Monochloroacetic Acid

Monochloroacetic Acid

Monochloroacetic acid (MCAA) is a versatile chemical intermediate and is considered one of the most important halogenated derivatives of acetic acid. It is used in a wide variety of end-use applications, including agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, papermaking, mining, building construction, and surfactants. It also finds use as an intermediate product in the manufacture of a wide range of everyday items, such as food binders, personal care products, and synthetic caffeine in soft drinks and vitamins. For commercial purposes, MCAA is generally sold as an 80% solution in water or alcohol in Europe and in the United States. In China and India, MCAA is mostly supplied in flake form. It can also be supplied as a sodium salt, usually in solid form.

MCAA is much more toxic than acetic acid, dichloroacetic acid (DCA), or trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and requires extreme care when handled. Some producers only manufacture MCAA in solution because of the hazards associated with the substance. The solution can be pumped, stored, and shipped within a closed system. The solid form requires bagging or drumming, and manual handling of the containers for the warehousing and transport. Dust control is also an issue for the solid form of MCAA.