Using Acetic Acid
Acetic acid is more commonly recognized as vinegar, although the two are not completely interchangeable. Vinegar is typically 5%-20% acetic acid diluted in water. The formal name for acetic acid is ethanoic acid, although industry prefers the moniker acetic acid. Acetic acid has been utilized for centuries in industries across the world, and industrial ingredient distributor Bell Chem stocks this important chemical for your business. Read below for a summary of how acetic acid can be beneficial for you.
Acetic acid has uses across the medical field:
Even diluted to a 1% concentration, acetic acid is a safe, extremely effective antibiotic agent. Hospitals utilize acetic acid to stop the spread of Enterococci, Streptococci, Staphylococci, and Pseudomonas bacteria.
Screening for cervical cancer is simplified with acetic acid. When swabbed on the cervix, if acetic acid turns white in a minute’s time, cancer is likely present.
Injecting acetic acid into malignant tumors has been a proven cancer treatment for over two centuries.
In hospital laboratories, acetic acid lyses red blood cells, clearing the path for technicians to examine the less numerous white blood cells.
Other industrial uses for acetic acid include the following:
Acetic acid is a main component (along with ethylene and oxygen) in the production of vinyl acetate monomer. The monomer is then polymerized in various formations to form the basis of many common adhesives and paints. Other substrates produced from acetic acid include vinegar, ester, and acetic anhydride.
Because it is an acid, acetic acid acts as a powerful descaling agent. Limescale builds up on metal surfaces when they contact hot water. Boilers, water heaters, and wastewater treatment facilities with an application of acetic acid to the metal find the solid limescale liquefies.
In the canning industry, preservation with acetic acid has a longstanding history. Other foods contain acetic acid for its flavor: salad dressings, ketchup, mayonnaise, and mustard. In baking, adding diluting acetic acid with baking soda creates an acid/base reaction that injects baked goods with gases so cakes and breads rise.
The cosmetic industry finds acetic acid works favorably as a pH adjuster.
In a chemical laboratory, acetic acid is used for purifying chemicals and as a solvent for chemical reactions.
Bell Chem is an industrial ingredient distributor based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products, including acetic acid, stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.