Summary. Checking a PGME (methoxy propanol) delivery is mostly about bases and directions. Purity and the 2-methoxy-1-propanol (beta) isomer limit are percent by volume (v/v); moisture and acidity are percent by weight (w/w). Min limits fail below, max limits fail above, and ranges fail on either side. Reconcile the batch certificate of analysis with the TDS by parameter name, unit and basis, never by position.
Most buyers meet PGME as one line on a purchase order: Methoxy Propanol, 1-methoxy-2-propanol, CAS 107-98-2. The questions come later, from the stores team that receives the drums and the lab that checks the batch. This guide is the receiving-side companion to the Methoxy Propanol (PGME) product page, which holds the full specification, grade, HSN and documents, and explains the units and the beta-isomer limit in more detail. If you are still choosing between glycol ethers, start with our glycol ether selection comparison.
Receiving checklist for a drum delivery
- Match the product name, CAS 107-98-2 and the batch number on the drum labels to the batch certificate of analysis.
- Confirm the pack: MS drum, 190 kg net.
- Go through every parameter on the certificate against the TDS, matching unit and basis, and note the min or max direction.
- Look at the liquid: clear, colourless to pale yellow, no haze or particles.
- Store in a cool, well-ventilated place away from heat and sparks, in tightly closed containers, bonded and grounded on transfer, away from strong oxidisers, concentrated acids and halogens, and segregated from food, drink and animal feed.
PGME is a flammable liquid (Flam. Liq. 3, H226), harmful if inhaled (H332) and an eye irritant (H319); read the full Safety Data Sheet before handling. For the transport entry, see section 14 of the SDS and confirm it with your carrier.
Sampling a drum
If your laboratory draws a sample before the drum is accepted, treat sampling as a handling step, not an afterthought. As general good practice rather than an SPC specification: work in a ventilated area away from ignition sources, bond and ground the drum and any metal sampling equipment, use clean, dry sampling tools and containers so that water or residues do not enter the liquid, open the bung only as long as needed, and reseal tightly afterwards. A sample contaminated at the drum can produce a moisture or acidity result that the batch itself would not have shown.
Reconciling the batch COA with the TDS
Our TDS (SPC-TDS-GLY-004) states that its specification follows the manufacturer's certificate of analysis, reference QR/QA/154 (Spicosolv-M, Manali Petrochemicals Limited). A batch certificate of analysis is supplied with every delivery and should be read against the same lines. If the layout differs, match by parameter name and unit.
| Parameter | Unit and basis | TDS limit | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Visual | Clear, colourless to pale yellow | Visual check |
| Moisture | % w/w | 0.20 | Max |
| Distillation range | C | 116 to 125 | Range |
| Specific gravity at 25 C | Ratio | 0.918 to 0.921 | Range |
| Acidity (as acetic acid) | % w/w | 0.0050 | Max |
| Purity as 1-methoxy-2-propanol | % v/v | 99.50 | Min |
| 2-methoxy-1-propanol (beta isomer) | % v/v | 0.50 | Max |
Full table with the water-solubility line: see the product page.
Min, max and range limits: a worked example
A min line (purity) fails if the result is below the limit. A max line (moisture, acidity, beta isomer) fails if the result is above it. A range (distillation, specific gravity) fails on either side. The figures below are illustrative only and are not results from any real batch.
| Parameter | Limit | Illustrative result A | Illustrative result B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purity, % v/v | 99.50 min | 99.62 passes | 99.41 fails (below the minimum) |
| Beta isomer, % v/v | 0.50 max | 0.31 passes | 0.44 passes |
| Moisture, % w/w | 0.20 max | 0.14 passes | 0.26 fails (above the maximum) |
| Acidity, % w/w | 0.0050 max | 0.0031 passes | 0.0048 passes |
| Specific gravity at 25 C | 0.918 to 0.921 | 0.919 passes | 0.923 fails (above the range) |
Result A passes every line. Result B fails three lines, and one failure is enough to raise a non-conformance: a good beta-isomer number does not offset low purity. Notice that high purity (99.7% v/v, say) does not excuse a moisture result of 0.30% w/w, because each line is judged on its own limit.
v/v versus w/w in one paragraph
On this TDS, purity and the beta-isomer limit are volume percentages, while moisture and acidity are weight percentages, exactly as the manufacturer certificate reports them. As general knowledge, the two bases are not interchangeable without the densities of every component, so compare a result only with a limit on the same basis, and agree the basis in writing if your own purchase specification differs. The beta-isomer limit and purity are separate measurements and should not be added up to a fixed total.
Why moisture and acidity matter
As general knowledge, not an SPC specification: glycol ethers are hygroscopic and miscible with water, so moisture can creep up if a drum is left open or a sampling tool is wet. Extra water can shift evaporation behaviour and clarity in a finished formulation. Acidity, reported here as acetic acid, can rise as the solvent ages or picks up contamination, and it matters where the solvent meets acid-sensitive resins or metal containers. The practical point for receiving is simple: moisture and acidity are the two lines most easily changed by poor handling, so check them on the batch certificate and, if you test yourself, protect the sample from air and wet equipment.
When two documents show different numbers
The TDS gives specific gravity at 25 C and a distillation range. Other documents, such as a safety data sheet, may quote density at a different temperature or a single boiling value, and some of those figures come from public sources rather than release limits. These differences are about basis, not a contradiction. When you check a delivered batch, use the TDS basis, because the certificate of analysis is reported on it. If your laboratory measures density at a different temperature, do not compare it directly with the 25 C specification; ask for a repeat at 25 C or agree a correction method in writing. A batch that distils outside 116 to 125 C is a non-conformance whatever single figure another document shows.
What the TDS does not say
The TDS does not make the product food, pharma or electronic grade: we supply Technical grade only, and the SDS restricts use to industrial and professional applications. It also states no price or duty rate. Prices are quoted on enquiry against the live market.
PGME is not PGMEA
A common purchasing slip is to treat PGME and PGMEA as interchangeable. PGME (CAS 107-98-2) is the glycol ether; PGMEA (CAS 108-65-6) is the acetate ester. They have different specifications, so a certificate for one cannot be used to check the other. Check the CAS number on the certificate first.
Frequently asked questions
Does the certificate of analysis come with every delivery?
Yes. A batch certificate of analysis is supplied with every delivery, and our TDS specification follows the manufacturer certificate of analysis, Ref QR/QA/154.
Can I ask for a tighter beta-isomer limit?
You can ask. Tell us the requirement before ordering so it can be checked. Do not assume a tighter limit than the 0.50% v/v maximum on the TDS.
Where do I get a quote?
Send the grade, quantity and delivery location by WhatsApp on +91 86087 80096 or through the enquiry form on the methoxy propanol product page. We quote within 4 working hours. The TDS and MSDS can be downloaded from the same page.