Norkem has recently added Mono Propylene Glycol (MPG) to our stock list, a highly versatile chemical with a wide range of uses in food production, animal feeds and in industry.
A colourless and odourless solvent, MPG is edible and has a slightly sweet taste, although most of its uses in food production revolve around it being an excellent carrier solvent and humectant. It also has highly adaptable heat transfer and anti-freeze properties.
As a carrier solvent, MPG is much sought after as a non-toxic option for dissolving flavours, colours, antioxidants, enzymes, and emulsifiers in food manufacturing. It’s also widely used as a medical solvent in the pharmaceutical sector.
Widely used in cosmetics and personal care, it is a common ingredient in lotions, shampoos, deodorants, and other cosmetic products due to its ability to retain moisture and dissolve active ingredients.
In animal nutrition, MPG can be used as an energy source and can be found in some feed formulations as a humectant, stabilizer & preservative.
Due to its conductive properties, one of MPG’s most common uses in industry is as a secondary refrigerant, or the substance that initially transfers thermal energy from a heat source to a primary heat exchange in a cooling system. Because it is non-toxic and approved as a food-grade additive, it is the preferred coolant used in food chiller equipment.
MPG’s ability to absorb thermal energy works the other way too, and it is one of the most common anti-freeze agents used in aircraft de-icing fluids. Sprayed onto aircraft and runways, MPG lowers the freezing point of water and therefore turns ice into liquid. Unlike most other glycol-based de-icing agents, it can also be recycled from the run-off water.
Other uses of MPG include its role in the production of unsaturated polyester resins (UPRs) such as fibreglass, and in polyurethanes generally. It is also used as a cutting fluid in metalworking and as a freeze-thaw stabiliser in water-based detergents, again making use of its anti-freeze properties.
Norkem stocks MPG in both USP/food grades and technical grades. For details of quantities, packaging and prices, please contact our sales team.