Monochloroacetic acid

PROPERTIES

Monochloroacetic acid (MCA) appears as colorless or white hygroscopic crystals (above 19°C - liquid) but it can also be available commercially in a water solution. It has a penetrating, burning odor. It is easily soluble in water, soluble in alcohol, methanol, acetone, carbon, disulphide, benzene, chloroform, ether. Slightly soluble in hydrocarbons and chlorinated hydrocarbons. Stable under ordinary conditions. Incompatible with strong bases, oxidizing agents and most common metals.

APPLICATIONS

The major industrial use of monochloroacetic acid (MCA) is in the manufacture of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). CMC is used in a broad range of applications, including detergents, food, textiles, coatings, drilling muds, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

However  MCA is used in the manufacture of a wide variety of other useful chemical compounds.

PHARMACEUTICALS

Monochloroacetic acid is used in the production of ibuprofen/brufen, dichlophenac sodium, caffeine, vitamins (e.g witamin B), glycine, N-(P-hydroxyphenyl)-glycine (METOL), maleanates.

Chloroacetic acid is converted to chloroacetyl chloride, a precursor to adrenaline (epinephrine).

AGROCHEMICALS (insecticides, herbicides)

It is an intermediate for the production of pesticides like 2,4-D acids (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), Dimethoate, CAC (Chloroacetyl chloride), TCAC (Trichloroacetyl chloride), 2,4,5-T acid (2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic acid),  MCPA (2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid), glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine).

DYES

Monochloroacetic acid is widely used in chemical industry as intermediates in the synthesis of indigo dyes.

COSMETICS

MCA is used to make surfactants, particularly mild betaine amphoteric surfactants.
Heating MCA with sodium or potassium hydrogen sulphide gives thioglycolic acid. Thioglycolic acid and its derivatives are used in the production of hair cosmetics.

PLASTIC STABILIZERS

There is the use of MCA in tin stabilizers for processing PVC resins.

Other uses:

-        manufacture of glycolic acid, substituted guar gums, coumarin, barbituric acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), malonic acid, malononitrile, mercaptoacetic acid, aminoacetic acid, drilling fluids, cyanoacetic acid, phenoxyacetic acid,  chloroacetic acid esters, chloroacetamides, carcosines.

-        research and development laboratories,

-        fabric mills, communication equipment (television, radio, telegraph), automotive stamping.