Applications

The main field of application of Monochloroacetic acid is the manufacture of carboxymethylcellulose.

This product has many uses, for instance, in the manufacture of adhesives, detergents, finishing agents for the textile, leather and paper industries and drilling muds for geological drilling.

Monochloroacetic acid is also an important intermediate for the manufacture of herbicides such as 2.4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2.4-D), 2.4-5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2.4-5-T) and 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA).

Thioglycolic acid, an important derivative of monochloroacetate, is used for the manufacture of stabilizers for polyvinyl chloride of permanent hair waving preparations.

Monochloroacetic acid has further uses as a raw material for chemical synthesis, as in the manufacture of pharmaceutical preparations (caffeine, vitamins, barbituates), textile auxiliaries, dyestuffs (indigo) and dextrin.

Monochloroacetic acid can be used for a number of further reactions besides those typical of Monochloroacetic acids. For instance, it reacts with the following:

Alcohols - To form alkoxyacetic acids

Ammonia/Amines - To form a-amino acids, e.g. aminoacetic acid, phenylglycine

Alkali Cyanides - To form cyanoacetic acid and from this by saponification malonic acid

Alkali hydrogen Sulfide - To form thioglycolic acid

Phenols - To form phenoxyacetic acid

Aqueous Alkalis - To form glycolic acid