Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Uses for polyethylene glycol

Zyklon-A - 24-3-2014 at 10:36

I have over a 500 grams of polyethylene glycol, which is used as a laxative. Since shi**ing's just as easy as ever, I am looking for some more useful thing to do with it.
I hate to see a useful reagent being used for it's intended application. If you know of any useful reactions to do with it, can you post them?


[Edited on 25-3-2014 by Zyklonb]

Galinstan - 24-3-2014 at 11:06

i can't see there being many interesting reactions to do with such a stable polymer as this, although it is soluble in water so maybe there's something to be done there.

forgottenpassword - 24-3-2014 at 12:16

It is used in carbowax gas chromatography columns if I recall correctly, so it"s about as inert as you can get.

DraconicAcid - 24-3-2014 at 12:21

I wonder if would form a gel with borax, like polyvinyl alcohol does.

Metacelsus - 24-3-2014 at 17:56

PVA has hydroxyl groups, but PEG does not (just ether linkages). I doubt it.

It's used in drug delivery, I think.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PEGylation

Zyklon-A - 24-3-2014 at 18:48

Ok, well it doesn't really matter, just though there must be some use for it.
It doesn't need to be a fun or interesting reaction, perhaps a synthesis reaction, decomposition, or anything that creates a new compound.

forsh - 25-3-2014 at 12:41

Missile fuel? http://www.google.co.uk/patents/US6632378