Sodium Monochloroacetate

Brief overview

Sodium Monochloroacetate is the sodium salt of chloroacetic acid. It is considered to be hygroscopic and thus must be handled with extreme care. It is a white-colored free-flowing fine powder with a slightly pungent odor. It is readily soluble in water.

Manufacturing Process

Sodium Monochloroacetate is an important industrial product, particularly for use as an intermediate reactant in the synthesis of many pharmaceutical and agrochemical products. Many processes have been developed to prepare sodium monochloroacetate, which are essentially based on the neutralization of monochloroacetic acid with bases such as sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate. The process involves the neutralizing the molten monochloroacetic acid with concentrated caustic soda (50-55%), sodium carbonate in the form of a suspension or concentrated solution or in the form of a powder in a spray dryer. This process in which sodium carbonate is introduced together with hot air at 100 ℃ while molten monochloroacetic acid is sprayed at 80 ℃. In general, all these processes are carried out either under anhydrous conditions or with rapid removal of water (spray drying), which gives the sodium monochloroacetate in the form of a fine powder having a tendency to agglomerate and thus to flow poorly during pneumatic conveying or decantation.

Sodium Monochloroacetate is used in the manufacture of carboxymethylcellulose and as starch to be added as a thickening agent in detergents, paper manufacturing, food, and in pharma products. It is used in the manufacture of insecticides and herbicides like 2,4-D, MCPA, dimethoates, etc. UV light stabilizers in PVS, it is added for the manufacture of thioglycolic acid, and its ester is used in cosmetics. Other applications – Vitamins, Glycine, Malonates, and synthetic caffeine.