E260 (Acetic acid) is a chemical compound, an organic acid and a synthetic carboxylic acid. It is produced by different industrial technological methods:

• fermentation and saccharification of carbohydrates, ethanol, anaerobic homoacetogenic microorganisms
• direct conversion of carbon monoxide and hydrogen
• isomerisation of methyl formate
• carbonylation of methanol
•  ethylene vapour oxidation

Significant substances present or used in the production method:

In food products, acetic acid is produced by the microbial or bacterial fermentation method, while for other products in which it is incorporated it is mainly produced by chemical methods including esterification with acetic anhydride.

It appears as a colourless liquid

What it is used for and where

Acetic acid is used by the food, pharmaceutical, chemical, textile, medicine and cosmetics industries etc.

Chemical reagent, chemical compound used in the production of plastic beverage bottles, polyvinyl acetate for wood glue, fibres, synthetic fabrics. Acidity regulator, antimicrobial, preservative in the food industry.

Medical

Acetic acid controls blood sugar.

It is used in controlled doses to treat stomach ailments, colds, sore throats and insect bites. However, at certain doses, it can be harmful to health.

Yellow mustard, pickles and pickle juice products contain moderate amounts of acetic acid and established studies have found that they can relieve muscle cramps (1).

Food

Ingredient listed in the European food additives list as E260, preservative.

Cosmetics

Buffering agent. It is an iingredient that can bring an alkaline or acid solution to a certain pH level and prevent it from changing, in practice a pH stabiliser that can effectively resist instability and pH change.

Fragrance. It plays a decisive and important role in the formulation of cosmetic products as it provides the possibility of enhancing, masking or adding fragrance to the final product, increasing its marketability.  The consumer always expects to find a pleasant or distinctive scent in a cosmetic product.

Safety

Ingredient considered safe only in small, controlled doses.

"Acetic acid studies"

• CAS    64-19-7    Hazchem code    
• UN number    1842    EPA code    
• Molecular weight      60.05
• UNII    Q40Q9N063P
• EC Number   200-580-7
• DSSTox ID  DTXSID5024394
• IUPAC  acetic acid
• InChl=1S/C2H4O2/c1-2(3)4/h1H3,(H,3,4)
• InChl Key      QTBSBXVTEAMEQO-UHFFFAOYSA-N
• SMILES  CC(=O)O
• MDL number  MFCD00011354
• PubChem Substance ID    
• ChEBI  15366
• RTECS  AF1225000
• JECFA    81
• Nikkaji    J2.355H
• FEMA    2006   
• ICSC    0363
• RXCUI    168
• NSC      406306    132953
• UN   2789    2790    2291
• NCI  C61623
• Metabolomics Workbench    24

Physical properties (2) 

• Molecular weight    60    Cubic expansion coeff (per °C × 103)    1.14
• Empirical formula    C₂H₄O₂    Surface tension (@20°C dyn/cm)    27.4
• Boiling point (°C)    118    Absolute viscosity (@25°C cP)    1.13
• Freezing point (°C)    + 17    Refractive index (25°C)    1.370
• Specific gravity (20/4)    1.051        

Fire hazards            

• Flash point (closed cup °C)    40    Lower explosive limit (ppm)    54000
• Autoignition temperature (°C)    427    Upper explosive limit (ppm)    160000
• Electrical conductivity    6E–9        

Health hazards            

• IDLH (ppm)    1000    Vapour concentration @21°C ppm    17400
• OES-TWA    10    Vapour density (relative to air)    2.08
• OES-STEL    15    Vapour pressure @21°C mmHg    13
• Odour threshold (ppm)    2    POCP    

Aqueous effluent            

• Solubility in water (25°C %w/w)        Total    
• Solubility of water in (25°C %w/w)        Total    
• Log10 activated carbon partition        1.80    
• Log10 partition in octanol/water (w/w)        −0.24    
• Biological oxygen demand w/w (days)            
• Theoretical oxygen demand w/w        1.07    
• Vapour pressure equation constants (Log10, mmHg)        
• Antoine equation    A    7.5596    
• B    1644.05    
• C    233.5    
• Cox chart    A    7.4565    
• B    1592.4    

Solvent properties            

• Solubility parameter    10.1    Kauri butanol value    
• Dipole (D)    1.7    Evaporation time (ether = 1)    
• Dielectric constant (20°C)    6.2    Evaporation time (BuAc = 1)    
• Polarity (water 100)    64.8        
• Thermal information            
• Latent heat (cal/mol)    5800        
• Nett heat of combustion (kcal/gmol)    188        
• Specific heat (cal/mol/°C)    29.4        
• Critical pressure (MN/m2)    5.8        
• Critical temperature (K)    595        
• Latent heat of fusion (cal/mol)    2800        
• Van der Waals' volume    2.20        
• Van der Waals' surface area    2.07        
• Molar volume    57.5

Synonyms:

• Glacial acetic acid
• Acetic acid glacial

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Hooper Marosek SE, Antharam V, Dowlatshahi K. Quantitative Analysis of the Acetic Acid Content in Substances Used by Athletes for the Possible Prevention and Alleviation of Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps. J Strength Cond Res. 2020 Jun;34(6):1539-1546. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003595. 

(2) Ian M. Smallwood, Consultant, in Handbook of Organic Solvent Properties, 1996