Summary. A mono ethylene glycol (MEG) data sheet is a list of limits, and a batch Certificate of Analysis (CoA) is the list of results for one lot. SPC holds two MEG data sheets: General grade (SPC-TDS-GLY-002, IS 5295:2023, purity 99.50 wt% min) and Fibre grade (SPC-TDS-GLY-021, IS 5295:2021, purity 99.80 wt% min). This guide explains each line, labels general chemistry as general knowledge, and gives a checklist for comparing documents. SPC is a Chennai importer and distributor, not a manufacturer.
Why read the data sheet before you order
Buyers often ask for MEG by name alone. But mono ethylene glycol (also written monoethylene glycol, CAS 107-21-1, HSN 2905 31 00) is supplied against more than one specification, and the right one depends on what the glycol goes into. A polyester line and a coolant blender do not need the same limits. Reading the document first stops you buying more specification than you need, or less. If CAS numbers and trade names are new to you, our guide to CAS numbers in chemical procurement explains why the CAS number, not the product name, is the safest identifier on a purchase order.
The figures in this guide are the ones printed on SPC's two data sheets, taken from the producer's batch Certificate of Analysis as stated on each sheet. Paragraphs marked General knowledge are textbook explanations, not SPC specifications. See the mono ethylene glycol (MEG) product page for the data sheets and the SDS.
The two grades side by side
| Parameter | Unit | General (GLY-002) | Fibre (GLY-021) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | - | IS 5295:2023 | IS 5295:2021 |
| Purity | wt % | 99.50 min | 99.80 min |
| Diethylene glycol | mg/kg | 2000 max | 800 max |
| Moisture | wt % | 0.2000 max | 0.05 max |
| Colour | Pt-Co | 10 max | 5 max |
| Acidity as acetic acid | mg/kg | 50 max | 10 max |
| Iron | mg/kg | 0.2 max | 0.1 max |
| Chloride as Cl | mg/kg | 0.2 max | 0.2 max |
| UV transmittance | % | Not listed | 220 nm 70 min; 275 nm 95 min; 350 nm 99 min |
Use the minimum printed on the data sheet for your grade (99.50 wt% General, 99.80 wt% Fibre) when you compare documents.
Reading the lines one by one
Purity
Purity is the percentage of mono ethylene glycol by weight, shown as a minimum. A higher minimum means less of everything else, but the other lines tell you which impurities are limited.
Diethylene glycol (DEG)
General knowledge: diethylene glycol forms alongside MEG during manufacture, so it is the main co-product impurity. The limit in mg/kg is 2000 for General grade and 800 for Fibre grade. For polyester it matters because DEG can end up built into the polymer; for coolant it is less critical. DEG is also an industrial-only chemical, so a glycol with unknown DEG content should never be diverted into food, drug or cosmetic use. For how laboratories screen glycols for DEG, see our guide on DEG and EG testing in glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbitol and PEG.
Moisture
MEG is hygroscopic, which means it absorbs water from air. The limit is 0.2000 wt% maximum for General grade and 0.05 wt% for Fibre grade. A closed container and a short time between opening and use protect that number.
Colour (Pt-Co)
General knowledge: Pt-Co (platinum-cobalt, also called APHA) is a scale where lower is clearer. 10 maximum and 5 maximum describe a water-white liquid, with Fibre grade held tighter.
Relative density, distillation range and appearance
Relative density at 20/20 C is 1.1140 to 1.1160 for General grade and 1.1151 to 1.1156 for Fibre grade. The distillation lines give the initial boiling point (194.0 C minimum for General, 195.5 C minimum for Fibre) and the 95% point (200.0 C maximum for General, 199.0 C maximum for Fibre). General knowledge: a narrow, in-range result is a quick sign that the lot is the right material and not diluted or contaminated. Appearance should read clear and bright, free from suspended particles.
Acidity, iron and chloride
Acidity as acetic acid is 50 mg/kg maximum (General) and 10 mg/kg maximum (Fibre). Iron is 0.2 and 0.1 mg/kg maximum. Chloride is 0.2 mg/kg maximum on both sheets. General knowledge: these are trace limits that matter where the glycol touches catalysts, metals or sensitive polymer chemistry.
Freezing point of a 1:1 water mix
Only the General grade sheet lists this: -30 C maximum for a mix of equal parts MEG and water. It is a useful check for coolant and antifreeze blending. It is a specification line, not a recommended mix ratio.
UV transmittance (Fibre grade)
The Fibre grade sheet requires at least 70% transmittance at 220 nm, 95% at 275 nm and 99% at 350 nm. General knowledge: the test measures how clear the glycol is to ultraviolet light, and it is sensitive to trace impurities that the other lines can miss. It is a polyester-relevant check.
Which lines matter for which use
| Use | Lines to watch |
|---|---|
| Polyester fibre and PET | Purity, DEG, moisture, colour, acidity, iron, UV transmittance |
| Coolant and antifreeze | Moisture, acidity, chloride, freezing point of the 1:1 mix |
| Heat-transfer fluid | Moisture, acidity, chloride, iron |
This table is guidance for reading a data sheet, not a statement about what any grade will do in your plant. Always test in your own process.
The IS 5295 year: why the two sheets cite different editions
The General grade sheet cites IS 5295:2023 and the Fibre grade sheet cites IS 5295:2021. Each citation belongs to its own sheet and its own batch values, so do not copy a standard year from one grade onto the other, and do not assume the two editions have identical limits. When a CoA arrives, read the standard and year printed on it and compare them with the sheet for the grade you ordered. If the year differs from the sheet, ask the supplier why before you accept the lot; it may be harmless, but it is a question worth asking.
How to read a CoA result against a limit
Read the direction of each limit before you read the number. Lines shown as a minimum, such as purity, fail when the result is too low. Lines shown as a maximum, such as diethylene glycol, moisture, colour, acidity, iron and chloride, fail when the result is too high. A range line, such as relative density, fails on either side. Check that the unit on the CoA matches the unit on the sheet (mg/kg is not wt %), and give extra attention to any result that sits close to its limit, because it leaves little margin if a container is opened often before use. Ask the supplier about any line that is out of limit before you accept the lot.
Sampling, storage and moisture
General knowledge: because MEG is hygroscopic, the moisture result depends on how the sample was drawn and kept as well as on the lot. A sample taken into a damp or loosely capped bottle can read higher than the tank it came from, and a container opened repeatedly will pick up water over time. Practical habits that protect the number: draw samples into clean, dry, closed containers; keep drums and IBCs closed between uses; and test on receipt against the same method named on the sheet. The SDS recommends closed containers of stainless steel, HDPE or carbon steel and advises avoiding zinc, galvanised steel and copper. If a lot passes on the CoA but fails your own receipt test, compare the sampling method and the container before concluding the material is out of specification.
TDS, CoA and producer original: a comparison checklist
The TDS gives limits. The batch Certificate of Analysis, supplied with every delivery, gives the measured result for the lot. Compare them like this:
- Match the grade and standard on the CoA to the TDS (General with IS 5295:2023, Fibre with IS 5295:2021).
- Check every result against its limit, line by line, including units.
- Confirm the batch number, test date and producer name are present and plausible.
- Where you can, compare the CoA with the producer's own original rather than a retyped copy.
- Be cautious if a certificate looks identical to an older one with only the year changed. Ask for the original.
- Check the maker named on the TDS (Reliance Industries Limited, Nagothane Mfg. Division). The maker chips on a product page do not prove the same grade for each maker.
Also read the SDS
The SDS (also searched as MSDS) gives the hazard statements H302, H332, H315, H319, H335, H336 and H373, a flash point of 111 C (closed cup), storage advice (closed containers, 5 to 35 C, avoid zinc, galvanised steel and copper) and the transport position: not regulated under ADR, IMDG or IATA. MEG is for industrial or professional use only and is not for food, pharma or cosmetic use.
How to enquire
Tell us the grade, quantity, pack, delivery location and application, and the documents you need. We will quote within 4 working hours, and a batch Certificate of Analysis is supplied with every delivery. If you buy several glycols together, our note on sourcing MEG, DEG and propylene glycol from a Chennai supplier covers what to ask. For the related glycols, see diethylene glycol (DEG), propylene glycol (PG) and glycerine, and read the propylene glycol versus ethylene glycol selection guide.