Acetic Acid
The simplest industrial carboxylic acid supplied by Chelora Chemicals — the methanol-chain feedstock for vinyl acetate monomer, purified terephthalic acid and acetate-ester manufacture — exported from Indonesia in drums and ISO tanks with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What Acetic Acid is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the compound's chemistry, its role as the basic industrial carboxylic acid, and the grade Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
Acetic Acid is the simplest carboxylic acid used at industrial scale, a methyl group attached to a carboxyl group. That carboxyl group makes it a moderately strong organic acid, fully miscible with water, and readily esterified with alcohols — the reaction behind its largest downstream use, vinyl acetate monomer, as well as the broader family of acetate-ester solvents.
At room temperature glacial (highly concentrated) acetic acid is a colourless liquid with the sharp, pungent, characteristically vinegar-like odour familiar from dilute household vinegar, though industrial glacial grade is far more concentrated and correspondingly more corrosive. It is fully miscible with water and most organic solvents, and solidifies to ice-like crystals below its 17 °C melting point, which is why it is called "glacial" acetic acid.
Where it fits in the synthesis chain
Acetic Acid's largest use is as the feedstock for vinyl acetate monomer (VAM), made by reacting acetic acid with ethylene and oxygen, which is itself the monomer for PVA adhesives, paints and EVA resins. It is also esterified with purified terephthalic acid intermediates and reacted with methanol-chain and cellulose-chain intermediates to make acetate esters (including cellulose acetate and ethyl/butyl acetate solvents), and used directly as a chemical reagent and pH-adjusting acid across many industrial processes.
Grade we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers Acetic Acid in glacial grade (99.8%+ assay) suitable for VAM, acetate-ester and general industrial-chemical applications, supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis.
How Acetic Acid is made
An overview of the production route for orientation purposes. Our manufacturing partners' own process parameters and in-process controls are proprietary and are not disclosed beyond what is needed to interpret the certificate of analysis.
Acetic Acid is manufactured almost exclusively by the catalytic carbonylation of methanol with carbon monoxide, commonly using a rhodium or iridium catalyst system (the Monsanto or Cativa-type process): CH₃OH + CO → CH₃COOH. The crude product is purified by distillation to glacial grade.
Why methanol carbonylation is the standard process
Carbonylating methanol with carbon monoxide gives a highly selective, single-step catalytic route to acetic acid from two widely available feedstocks, which is why it has been the dominant commercial process since the low-pressure version of the process was commercialised and remains essentially the only route used at scale today.
Industries and processes that use it
Acetic Acid is consumed across vinyl acetate, acetate-ester and general industrial-chemical manufacture, where its carboxylic-acid reactivity is the main draw. The fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.
Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM)
Reacted with ethylene and oxygen to make vinyl acetate monomer, the feedstock for PVA adhesives, paints, textile sizing and EVA resins.
Acetate Ester Solvents
Esterified with various alcohols to make the acetate-ester family of solvents, including ethyl acetate and butyl acetate, used in coatings and printing.
Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA) Manufacture
Used as the reaction solvent in the catalytic oxidation of para-xylene to purified terephthalic acid, the feedstock for PET resin and polyester fibre.
Cellulose Acetate & General Industrial Use
Used (as acetic anhydride precursor) in cellulose acetate fibre and film manufacture, and directly as an industrial acid for pH adjustment and chemical processing.
How the molecule is typically carried forward
The carboxylic acid group governs almost all of this molecule's further reaction chemistry. Reaction classes below account for most of the ways Acetic Acid is converted into a finished product or used as a process chemical.
Oxidative Addition (to Vinyl Acetate Monomer)
Reacts with ethylene and oxygen under palladium catalysis to form vinyl acetate monomer, the single largest downstream use of acetic acid.
Fischer Esterification
Reacts with alcohols under acid catalysis to form acetate esters, the basis of the ethyl acetate, butyl acetate and related solvent family.
Anhydride Formation
Can be dehydrated to acetic anhydride, a key reagent in cellulose acetate fibre/film manufacture and pharmaceutical acetylation reactions.
Catalytic Carbonylation (Upstream)
Methanol reacts with carbon monoxide under rhodium or iridium catalysis to form acetic acid itself, the dominant industrial route in the whole chain.
Acetic Acid against other amines we supply
Buyers sourcing Acetic Acid for VAM, ester or PTA-process applications often need a related methanol-chain or acid-chemistry intermediate. A quick reference to what else is on our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acetic Acid | 64-19-7 | Simplest industrial carboxylic acid | The product on this page — the feedstock for VAM, acetate esters and PTA processing. |
| Methanol | 67-56-1 | Simplest aliphatic alcohol | The feedstock from which acetic acid is made by carbonylation — see its product page. |
| Formaldehyde | 50-00-0 | Simplest aldehyde | Another major methanol-chain product in our range — see its product page. |
| Ethyl Acetate | 141-78-6 | Fast-evaporating ester solvent | The acetate ester made by esterifying acetic acid with ethanol — see its product page. |
Exact physical constants and purity specifications are confirmed per batch on the certificate of analysis — treat the notes above as a sourcing guide, not a specification sheet, for products other than Acetic Acid.
Safety classification at a glance
Based on GHS classification as commonly listed for this substance. This is a summary for orientation only — always work from the current safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch.
Flammable liquid and vapour.
Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
Harmful if inhaled.
Causes severe, deep burns on direct skin or eye contact; avoid all exposure.
Chemical-resistant gloves, face shield or splash goggles and adequate ventilation are mandatory for routine handling.
Keep away from heat, sparks and open flame given its flammability above the flash point.
Concentrated vapour is highly irritating to the respiratory tract; ensure good ventilation during transfer.
Danger — GHS02 flammable, GHS05 corrosive and GHS07 irritant pictograms apply.
This compound is a flammable liquid that causes severe skin burns and eye damage, and is harmful if inhaled, with concentrated vapour highly irritating to the respiratory tract. It must be handled only with chemical-resistant gloves, a face shield or splash-proof eye protection, and adequate ventilation, by trained personnel following the precautions in the MSDS supplied with each shipment, which must be read in full and followed without exception before this material is handled.
Keeping it on spec between delivery and use
General storage guidance for this grade. Site-specific storage rules, segregation requirements and re-test intervals should follow your own EHS procedures and the MSDS issued with your batch.
Store above about 17 °C to prevent the glacial acid from freezing and expanding in its container, away from heat sources, strong oxidizing agents and strong bases, in tightly closed original packaging. Only trained personnel using proper PPE should handle this corrosive material. If a batch is held past its retest date, re-check assay and colour before use.
How it ships from Indonesia
Standard packing and export terms for this product. Confirm exact figures against your order — they vary slightly by destination and quantity.
What travels with every batch
Specification is agreed before the purchase order, not discovered on arrival. Every shipment of Acetic Acid leaves with a documented, checkable paper trail.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-wise assay (by titration/GC), colour and relevant physical constants, issued against the agreed specification so your QC team can check it, not just file it.
Safety Data Sheet
GHS-format SDS in English covering hazard classification, handling, storage, first-aid and spill response for the exact grade of Acetic Acid shipped.
Technical Data Sheet
Reference physical and chemical properties, recommended storage and typical applications, for internal circulation to your process or R&D teams.
Certificate of Origin
Confirms Indonesian origin for customs clearance and any preferential-duty claim at your destination port.
Dangerous Goods Declaration
UN packing group, classification and shipper's declaration prepared ahead of loading so documentation never holds up customs.
Third-Party Inspection
Independent pre-shipment inspection and re-sampling can be arranged on request, at your cost, for buyers who require it as a matter of policy.
Frequently asked questions
What buyers most often ask our sales desk about this grade.
01What is Acetic Acid used for?+
02What is the CAS number of Acetic Acid?+
03How is Acetic Acid made?+
04What grade does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
05Why is it called "glacial" acetic acid?+
06Is Acetic Acid hazardous?+
07What packing options are available?+
08How long does delivery take?+
09Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
10Do you supply Methanol and Formaldehyde as well?+
Need Acetic Acid on spec, on time?
Send us your required purity, quantity, packing preference and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.