Acetic Acid is a clear, colorless liquid with an acrid taste and vinegar- like odor. It is miscible in all proportions with water, ethyl alcohol and ether, but is insoluble in carbon disulfide. Celanese Chemicals Acetic Acid meets the specifications of the U.S.P. (XVII) and the Federal Specifications O-C-275 & O-A- 76C. It is one of the most important large-volume, synthetic organic acids. The major use for Acetic Acid is as a raw material for vinyl acetate, either by reaction with ethylene and oxygen or with acetylene. Vinyl acetate is in turn the raw material for polyvinyl acetate, an important resin used in paints, adhesives, plastics and textile finishes. Another important use for Acetic Acid is as a raw material for acetic anhydride. This chemical is principally used as an intermediate for cellulose acetate fibers and plastics. A third significant use for Acetic Acid is as a solvent in the production of terephthalic acid from paraxylene. Terephthalic acid is one of the major raw materials for polyester fiber and film. Large quantities of Acetic Acid are used to manufacture esters such as ethyl and butyl acetate. These solvents find general application in the lacquer, plasticizer and pharmaceutical fields. Chloroacetic acid is manufactured from Acetic Acid and Chlorine. The primary end use of chloroacetic acid is sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). Chloroacetic acid is the starting point for the production of a series of herbicides, prime examples of which are 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and the iso-propyl ester of 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Textile finishing operations require considerable quantities of Acetic Acid. Acetic acid is also used in the production of sorbic acid, various dyestuffs and pigments. The pharmaceutical industry consumes Acetic Acid in the manufacture of vitamins, antibiotics, hormones, and other products. Other products made from Acetic Acid are salts of Acetic Acid and various rubber and photographic chemicals.

Information provided by Celanese Corporation.