© 2026 Sinochem Nanjing Corporation,
All Right Reserved
Chemical Name: Propylene Glycol Phenyl Ether
Common Synonyms: PPh, 1-Phenoxy-2-propanol
Chemical Formula: C9H12O2
CAS Number: 770-35-4
Propylene glycol phenyl ether steps into a lot of manufacturing spaces—paints, coatings, inks, and cleaners. Looking at daily industry routines, folks barely talk about it outside of labs, but it stays active across several product lines.
Physical Hazard: Flammable liquid, though less than some solvents
Health Hazard: Can irritate eyes and skin upon direct contact. Breathing in high concentrations brings headaches, dizziness, or nausea. Repeated exposure without protection may cause dermatitis.
Environmental Hazard: Spills reach water and soil, making life harder for aquatic organisms.
Knowing these risks, nobody should underestimate how everyday mishandling builds up small but real health and safety problems, both for users and surroundings.
Main Ingredient: Propylene Glycol Phenyl Ether, typically over 99% purity in industrial grades.
No major impurities usually documented, though trace byproducts from synthesis might tag along. Keeping the composition this simple brings a bit of relief for those tracking contaminants.
Inhalation: Remove person to fresh air at the first sign of trouble. Coughing or feeling foggy? Rest outside and get medical help if symptoms linger.
Skin Contact: Wash off with plenty of water and soap. Don't scrub if skin gets red—gentle rinsing keeps things from getting worse.
Eye Contact: Rinse with water for several minutes. Blink frequently to fully clear out traces. Vision still blurry or painful after? Seek a doctor.
Ingestion: Don't try to vomit unless a healthcare professional insists. Rinse mouth, drink a little water, and get checked by medical staff.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use dry chemical, CO2, foam, or water spray. Small fires might go out quickly, but always have extinguishers nearby because most organic solvents catch flame rapidly.
Special Risks: Burning can generate smoke rich in carbon monoxide or other unidentified gases. Closed spaces turn into hazards if smoke builds.
Protection for Firefighters: Wear full protective gear and self-contained breathing apparatus. Fire brings more than heat—these vapors are nothing to inhale unprotected.
Personal Precautions: Get people out of the spill zone if they're not handling it. Gloves, goggles, and good airflow protect responders.
Environmental Precautions: Block discharge to sewers and drains to keep it from water supplies.
Cleanup: Soak up small spills with non-reactive absorbent like sand or vermiculite. Collect and dispose using sealable, labeled containers—avoid flammable waste mixing.
Handling: Use only in places with solid ventilation. Open containers slowly, watch for splashes, and wear PPE even if the job "just takes a second." Experiencing a skin tingle or smell means time to step up controls.
Storage: Keep drums or bottles tightly closed, store in dry, cool spots. Choose spots with no fire sources or direct sunlight. Separate from acids and oxidizers to avoid surprise reactions that nobody wants to see.
Engineering Controls: Local exhaust or general ventilation lowers air concentrations.
Personal Protective Equipment: Gloves made of nitrile or neoprene, splash goggles, long sleeves, and protective shoes protect against splashes and vapors. Respiratory protection helps in cramped or poorly ventilated areas. Workers skipping these basics bet against safety odds and put everyone at risk.
Occupational Exposure Limits: Not specifically set in every country, but smart workplaces review threshold values for similar ethers and solvents to guide protocols.
Appearance: Clear, colorless to pale yellow liquid
Odor: Mild, slightly sweet and aromatic
Boiling Point: About 240°C
Melting Point: Roughly -30°C
Vapor Pressure: Low at room temperature
Solubility: Mixes well with water and organic solvents
Density: About 1.05 g/cm³
Properties rely on the structure—aromatic ring with glycol ether results in a mix of volatility and water solubility that makes handling in open spaces something to plan carefully around.
Chemical Stability: Stays stable under recommended storage and handling, but heat and light slowly speed up decomposition.
Reactivity: Reacts with strong acids, bases, and oxidizing agents. Mixing accidents sometimes show up in both labs and storage spaces, reminding that inattentive handling can turn a stable liquid into a spill event.
Decomposition Products: Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and possibly phenolic fumes form at high temperatures.
Acute Effects: Breathing vapors in high amounts brings headaches and queasiness; direct skin or eye exposure may cause irritation.
Chronic Effects: Repeated skin contact links to dryness or cracking.
Ingestion Toxicity: Not acutely toxic at low doses, but drinking any solvent is a recipe for gastrointestinal distress.
Sensitization: Not strongly associated with allergy, but caution pays off—each body reacts differently.
Toxicology testing does not paint this chemical as one of the "bad actors," but that’s no reason for carelessness.
Aquatic Toxicity: Hazardous to fish and aquatic organisms if concentrations get high.
Persistence and Degradability: Will biodegrade with time, but not instantly—so spilled solvent loiters in soils and waterways.
Bioaccumulation: Low likelihood
Knowing these environmental footprints helps companies set up spill plans that focus on actual threats to rivers, not just factory floors.
Waste Disposal: Gather used or spilled materials into labeled, sealed containers for transport. Avoid pouring leftovers down any drain or mixing with household trash.
Recycling: Solvent recovery systems sometimes reclaim cleaner fractions for reuse, keeping costs and waste down.
Regulations: Local waste treatment advises on classification and safe destruction routes—incineration remains a common final step for consistent, safe disposal.
UN Number: Solvents like propylene glycol phenyl ether often fall under combustible liquid transport codes, depending on flammability ratings of each batch.
Packing Group: Assignment depends on regulatory classification and product grade.
Transport Hazards: Ensure containers seal tightly, keep upright, and segregate from acids, oxidizers, and incompatible chemicals.
Logistics teams must prep for leaks and keep emergency kits ready, since spills on roadways or rail can quickly expand from minor headache to community-level hazard.
Chemical Regulations: Most places require hazard labeling and safety data sheets at points of sale and handling.
Exposure Limits: Monitored at workplace level using internal or government-recommended limits.
Environmental Rules: Spills and disposal face control under regional pollution laws—especially where rivers, lakes, or municipal treatment plants are nearby.
Each rule builds on accidents and scientific findings; those rules push companies toward lower risks, better training, and smarter storage.
