What is the Difference Between Ethylene and Propylene Glycol?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Ethylene glycol and propylene glycol are two types of glycols with different properties and uses. The main differences between them include:
- Toxicity: Ethylene glycol is toxic, while propylene glycol is not. This distinction allows propylene glycol to be used as a food-grade antifreeze, making it suitable for applications where human or environmental contact is expected.
- Physical Properties: Propylene glycol solutions have a higher viscosity and a higher freezing point than ethylene glycol solutions. This makes ethylene glycol more thermally efficient, especially at lower temperatures. For example, a 50% propylene glycol solution freezes at -31°F, while a 50% ethylene glycol solution freezes at -36°F.
- Cost: Propylene glycol is generally more expensive than ethylene glycol.
- Applications: Ethylene glycol is commonly used in applications where efficiency is important and there is no human contact, such as ice rinks, plastic molding, and in-line heaters. It is also the predominant fluid used for automotive antifreeze formulations. Propylene glycol, on the other hand, is used in food and pharmaceutical applications, as well as in HVAC systems, solar thermal heat transfer, and other process cooling and heating applications.
- Environmental Impact: Propylene glycol is considered more environmentally friendly than ethylene glycol because it is biodegradable and can be derived from renewable plant sources.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Ethylene and Propylene Glycol? Comparative Table: Ethylene vs Propylene Glycol
Comparative Table: Ethylene vs Propylene Glycol
Ethylene glycol and propylene glycol are both used as antifreeze, but they have some differences in their properties and applications. Here is a table comparing their key characteristics:
Property | Ethylene Glycol | Propylene Glycol |
---|---|---|
Freeze point depression | More effective | Less effective |
Heat transfer efficiency/capability | Better | Lower |
Viscosity | Lower | Higher |
Flammability | Low | Low |
Chemical oxygen demand | Low | Higher |
Biodegrading | Degraded in 10-30 days | Needs more than 20-30 days to degrade |
Toxic | High level of acute when taken orally, targets the kidneys | Lower level of acute, not recommended for use in drinking water or food processing systems |
Skin irritant | Low | Low |
Ethylene glycol has superior heat transfer properties due to its lower viscosity, making it more effective in freeze point depression. However, it is toxic and should not be used in any drinking water or food processing systems. Propylene glycol is less toxic than ethylene glycol and is often used in aircraft de-icing and other applications where human or environmental exposure is a concern.
Read more:
- Polyethylene Glycol vs Propylene Glycol
- Ethylene Glycol vs Polyethylene Glycol
- Dipropylene Glycol vs Propylene Glycol
- Butylene Glycol vs Propylene Glycol
- Ethylene Glycol vs Glycerol
- Propylene Glycol vs Glycerin
- Ethylene Glycol vs Diethylene Glycol
- Isopropyl vs Ethanol
- Ethyl Alcohol vs Isopropyl Alcohol
- Ethylene vs Ethylidene
- Acetylene vs Ethylene
- Ethanol vs Propanol
- Polyethylene vs Polypropylene
- Ethyl Alcohol vs Ethanol
- Ethanol vs Isopropanol
- Ethane vs Ethanol
- Ethrel vs Ethephon
- Ethyl vs Methyl
- Ethanal vs Propanal