This section provides an overview for chloroacetic acid as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 11 chloroacetic acid manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked chloroacetic acid companies as of November, 2024: 1.Nouryon, 2.Wego Chemical Group Inc, 3.CABB Group GmbH.
Table of Contents
Figure 1. Basic information on chloroacetic acid
Chloroacetic acid is an organic compound with the chemical formula C2H3ClO2.
When the number of substituted hydrogen atoms is emphasized, it is called monochloroacetic acid.
Chloroacetic acid is used in herbicides and surfactants. Because of its strong acidity, it is used as a remedy to remove warts. When applied to warts, it removes them by corroding and necrotic tissue, but it should be handled with care because it can cause blisters and wounds when it adheres to skin and mucous membranes.
In tap water, chlorine, a disinfectant, reacts with organic matter in tap water to produce chloroacetic acid as one of the disinfection byproducts. Chloroacetic acid is also used in the synthesis of amino acids and carboxymethyl cellulose.
Chloroacetic acid has a pungent odor similar to that of acetic acid and is available in three forms, with melting points of 63°C for the alpha form, 55-56°C for the beta form, and 50°C for the gamma form. It is a clear colorless solid with tidal solubility and a boiling point of 189°C. It can be used in water, ethanol, chloroform, and chloroform.
It is soluble in water, ethanol, chloroform, benzene, and ether. In aqueous solution, it is a stronger acid than acetic acid, pKa = 2.85 at 25°C.
Chloroacetic acid has a molecular weight of 94.50 and a density of 1.58.
The differential formula is expressed as CH2ClCOOH.
Chloroacetic acid with impurities was first prepared by Félix LeBlanc in 1843 by chlorinating acetic acid in the presence of sunlight.
In 1857, Reinhold Hoffmann refluxed chlorine and glacial acetic acid in the presence of sunlight to obtain pure chloroacetic acid. In the same year, Charles Adolphe Wurtz also synthesized chloroacetic acid by hydrolysis of chloroacetyl chloride (ClCH2COCl).
Figure 2. Synthesis of chloroacetic acid
Approximately 420,000 tons of chloroacetic acid are produced annually worldwide. Chloroacetic acid is obtained by chlorination of acetic acid using acetic anhydride as a catalyst.
Chloroacetic acid can also be produced by hydrolyzing trichloroethylene in concentrated sulfuric acid at 130-140°C. This reaction yields a more pure Chloroacetic Acid than halogenation, but a large amount of HCl is released.
Figure 3. Reaction of chloroacetic acid
Chlorination of acetic acid produces not only chloroacetic acid but also dichloroacetic acid and trichloroacetic acid.
Dichloroacetic acid and trichloroacetic acid are impurities that are difficult to separate by distillation.
In organic chemistry, they are used in the O-alkylation of salicylaldehyde. Decarboxylation of the resulting ether can produce benzofuran.
Many reactions with chloroacetic acid will take advantage of the high reactivity of the C-Cl bond. Chloroacetic acid is used in the synthesis of carboxymethylcellulose and carboxymethylstarch, which are thickening agents.
Phenoxy herbicides can be produced by etherification with chlorophenol. For example, 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid can be synthesized.
It is also a precursor to the herbicides glyphosate and dimethoate. chloroacetic acid can be converted to chloroacetyl chloride, a precursor of adrenaline. When chloride is replaced by sulfide, thioglycolic acid can be synthesized, which is used as a stabilizer in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and as an ingredient in cosmetics.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Wego Chemical Group was founded in 1978 and headquartered in Great Neck, New York. WEGO is a full-service supplier and distributor of chemicals, minerals, and other raw materials to clients around the world. Markets and segments include agriculture & animal care, chemical & material manufacturing, construction & building materials, electronics, food & beverage, “household, industrial & institutional”, mining, oil & gas, personal care & pharmaceutical, paper & packaging, surface treatment, textiles, and water treatment.
Kanto Chemical Co. Inc., founded in 1944 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a reagent manufacturer with overseas affiliates in other countries, including China, France, USA, Taiwan, and Malaysia. Its product portfolio includes analytical reagents, ionic liquids, Iodine compounds, ultra-pure chemicals, and water analysis kits. The company is also developing regenerative medicine and genetics reagents and has over 50,000 products. It has several certifications, including ISO 9001, acquired in 1994, making it the first Japanese company in the reagent industry. Other certifications are ISO 14001, ISO 13485, and ISO/IEC 17025.
Junsei Chemical Co. Ltd., established in 1948 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a manufacturer of chemical reagents and chemical products, including commissioned synthesis of chemical products. Some of the products it makes include Sodium chloride solution, concentrated glycerin, calcium chloride, ascorbic acid, and nitric acid. The chemical products have a wide range of applications and can be used in pathological examination, as food additives, for analysis, and in the pharmaceutical industry. All its plants, including its research institute, are ISO4001 and ISO9001 certified, while its Saitama and Ibaraki plants are equipped with buildings that comply with GMP.
Kishida Chemical Co. Ltd., established in 1924 and headquartered in Osaka, Japan, is a manufacturer of reagents and high-purity chemicals and also does drug discovery support activities. Its product portfolio includes fine chemicals, research chemicals, ionic liquid, organic micro-analytical reagents, and chemical reagents for analysis. The products support several industries, including reagent business, battery material, drug discovery, and life science. The company is ISO 14001 certified and supplies several companies worldwide, including Meterion Advanced Chemicals Inc., Acros Organics, ChemBridge Corporation, Decon Laboratories, and InerBioScreen Ltd.
TCI America (TCI) was founded in 1946 and is a worldwide manufacturer of specialty organic chemicals. The company produces organic laboratory chemicals as well as pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and functional materials. TCI’s product segments include Chemistry, Life Science, Materials Science, Analytical Chemistry, and Custom & Bulk. For materials science, the company manufactures battery materials, nanocarbon materials, and magnetic materials. For life sciences, the company produces antibodies, reagents, and chemicals for cancer research. The company produces HLC, NMR, various chemicals, and resins and media for analytical chemistry.
FujiFilm Wako Pure Chemical Corporation, founded in 1922 and headquartered in Osaka, Japan, is a manufacturer of laboratory chemicals, specialty chemicals, and clinical diagnostic reagents. The company has three business domains, namely laboratory chemicals, specialty chemicals, and clinical diagnostic reagents, and some of its products include biochemistry reagents, blood transfusion test drugs, battery materials, polymer-related materials, and general reagents. The products are useful in various fields, including electronic, cosmetic, polymeric, pharmaceutical, and medical care. It acquired Sibayagi Co. Ltd. in 2015 and provides custom manufacturing to meet customer requirements.
Nouryon has a history dating back to 1646 Sweden but was officially formed in 2018 after gaining independence from AkzoNobel. The company is a manufacturer of everyday consumer products including personal care and cleaning goods, as well as products for the agricultural, pharmaceutical, and building industries. The company’s brands include Dissolvine, Witbreak, Butanox, and Ferrazone. These brands manufacture products across five product segments: Bleaching and Oxidizing Chemicals and Technologies, Specialty Polymers, Surfactants and Chelating Agents, Polymer Production and Processing Chemicals, and Specialty Chemicals and Intermediates.
Merck, started in 1668 and based in Darmstadt, Germany, is a supplier of solutions and services for research, development, and manufacture of pharmaceutical and biotechnological drug therapies. The company serves the life science industry and has a broad portfolio of 300,000 products, including biopharmaceutical manufacturing, industrial microbiology, reagent, life science research, and water purification products. It is available in 66 countries, brings together six brands, and has several ISO certifications, including ISO 13485, ISO 14001, ISO 13485, and ISO 50001.
Millipore Sigma, formerly known as Sigma-Aldrich, was created in 175 through the merger of Sigma Chemical Company and Aldrich Chemical company and today is a subsidiary of Merck. Millipore Sigma is a life science and biotechnology company serving the industry with several products and services. Some of their product categories include peptide synthesis materials, biochemicals, building blocks, catalysts, chemical biology, chemical synthesis, flavors & fragrances, formulation, lab chemicals, lab safety, APIs, and stable isotopes. Services include characterization, contract manufacturing, custom products, software, support, testing, and mRNA development & manufacturing.
Nacalai Tesque Inc., founded in 1846 and headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, is a manufacturer of research chemicals, fine chemicals, diagnostics, and the related instruments. Some of its products include cytokines, nucleic acid electrophoresis, cell dissociation reagents, and sialic acid-related products, and it also offers custom and bulk service for bulk reagents and cell culture media. The company has more than 50 domestic distributors and several worldwide, including Asia, the Middle East, Oceania, Europe, and Africa. It is ISO 9001 and ISO 9002 certified, while the Kyoto South brand and Tesque factory are ISO 14001 certified.
CABB Group GmbH is a contract development and manufacturing company (CDMO) for starting materials, active ingredients and advanced intermediates. Headquartered in Sulzbach, Germany, the company was founded in 2003. CABB Group specializes in producing a diverse range of specialty chemicals, including intermediates, active ingredients, and custom manufacturing solutions. Its products cater to various industries, such as pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and performance chemicals. The company offers comprehensive services including custom synthesis, process development, and technical support, serving its customers' unique chemical needs.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Nouryon |
20.7%
|
2 | Wego Chemical Group Inc |
17.2%
|
3 | CABB Group GmbH |
10.3%
|
4 | Junsei Chemical Co.,Ltd. |
10.3%
|
5 | KANTO CHEMICAL CO.,INC. |
10.3%
|
6 | Merck |
10.3%
|
7 | FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical Corporation |
6.9%
|
8 | Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. |
3.4%
|
9 | MilliporeSigma |
3.4%
|
10 | Kishida Chemical Co.,Ltd. |
3.4%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the chloroacetic acid page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
Japan | 6 | 66.7% |
United States of America | 1 | 11.1% |
Netherlands | 1 | 11.1% |
Germany | 1 | 11.1% |