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.
What is Acetic Acid?Acetic acid is a clear, colorless, organic liquid that, when undiluted, is also called glacial acetic acid. Acetic acid is the main component of vinegar and has a distinctive sour taste and pungent smell. Liquid acetic acid is a hydrophilic solvent, similar to ethanol. With a moderate relative static permittivity, it dissolves not only polar compounds, but also non-polar compounds such as oils and elements such as sulfur and iodine. It readily mixes with other polar and non-polar solvents such as water, chloroform and hexane.
Why Acetic Acid?Acetic acid is a key raw material to produce vinyl acetate monomer (VAM), acetic anhydride and acetate esters. It is used as a reaction promoter in the production of purified terephthalic acid (PTA), which is used to manufacture polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PET is used in synthetic fibers and beverage, food and plastic bottles. Acetic acid is also used in food sauces, pharmaceuticals, as an etchant in electronics fabrication and in a wide range of other industrial processes. Acetic acid can also be employed in oil and gas applications as an iron and scale control inhibitor and in oil well stimulation as an acidizer to improve flow. For more information and about Acetic Acid and its use in your product, please contact Celanese today.
The materials in this section are organized for reference based on publicly available Celanese Corporation materials. Copyright and trademark rights belong to the respective rights holders, and the latest versions and official usage terms should be confirmed on the official Celanese page.
