Acetic Acid; a Key Intermediate Used In the Production of Chemical Products, Such As Vinyl Acetate Monomer and Purified Terephthalic Acid

 

Acetic acid is produced and excreted by acetic acid bacteria, notably the genus Acetobacter and Clostridium acetobutylicum. These bacteria are found universally in foodstuffs, water, and soil, and acetic acid is produced naturally as fruits and other foods spoil. Acetic acid, also known as ethanoic acid, the most important of the carboxylic acids that is used as a chemical reagent, pH adjuster, microbiocide, herbicide, counterirritant, fungicide, and solvent in a wide variety of industries, including, but not limited to cleaning, agriculture, food, and cosmetics. Exposure to more concentrated solutions of acetic acid can cause irritation of eyes, nose and throat, cough, chest tightness, headache, fever, and confusion.

Acetic acid is a binder or partial hydroxyl acid that is extracted from sugar cane, fruit peelings, and other fruits and vegetables, with a very low boiling point. It is used in the manufacturing industries for its acetic flavor and color. This organic substance is used for many different processes such as bleaching, as a bleaching agent for paper and metal, dissolving fat, as a strong base for explosives, as a stabilizer for cement, and as a cleaning agent for textile dyes. The food and drink industry also uses this compound for many purposes. It has a pleasant flavor and color, and it is easily prepared as a substitute for fruit juices, apple juice, malt extract, or beer.

Acetic Acid is commonly known as the wonder drug. In fact, it is widely used in a number of ways in the medical field. Acetic acids are also known as carboxylic acids, which are carboxylic chains having a repeating base carbon. This organic compound has a wide range of medical applications. Among these uses is as a topical antiseptic used in skin lesions, such as warts and herpes. Acetic acid is also used to treat bacterial infections such as staphylococcus aureus, Staphysagris & methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and other gram negative bacteria.

The purest form of acetic acid found today is in the form of acetic acid solution, extracted from fruits and grapes. In this form, there is a notable absence of the sulphur-bearing carboxylic acid in the organic compound. The resulting liquid is colorless, odorless, white or yellow in color, and has a bitter taste similar to that of vinegar. It is thus used in a wide range of pharmaceutical and food product applications, as it is tasteless, virtually identical in taste and texture to vinegar and fruit juices, and can easily pass through the digestive tract intact.

Organic acetic acid is used in the manufacture of carbonated drinks such as orange juice and is also used as an ingredient in many mouthwashes and cough remedies. The most well-known topical application of acetic acid is the vinegar and water solution used in the gargling of sore throats. A dilute solution formed by fermentation and oxidation of natural carbohydrates is called vinegar; acetic acid salt, ester, or acylal is called acetate. Acetic acid is widely used in the manufacturing of pharmaceutical, rubber, plastics, construction, and paints and coatings are some of the key end-user of acetic acid.