
Polyethylene Glycol 8000(PEG-8000)
Polyethylene Glycol 8000 (PEG-8000) is a polymer of ethylene oxide, commonly used in various applications due to its solubility in water and low toxicity. Here’s a brief overview:
Applications of Polyethylene Glycol 8000
- Pharmaceuticals: Used as an excipient in drug formulations, as a laxative, and in controlled-release medications.
- Cosmetics and Personal Care: Acts as a humectant, thickener, and solvent in lotions, creams, and toothpaste.
- Industrial Applications: Used as a lubricant, plasticizer, and in various manufacturing processes.
- Biotechnology: Employed in protein precipitation, cell culture, and other biological applications.
Specific Uses of PEG-8000
Polyethylene Glycol 8000 (PEG-8000) has a wide range of specific uses across different industries. Here’s a more detailed look at its applications:
- Pharmaceuticals:
– Laxatives: PEG-8000 is used as the active ingredient in over-the-counter laxatives. It works by retaining water in the stool, which helps to soften it and promote bowel movements.
– Tablet and Capsule Formulation: PEG-8000 serves as a binder, lubricant, and coating agent in tablets and capsules, improving their stability and controlling the release of the active ingredients.
– Drug Delivery Systems: Due to its ability to form hydrogels, PEG-8000 is used in controlled-release drug delivery systems, allowing for a gradual release of medications. - Cosmetics and Personal Care:
– Moisturizers and Lotions: PEG-8000 acts as a humectant, attracting and retaining moisture in the skin, which helps to keep it hydrated.
– Toothpaste: It is used as a thickening agent to give toothpaste its consistency and to ensure even distribution of the ingredients.
– Hair Care Products: In shampoos and conditioners, PEG-8000 provides a smooth, silky texture and helps to stabilize the formulation. - Food Industry:
Food Additive: PEG-8000 can be used as an anti-foaming agent, a thickener, or a solvent in various food products. Its usage is regulated, and it must comply with specific safety guidelines.
Food Packaging: It can be incorporated into food packaging materials to improve flexibility and durability. - Industrial Applications:
– Lubricants: PEG-8000 is used as a lubricant in various industrial processes, including in machinery and molds, due to its non-reactive and non-corrosive properties.
– Plasticizer: In the manufacturing of plastics, PEG-8000 is used as a plasticizer to enhance flexibility and reduce brittleness.
– Adhesives: It acts as a stabilizer and thickener in adhesive formulations, improving their performance and application. - Biotechnology and Research:
– Protein Precipitation: In molecular biology, PEG-8000 is used to precipitate proteins and nucleic acids by reducing their solubility, which helps in purification processes.
– Cell Culture: It is used in cell fusion techniques and as a crowding agent in cell culture, promoting more natural cell environments.
– Cryopreservation: PEG-8000 helps protect cells, proteins, and other biological materials during freezing, reducing the formation of ice crystals. - Agriculture:
– Water Retention: In agricultural applications, PEG-8000 can be added to soil to improve water retention, which is beneficial in arid regions.
– Seed Coating: It is used in seed coatings to control the release of fertilizers and other nutrients, improving germination rates. - Medical Devices:
– Lubricants for Catheters and Tubes: PEG-8000 is used as a lubricant for medical devices like catheters, ensuring smooth insertion and reducing discomfort for patients.
– Hydrogels: It is used in the production of hydrogels for wound care, providing a moist environment that promotes healing.
These uses highlight the versatility of PEG-8000 across various fields, making it an essential compound in many industries.
Characteristics of PEG-8000
- Molecular Weight: Approximately 8,000 Daltons.
- Physical Form: Usually found as a white powder or flakes.
- Solubility: Soluble in water, alcohols, and many organic solvents.
- Viscosity: Higher than lower molecular weight PEGs, making it useful where increased viscosity is needed.
Safety Guidelines of Polyethylene Glycol 8000
Polyethylene Glycol 8000 (PEG-8000) has a wide range of specific uses across different industries. Here’s a more detailed look at its applications:
- Pharmaceuticals:
Laxatives: PEG-8000 is used as the active ingredient in over-the-counter laxatives. It works by retaining water in the stool, which helps to soften it and promote bowel movements.
Tablet and Capsule Formulation: PEG-8000 serves as a binder, lubricant, and coating agent in tablets and capsules, improving their stability and controlling the release of the active ingredients.
Drug Delivery Systems: Due to its ability to form hydrogels, PEG-8000 is used in controlled-release drug delivery systems, allowing for a gradual release of medications. - Cosmetics and Personal Care:
Moisturizers and Lotions: PEG-8000 acchts as a humectant, attracting and retaining moisture in the skin, which helps to keep it hydrated.
Toothpaste: It is used as a thickening agent to give toothpaste its consistency and to ensure even distribution of the ingredients.
Hair Care Products: In shampoos and conditioners, PEG-8000 provides a smooth, silky texture and helps to stabilize the formulation. - Food Industry:
Food Additive: PEG-8000 can be used as an anti-foaming agent, a thickener, or a solvent in various food products. Its usage is regulated, and it must comply with specific safety guidelines.
Food Packaging: It can be incorporated into food packaging materials to improve flexibility and durability. - Industrial Applications:
Lubricants: PEG-8000 is used as a lubricant in various industrial processes, including in machinery and molds, due to its non-reactive and non-corrosive properties.
Plasticizer: In the manufacturing of plastics, PEG-8000 is used as a plasticizer to enhance flexibility and reduce brittleness.
Adhesives: It acts as a stabilizer and thickener in adhesive formulations, improving their performance and application. - Biotechnology and Research:
Protein Precipitation: In molecular biology, PEG-8000 is used to precipitate proteins and nucleic acids by reducing their solubility, which helps in purification processes.
Cell Culture: It is used in cell fusion techniques and as a crowding agent in cell culture, promoting more natural cell environments.
Cryopreservation: PEG-8000 helps protect cells, proteins, and other biological materials during freezing, reducing the formation of ice crystals. - Agriculture:
Water Retention: In agricultural applications, PEG-8000 can be added to soil to improve water retention, which is beneficial in arid regions.
Seed Coating: It is used in seed coatings to control the release of fertilizers and other nutrients, improving germination rates. - Medical Devices:
Lubricants for Catheters and Tubes: PEG-8000 is used as a lubricant for medical devices like catheters, ensuring smooth insertion and reducing discomfort for patients.
Hydrogels: It is used in the production of hydrogels for wound care, providing a moist environment that promotes healing.
These uses highlight the versatility of PEG-8000 across various fields, making it an essential compound in many industries.
Technical Data Sheet PEG-8000
| TEST | STANDARD | RESULT | Unit | Ref |
| Description | practically odortess and tasteless , white ,waxy, plastic material having a consistency similar to beeswax, or as creamy white flakes, beads, or powders | Camplies | – | USP43-NF38 |
| Solubility | freely soluble in water, soluble in acetone, alcohol, chloroforrn .ethylene glycol monomethyl ether , ethyl acetate, and in toluene; insoluble in ether and in hexane | Camplies | – | USP43-NF38 |
| Color of Solution, 5g/50ml of Water | Slightly Hazy | Slightly Hazy | – | USP43-NF38 |
| Viscosity @98.9 | 470-900 | 671.17 | Cst | USP43-NF38 |
| PH, 5% Solution in Water | 4.5-7.5 | 6.6 | – | USP43-NF38 |
| Residue on ignition | Max 0.1 | 0.05 | %wt | USP43-NF38 |
| Assayn(Averege Molecular Weight) | 7000-9000 | 796.5 | g/mol | USP43-NF38 |
| Ethylene Oxide @ 1.4-Dioxane | Ethylene Oxide NMT 10.0 | 0.5 | mg/g | USP43-NF38 |
| 1.4-Dioxane NMT 10.0 | Not Detected | USP43-NF38 | ||
| Residual solvents | Defined as Organic volatile chemicals | Not Used | ppm | USP43-NF38 |



