Mono Propylene Glycol
The versatile three-carbon glycol supplied by Chelora Chemicals — used across unsaturated polyester resins, polyurethanes, de-icing fluids and food/pharma-grade humectant applications — exported from Indonesia as bulk liquid with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What Mono Propylene Glycol is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the compound's chemistry, its unusually wide spread of industrial and consumer-grade applications, and the grades Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
Mono Propylene Glycol is the simplest, most widely used member of the propylene glycol family: a three-carbon chain carrying a hydroxyl group on both the first and second carbon. Those two hydroxyls give it the esterification and hydrogen-bonding chemistry common to all glycols, while its low acute toxicity and favourable taste and skin-contact profile — markedly better than ethylene glycol's — are what open it up to food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic uses that most industrial glycols cannot reach.
At room temperature it is a colourless, odourless, viscous, hygroscopic liquid with a faintly sweet taste, fully miscible with water, acetone and chloroform. It is non-volatile and practically non-flammable under normal ambient handling given its comparatively high flash point.
Where it fits in the value chain
Mono Propylene Glycol's largest industrial uses are as a co-monomer glycol in unsaturated polyester resin manufacture and as a polyol raw material for polyurethane foam and elastomer systems. It is the principal active ingredient in aircraft and runway de-icing/anti-icing fluids, valued for its effective freezing-point depression and lower toxicity and environmental profile relative to ethylene-glycol-based fluids. In its purified, food/pharmaceutical/cosmetic grade it serves as a humectant, solvent and carrier in processed foods, oral and topical pharmaceutical formulations, personal care products and e-liquid bases, and as a less-toxic antifreeze and heat-transfer fluid component where incidental contact or ingestion risk matters.
Grade we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers Mono Propylene Glycol in industrial grade (99.5%+ purity) as standard, with USP/food/pharmaceutical grade available on request for buyers whose application requires it. Each grade is supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis appropriate to its intended use.
How Mono Propylene Glycol is made
An overview of the production route for orientation purposes. Our manufacturing partners' own process parameters and in-process controls are proprietary and are not disclosed beyond what is needed to interpret the certificate of analysis.
Mono Propylene Glycol is manufactured by the hydration of propylene oxide with water: C₃H₆O + H₂O → CH₃CH(OH)CH₂OH. The reaction can be run non-catalytically at high temperature and pressure with a large excess of water to favour the mono-adduct, or catalytically under milder conditions using an acid or base catalyst, which improves selectivity toward monopropylene glycol and allows a lower water-to-PO ratio to be used.
The crude reaction product is a mixture of mono-, di- and tripropylene glycol together with unreacted water, which is removed by evaporation before the glycol mixture is separated by vacuum fractional distillation into its component products. Food and pharmaceutical-grade material undergoes further purification and quality control to meet the relevant pharmacopoeia or food-additive specification.
Industries and processes that use it
Mono Propylene Glycol is consumed across an unusually broad span of industries, from polyester resins and de-icing fluids to food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations. The fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.
Unsaturated Polyester Resin & Polyurethane
A co-monomer glycol in UPR manufacture and a polyol raw material for polyurethane foam and elastomer systems.
Aircraft & Runway De-Icing Fluids
The principal active ingredient in propylene-glycol-based de-icing and anti-icing fluids, valued for effective freezing-point depression with a favourable toxicity and environmental profile.
Food, Pharma & Cosmetic Formulations
A humectant, solvent and carrier in processed foods, oral and topical pharmaceutical products, personal care formulations and e-liquid bases, in its purified food/pharma grade.
Heat Transfer & Low-Toxicity Antifreeze
Used as a less-toxic alternative to ethylene glycol in heat-transfer fluids and antifreeze formulations where incidental contact or ingestion risk is a concern.
How the molecule is typically carried forward
The two hydroxyl groups and the molecule's favourable safety profile govern almost all of this molecule's further reaction chemistry and end-use selection. Reaction classes below account for most of the ways Mono Propylene Glycol is converted or applied.
Esterification
Each hydroxyl reacts with a diacid or anhydride to build ester linkages, contributing to the backbone of unsaturated polyester resins.
Polyurethane Chain Building
The two hydroxyls react with isocyanate groups to build urethane linkages in certain polyol and elastomer formulations.
Freezing-Point Depression (Physical)
In de-icing and antifreeze fluids the glycol lowers the freezing point of the water it is blended with through simple colligative freezing-point depression, a physical rather than chemical mechanism.
Formulation as Humectant / Carrier
In food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products the glycol's own hygroscopicity and solvency are used directly, without further chemical reaction, to retain moisture and carry active ingredients.
Mono Propylene Glycol against related glycols and the epoxide it comes from
Buyers sourcing MPG for resin, de-icing or formulation chemistry often need the parent epoxide or a related glycol with different performance characteristics. A quick reference to what else is on our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mono Propylene Glycol | 57-55-6 | C3 glycol | The product on this page — a versatile glycol spanning industrial resin chemistry and food/pharma-grade formulation. |
| Propylene Oxide | 75-56-9 | Alkylene oxide | The epoxide this glycol is hydrolysed from — see its product page. |
| Diethylene Glycol | 111-46-6 | Ether diol (C2 glycol dimer) | A related glycol from the analogous ethylene oxide hydration chemistry — see its product page. |
| Triethylene Glycol | 112-27-6 | Ether diol (C2 glycol trimer) | A related, higher-boiling glycol and the standard natural-gas dehydration fluid — see its product page. |
Exact physical constants and purity specifications are confirmed per batch on the certificate of analysis — treat the notes above as a sourcing guide, not a specification sheet, for products other than Mono Propylene Glycol.
Safety classification at a glance
Based on GHS classification as commonly listed for this substance. This is a summary for orientation only — always work from the current safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch.
Not classified as hazardous under GHS for most standard end points in its industrial-grade form.
May cause mild eye irritation on direct or prolonged concentrated contact.
Combustible at elevated temperature only; high flash point under normal ambient handling.
Food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic-grade material meets the relevant pharmacopoeia or food-additive purity specification; industrial grade should not be substituted for these uses.
Standard chemical-handling gloves and safety glasses are sufficient for routine industrial handling.
Hygroscopic; keep containers closed to maintain assay and water-content specification.
Generally handled as a low-hazard material; refer to the batch MSDS for the specific grade supplied.
This compound has a notably favourable safety profile relative to most industrial glycols and is widely used in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications in its purified grade. Industrial-grade material should not be substituted into food, drug or cosmetic applications without confirming it meets the relevant purity specification; routine industrial handling calls for standard gloves and eye protection. Full first-aid, storage, spill and PPE guidance for the specific grade supplied is in the MSDS issued with every shipment, and should be read in full before this material is handled.
Keeping it on spec between delivery and use
General storage guidance for this grade. Site-specific storage rules, segregation requirements and re-test intervals should follow your own EHS procedures and the MSDS issued with your batch.
Store in tightly closed containers in a dry, ambient-temperature area, away from strong oxidising agents. Food and pharmaceutical-grade material should be stored and handled under dedicated, food-safe conditions separate from industrial-grade stock to avoid cross-contamination. Re-check assay and water content on a batch held past its retest date before use.
How it ships from Indonesia
Standard packing and export terms for this product. Confirm exact figures against your order — they vary slightly by destination and quantity.
What travels with every batch
Specification is agreed before the purchase order, not discovered on arrival. Every shipment of Mono Propylene Glycol leaves with a documented, checkable paper trail.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-wise assay, colour and key physical constants, issued against the agreed specification so your QC team can check it, not just file it.
Safety Data Sheet
GHS-format SDS in English covering hazard classification, handling, storage, first-aid and spill response for the exact grade shipped.
Technical Data Sheet
Reference physical and chemical properties, recommended storage and typical applications, for internal circulation to your process or R&D teams.
Certificate of Origin
Confirms Indonesian origin for customs clearance and any preferential-duty claim at your destination port.
Dangerous Goods Declaration
UN packing group, classification and shipper's declaration prepared ahead of loading so documentation never holds up customs.
Third-Party Inspection
Independent pre-shipment inspection and re-sampling can be arranged on request, at your cost, for buyers who require it as a matter of policy.
Frequently asked questions
What buyers most often ask our sales desk about this grade.
01What is Mono Propylene Glycol used for?+
02What is the CAS number of Mono Propylene Glycol?+
03How is Mono Propylene Glycol made?+
04What grades does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
05Is Mono Propylene Glycol hazardous?+
06Why can propylene glycol be used in food and medicines when most industrial glycols cannot?+
07What packing options are available?+
08How long does delivery take?+
09Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
10Do you supply the parent epoxide and related glycols as well?+
Need Mono Propylene Glycol on spec, on time?
Send us your required purity (industrial or USP/food grade), quantity, packing preference and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.