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