Acetic acid, also known as ethanoic acid is one of the most commonly
used carboxylic acids that exist. When undiluted, it is also widely
known as glacial acetic acid. Acetic acid has a sour taste and
pungent odor.
Household Uses Of Acetic Acid
In household applications, It is commonly found in vinegar, a food
ingredient that is widely used for various functions when cooking.
Vinegar used in household applications consists of diluted acetic
acid with a concentration of approximately 5% and is often produced
via fermentation and oxidation of ethanol. Apart from being used in
food applications, vinegar is also commonly used for cleaning and
removal of stains, and for whitening of shirts.
Industrial Uses Of Acetic Acid
Industrially, It is used to produce vinyl acetate, which is then
subsequently used to produce polyvinyl acetate, an important
ingredient used in paints and adhesives and cellulose acetate,
commonly used in photography and film. It is also commonly used in
the production of esters for inks and coatings.
Market for Acetic Acid
China is one of the largest acetic acid suppliers in the
world. However, due to the large demand for acetic acid, China only
exports limited amounts of it. Some other major producers of this
chemical are Celanese, British Petroleum (BP), Eastman Chemicals and
Dupont.
Due to the development of manufacturing hubs in several countries
across Asia-Pacific and South-East Asia, the market for acetic acid
is expected to experience above-average growth while growth in North
American and European markets is expected to experience a slowdown in
growth for acetic acid demand as key manufacturers shift their
operations to low-cost economies in the Asia-Pacific region.
Production of Acetic Acid
Acetic Acid can be produced via chemical synthesis or bacterial
fermentation. While chemical synthesis remains the predominant method
for its production, bacterial fermentation is still commonly used as
well due to strict regulations regarding food-grade vinegar.
One way it can be synthesized chemically is via the methanol
carbonylation process. In this process, methanol and carbon monoxide
are reacted to produce it, using two common processes: the
rhodium-catalyzed Monsanto Process, and the iridium-catalyzed Cativa
process. The latter process was developed by British Petroleum (BP)
and is more efficient and widely used today in the manufacturing of
acetic acid.
Another way it can be synthesized chemically is via ethylene
oxidation. Using the Wacker process, acetaldehyde is first produced
from ethylene before being oxidized to form acetic acid. Depending on
the local price of ethylene, this process could be competitive with
methanol carbonylation, especially for smaller plants. Thus, while
methanol carbonylation remains the most widely used process, smaller
acetic acid suppliers might choose to switch to ethylene oxidation.
Biologically, acetic acid is synthesized using the bacteria
Acetobacter, an oxidative fermentation process. In this process, the
bacteria can produce acetic acid if it is given sufficient oxygen for
fermentation. Acetobacter is introduced into a dilute alcohol
solution, usually made up of ethanol and stored in a warm and airy
place which will become vinegar over time. This vinegar is commonly
used in household applications as an ingredient. Today, vinegar is
commonly made using a submerged tank culture whereby the alcohol is
introduced into a continuously stirred tank reactor. Oxygen is then
supplied continuously to the solution by bubbling air. With this
process, vinegar can be produced in batch processes of only 24 hours.
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