Talk:Polyethylene glycol

message: The picture of polyethylene glycol is wrong. (it is not an ether, but a diol)
Also the drawing would imply that n=0 is ethylene glycol, whereas it is simply water
hello does anyone have the hybridizations for Maleimide-Polyethylene glycol?
Should there be a mention of Regalskeppet Vasa and Mary Rose, two ships that were conservated with PG. Scoo 11:20, 19 December 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: Perhaps some clarification would help. Ethylene glycol (HO-CH2-CH2-OH) is a diol. A condensation reaction between two molecules gives: HO-CH2-CH2-OH + HO-CH2-CH2-OH => HO-CH2-CH2-O-CH2-CH2-OH +H2O, an ether-linked bimer. PEG is produced by repeating this process, producing a polyether (as stated in the introduction). The drawing is correct for n≥1 (other than a vertical flip of the 2D links betwen odd and even n) with n=1 for ethylene glycol. FredV (talk) 10:28, 26 September 2017 (UTC)

text: No, it's fine, see there. Although I personally think this one is clearer. It's is both simpler (emphasizes the monomer), and the n-subscript is better placed. --Belg4mit 21:57, 8 August 2006 (UTC)

text: What would be the surprise? Do you mean that you were surprised that this chemical is a plastic? Or that people could be allergic to it? David Spector (talk) 18:16, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
thread_title: Picture

message: The article title contains a common misspelling of poly(ethylene glycol) and also of poly(ethylene oxide).
The structure shown looks like ethoxypoly(ethylene glycol) or ethoxypoly(ethylene oxide), not PEG or PEO, each of which are diols (dialcohols).
: See above --Belg4mit 22:07, 8 August 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  There is no polyethylene in "polyethylene glycol" or "polyethylene oxide" 

message: There is no justification for separating these two names into separate pages, since they are not chemically distinct.  The distinction served the commercial purposes of certain manufacturers (especially the now defunct Union Carbide Corporation), but has no basis in chemistry.  The definition of PEG as a liquid and PEO as a solid is simply wrong.
Also, "Its melting point is around 68 degree Celsius." is inconsistent with the espoused notion that "PEG" is a liquid, which is simply incorrect.
Note that all of the PEGylated therapeutic proteins that are listed are made with "PEG" (really mPEG) with molecular weights above 5 kilodaltons, all of which are solids -- yet they are not called PEO in the article!
:I agree. Oppose split. —Keenan Pepper 04:38, 2 July 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  PEG versus PEO 

message: Various surfactants are designated by the number of moles of ethylene oxide that were used to create them. For example, surfactant ETHOX TDA-9 is descibed by its manufacturer (Ethox Chemicals) as tridecyl alcohol POE 9. Is POE the same as PEO? I had thought POE was an acronym for polyoxyethylene. Conversely, other surfactants may be described by the letters PEG followed by a number. For example ETHSORBOX PSML-80 is described by its manufacturer (again Ethox Chemicals) as PEG-80 sorbitan laurate. Is that substance identicle to T-MAZ 28, which is described by its manufacturer (BASF) as sorbitan monolaurate POE 80? If anyone can clarify this terminology, then it might be a good idea to further explain it in the article. Surfactants are one of the major uses of polyethylene glycol. Is it a reagent (like ethylene oxide) in the manufacture of surfactants, or is it simpy a miscible ingredient that is blended in?   --Zymatik 05:06, 15 September 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  PEG versus POE 

message: Might somebody be able to explain the different PEGs that are available such as PEG 200, PEG 300, PEG 400 and PEG 600 and others?
: These are classes of polymerized PEG by molecular weight (PEG 400 would be n~5). Just as in the alkanes, the heavier PEGs are higher viscosity/melting point. --Belg4mit 22:07, 8 August 2006 (UTC)
replies: text:  Thank you.  Might you or somebody be willing to add this information to the main article?  Do the different PEGs have longer chains off of a core molecule? --Iambk 00:13, 24 August 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Different PEGs 

message: This may start a controversy but I have changed it's status from 'non-toxic' to 'sightly toxic'.  My gastroenterologist wants me to take Miralax for a year or more, but my nauturalpath says it's liver and kidney toxic, and a possible mutagen.  After all, if it reacts can't ethelyene glycol molecules break off the ends?  That's antifreeze folks and it's toxic.  Small amounts won't kill you, or even cause much harm because I believe it gets metablolized like alcohol does, but has anybody done a long-term study on this?  The OTC directions says use no more the 7 days.  I don't have any problem using it as needed, but more research needs to be done on this to truly call it "non-toxic". -Stillwaterising 10:18, 23 August 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: PEG is GRAS; and I agree, the structure looks wrong or at least misleading 69.107.115.52 (talk) 07:06, 2 January 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  Toxicity 

message: Just for curiousness, does anybody know something about ion binding to PEG? The structure is similar to crown ethers, though PEG should form a random coil.
From experience I know that various "capped" versions of PEG (e.g., triethylene glycol dimethyl ether ether, also known as "triglyme") are useful for improving solubility and reactivity of various sodium and potassium salts in organic solvents, in a manner similar to crown ethers. The crown ethers are much more effective, for the reason you note (they are already held in the proper orientation to favor binding with these cations), though a lot more expensive as a rule. Hughesdavidw (talk) 08:56, 22 August 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  Ion binding? 

message: Blink Tears main ingredient is Polyethylene Glycol 400. Any information as to the effectiveness or benefits as compared to alternative eye drops?  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.34.120.29 (talk) 21:12, 25 October 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  Polyethylene Glycol eye drops 

message: i think it should be easier to find the brand names in this article.  when people want to look up golytely and see if it is the same as miralax - it is hard to do with the current format.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.22.220.61 (talk) 19:27, 26 April 2009 (UTC)
thread_title:  the brand names should go higher 

message: Knows someone the persistence length and the the Kuhn length of PEG/PEO?
Darnokdd (talk)  —Preceding undated comment added 15:07, 2 September 2009 (UTC)
thread_title:  Persistence Length and Kuhn Length 

message: It's not clear what the least n in the formula is considered a PEG. 4?
*Triethylene glycol has n=3 - nontoxic?
*Diethylene glycol n=2 - toxic
*ethylene glycol n=1 - slightly toxic. 
I see oligomer says it includes even dimers. 
Presumably the GRAS for PEG specifies a minimum length or weight ? Rod57 (talk) 14:40, 29 July 2010 (UTC)
thread_title:  Is Triethylene glycol a PEG ? 

message: Well this surely must be wrong or multi billion dollar pharmaceutical companies are in serious trouble. I quote the sentence in question from the main article which seems wrong from my point of view:
"PEGs contain potential toxic impurities such as ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane. PEGs are nephrotoxic if applied to damaged skin.[4]"
1st) The reference for this part DOES NOT EXIST.
2nd) PEG is used as the main and only carrier for povidone iodine ointment in the pharmaceutical product marketed under the brand name "Betadine". I am sure that most people are familiar with this multi million dollar selling product which is applied in damaged skin for its excellent antiseptic properties. If the quoted sentence above is anywhere near the truth then everyone using Betadine ointment is in serious risk.
I can imagine that big companies are a little more smarter than that...  — Preceding unsigned comment added by Blokatos (talk • contribs) 20:16, 15 January 2011 (UTC)
thread_title:  Questioning toxicity from PEG when applied in damaged skin 

message: Section name might be better "As Laxative." Also, section needs an explanation of the mechanism of action when used as a laxative drug. David Spector (talk) 18:20, 6 March 2011 (UTC)
replies: text: I tried to make it easier to read without deleting any info. The first sentence and the text relating to use in cosmetics should be relocated. When time permits and if someone else has not fixed it I will try to take care of that.1archie99 (talk) 15:44, 17 March 2011 (UTC)
thread_title:  Section "Medical uses" 

message: PEG-150 Jojoba, PEG-120 Jojoba, PEG-16 macadamia glycerides, and PEG-10 Sunflower Glycerides should all be merged here as they are all forms of the same polymer differing only in source of derivation and degree of polymerization. 
*Support as nom. --Selket Talk 02:13, 24 March 2011 (UTC)
replies: text: In the case of the four above, each appears under their own INCI name on product ingredient declarations in the EU, USA and Japan.  FWIW, INCI names are adopted by the INC, a part of the CTFA (now PCPC) in the USA and mirrored in Europe via the EU Official Journal (via COLIPA), and in Japan by the JCIA, leaving a mostly-uniform nomenclature system with a few exceptions, none of these 4 being among them.  So, names in different regions have nothing to do with the issue.  Merging 4 different things into a semirelated article would do a disservice to a reader interested in the specific "thing" listed on her bottle of shampoo.  Surely if someone is putting something on their head every day they deserve to see what it is, especially on the wikipedia. István 15:34, 12 April 2011 (UTC)
thread_title:  Merger proposal 

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thread_title:  External links modified 

message: Shouldn't there be a section on types / kinds of food and/or beverage products that this chemical is used in?  I was just now reading the label on a bottle of Mr Pibb (soda) - and right there in the list of ingredients is Polyethelene Glycol.   How can this important section just be excluded.  Many people, myself included, would like to know that this chemical is a popular additive to foods and beverages.  I find it difficult to believe this was omitted my mistake, and if someone else doesn't want to add it - I will.  Furthermore, some examples of products (such as Mr Pibb) should be called out as examples.  There are many more.  
Finally, I think the "Uses" section should come at the top of the article, before all the scientific blather bores people to death and scares them off.  I understand that there may be a reason for this, but I don't think it's a good reason.  These topics need a quick, lay-person friendly description (this is a chemical that does X, Y, Z, among other things.  And then talk about how it's used.  THEN ... if anyone is still not in a coma, they may wish to analyze its chemical structure and properties, etc.  This seems like common sense from my perspective.  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.194.39.86 (talk) 09:20, 1 January 2017 (UTC)
thread_title:  Food Uses? 

message: I read the opening paragraph, and look at a rock on my desk, and ask, based only on what the text says, whether this rock is polyethylene glycol. That question cannot be answered. Not one in  100,000 Americans has come into contact with polyethylene glycol , or can accurately describe at least roughly, what it is. The opening paragraph can be moved directly into the text and replaced with something like: “Polyethylene glycol is a colorless, odorless inactive watery organic liquid”. Basically, it’s an -ol organic compound, meaning an alcohol. It’s polymerized ethylene glycol, an antifreeze. Maybe we can start out : “polyethylene glycol is a polymerized alcohol.” We implicitly understand that alcohol is a a watery liquid. Polymers are sort of understood as stringy artificial fibers, so what’s a polymerized liquid mean? It might be more  understandable to say that “polyethylene glycol is a long chain alcohol.” That this type of substance is substantially unfamiliar makes a dictionary definition type of introduction quixotic. Chemical jargon makes it even more difficult. Sbalfour (talk) 02:36, 27 December 2020 (UTC)
thread_title:  What is this object or substance? 

message: Can we add this PEG in NR natural rubber 2409:4041:2E17:FA83:0:0:3088:7E12 (talk) 07:04, 3 February 2022 (UTC)
thread_title:  Nr 

message: There must be a better term than "recreational uses". The best I could find is "entertainment". For most any chemical substance on Wikipedia, a "recreational use" section is used for personal use involving your body in some way. I realize this is small potatoes but I find it interesting that it took me a long time to come up with a better phrase.
From https://www.dictionary.com/browse/recreation:
WORDS RELATED TO RECREATION
amusement, diversion, enjoyment, fun, hobby, pleasure, relaxation, avocation, ball, dissipation, distraction, ease, entertainment, exercise, festivity, frolic, game, hilarity, holiday, jollity  — Preceding unsigned comment added by Asherkobin (talk • contribs) 03:12, 6 February 2022 (UTC)
replies: text: I think "Recreational use" is the best neutral term, mostly because I think it is the term most commonly used. However, it might (again: because that is how it is most commonly used) suggest ingesting or injecting the compound for psychoactive effects, which of course isn't among the recreations mentioned in this case (no idea if has such effects, or side-effects). So, I won't change it back.--Nø (talk) 09:17, 6 February 2022 (UTC)
thread_title:  Recreational use section name change 

message: I need the 3D structure of poly-ethylene-glycol. For example macrogol 4000 and macrogol 400 for reference. --0dorkmann (talk) 14:21, 6 February 2023 (UTC)
thread_title:  PEG 3D Structure .png