易吸湿，无气味，有辛辣的甜味，溶于水可与多数有机溶剂，不溶于苯和四氯化碳。易于酯化、醚化。溶剂，气体脱水剂，萃取剂，软水剂，气相色谱定液，适用于水溶液分析，选择性聚乙二醇相似，用于分析含量氧化合物(特别是醇)、苯胺、脂肪胺、吡啶及喹啉。 Diethylene glycol (DEG) is formed as side reaction product during the esterification reaction of terephthalic acid with ethylene glycol.It readily forms complexes with 3d transition metal cations in the presence of alkaline hydroxide.Its solutions are widely employed for antifreezing and lubricating applications. Its degradation by oxidation methods using ozone and by modified Fenton process (mixture of hydrogen peroxide and ferric salt) has been described. Diethylene glycol (diglycol) is used in biomaterials engineering to functionalize peptide nanofibers to improve their aggregation and proteolytic degradation properties. Diethylene glycol may be used as a solvent, reducing agent and derivatizing agent in the preparation of various types of nanoparticles.