Acetic Acid
The core raw material for vinyl acetate monomer and PTA production — and a widely used industrial solvent and chemical reagent worldwide.
Chelora Chemicals supplies acetic acid to VAM, PTA and chemical-processing manufacturers worldwide, with full documentation and consistent purity on every consignment.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 64-19-7
- IUPAC name
- Ethanoic acid
- Molecular formula
- C₂H₄O₂
- Molecular weight
- 60.05 g/mol
- Boiling point
- 117.9 °C
- Melting point
- 16.6 °C
- UN Number
- UN 2789*
- HS Code
- 2915 21
* UN 2789 applies to glacial acetic acid (>80%); UN 2790 applies to dilute aqueous solutions. Confirm the exact classification for your shipment with your regulatory affairs team.
What Acetic Acid is used for
Acetic Acid is a colourless, pungent, corrosive liquid fully miscible with water, supplied commercially as glacial (concentrated, >99.5%) or dilute aqueous grades. It is produced industrially mainly by the catalytic carbonylation of methanol with carbon monoxide.
Acetic acid's single largest use is as the raw material for vinyl acetate monomer (VAM), which feeds adhesives, paints and PVA-based products, and for purified terephthalic acid (PTA) production via the oxidation route, supporting polyester and PET manufacture. It is also widely used to produce acetate esters (ethyl acetate, butyl acetate) for coatings and solvents, in textile dyeing and finishing, and as a general industrial solvent and chemical reagent.
Where it sits in the petrochemical value chain
- Methanol the principal feedstock acetic acid is carbonylated from. See that page.
- Acetic Acid (this product) the core intermediate supplied to VAM, PTA and ester manufacturers.
- VAM, PTA, Acetate Esters major derivatives produced from acetic acid.
Handling character
Glacial acetic acid is corrosive and flammable, causing severe skin and eye burns. Full hazard detail is in the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Clear, colourless liquid |
| Assay | 99.5-99.8% min (glacial) |
| Water content | < 0.15% |
| Colour (APHA) | Within producer specification |
Important: the figures above are indicative of commercial material and are offered for planning only. The batch certificate of analysis is the governing document.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Clear, colourless, pungent liquid |
| Boiling point | 117.9 °C |
| Melting point | 16.6 °C (freezes near room temperature) |
| Density | 1.049 g/cm³ |
| Water solubility | Fully miscible |
| Flash point | 39-43 °C (flammable) |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 64-19-7 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put this acid to work
The intermediate the VAM, PTA and acetate-ester industries are built on.
Vinyl acetate monomer (VAM)
Reacted with ethylene and oxygen to produce VAM, the base monomer for PVA adhesives, paints and films.
- Chemical-grade specification
- Bulk & drum supply
- Technical desk review on request
Purified terephthalic acid (PTA)
Used as the oxidation solvent/medium in PTA production, supporting polyester and PET manufacture.
- Industrial-grade specification
- Documented batch traceability
- Contract & spot supply
Acetate ester production
Esterified to ethyl acetate, butyl acetate and other solvents for coatings, inks and adhesives.
- Packs sized to customer volumes
- Full analytical documentation available
- Retained sample held against the lot
Textile dyeing & finishing
Used as a pH-control and mordanting agent in textile dyeing and finishing processes.
- Documented batch traceability
- Technical desk review on request
Industrial solvent & reagent
Widely used as a solvent and chemical reagent across pharmaceutical and fine-chemical processing.
- Research & process-scale quantities
- Full documentation supplied
Contract & scheduled supply
VAM and PTA plants running continuous consumption are supported with scheduled bulk delivery.
- Annual contracts with scheduled call-off
- Price held across the contract period
- Second source held in reserve
How we supply Acetic Acid
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. Water content and colour are critical to downstream VAM and PTA quality — that shapes how we manage this line.
We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your required grade, your price point and your delivery window, and confirm your jurisdiction's import requirements before booking.
We keep a second qualified source on this line, so a single-plant disruption never becomes your production problem.
- Purity and water content confirmed before we quote. Consistency matters to downstream VAM and PTA quality.
- UN 2789/2790 documentation managed end to end. Classification, labelling and carrier compliance confirmed before booking.
- Scheduled call-off scheduling. We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
- Batch traceability to the producing plant. Full chain of custody documentation on request.
- Export machinery handled in-house. Classification, approved packing, labelling, freight booking and customs paperwork are ours to manage.
- Glacial and technical grades both sourced. Matched precisely to your downstream process.
Packed the way your plant receives it
Drum, tote or bulk tank — tell us your preferred format and we will quote and classify to it.
200-litre drums
Steel or plastic drums for smaller-volume orders and trial quantities.
~1,000 litre totes
Returnable or one-way IBC totes sized for mid-volume converter orders.
Large-volume bulk shipment
Temperature-controlled ISO tank or flexi-tank bulk shipment (glacial acetic acid freezes below 16.6 °C).
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with documentation filed before booking.
Trial / sample quantities
Small packs dispatched for process trials before a commercial order is placed.
Contracted call-off supply
We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
Corrosive and flammable — handle accordingly
Glacial acetic acid causes severe skin and eye burns on contact and presents a flammability hazard above its flash point. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch is the authoritative document.
Classified hazards
H226Flammable liquid and vapour.H314Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
Handle only with full PPE and adequate ventilation. Always read the SDS issued with your specific batch and store accordingly.
Storage
Store in tightly closed, corrosion-resistant containers in a cool, well-ventilated area, segregated from oxidisers and bases. Glacial grade may freeze below 16.6 °C, so temperature-controlled storage is recommended for consistent handling.
Handling
Use full PPE (chemical-resistant gloves, goggles/face shield) for liquid transfer. Work under adequate ventilation or local exhaust; avoid any skin or eye contact and inhalation of vapour.
Transport
Shipped as UN 2789 (Acetic acid, glacial, >80%) or UN 2790 (Acetic acid solution), Packing Group II or III depending on concentration. We confirm and document exact classification for your specific shipment and destination.
Every batch, documented
We verify documentation before dispatch so there are no surprises at your incoming-goods bench.
Specification agreed
Assay, water content and colour confirmed against your process requirement before order placement.
Producer batch testing
The producing plant tests each batch against the agreed specification before release.
Documentation review
COA, SDS and transport paperwork checked by our desk before the shipment is booked.
Traceable dispatch
Each shipment is traceable to its producing batch, with full chain-of-custody records on request.
How acetic acid is made
Acetic acid is produced industrially mainly by the catalytic carbonylation of methanol with carbon monoxide (the Monsanto/Cativa process), a long-established route in petrochemical chemistry. Smaller volumes are produced by acetaldehyde oxidation or fermentation routes for food-grade vinegar.
We do not publish operating process parameters here; this is background only. Full technical documentation accompanies every shipment, and any process-specific detail you need is best confirmed directly with our technical desk.
| Chemical family | Carboxylic acid |
|---|---|
| Functional groups | One carboxylic acid group |
| Reactivity | Esterifies with alcohols; reacts with ethylene/oxygen to form VAM |
| Related compounds | Methanol (feedstock); VAM, PTA, Acetate Esters (derivatives) |
Explore the wider petrochemical range
Acetic Acid, answered
What is Acetic Acid used for?
How is acetic acid related to methanol?
Is Acetic Acid hazardous?
What grade do you supply?
What packing do you offer?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
- Need a related intermediate? See our Methanol and Formaldehyde pages.
Get a quote on Acetic Acid today
Send us your required grade, pack size and delivery window. We will come back with a firm quote, lead time and full documentation.