Acetic Acid

Acetic acid is primarily used as a raw material for the manufacture of vinyl acetate (VAM). It is used as a reaction promoter in terephthalic acid production and is also a raw material for cellulose acetate, acetate esters, acetic anhydride, chloroacetic acid and a wide range of industrial synthesis. Also interesting is in the most common form, vinegar, contains about 6% of the acid making this a unique ingredient used heavily in chemical processing and in every day life.

Synonyms
E260, Ethanoic acid, Methane Carboxylic Acid, Methanecarboxylic Acid
Chemical Formula
C2H4O2
CAS Number
64-19-7

Characteristics

Molar Weight
60.052 g/mol
Melting Point
16.6 °C
Boiling Point
117.9 °C
Flash Point
40°C
Density
1.049 g/cc
Forms
Liquid (clear), Colorless

Uses and Applications

Key applications

  • Dyes
  • Food and Nutrition
  • Absorbent
  • Food additive
  • Adhesives and Sealants
  • Solvents
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Agricultural (non-pesticide)

Industries

Acetic acid

Acetic acid, less commonly known as ethanoic acid or methane carboxylic acid, is a medium-strength acid. Worldwide consumption of acetic acid is several million tons per year. The liquid is produced both for everyday use and for industrial purposes. Acetic acid plays an important role in the metabolism of all living things, for example as a building block of neurotransmitters. In nature, acetic acid is found in plant juices and essential oils. Acetic acid is also a component of the troposphere, the lowest layer of the earth's atmosphere, where it is partly responsible for the acidification of precipitation. Acetic acid enters the atmosphere through forest fires, for example.
Acetic acid is an important chemical for industrial purposes. It is used in many industrial processes for the production of substrates and as a reagent for the production of chemical compounds. Acetic acid is also used to purify organic compounds, as it is a suitable solvent for recrystallization.

Acetic acid in the industry

In the food industry, a water-diluted solution of acetic acid is used, which is labeled with the E number 260 in the food trade.
Acetic acid plays a major role as a flavouring agent, particularly in European and Asian cuisine. Acetic acid and its salts are used to acidify and preserve foods such as canned fish, fruit and vegetables, sourdough, salad dressings, mayonnaise and marinades. Dairy products such as mascarpone are also produced with acetic acid as a thickening agent.
Acetic acid bacteria oxidize ethanol in open alcoholic beverages to acetic acid. What is undesirable in wine is used in the production of balsamic vinegar, for example.
During the ripening of hard cheese, propionic acid bacteria, which convert lactic acid into acetic acid, provide an important facet of the cheese flavour.
Acetic acid is suitable as a preservative as it has a bactericidal effect: The lowered pH value prevents physiological processes and denatures proteins.
In the household, acetic acid is mainly used as a cleaning agent, in diluted form as a limescale remover with antibacterial and antifungal properties. It is sold as an essence containing 25 percent acetic acid.
Various esters of acetic acid such as acetic acid n-butyl ester and acetic acid isopropyl ester are used in personal care products and cosmetics as solvents for cosmetics and perfumes. Acetic acid is also used to acidify hygiene and cosmetic products such as peelings. It is also used in the production of creams, soaps and disinfectants.
Acetic acid is used in the production of medicines, such as acetylsalicylic acid, better known as "aspirin". It is also used as an initial treatment after contact with jellyfish and in some regions of Africa for the early detection of cervical cancer. The WHO lists acetic acid as a treatment for ENT diseases in children. It is also used as an antiseptic.

Further areas of application for acetic acid

Acetic acid is used in the production of solvents and plasticizers for paints and latex. Chlorination produces chloroacetic acid, which is used in the production of pesticides, for example.
A large proportion of the global production of acetic acid is used for the manufacture of polymers based on vinyl acetate and cellulose acetate. Vinyl acetate is used to produce polyvinyl acetate (PVAc), which is used in adhesives, among other things. Cellulose acetate is mainly used in the production of plastic products, films and cigarette filters.
Acetic acid is also used as a solvent in the production of terephthalic acid. This is an important intermediate product in the production of fragrances and medicines
Other substances produced from acetic acid are used for impregnation in the textile and leather industries and in the production of silicones.
Acetic acid is also used in developing baths in photo laboratories and for weed control. It is also used as a buffering agent, in the production of dyes and inks, in electroplating and in the extraction of oil and gas. The rubber industry also uses acetic acid.