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| Synonyms:TGA 2-Mercaptoacetic acid Mercaptoacetic acid 2-Thioglycolic acid Thiovanic acid Molecular Formula:C2H4O2S Molecular Weight: 92.12 HS Code: 2930909099Grade: Industrial grade 80% 90% 95% 99% Hazard Class:Class8 | |||||||||
68-11-1
bosschemical
68-11-1
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, while the carboxyl group (-COOH) endows it with acidity and coordination ability. The thiol group 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 perming technology; the strong complexing ability of the thiol group to metal ions makes it a key functional group in PVC heat stabilizers and analytical reagents, forming the structural basis for the widespread application of thioglycolic acid in the fields of hair care, plastics, and analysis.
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. It is corrosive and irritating to skin, eyes, and the respiratory tract, requiring strict protective measures during handling. It should be stored in a sealed container away from light and oxidizers.
Industrial-grade thioglycolic acid refers to products primarily intended for industrial production, with a main content generally exceeding 99% . Compared to reagent-grade and other specifications, industrial-grade products place greater emphasis on the following indicators:
Main content
Purity directly affects the performance of downstream products such as perming and stabilization. Industrial grade products generally require a main content of over 99%.
sulfhydryl content
The thiol content is a core indicator for measuring a product's reducing ability and quality, and it directly affects the perming effect and stability.
Moisture
Excessive moisture content affects storage stability and downstream formulations, and must be kept at a low level.
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.
Iron content
Metallic impurities such as iron can catalyze the oxidation of thiol groups, affecting product quality, and must be kept at low levels.
Thioglycolic acid is a core ingredient in perming agents (cold perm lotion), curling agents, and depilatory agents. It uses thiol reduction to break the disulfide bonds in hair keratin, softening and reshaping the hair, which is then fixed and curled by an oxidizing agent. Depilatory agents use the same principle to soften and remove hair. It is the most widely used thiol compound in the hair care and cosmetics industry.
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.
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.
Thioglycolic acid and its derivatives are used in oilfield chemicals. In oil and gas extraction they are used as corrosion inhibitors, desulfurizers and scale removers. They help protect wellbore equipment, treat sulfur-containing media and cater to the oil and gas industry.
Used in metal surface treatment and rust removal , thioglycolic acid complexes metal ions in the removal of oxides and stains from metal surfaces . Used in metal processing and protection .
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, and participates in a variety of organic chemical synthesis reactions.
Its applications continue to expand, including leather processing auxiliaries, silver colloidal stabilizers, and textile finishing.
Thioglycolic acid (TGA) is a colorless to slightly yellow bifunctional organic acid with both a strongly reducing thiol group and an acidic carboxyl group. It is a key raw material for hair perming agents, hair removal agents and PVC heat stabilisers. In daily life, people are indirectly exposed to it through the supply chain of hair perming and curling products, hair removal products, PVC products, hair care cosmetics, testing laboratories and oilfield energy products. Industrial-grade thioglycolic acid is widely used in the industrial sector as a core raw material for hair perming and hair removal agents, a basic raw material for PVC heat stabilisers, a reducing agent and masking agent in analytical chemistry, oilfield chemicals, metal surface treatment agents, and fine chemical catalysts. It is an important thiol compound in the link between “daily use” and “hair care, plastics, analysis and energy”.
