Industrial Grade 80% 90% 95% 99% Mercaptoacetic acid 68-11-1

What is Thioglycolic acid?

Thioglycolic acid, also known as thioglycolic acid, is a bifunctional organic compound containing both a thiol group (-SH) and a carboxyl group (-COOH). Its chemical formula is usually written as:

C2H4O2S (HSCH2COOH, CAS No.: 68-11-1, EINECS No.: 200-677-4, UN No.: 1940, molecular weight approx. 92.12)

It is a colorless to slightly yellow transparent liquid at room temperature, with a strong and unpleasant sulfur odor. Its melting point is approximately -16.5℃, boiling point is approximately 123℃ (3.9 kPa), relative density is approximately 1.325, and refractive index is approximately 1.503. It is miscible with water, ethanol, and ether. Mercaptoacetic acid is flammable and releases irritating or toxic fumes when burned; it is corrosive to skin and eyes.

From a molecular structure perspective, the thiol group (-SH) in the thioglycolic acid molecule is a strong reducing group that can reduce and break the disulfide bonds (-SS-) in hair keratin, making the hair softer and easier to reshape and curl—this "bond breaking-remodeling" mechanism is the chemical basis of hair care and beauty technologies such as perming and hair removal; the strong complexing ability of the thiol group to metal ions makes it a reducing agent and masking agent in analytical chemistry, which constitutes the structural basis for the widespread application of thioglycolic acid in the fields of hair care and beauty and analytical testing.

Chemically, mercaptoacetic acid exhibits strong reducing properties and typical reactivity of the thiol group. It is easily oxidized in air and must be stored in a sealed container away from light.Corrosive and irritating to skin, eyes and respiratory tract, strict protective measures are required in handling. Keep it in a sealed container away from light and oxidisers.

Mercaptoacetic acid for non-industrial grade products meant for daily chemical, analytical and scientific research applications. Chemical and reagent grades are specified mostly with a general purity of greater than 99%. Non-industrial grade products pay more attention on the following indicators than industrial grade products:

Control of purity and impurity

The high main content (generally above 99%) and the strict control of impurities and heavy metals are required for the safe use of daily chemical grade and reagent grade products.

sulfhydryl content

The thiol content is a core indicator for measuring a product's reducing ability and quality, and it directly affects the effects of perming and hair removal as well as analytical performance.

Heavy metal limits (lead, arsenic, etc.)

Products used in cosmetics have strict limits on harmful impurities such as heavy metals, which are important safety indicators.

Color

It should be colorless to slightly yellow. Darkening of the color often indicates oxidation and deterioration, and it should be stored away from light.

What are the uses of thioglycolic acid?

1. Hair and beauty products (daily chemical grade, core application)

Thioglycolic acid is a key ingredient in hair and beauty products, including home perming agents, cold perm lotions, hair straighteners and hair removal creams. It breaks the disulphide bonds of hair keratin to yield curling, straightening and hair removal effects. It is widely used in beauty and hair industry and its use must comply with the requirements of the technical specifications for cosmetic safety of restricted ingredients.

2. Analytical chemistry reagents (reagent grade)

Thioglycolic acid is a commonly used reducing agent and masking agent in analytical chemistry. It is used for the determination and masking of metal ions such as iron and copper, as well as for photometric and electrochemical analysis. It is an important reagent in analytical laboratories.

3. Scientific research and laboratory applications (reagent grade)

Thioacetic acid is an important reagent for thiol chemistry and protein chemistry research. It can be used to study the reduction and cleavage of disulphide bonds, thiol derivatisation reactions, and the synthesis of thiol-containing compounds in biochemical and organic chemistry research.

4. Basic raw materials for PVC heat stabilizers

Mercaptoacetic acid is a basic raw material for the synthesis of esters such as isooctyl mercaptoacetate (TGOS). TGOS is an important component of PVC transparent plastics and organoantimony, organotin, calcium-zinc heat stabilizer systems. It helps prevent PVC from decomposing during heat processing and is used in the production of transparent pipes, films and food packaging.

5. Oilfield chemicals

Thioglycolic acid and its derivatives are used as oilfield chemicals, serving as corrosion inhibitors, desulfurizers, and scale removers in oil and gas extraction. They help protect wellbore equipment, treat sulfur-containing media, and serve the oil and gas industry.

6. Metal Surface Treatment

Thioglycolic acid is used in metal surface treatment and rust removing processes, it helps to remove oxides and stains from metal surfaces. It is used in metal processing and protection.

7. Fine Chemicals and Catalysts

Thioglycolic acid is used as a catalyst in the synthesis of epoxy resins (such as bisphenol A synthesis), an initiator, and an intermediate in fine chemicals, participating in a variety of organic synthesis reactions.

8. Teaching and Popular Science Experiments

Thioacetic acid can be used in demonstration and laboratory experiments on properties of thiol compounds in organic chemical chemistry to aid students in understanding the reducing properties of thiol groups and reactions of disulphide bonds. It is a commonly used teaching reagent in university chemical laboratories.

9. Other Applications

With the development of cosmetics and testing technologies, the application scope of non-industrial grade thioglycolic acid continues to expand, including in areas such as standard reagent supply, analytical testing services, and cosmetic product formulation development.

It should be noted that non-industrial grade specifications do not mean "risk-free": mercaptoacetic acid has a strong odor, is corrosive and toxic. Daily chemical products must be used according to the instructions at compliant concentrations. When reagent-grade products are used in experiments, laboratory safety regulations should be followed, protective equipment should be worn, and skin contact and inhalation of vapors should be avoided.

Summarize

Thioglycolic acid (TGA) is a colourless to slightly yellow bifunctional organic acid containing both a strongly reducing thiol group and an acidic carboxyl group. It is a significant ingredient in hair and beauty products such as perming and depilatory agents. In our daily lives, we are exposed to it indirectly through perming and curling products, depilatory products, PVC products, hair cosmetics, testing laboratories and oilfield energy products. Chemical grade and reagent grade thioglycolic acid is used extensively in non-industrial applications such as in beauty products for perming, straightening and depilatory hair, as reducing agents and masking agents in analytical chemistry, research in thiol and protein chemistry, teaching experiments and synthesis of fine chemicals. It is an important thiol compound connecting “daily use” with “cosmetics, testing and scientific research”.