MEMORANDUM 

TO: Greg Macek, EPA/OPPT/CEB 

 Maj’d El-Zoobi, EPA/OPPT/CEB 

 

FROM: Jason A. Sese, ERG 

 Dan-Tam Nguyen, ERG 

 

DATE: June 15, 2009 

SUBJECT: Revised Analysis of Potential Uses in the “Glyme” Chemical Category 

On May 29, 2009, ERG completed an initial memo reviewing the potential consumer 

uses of chemicals in the “glyme” chemical category. ERG received a revised technical direction 

to refine the determination of current consumer uses of glymes, by contacting industry 

representatives from Ferro Fine Chemicals (Ferro), Novolyte Technologies (Novolyte) and 

Clariant Corporation (Clariant).

Discussion with Joe Valcho (Novolyte) revealed that Ferro transferred all glyme 

production to Novolyte and no longer manufactures these chemicals. Therefore, Ferro was not 

contacted regarding the glymes uses. Additionally, Terry Wells (Clariant) noted that the glymes 

chemicals listed by Clariant are used only in products outside of the United States and could not 

verify some consumer uses with certainty. However, these are included in the determination for 

completeness. The industry contacts are listed below and the revised results are compiled in 

Table 1. 

Industry Contacts 

• Novolyte Technologies, Inc. 

Joe Valcho 

216-750-7603 

jvalcho@novolyte.com

• Clariant Corporation 

Terry L. Wells 

Product Safety Manager, 

Functional Chemicals 

704-822-2245 

terry.wells@clariant.com
Table 1. Compilation of Glymes and Potential Consumer Uses 

Glyme CAS # Use 

Description 

Consumer 

Use? 

(Yes/No) 

Basis 

Solvent in 

pharmaceutical 

syntheses 

No Monoglyme is listed as a solvent by the Merck Encyclopedia of 

Chemicals, Drugs and Biologicals (via Kirk-Othmer 

Encyclopedia of Technology)1 and Novolyte Technologies lists 

a use as a solvent vehicle for pharmaceuticals.2

 Joe Valcho of 

Novolyte stated that the use of monoglyme in pharmaceutical 

syntheses is a closed-loop process, where no glyme is present in 

the final product.3

 

Electrolyte 

solutions for 

lithium batteries 

Yes Kirk Othmer lists use as an electrolyte in lithium batteries,4

Clariant Corporation states that it is used as a solvent for 

electrolytes of lithium batteries5

 and Novolyte Technologies 

indicates a use as a lithium battery electrolyte solvent 

component.2 Joe Valcho of Novolyte stated that it is possible 

that batteries containing 1 to 5 percent monoglyme may be sold 

to consumers through battery distributors; therefore, these 

batteries may potentially have consumer use.3 

Monoglyme 110-71-4 

Component of 

anti-AIDS drugs 

No Clariant Corporation lists use as a process solvent for 

manufacture of anti-HIV drugs.5 Terry Wells of Clariant stated 

that the glyme would only be used as a process solvent, with 

none present in the final product.6 

Diglyme 111-96-6 Solvent in 

intermediate and 

pharmaceutical 

syntheses 

No Diglyme is listed as a solvent by the Merck Encyclopedia of 

Chemicals, Drugs and Biologicals (via Kirk-Othmer 

Encyclopedia of Technology).7

 Joe Valcho of Novolyte stated 

that the use of diglyme in pharmaceutical syntheses a closedloop process, where no glyme is present in the final product.3

 

 

1

 HSDB, 2009. Hazardous Substances Data Bank. Accessed, May 14, 2009, 1,2-Dimethoxyethane (CAS 110-71-4). 

http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/

2

 Novolyte Technologies, 2008. Monoglyme – ethylene glycol dimethyl ether. Accessed, May 14, 2009, 

http://www.novolyte.com/page%20docs/Monoglyme%20doc.html

3

 Conversation with Joe Valcho, Novolyte Technologies, June 11, 2009. 

4

 Blomgren and Hunter, 2000. Batteries, Primary Cells. Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. Vol. 

3 p.459. Accessed, May 14, 2009. 

http://mrw.interscience.wiley.com/emrw/9780471238966/kirk/article/primblom.a01/current/pdf 5

 Clariant Corporation, 2008. Monoglyme. Accessed, May 14, 2009, 

http://www.glymes.com/C1257227004EED35/vwWebPagesByID/FB682CE4C6918C60C12571E80044E250 6

 Conversation with Terry Wells, Clariant Corporation, June 4 and 15, 2009. 7

 HSDB, 2009. Hazardous Substances Data Bank. Accessed, May 14, 2009, Diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (CAS 

111-96-6). http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/
Table 1. Compilation of Glymes and Potential Consumer Uses 

Glyme CAS # Use 

Description 

Consumer 

Use? 

(Yes/No) 

Basis 

Solvent in 

printing ink 

manufacturing 

Yes Novolyte Technologies lists a use as a solvent for printing inks8

and the Printers National Environmental Assistance Center 

(PNEAC) includes diglyme on a listing of TRI chemicals 

possibly found in printing.9

 Joe Valcho of Novolyte stated that 

it is possible that printing inks containing between one and five 

percent glyme may be sold to consumers through distributors.3 

Component of 

anti-AIDS drugs 

No Clariant Corporation lists a use as a process solvent for 

manufacture of anti-HIV drugs.10 Terry Wells of Clariant stated 

that the glyme would only be used as a process solvent, with 

none present in the final product.6

Component of 

paint 

Yes The 2006 IUR database (non-CBI) lists consumer use in paints 

and coatings.11 It also listed commercial/consumer use in 

adhesives, sealants and automotive care products. 

Process solvent 

for adhesives 

Yes Clariant Corporation and Novolyte Technologies list use as a 

solvent for adhesives.12,13 Terry Wells of Clariant could not 

specifically state that the adhesives would not be used by 

consumers.6 However, Joe Valcho of Novolyte stated that it is 

possible that adhesives containing between one and five percent 

glyme may be sold to consumers through distributors.3 

Triglyme 112-49-2 

Component of 

brake fluids 

Yes Clariant Corporation lists a use as a component of brake fluids12 

and a German MSDS lists triglyme as a component for a brake 

fluid.14 No information was found limiting use of this brake 

fluid to industrial or commercial settings. Additionally, Terry 

Wells of Clariant could not affirm that the final brake fluid 

would not be used by consumers; therefore it is assumed that 

triglyme may be present in brake fluid accessible by 

consumers.6

 

8

 Novolyte Technologies, 2008. Diglyme – diethylene glycol dimethyl ether. Accessed, May 14, 2009, 

http://www.novolyte.com/page%20docs/Diglyme%20doc.html

9

 Printers National Environmental Assistance Center (PNEAC), 1996. Appendix II – TRI Chemicals Possibly Found 

In Printing. Accessed, May 14, 2009, http://www.pneac.org/sheets/all/printingtri.pdf 10 Clariant Corporation, 2008. Diglyme. Accessed, May 14, 2009, 

http://www.glymes.com/C1257227004EED35/vwWebPagesByID/EB5357DA6B7AE89FC12571E900240417 11 USEPA, 2006. Confidential Inventory Update Reporting Database. V. 1.02 

12 Clariant Corporation, 2008. Triglyme. Accessed, May 14, 2009, 

http://www.glymes.com/C1257227004EED35/vwWebPagesByID/2B3AC3AE3FD248E1C12571E900293AAE 13 Novolyte Technologies, 2008. Triglyme – triethylene glycol dimethyl ether. Accessed, May 14, 2009, 

http://www.novolyte.com/page%20docs/Triglyme%20doc.html

14 Continental Teves, 2006. Original ATE Brake Fluid DOT 3 (blue); 3m. Accessed, May 14, 2009, 

http://www.contionline.com/generator/www/us/en/ate/ate/themes/20_ate_brake_products/50_brake_fluid/download/ca_safetydata_d

ot3_blue_us.pdf
Table 1. Compilation of Glymes and Potential Consumer Uses 

Glyme CAS # Use 

Description 

Consumer 

Use? 

(Yes/No) 

Basis 

Component of 

paint/graffiti 

remover 

Yes Clariant Corporation lists a use as a component of paint/graffiti 

remover formulations and delacquers.12 No information was 

found limiting use of these removers to industrial or commercial 

settings. Terry Wells of Clariant could not affirm that the final 

paint/graffiti remover would not be used by consumers; 

therefore it is assumed that triglyme may be present in 

paint/graffiti remover accessible by consumers.6

Binding agent in 

porcelain 

powders 

No Novolyte Technologies lists a use as a binding agent in 

porcelain powders.13 Joe Valcho of Novolyte was unsure of this 

type of process, but stated that the porcelain would have to be 

fired, therefore burning off any glyme present.3 

Sodium cyanide 

– restricted use 

pesticide (may be 

limited to 

commercial 

farming) 

No Novolyte Technologies lists a use as a process solvent for 

sodium cyanide production.13 Sodium cyanide is a toxic 

substance and pesticides are regulated under the Federal 

Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide ACT (FIFRA). Sodium 

cyanide would not typically be available for consumer use. 

Paint production Yes Patent No. 5,919,851 indicates that triglyme may be used a 

solvent in a paint composition.15 Joe Valcho of Novolyte stated 

that it is possible that paint containing between one and five 

percent glyme may be sold to consumers through distributors.3

HFC/CFC 

lubricant 

Yes Novolyte Technologies lists a use as a HFC/CFC lubricant.16 

Joe Valcho of Novolyte stated that it is possible that tetraglyme 

may be present as a CFC lubricant in consumer air conditioners, 

in a concentration between one and two percent.3

Dye fixation 

additive for 

cotton textiles 

No Novolyte Technologies lists a use as a dye fixation additive for 

cotton textiles.16 Joe Valcho of Novolyte stated that this use is 

expected to be 100 percent industrial, where it is washed from 

the textile and recycled, because exposure to glymes in the final 

textile is not desired.3

Solubilizing 

agent for plastics, 

textiles and 

printing inks 

Yes Novolyte Technologies lists a use as a solubilizing agent for 

plastic, textile and printing inks.16 Joe Valcho of Novolyte 

stated that it is possible that printing inks containing one to five 

percent glyme may be sold to consumers through distributors, 

but are not expected in final plastic or textile products.3

 

Tetraglyme 143-24-8 

Process solvent – 

fungicide 

No Novolyte Technologies lists a use as a process solvent for 

fungicides.16 Joe Valcho of Novolyte stated that this use is 

strictly industrial, where no glyme is present in the final 

product.3

 

 

15 Yamaguchi et al., 1999. Patent 5919851 – Paint Composition and Painted Article. Accessed, May 14, 2009, 

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5919851.html 

16 Novolyte Technologies, 2008. Tetraglyme – tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether. Accessed, May 14, 2009, 

http://www.novolyte.com/page%20docs/Tetraglyme%20doc.html
Table 1. Compilation of Glymes and Potential Consumer Uses 

Glyme CAS # Use 

Description 

Consumer 

Use? 

(Yes/No) 

Basis 

Coalescing agent 

in the production 

process 

Yes Clariant Corporation lists a use as a coalescing agent in paint 

formulations.17 No information was found limiting use of this 

paint to industrial or commercial settings. Its function is in the 

performance of the product itself. Coalescing agents serve to 

separate the sticky molecules of resin while the product is being 

stored and applied. Terry Wells of Clariant could not affirm that 

the final paint would not be used by consumers; therefore it is 

assumed that tetraglyme may be present in paints accessible by 

consumers.6

Paint stripping Yes Clariant Corporation states that polyglymes are used to 

formulate paint strippers, adhesive removers, delacquer 

formulations.18 No information was found limiting use of these 

strippers to industrial or commercial settings. Terry Wells of 

Clariant could not affirm that the final product would not be 

used by consumers; therefore it is assumed that triglyme may be 

present in paint strippers accessible by consumers.6

Polyglyme 24991-55-7 

Solubilizing 

agent for plastics, 

textiles, and 

paper 

No Novolyte Technologies lists a use as a solubilizing agent for 

plastic, textile and paper. 19 Joe Valcho of Novolyte stated that 

polyglyme is used industrially and is not intended to be in the 

final plastic, textile or paper products.3

Solvent for 

conductive ink 

No Novolyte Technologies lists a use as a solvent for conductive 

inks.20 After printing, the solvent is evaporated out of the 

mixture. Joe Valcho of Novolyte stated that this is expected to 

be used 100 percent industrially.3

 

Butyl Glyme 112-73-2 

Printed circuit 

etchants 

No Novolyte Technologies lists a use as a printed circuit etchants.20 

No information was found limiting the use of these products to 

industrial or commercial settings. Etchants are used in the 

manufacture of printed circuit boards to remove layers from the 

surface of the wafer. Joe Valcho of Novolyte stated that this is 

expected to be used 100 percent industrially.3

 

 

17 Clariant Corporation, 2008. Tetraglyme. Accessed, May 14, 2009, 

http://www.glymes.com/C1257227004EED35/vwWebPagesByID/95C6FB74952C23C7C12571E9002AC573 18 Clariant Corporation, 2008. Polyglycol DME. Accessed, May 14, 2009, 

http://www.glymes.com/C1257227004EED35/vwWebPagesByID/5E66447BA43A7E47C125722C00334C5F

19 Novolyte Technologies, 2008. Polyglyme – polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether. Accessed, May 14, 2009, 

http://www.novolyte.com/page%20docs/Polyglyme%20doc.html

20 Novolyte Technologies, 2008. Polyglyme – polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether. Accessed, May 14, 2009, 

http://www.novolyte.com/page%20docs/Polyglyme%20doc.html