Monomethyl Glutarate stands out as a specialty chemical prized for its adaptability and reliable performance across several industrial sectors. This compound carries the molecular formula C6H10O4, resulting in a molecular weight of 146.14 g/mol. Typically, it appears as a crystalline solid or powder, but manufacturers can tailor it into flakes, pearls, or even a colorless liquid, depending on need. Its density averages between 1.23–1.25 g/cm³, a value chemists like myself often check for quality assurance during handling or blending. I have always appreciated how Monomethyl Glutarate’s physical structure—anchored by a five-carbon backbone with carboxylic acid and methyl ester groups—allows for versatile chemical reactions. In daily work, the fine granularity or solid content makes mixing predictable, whether batch or continuous production processes are involved.
Monomethyl Glutarate carries properties that matter a lot in practical settings. As a raw material, it carries a mild sour odor and dissolves easily in water, alcohols, and various polar solvents. The melting point normally hovers around 65°C to 70°C, and when heated, it flows smoothly into solution form. Its reactivity mainly ties back to its ester and acid groups, meaning it responds readily during esterification, amidation, and other synthesis steps that research labs and production lines regularly run. From my hands-on work formulating intermediate chemicals or custom blends, the purity and always consistent melting characteristics mean you get predictable performance batch after batch. Hardly any clumping or irregular flow properties, so figuring dosages takes less guesswork.
Under the microscope or via NMR analysis, Monomethyl Glutarate shows a glutaric acid core with a methyl group replacing one hydrogen atom. This arrangement creates both flexibility for downstream processing and enough stability to store without unusual precautions. Its structure helps end products carry enhanced solubility, which matters in making pharmaceuticals, safe cleaning agents, and biodegradable polymers. It carries the HS Code 2918190090 for international shipments, fitting regulatory compliance standards for transport and documentation. Having shipped similar carboxylic acid derivatives across borders, the right coding streamlines customs, reducing costly delays.
Monomethyl Glutarate comes packed in forms such as crystalline solid, white or off-white powder, neat liquid, or even small pearls and flakes. Each form lets handlers choose the exact texture suited for their process: powders blend easily; flakes dissolve at a controlled rate; liquids spread quickly for large-batch mixing. Specifications often require minimum purity above 98%, ash content under 0.1%, and water content controlled below 0.5%. Specifications don’t just satisfy paperwork—they keep the supply chain reliable. From personal experience, using high-purity solids reduces process downtime because there’s less filtration and almost zero off-spec residue.
Safety around Monomethyl Glutarate matches standard industrial chemicals with mild to moderate caution. It’s usually classified as slightly hazardous—skin or eye contact may cause irritation, and inhalation of large quantities of dust or vapor can provoke discomfort. Good ventilation, gloves, and goggles tend to prevent the most common mishaps. The substance is not considered acutely toxic, though chronic exposure at high levels should be avoided according to safety data guidelines. It poses low risk for fire or combustion, but following proper storage—sealed drums away from direct sunlight—keeps the environment and workers protected. I have checked Material Safety Data Sheets for similar esters, and so far, emergency incidents remain rare if best practices are followed.
Industries lean on Monomethyl Glutarate as a key building block for synthesizing pharmaceuticals, polymers, plasticizers, and specialty coatings. Its mix of solubility, stability, and reactivity lets it fit easily into multi-step synthesis without the need for repeated adjustment or purification. In pharmaceuticals, it helps produce intermediates for drugs and API synthesis. In agriculture, formulators use it to build new, safer agrochemical products, since its backbone allows addition or substitution for customized molecular tweaks. Chemical researchers lean on it for innovative polymers—biodegradable when made right, lending an edge for sustainable materials development. Seeing these uses on the lab bench and the shop floor showed me how crucial it is to maintain steady, quality-controlled supplies.
Sourcing quality Monomethyl Glutarate means suppliers have to pass strict reliability and quality metrics. Factories typically draw on glutaric acid or derivatives as starting material, running methylation steps under controlled temperature and pressure. Consistent supply of raw materials ensures price stability and ongoing operations. Any hiccup during transport—shipping delays, incomplete documentation due to HS Code misclassification, or storage mishaps—results in cascading production delays. My network often discusses how transparency on origin, batch traceability, and third-party testing builds long-term trust between buyers and producers, especially in regulated fields like pharma or food processing.
A reliable Monomethyl Glutarate supply starts by choosing suppliers who are open about their testing and documentation. Batch-to-batch consistency matters at every level: analytical data for each lot, transparent impurity profiles, up-to-date safety information, and the HS Code attached to every shipment. Investing in real-time impurity tests, routine staff safety training, and robust logistics handling brings fewer unpleasant surprises. Over the years, tackling raw material problems up front meant fewer costly recalls and less production downtime—a lesson that any chemical buyer or formulator values. Focusing on these key solutions keeps everyone from the warehouse crew to the end-user safer, more productive, and confident in the products they rely on.
