2-Ethoxyethanol

Description

2-Ethoxyethanol is a stable, colorless, flammable liquid, synthetically produced throughout the world. It belongs to a larger group of glycol ether solvents. 2-Ethoxyethanol is commercially referred to as Ethyl Cellosolve or Cellosolve, a trademark registered by Union Carbide in 1924. It was first synthesized to have the same chemical properties of both alcohols and ethers (hydrophilic and lipophilic) but less volatile, which improves production characteristics. The glycol ethers are made by reacting anhydrous alcohols with ethylene oxide.

The Uses of 2-Ethoxyethanol

2-Ethoxyethanol is widely used as an industrial solvent and production intermediate. It is produced by the reaction of ethylene oxide with ethanol. The glycol ethers are miscible in polar and nonpolar solutions, which make them useful solvents in paints and surface coatings, stains, lacquers, inks, and dyes. Additional uses include industrial deicing, hydraulic fluids, and cleaning agents. 2-Ethoxyethanol was once used in cosmetic products but is no longer used due to toxicity associated with dermal absorption. Global production has been on the decline in recent years based on demonstrated toxicity through oral, dermal, and inhalation routes of exposure. The use of ethylene glycol ethers has largely been replaced by relatively safer substitutes, primarily propylene glycol ethers; however, their use as a solvent and chemical process intermediate poses potential for release into the environment.