HSE Corn Glycol is propylene plycol, it is chemically identical to normal propylene glycol, but it is derived from corn instead of from fossil fuels. If you are using propylene glycol in your solar thermal, radiant floor heating installations, chillers, etc. this is a product you should be offering to your customers. HSE has partnered directly with one of the leading U.S. chemical companies to develop an exclusive propylene glycol made from corn that out-performs every propylene glycol product on the market, at about the same cost. HSE corn glycol is similar in price as the propylene glycol you purchase locally, but with a long list of advantages. No other brand of propylene glycol can deliver this level of performance. Our custom formula corn glycol has superior corrosion inhibitors, lower surface tension (it’s “wetter” for better heat transfer) and our corn glycol has the perfect PH for closed loop hydronic systems. We ship it in convenient 5-gallon containers, 55 gallon drums and 265 gallon totes. Or you can order a tanker truck load.

Important facts about Corn Glycol and how it is used in the heating, cooling, and solar industry:

Here are some important facts about ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and our safe, renewable corn glycol and how it is used in the HVAC and solar thermal industry as a heat transfer fluid:

In closed loop heating and cooling systems, glycol is used to keep the heat transfer solution (water) from freezing at night in cold weather. Even in warm climates like Florida, water can freeze overnight causing damage to the thermal system as well as the structure it is installed within. For this reason, all reputable HVAC and solar contractors will automatically use a glycol-water mix (aqueous glycol) as the heat transfer medium. In southern climates a 10-20% glycol solution is typical, with 30-50% being the norm in colder climates.

Glycol is an anti-freeze solution. In common use there are two primary types of glycol: ethylene glycol (monoethylene glycol (MEG), 1,2-ethanediol) is used for automotive anti-freeze. It is a highly toxic substance and is not used for solar thermal applications due to the danger of poisoning. In HVAC, radiant heating, chillers, and solar thermal applications, propylene glycol (propane-1,2-diol) is used because it is non-toxic. Due to it's similar properties to ethylene glycol, propylene glycol has quickly become the industry norm.

Other areas you may find propylene glycol in use include moisturizers, cosmetics, deodorant sticks, toothpaste, emulsifying agents, food colorings and flavorings, electronic smoke devices, and as a coolant in cooling systems.

Corn Glycol Spec Sheet

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So What Makes Corn Glycol Better Than Regular Propylene Glycol?

HSE Corn glycol is a non-toxic, safe glycol with antifreeze properties that has the same molecular formula as propylene glycol (C3H8O2) (Propanediol 1,2). All propylene glycols (propanedial 1,2) is the same as a final product, the difference comes from how it is made. Normal propylene glycol is derived from crude oil, ours is an natural approach that uses no crude oil. This environmentally friendly, or green glycol, is the glycol of choice for thermal transfer fluid freeze protection. This renewable glycol provides a safe and more efficient solution than does standard propylene glycol.

Only through a special catalytic process are chemical engineers able to turn corn into propylene glycol. To actually create this anti-freeze thermal transfer fluid, the corn is broken down into lactic acid, and by utilizing copper ions as a catalyst, with hydrogen gas present, transform the chemical make-up of the lactic acid into propylene glycol. Corn glycol has been shown in studies to actually be a more efficient form of propylene glycol as a heat transfer solution.

What Makes HSE Corn Glycol an Eco-Friendly and Safe Glycol?

Not only is the corn glycol formed in this process considered a green glycol, the approach itself is more environmentally friendly, resulting in fewer pollutants and unwanted by-products like alcohols. The standard method of creating propylene glycol is less efficient and harmful to the environment due to its use of petroleum based starting materials. The starting materials for corn glycol are completely renewable corn syrup, making this the method of choice for producing thermal transfer fluid. This process uses 40% less energy than conventional chemical processes starting with fossil fuel and processed via hydrocracking, reaction, distillation, etc.

As far as the safety of HSE corn glycol - it has extremely low toxicity and is even recognized as being safe for food additive purposes. With this safe glycol, we can rest a bit easier knowing children and animals cannot cause fatal harm to themselves if small amounts are ingested, or, if some glycol accidentally finds it’s way into potable water. Using safe and renewable resources to make non-toxic anti-freeze, an important chemical with a plethora of applications, is a wonderful “green” scientific advancement.

If you are looking for an environmentally friendly, safe, non-toxic, glycol mix for your hydronic or solar applications, HSE corn glycol is the medium of choice. The HSE corn glycol has lower viscosity, better heat transfer, better anti-corrosive values protection, perfect PH, and best of all it’s 100% renewable. Safe for PEX, CPVC (up to 25%), copper, and all metal pipes. Like all propylene glycol, it is not recommended for use with PVC.

The HSE Corn Glycol is specifically designed for chillers, radiant heating, air-to-water hydronic heat pumps, and solar thermal applications such as solar hot water, or solar space heating. This glycol is completely non-toxic, safe for many types of applications, and is made from sustainable, bio-based raw materials. Unlike typical propylene or ethylene glycol - which is made from foreign oil or natural gas - this glycol is environmentally friendly, made from renewable resources, and domestically sustainable. Because the corn glycol is safe, and considered food-grade, it's the perfect solution for freeze protection even in sensitive environments, such as schools, homes, and hospitals. This corn glycol is manufactured and shipped in a concentrated form, which allows for superior freeze protection and flexibility. We ship it as a pure, concentrated, undiluted fluid. The concentrate is mixed in the field with water to the ratio you need - providing the freeze protection and mixture that's right for you and your customer.

Corn Glycol Spec Sheet

SDS (Formerly MSDS)

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Viscosity: