C.

USES OF GLYCOLIC ACID

With the ability to chelate metal salts, Glycolic Acid fulfills many unique roles in a wide
range of industries. It is an extremely versatile liquid that is safer to handle, easy to use and offers
numerous additional benefits, including low corrosion to most common metals, negligible odor, low
toxicity and non-flammability.

The dual functionality of Glycolic Acid - acid and alcohol - on a very small molecule, makes it a
particularly useful organic intermediate. Compatible with many additives, it is soluble in water, easy to
rinse and environmentally friendly, biodegrading at a rate of 89% in 7 days.

Concrete Cleaner & Remover Applications
Dairy & Food Equipment Cleaner Applications
Boiler System & Heat Exchanger Cleaner
Applications
The high water solubility and small molecular size
of Glycolic Acid allows it to penetrate deep inside
concrete residues and react from within. It is this
unique combination of properties that make it
the ideal cleaner for maintaining tools,
equipment and vehicles.
Particularly effective at dissolving casein, the milk
protein found in milk stone, Glycolic Acid also
helps decrease process downtime by dissolving
calcium carbonate and iron oxide scales faster
than phosphoric acid. The resulting salts are
highly water soluble versus insoluble phosphates.
Essentially chloride free, Glycolic Acid is readily
biodegradable, non-volatile and will not cause
stainless steel stress-cracking associated with
hydrochloric acid. It is classified as an “A3” acid
cleaner by the USDA and is approved under the
meat, poultry, shell egg grading and egg products
inspection program.
Glycolic Acid removes hard water scale deposits
(calcium, iron, iron oxides (rust), magnesium,
manganese salts) by forming water soluble
complexes (chelates) which are easily rinsed
away. Containing no phosphates, its ready
biodegradability prevents accumulation in the
environment.
Glycolic Acid improves the efficiency of
feeds, vapor flashing and activated-carbon bed
equipment in groundwater remediation systems
and heat exchange efficiency in cooling towers.

Metal Cleaning & Finishing Applications
Glycolic Acid is highly effective for copper and
aluminum finishing and metal cleaning
applications, including boilers and heat
exchangers. Essentially chloride and phosphate
free, it can also be used for stainless steel
without stress-cracking. There are many metal

Oil Field & Petro Refining Applications
Water Treatment & Water Well Stimulation
Applications
Skin Care Applications
cleaning applications in the electronics
manufacturing industry which should be
considered. Glycolic Acid readily dissolves
carbonate, oxide and most casein scales.
Glycolic Acid ensures economical cleaning by
providing low-cost metal complexing in a readily
biodegradable form that will not add potentially
undesirable Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) or
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) to formulated
products. It can be used with hydrochloric or
sulfamic acids to prevent iron precipitation in
cleaning operations or water flooding.
Glycolic Acid is certified by the National
Sanitation Foundation (NSF) for use in cleaning
potable water wells. It is used widely to
rehabilitate the flow efficiency of water wells by
enabling water-soluble compounds (chelates) to
be easily rinsed away with low corrosion to metal
parts. Glycolic Acid removes hard water scale
(calcium, magnesium, manganese salts), various
iron deposits and polysaccharide deposits.
Glycolic acid is commonly used to unclog pores
and treat acne.