Propylene Glycol E1520
Propylene Glycol is a food-grade, water-miscible, hygroscopic liquid used by manufacturers as a carrier solvent, humectant, stabilising medium, flavour or colour carrier and processing ingredient where permitted by the relevant market regulations. This page provides a more detailed technical and industrial sourcing overview for specification review, supplier comparison, documentation control and quotation preparation.
Product identity
| Product | Propylene Glycol |
|---|---|
| Common names | Propane-1,2-diol; 1,2-Propanediol; PG |
| Category | Carrier solvents, humectants & processing ingredients |
| Function | Carrier solvent, humectant, stabilising medium, flavour carrier, colour carrier and processing ingredient |
| E / INS number | E1520 |
| CAS / identity | 57-55-6 |
| Molecular formula | C3H8O2 |
| Typical form | Clear, colourless, low-odour, viscous liquid |
| Solubility profile | Miscible with water and many alcohol-based systems; compatibility should be verified in the final formulation |
| Grade options | Food grade, FCC grade, USP / EP grade or customer-specific specification depending on source and intended application |
Application fit
Potential use areas may include food and industrial systems where a permitted liquid carrier, humectant or solvent medium is required:
- Flavour compounds, flavour emulsions and liquid flavour preparations
- Food colours, colour dispersions and concentrated liquid blends
- Bakery systems where moisture management or ingredient dispersion is required
- Confectionery, chewing gum and surface-treatment systems
- Sweetener, acidulant, antioxidant or preservative liquid premixes
- Extracts, essences, beverage bases and concentrated ingredient systems
- Tablet, capsule or nutraceutical-adjacent manufacturing where permitted by the applicable standard
Industrial function and technical role
In industrial food production, Propylene Glycol is normally evaluated less as a flavouring ingredient itself and more as a functional processing medium. Its value comes from its ability to dissolve, dilute, carry or stabilise selected active ingredients, especially in liquid systems where consistent dosing, pumpability, ingredient dispersion and batch-to-batch uniformity are important.
Because it is hygroscopic and miscible with water, Propylene Glycol may support moisture control, reduce crystallisation risk in selected systems, improve handling of concentrated blends and help distribute flavours, colours or other minor ingredients more evenly through the final matrix. The final effect depends strongly on formulation design, water activity, pH, temperature, mixing energy, processing sequence and compatibility with other ingredients.
Typical specification review points
Before confirming a supplier, purchasing teams should compare the offered grade against the internal specification and intended production environment. Common review parameters include:
- Assay or purity by the supplier's declared test method
- Appearance, colour and odour
- Water content, often relevant for hygroscopic liquid materials
- Acidity or alkalinity limits
- Specific gravity or density range
- Refractive index where required by the specification
- Residue on ignition or non-volatile residue
- Heavy metals, lead or other elemental impurity limits where applicable
- Identification testing and chromatographic purity profile
- Microbiological status if required by the buyer's quality system
Manufacturing and process considerations
Production teams should evaluate Propylene Glycol under real process conditions rather than relying only on generic data. Useful plant-level checks include:
- Mixing order and dilution behaviour in the actual formulation
- Compatibility with flavours, colours, gums, emulsifiers, acids, salts and preservatives
- Viscosity impact on pumping, dosing, spray systems and filling lines
- Thermal exposure during pasteurisation, cooking, concentration or drying steps
- Effect on haze, phase separation, sedimentation, crystallisation or emulsion stability
- Carry-over impact on taste, odour, label declaration and finished product specification
- Cleaning requirements for tanks, pipes, pumps, nozzles and transfer lines
Food industry applications
Propylene Glycol may be considered for several manufacturing environments, subject to local rules and the buyer's final formulation approval. In flavour and colour systems, it can be used as a carrier medium to help create pourable, accurately dosed liquid preparations. In confectionery and chewing gum applications, it may be reviewed for its role in ingredient dispersion, moisture-related performance or processing convenience. In bakery and prepared food systems, it may be evaluated when a liquid carrier or humectant-type function is needed in a controlled formulation.
For industrial buyers, the key question is not only whether Propylene Glycol is available, but whether the offered material matches the application. A beverage flavour house, a confectionery producer, a bakery premix manufacturer and a nutraceutical contract manufacturer may all require different documentation, packaging, quality limits, traceability details and regulatory declarations.
Quality assurance checklist
- Confirm that the supplier name, manufacturer name and country of origin are acceptable for the project.
- Check that the Certificate of Analysis matches the lot number, manufacturing date and expiry or retest date.
- Compare assay, impurity and physical-chemical values against the buyer's internal specification.
- Request allergen, GMO, BSE/TSE, residual solvent, heavy metal, halal, kosher or vegan statements where relevant.
- Review packaging type, seal integrity, tamper evidence and pallet condition before shipment release.
- Confirm whether the grade is suitable for food use in the destination market and in the intended food category.
Packaging and logistics
Propylene Glycol is typically supplied as a liquid in packaging formats selected according to order size, destination and storage capacity. Availability depends on supplier and market conditions.
- Small packs or pails for laboratory, pilot or low-volume production requirements
- Drums for standard industrial shipments
- IBC containers for medium-volume production and easier handling
- Bulk tanker supply for large-volume users where infrastructure allows
- Palletised export packing with batch labels, net weight, gross weight and handling marks
Storage and handling guidance
Store Propylene Glycol in clean, tightly closed containers in a cool, dry and well-ventilated area. Because the material is hygroscopic, unnecessary exposure to air and moisture should be avoided. Use food-compatible transfer equipment, protect the product from foreign matter, and follow FIFO or FEFO stock rotation according to the supplier's shelf-life statement.
Before use, production teams should check container integrity, label information, batch number, expiry or retest date, appearance and odour. Any material showing contamination, unusual colour, strong odour, broken seals or unclear traceability should be quarantined and reviewed by quality assurance before production release.
Regulatory and compliance notes
Propylene Glycol may be identified as E1520 in food additive contexts, but permitted use is not universal across all countries, food categories or dosage levels. Buyers should verify compliance with the relevant destination-market framework, final product category, additive function, label declaration, customer standard and any retailer-specific requirements.
Where required, customers may request documentation connected to food contact suitability, allergen status, GMO status, halal or kosher certification, residual impurities, heavy metals, origin, manufacturing flow, traceability and change-control communication. For export shipments, the correct combination of commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of analysis, safety data sheet and origin documentation should be confirmed before dispatch.
Documents to request
- Product specification or technical data sheet
- Certificate of Analysis for the available batch or lot
- Safety Data Sheet and transport classification information where applicable
- Food grade, FCC, USP, EP or other grade statement when required by the buyer
- Country of origin and manufacturer declaration
- Shelf-life, storage and handling statement
- Allergen, GMO, BSE/TSE, halal, kosher or vegan declarations if relevant
- Heavy metals, residual impurities or elemental impurity information where required
- Packaging details, label copy, pallet configuration and net / gross weight
- Market-specific declarations requested by the destination country or final customer
Commercial sourcing guidance
For efficient quotation, the purchasing request should clearly define the target grade, technical specification, estimated annual demand, first order quantity, delivery destination, preferred Incoterm, packaging size, required documentation and expected shipment date. If the buyer already has an approved Propylene Glycol source, sharing the current specification or Certificate of Analysis can help compare alternative suppliers more accurately.
Global Food Additives can support supplier coordination by reviewing available grades, checking documentation completeness, comparing packaging options and aligning export communication between the manufacturer, distributor, freight forwarder and customer quality team.
How to request this product
Send the product name, required grade, reference specification, quantity, destination country, packaging preference, delivery term, target shipment date and document requirements. If you already purchase Propylene Glycol, attach or describe your existing specification, label, Certificate of Analysis or approved supplier standard so available options can be reviewed against your technical and commercial requirements.
Useful answers
What is Propylene Glycol E1520 used for in food manufacturing?
Propylene Glycol E1520 is commonly evaluated as a carrier solvent, humectant, flavour or colour carrier, stabilising medium and processing ingredient. Exact suitability depends on grade, food category, formulation, dosage, processing conditions, local regulations and supplier documents.
Which grade should food manufacturers request?
Food manufacturers normally request food grade Propylene Glycol supported by a technical specification, Certificate of Analysis and Safety Data Sheet. Depending on the customer standard, FCC, USP, EP or other grade references may also be requested.
Which quality parameters should be compared?
Buyers commonly compare assay, appearance, colour, odour, water content, acidity, density, refractive index, residue on ignition, heavy metals or lead limits, identification testing, batch traceability and packaging integrity.
Can Global Food Additives source Propylene Glycol?
Global Food Additives can review sourcing options for Propylene Glycol according to target grade, specification, quantity, destination, packaging format, delivery term and required documentation.
Is Propylene Glycol permitted in every country?
No. Food additive use depends on destination-market rules, food category, additive function, maximum permitted level, labelling requirements and buyer responsibility. Regulatory status should be checked before commercial use.
What should be included in a quotation request?
A complete inquiry should include product name, grade, reference specification, order quantity, annual demand if known, delivery country, preferred Incoterm, packaging preference, shipment timing and all required quality or regulatory documents.
Tell us which food additive or ingredient you need.
Send product names, target specifications, quantity, destination country, packaging preference, delivery term, and document requirements. Our team will review your inquiry and respond from orders@foodgradeadditives.com.
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