fiber production: Mono ethylene glycol is an important raw material for polyester fiber production. It is esterified with terephthalic acid or dimethyl terephthalate to produce polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PET is then melted or crystallized into polyester fibers.
• For the plastics industry: Mono ethylene glycol is also used in the plastics industry. It is used to make polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles. Mono ethylene glycol is also used to make polyurethane foams.
• For natural gas plants: Mono ethylene glycol is also used in natural gas plants. Mono ethylene glycol is used for drying and cleaning natural gas. Mono ethylene glycol is also used to prevent icing in natural gas pipelines.
• For the tanning and pharmaceutical industry: Mono ethylene glycol is also used in the tanning and pharmaceutical industries. In leather tanning, mono ethylene glycol is used to soften and protect leather. In the pharmaceutical industry, mono ethylene glycol is used to coat tablets and increase their solubility.