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Chemical Name: Dipropylene Glycol Methyl Ether
Common Synonyms: DPGME
CAS Number: 34590-94-8
Physical State: Clear, colorless liquid with a mild, pleasant odor
Uses: Professional workers handle DPGME throughout paint shops, print rooms, and industrial cleaning operations. Solvent roles keep DPGME busy in adhesives and inks.
GHS Classification: Irritating to eyes
Label Elements: Common hazard pictogram includes the exclamation mark symbol, which warns about mild irritation
Key Risks: Liquid can sting the eyes on contact, and extended skin contact sometimes leads to dryness. Inhalation of high vapor at workstations with poor ventilation gives headaches or dizziness.
Main Ingredient: Dipropylene Glycol Methyl Ether, >95% by weight
Impurities: Minimal; key concern usually comes from process-derived trace impurities
Formulation Additives: Industrial grades sometimes carry low levels of stabilizers, but labeling should clarify.
Eye Contact: Rinse immediately with plenty of clean water; keep eyelids apart and rinse steadily. Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do.
Skin Contact: Washing with plenty of soap and water removes nearly all traces. Dry cracks show up faster in people with sensitive skin, which means hand washing right after exposure really matters.
Inhalation: Move into fresh air, as DPGME’s vapors take the punch out of anyone who inhales too much.
Ingestion: Drink a glass of water if accidentally swallowed, but don’t force vomiting. Medical attention should follow any larger-scale exposure.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Water spray, carbon dioxide, foam, or dry chemical
Hazardous Combustion Products: Burning DPGME produces carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide
Firefighting Guidance: Wear self-contained breathing apparatus and turn up full protective gear. Closed containers in a fire might rupture so keeping hoses handy becomes necessary. Firefighters avoid breathing in any fumes that drift off the chemical.
Personal Precautions: Keep workers away from spills unless they’re wearing gloves and safety glasses.
Containment: Soak up small spills with sand or inert absorbents. Larger leaks soak through floor drains fast, so industrial sites keep spill kits close.
Cleanup: Use non-sparking tools to collect and transfer liquid into disposal drums. Residue gets rinsed with plenty of water.
Safe Handling: Only open containers in well-ventilated areas. Splashing on skin or direct eye contact does damage, so standard gloves and goggles go a long way toward preventing accidents.
Storage Advice: Store in tightly closed containers inside well-ventilated, cool spaces away from sources of ignition and strong oxidizing agents. Flammable liquids cabinets make sense at work sites with containers above a few liters.
Engineering Controls: Local exhaust or ventilation systems keep vapor levels below recommended limits. Many shops add room fans to shield workers during big cleanup jobs.
Protective Equipment: Nitrile gloves resist solvent action, and chemical goggles spare the eyes from splashes. Aprons and good closed-toed shoes limit skin exposure.
Occupational Limits: Most recommend keeping exposure below 100 ppm for an 8-hour day, with careful monitoring when using DPGME at warmer temperatures or for long periods.
Appearance: Clear, colorless liquid
Odor: Soft, faintly sweet aroma
Boiling Point: Around 190°C
Melting Point: Below -80°C
Flash Point: Roughly 75°C (closed cup)
Vapor Pressure: Low at room temperature
Solubility: Miscible with water and most organic solvents
Density: About 0.95 g/cm³ at 20°C
Chemical Stability: Stays stable under normal temperature and pressure when handled properly
Reactivity: Reacts with strong acids, strong bases, and strong oxidizers; sudden temperature changes or contact with incompatible substances creates pressure or rupture hazards
Hazardous Decomposition: Burning or overheating makes carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and possibly irritating aldehydes
Acute Toxicity: DPGME’s low acute toxicity makes accidental contact less threatening than with stronger solvents, though breathing high concentrations can affect the central nervous system. Workers get headaches or slight nausea if exposed too long.
Chronic Effects: Extended exposure dries out the skin, sometimes causing dermatitis.
Sensitization: Allergic reactions remain rare; irritation more likely stems from physical, rather than immune, response.
Aquatic Toxicity: DPGME rarely accumulates in aquatic environments—the substance has low toxicity to fish and other wildlife. But large-scale releases increase oxygen demand, putting routine water quality checks high on any industrial lab’s list.
Degradation: Readily biodegradable, which means nature breaks it down faster than many older solvents.
Bioaccumulation: Unlikely, given the substance’s chemical profile.
Small Quantities: Can be sent to licensed chemical waste facilities. Never pour into the drain or onto ground surfaces.
Large Quantities: Much safer to transfer to special hazardous waste drum programs managed through municipal or industrial waste processing facilities.
Incineration: Facilities equipped to handle organic solvents can burn waste DPGME under controlled conditions, minimizing off-gassing or residue.
Shipping Name: Dipropylene Glycol Methyl Ether
Packing Groups: Not classified as a dangerous good for most national or international transport regulations
Transport Precautions: Secure containers upright, out of direct sunlight, keep well away from food and feedstuff. Avoid stacking heavier containers on top, since leaks typically start at crushed closures.
Workplace Controls: Nationally enforced occupational exposure limits exist in many jurisdictions. Some regulators set a ceiling on how much can be used by air volume, especially in closed workspaces.
Labeling Standards: Many regions demand hazard warnings on workplace containers. GHS or local hazard symbols highlight the importance of eye protection and proper ventilation.
Reporting Requirements: Large spills in some countries kick off reporting obligations, so experienced EH&S teams keep emergency procedures visible and up to date.
