Polyethylene Glycol (PEG 400-6000)

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a polyether compound derived from petroleum with many applications, from industrial manufacturing to medicine. PEG is also known as polyethylene oxide (PEO) or polyoxyethylene (POE), depending on its molecular weight. The structure of PEG is commonly expressed as H−(O−CH2−CH2)n−OH. PEG is used in many industrial applications such as plasticizers, surfactants, and emulsifiers. It is also used in medicine as a laxative for the treatment of constipation. PEG is the basis of a number of laxatives such as MiraLax , RestoraLAX, etc.. Whole bowel irrigation with polyethylene glycol and added electrolytes is used for bowel preparation before surgery or colonoscopy or for children with constipation.

PEG