One of the products manufactured by PT Petro Oxo Nusantara is Neopentyl Glycol (NPG). Neopentyl Glycol, commonly known as NPG, is an organic compound belonging to the diol group, characterized by the presence of two hydroxyl groups, with the chemical formula HO-CH₂-C(CH₃)₂-CH₂-OH. NPG is available in two product forms: flakes and a 90% aqueous solution (liquid).

At room temperature, neopentyl glycol is a white crystalline solid with a distinctive odor.

NPG is soluble in water and highly soluble in ethanol and diethyl ether. It is also hygroscopic, meaning it readily absorbs moisture from the surrounding environment, and is classified as non-flammable. Furthermore, NPG exhibits high chemical and thermal stability due to its molecular structure (LGChem, 2022).

The raw materials used in NPG production are isobutyraldehyde, obtained through hydroformylation (the oxo process), and formaldehyde. These raw materials react to produce an intermediate compound known as HPA (hydroxypivaldehyde), which is subsequently subjected to catalytic hydrogenation to produce Neopentyl Glycol (NPG).